Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

The reasons for urgency set out in the report were agreed.

The recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

1.             To note and conscientiously consider the results of the engagement to date and public consultation of Bow Liveable Streets (Appendix C & D to the report)

2.             To approve the final scheme design for the Bow area as part of the Liveable Streets programme (Appendix B to the report) and summarised in section 3.3 of the report

3.             To devise an exemption scheme for consideration in respect of vehicles belonging to designated blue badge holders.

4.             To agree that a further report be brought to Cabinet for approval setting out the options for the operation of the Roman Road and Coborn Road bus gate and timed closure including hours of operation and potential exemptions for local blue badge holders, carers and potentially other local groups. The report will additionally explain how changes to exemptions might be made, in a way that is both transparent but responsive, to these or other timed closures.

5.             To approve the use of existing frameworks or term contracts to award an order up to a value of £3 Million for the completion of the Works.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Divisional Director, Public Realm (D. Jones)

(Programme Director (C. Harrison)

Councillor Dan Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm (Job Share) – Lead on Public Realm, introduced the report updating Cabinet on the outcome of the consultation on Liveable Streets proposals for the Bow area and seeking agreement on a number of recommendations.

He explained that consultation packs had been sent to the 14,000 households in the area. The results showed that a majority of residents in the area were in favour of each part of the scheme. The changes would invest in the area and support work to reduce pollution and improve the general environment. He thanked the officers who have worked had on this project and the ward councillors who had helped with the consultation. 

The Mayor welcomed the report and the responses to the consultation. He noted the wide range of opinions received. He proposed an amendment to the existing recommendation 3 to further work up the blue badge scheme in relation to the bus gates and report back to Cabinet including looking at exemptions, timings and related matters.

Cabinet then proceeded to hear from a number of residents of Bow who all welcomed the proposals and highlighted the detrimental impact pollution and the dominance of cars on local streets was having on the health and wellbeing of residents.

The Cabinet discussed the report and noted a number of points including:

·       Whether the consultation exercise had reached all residents with an explanation of the efforts, including by Ward Councillors, to ensure that happened but also concerns raised by a number of people, including Councillor Peter Golds, Leader of the Conservative Group, at the meeting that the consultation may not have been sufficient.

·       It was noted that there were lower levels of BME respondents but that those who did respond had shown a majority in favour.

·       The significant increase in traffic over recent years.

·       How best to enforce any changes that were agreed.

·       The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses that had been tabled.

In relation to ensuring all viewpoints had been heard, the Mayor stated that he would be looking to undertake a Town Hall style meeting in the area to provide another opportunity for views to be expressed.

The reasons for urgency set out in the report were agreed. Namely, that:

The report was not published five clear days in advance of the meeting. This is due to the additional time required to review the large volume of appendices and respondents to the consultation.  If the outcome of the consultation is not considered at this meeting it will impact of the timely delivery of the scheme and risk potential funding loss from third party sources.

The Mayor then proposed the amended recommendations to Cabinet, who voted in turn and it was agreed unanimously:

RESOLVED

1.             To note and conscientiously consider the results of the engagement to date and public consultation of Bow Liveable Streets (Appendix C & D to the report)

2.             To approve the final scheme design for the Bow area as part of the Liveable Streets programme (Appendix B to the report) and summarised in section 3.3 of the report

3.             To devise an exemption scheme for consideration in respect of vehicles belonging to designated blue badge holders.

4.             To agree that a further report be brought to Cabinet for approval setting out the options for the operation of the Roman Road and Coborn Road bus gate and timed closure including hours of operation and potential exemptions for local blue badge holders, carers and potentially other local groups. The report will additionally explain how changes to exemptions might be made, in a way that is both transparent but responsive, to these or other timed closures.

5.             To approve the use of existing frameworks or term contracts to award an order up to a value of £3 Million for the completion of the Works.