Agenda item

5.1       The Cabinet Member provided a written overview of his portfolio including its service areas, priorities for the year ahead and key service updates/issues. The Cabinet Member highlighted cycling as a particular priority and mentioned progress had been made. He then responded to questions on the following topics:

·       Cllr Williams started by asking that, given the transient population, would educational efforts to reduce fly-tipping be a viable long-term strategy. Cllr Dimoldenberg said that efforts will be site-by-site area specific and solutions/strategies will be devised accordingly.

·       Cllr Iman Less asked on the rollout of food wastage bins particularly in mansion blocks who are not enthusiastic about the scheme. Cllr Dimoldenberg highlighted education and those who are enthusiastic spreading the word are key to greater adaption. It cannot be imposed, but there are ways to encourage take-up. Cllr Southern asked how one would obtain a food waste bin, Cllr Dimoldenberg explained that residents are informed and reached out to directly, they do not need to seek it out themselves.

·       Cllr Iman Less then asked how the £700,000 that is available to schools for air quality improvement schemes. In response Cllr Dimoldenberg told the committee that schools make applications, there are few limits on what these applications can be. He also revealed that they are trying to provide advice to schools to make this process simpler.

·       Cllr Carman asked on public conveniences about how the staffing and security is going to work. In response Cllr Dimoldenberg told the committee that attendants will be in place, on review. Some full time during open hours, others will be staffed intermittently. In follow up, Cllr Dupuy asked how the council was going to ensure the safety of staff working in public conveniences. Officers informed the committee that they are externally hired and their employee should take reasonable steps to ensure safety as well as CCTV being around the sites and designs that can discourage anti-social behaviour.

·       Cllr Caplan asked for additional information on cycle routes 40, 43 and 51. He then referenced that TfL have a ‘tendency’ in the past to fund in year one, schemes that extend over multiple years, with no future funding guaranteed. He asked what the approach of the council will be in future to this issue. In response Cllr Dimoldenberg introduced Phil Robson – Head of Operations who told the committee that there are a couple of ways to protect from this, including drawing on other reserves and accepting funding at different stages of developments.

·       Cllr Caplan asked about the problem of dockless-bikes being left out on the streets. He asked whether bike companies had to pay to get back the bikes that the council has had to move and whether the council is considering rolling out ‘dockless parking bays’. In reply Cllr Dimoldenberg told the committee that at this time the council does not charge dockless bike companies the costs associated with removal, but that it is can be factored in for future discussions who the council shares a good relationship with. Parking bays for dockless bikes are being considered. Cllr Shearer suggested that some users could be banned after a number of instances. In response Cllr Dimoldenberg told the committee that they do already have this in place and that a number of users were permanently banned recently. This is something we work with them on.

·       Cllr Caplan asked how much money was being spent on public conveniences and how it is being funded – he had not seen any Cabinet Member reports on this, so asked who approved the spend. In response Cllr Dimoldenberg told the committee that it had come out of current existing budget. Then there is an additional £4 million capital budget for the 8/9 west end conveniences. Cllr Caplan requested additional information be provided on revenue costs after the meeting.

·       Cllr Caplan asked on SMS parking, how the decision was made and how much money it was forecast to raise and whether this was greater than the amounts previously collected.

·       Cllr Dupuy asked about the ‘100 hotspots’ for waste/fly-tipping. She asked what strategies and actions will be taken now that the hotspots have been identified. In response Cllr Dimoldenberg, informed the committee that the list was not necessarily final and members are welcome to identify more. Inspectors are aware of these sites and public realm improvements can be considered.

·       Cllr Shearer asked why some EV charging points had been placed in front of listed assets in Westminster, some metres from where they necessarily could be. In response Phil Robson said he would take a look at the specific locations referenced but that they are only installed when they have been requested in that particular area.

·       Cllr Shearer asked for the Cabinet Member’s view on the ‘Park Lane Cycle Lane’. Cllr Dimoldenberg said that this is joint work with TfL. Personally, as a regular bus user, he had not noticed significant delays or tailbacks to his journey times. In response Cllr Shearer identified that it was a particular problem for car users. To which, Cllr Dimoldenberg said that he would be guided by the statistics that come out of the consultation before making a decision.

·       Cllr Shearer then asked whether the scheme to convert Bin Lorries to EV vehicles was still going ahead. To which the cabinet member and officers confirmed it was, with a hope for roll-out in the new year but a precise launch time cannot be confirmed yet.

5.2       ACTIONS:

1.     Responses to be given to Cllr Caplan’s unanswered questions on the cycle routes, TfL, public conveniences, SMS parking and projected revenue gains from SMS Parking.