[Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Equalities and Leisure]
This report sets out the policies and processes that will be used in the delivery of the Councils School Street Programme. It then lists the schools that will be prioritised with measures.
Minutes:
[ The meeting paused for Cllr Chandwani to re-enter at 7.17pm]
The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Equalities and Leisure introduced the report which sought approval for the School Streets Plan policy framework, and how School Streets would be implemented outside the schools across the borough.The report further set out the schools that the Council would focus on with its capital and match funding to deliver this over the next 4 years.
The Cabinet Member highlighted that London’s air pollution was particularly harmful to children and young people in Haringey. Poor air quality was also an issue of inequality, with those in the east of Haringey suffering the worst effects of poor air quality. As well as this, children were more likely to be the pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents and were put at more risk by cars than other groups.
The Cabinet Member noted that some parents were weary of using public transport during the pandemic which was understood. However, it was hoped that this situation would change. People would be encouraging to walk, cycle or take the bus to school.
This action would hugely benefit children’s health and wellbeing, and peace of mind.
At the start of the COVID pandemic, it was quickly realised that air quality and health levels played a part in the ability to fight the virus. There was also a need to create space, where people could socially distance safely while dropping off and picking up children. As a result of COVID, many measures were put in place to assist students and their parents to socially distance.
The Council considered 20 streets to designate as school streets before the end of the financial year and another 10 in the next few years after that. That was half the total number of primary schools in the borough.
The Council were actively engaged in looking at sources of funding so that it could continue to do more School Streets. As there was a move towards low traffic neighbourhoods there would also be an opportunity for schools, in these streets, to become School Streets.
The administration would endeavour to explore very possible opportunity to fund School Streets as it believed this was extremely important for children in the borough.
The Cabinet Member set out the reasons for prioritising junior schools which was because young lungs were more damaged by terrible air and it was hoped that one day all the borough’s schools would have School Streets.
In response to questions from Cllr Cawley - Harrison and Cllr Morris, the following was noted:
Cllr Morris highlighted some discrepancies in the data contained in the appendix concerning school numbers:
Agreed this information would be considered and rectified.
In relation to the timing of bringing this report forward in November instead of March 2020, there were some issues that could not be resolved in time for the March meeting and this report was then planned for the June Cabinet meeting, after the Mayoral elections. However, at that time the pandemic response was prioritised.
RESOLVED
Reasons for decision
Delivering the School Streets Plan will contribute to outcome 9, objective c of the borough plan – specifically the commitment to improve air quality around schools. It will also contribute to outcome 10, objective an of the borough plan, which aims to make Haringey a more attractive place for active travel.
The School Streets Plan was created in response to a motion passed by Full Council in March 2019.
The plan has been created so that Haringey Council can target school streets at those schools most in need.
The plan sets out a standard framework to understand Haringey’s school streets programme, allowing for consistent, successful and efficient delivery of these measures.
Alternative options considered
Do Nothing
Not approving the school streets plan.
This was rejected as it would mean the Council failed to deliver on the motion passed by Full Council in March 2019. And failure to deliver school streets would not achieve the objectives in the Borough Plan.
Implement school streets without a plan in place
This was rejected as school streets are targeted measures aimed at improving specific issues. To do this would mean that resources were not targeted in the most effective ways and that schools could receive school streets on an unfair basis.
This would mean that the Council was not doing everything it can to improve air quality at schools, improve road safety and increase levels of active travel.
Supporting documents: