This meeting was scheduled to receive and consider the Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden. It was also scheduled to hear updates about the multi-disciplinary Community Safety Enforcement service and the council's Cultural Programme. It was also scheduled to receive updates on two areas that had previously been discussed in the meeting held on 9 December 2024, advertising boards and the council's response to the Circular Economy Panel.

Please note that this summary is based only on the documents that were publicly available before the meeting. We do not know what was actually discussed at the meeting, or what decisions, if any, were made.

Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden

The report sets out the council's performance during 2023/24 on reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, the enhancement of green spaces and sustainability initiatives in parking and transport. It also introduces Councillor Adam Harrison's new responsibilities for Planning alongside the Sustainable Camden portfolio.

The report describes the progress made on the council's 2020 Climate Action Plan, and how the council plans to develop the next iteration of the plan, for 2026-2030.

Borough-wide CO2 emissions have decreased by 48%, while emissions from our own estate and operations (excluding Council housing) are now 63% lower compared to the respective baseline years of 2005 and 2010.

The report summarises the council's performance on its Clean Air Action Plan, highlighting a 5% reduction in average NO2 levels, and an average reduction of 18% in PM2.5. It describes the council's plans to deliver its 'Year of Clean Air for Camden Schools' project.

The ‘Year of Clean Air for Camden Schools’ project. This initiative will include assemblies, workshops, and other activities to educate children about healthy environments and the importance of clean air for their health, both at school and while travelling in the borough. The project also seeks to better integrate sustainability into the curriculum in Camden schools.

The report describes the council's work with communities on the Parks for Health programme, and the role of the 20 Friends of Parks Groups. It describes the work of the dedicated food growing officer in the Green Space team, and how they are working with the community to increase the number of food growing spaces.

Ensuring that communities have access to sustainable fresh food is central to our food mission, and finding space for this activity is a priority for us. This year, we appointed a dedicated officer in our green space team to connect communities and promote best practices for food growing across the borough.

The report describes the council's work with idverde, its grounds maintenance contractor, and how the contract is to be renewed in April 2026. It describes the council's tree planting strategy, which will see 3,000 new trees planted by 2025, and its work with Treehab Ltd, its new tree maintenance contractor, on the maintenance of the borough's 29,000 trees. It describes how the Hardy Tree in St Pancras Gardens fell on Boxing Day 2022, and how a replacement tree was planted.

The Hardy tree in St. Pancras Gardens fell on Boxing Day 2022 in an area that had been fenced off to protect the public. The tree had been suffering from decay since 2014 and had undergone periodic works and monitoring to address any risk to park users.

The report describes the council's Green Space Investment Programme, highlighting the £1.5 million invested over the last year, and describes the council's Highways Greening Accelerator programme, a partnership with the GLA, TfL and other highways authorities across England.

The Highways Greening Accelerator is part of the ambitious Future Parks Accelerator (now evolved into Nature Towns and Cities). It is designed to broaden and enrich understanding while providing practical skills for the planning, design, delivery, and maintenance of green infrastructure within local authorities, as well as other statutory bodies like Transport for London (TfL), Greater London Authority (GLA), and wider highways authorities across England.

The report describes the council's work with partners on HS2 mitigation around Euston, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden that was rehomed to Compton Close in August 2024. The report details the ongoing 18 month traffic trial at Phoenix Road, the plans to green North Gower Street and the story trail project at The Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC).

The Old Diorama Centre (ODAC) has been granted funding from the Signage and Wayfinding HS2 assurance to develop a community-led trail through Regent’s Park Estate. The Story Trail project consists of a series of 10 artistic installations that communicate local ecology, culture, and heritage. These installations will provide points of interest and information throughout the trail.

The report describes the work of the Camden Green Gym, quantifying the value of their labour as £60,000.

In 2023/24, Camden Green Gym, delivered by The Conservation Volunteers on behalf of the Council, provided 5,277 hours of volunteering. The value of this labour is equivalent to nearly £60,000, although this figure does not account for the health and wellbeing benefits to the volunteers, which is the primary objective of the contract, alongside nature conservation.

The report details the work on parking, including debt clinics, changes to parking enforcement on housing estates, and the Healthy School Streets programme, which restricts motor vehicles outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times.

Many schools face issues caused by busy streets nearby, including problems with parking, traffic congestion, road safety, and air quality. The Healthy School Streets programme seeks to address these challenges by restricting traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times.

The report also describes the progress being made on the council's Transport Strategy, including road safety measures, cycle safety and parking, public transport improvements and electric vehicle charging points. It describes how the council has repurposed 2,000 parking spaces for other uses over the last 5 years.

Over the past five years, nearly 2,000 parking spaces previously allocated for private motor vehicles have been repurposed for other uses, including cycle lanes, new pavements/public spaces, cycle parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and more.

The report describes the council's efforts to ensure that new developments are sustainable, and that the environmental impact of all planning applications is assessed.

From August 2023 to July 2024, we provided written consultation responses on air quality, energy, and sustainability for 47 major planning applications. This work has helped reduce carbon emissions by incorporating renewable energy, mitigating the risk of overheating, considering the whole life carbon of developments (particularly where substantial demolition is proposed), and supporting the circular economy through 95% reuse, recycling, or recovery of waste during construction. We have also ensured that all developments are air quality neutral.

It describes the council's work with businesses and organisations through the Camden Climate Alliance to encourage the reduction of emissions.

The commercial sector, including universities and hospitals, is responsible for 59% of Camden’s direct emissions. To address this, during 2023-24, the Camden Climate Alliance (CCA) continued to deliver two core programmes aimed at reducing emissions from commercial buildings and fostering local climate action in collaboration with community groups: the Camden and Brent Business Climate Challenge (BCC) and the third phase of Climate Connectors.

It concludes with a section on Planning Policy and Implementation, describing the council's work to review and update the Local Plan, and the progress that has been made with the seven Neighbourhood Plans that have been adopted in Camden. The report describes the council's progress with Community Infrastructure Levy payments and Section 106 Agreements¹, before concluding with a description of the progress made on a number of development sites across the borough.

Advertising Boards (A-Boards)

This report provides an update on the council's plans to trial a new scheme to reduce the use of A-boards and other obstructions on Goodge Street.

This report sets out the principles of a trial Pilot project which the Council will conduct, in partnership with Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), The Fitzrovia Partnership and other stakeholders to address the issue of street obstructions and Advertising Boards to help de-clutter streets.

It describes how the council plans to conduct a trial project for three months, starting in February 2025. This will involve working with businesses to encourage the adoption of alternative advertising methods, and monitoring the impact of removing A-boards on footfall. The report was written in collaboration with Red Szell, a blind resident from Hampstead.

Update on July's Response to the Circular Economy Panel

This report provides an update on the council's progress with implementing the recommendations made by the Circular Economy Panel in November 2023.

This report provides an update to work across the Council contributing to a circular economy and follows up July 2024's report to the Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee, which responded to the Committee’s Circular Economy Panel report.

It details the council's work on increasing food waste recycling, promoting sustainable food and reducing food waste.

The food mission and colleagues from vacant spaces are working together to assess the viability of a Food Hub site to be the catalyst for food redistribution. Also, to complement this the food mission is working with organisations such as ‘Too Good To Go’ and ‘Neighbourly’ to facilitate the local surplus food collection and redistribution system.

It describes how the council is working with Veolia, its waste management contractor, and Think & Do, a Camden based Community Interest Company to deliver 'Fix and Do' repair events across the borough.

Camden continues to work with partners across the borough on delivering training and services on repair. As reported in July 2025 Veolia, Think & Do & Camden Fixing Factory, continue to deliver Fix and Do repair events across the borough, with the last of the year taking place in December at Doreen Bazell TRA Hall, Somers Town. Around 100 residents attended the 5 workshops in 2024 with nearly 50 electrical items repaired and kept in circulation.

The report describes how the council is promoting textile reuse, recycling and repair, and working with the London's One World Living programme to deliver a round table event with fast fashion retailers in Spring 2025.

The July 2024 update relating to the Panel’s Textiles recommendations are still relevant and work continues to take place across the borough on education and service delivery relating to textile recycling, re-use and repair.

The report describes how the council is continuing to work with partners on local deliveries and expanding cycle parking, and how it is looking at ways to embed circular economy thinking in its buildings.

The Panel’s recommendations relating to ‘transport’ continue to be delivered as set out in July 2024, through the delivery of the Local Plan (and upcoming Plan update) and the Freight Services Action Plan. The Council will continue to work with partners on opportunities for local deliveries, ‘last mile’ deliveries and enhanced cycle parking options.

It concludes with a description of the council's work with the Camden Climate Alliance to promote circular material practices across Camden's business community, and how the director of Environment and Sustainability will act as the council's circular economy sponsor.

Cleaner Safer Camden

This report describes how the council has restructured its enforcement services to create a multi-faceted Integrated Enforcement service.

This report outlines the Council’s refreshed approach towards the delivery of on-street environmental enforcement activity, driven by the overarching strategic goal of ensuring a safe and clean public realm environment across the borough.

It describes how the council plans to implement a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and environmental crime, with an increase in the issuance of fixed penalty notices. The report quantifies the number of FPNs issued from April to November 2024 as 339, compared to 175 for the previous six month period.

This new model is expected to result in a sustained increase in the issuance of statutory Fixed Penalty Notices for environmental crimes. Additionally, it is anticipated that an increased number of offences/cases will be escalated to the local Magistrates Court (where deemed appropriate/proportionate to do so).

The report describes a number of new and upcoming campaigns that are scheduled to be implemented, including a Camden Clean Streets project, Operation Waste Watch and a don't pee on our streets campaign, using 'anti-pee paint' in three streets in Holborn and Covent Garden, Flitcroft Street, Porpool Lane and Leader Lane.

TheCamden Clean Streetsinitiative, set to launch in the summer of 2025, is a six-week environmental project aimed at tackling environmental crime and raising awareness around waste compliance in the borough. The project will focus on three main pillars: education, compliance, and enforcement, to ensure sustainable improvements in local environmental standards.

This is a targeted initiative led by the Community Safety Enforcement Team aimed at improving waste management practices and tackling non-compliance with regard to both domestic and commercial waste disposal. As part of the operation, the team will temporarily suspend the regularclear allpolicy for street waste collection. This suspension will allow officers to assess waste left on public streets, identify businesses operating without waste contracts, and take immediate enforcement action against those in violation.

"Street urination is a significant issue in parts of Holborn and Covent Garden, particularly in the West End. The problem was recently highlighted during a Camden Council debate which focused proposals for improving the night-time economy. Despite efforts to curb the behaviour, such as police and community safety patrols, the problem persists, especially during evening and late-night hours.

To address the issue more effectively, the Community Safety Enforcement team are launching an innovative solution in partnership with Central District Alliance and potentially Veolia. The initiative involves the use of a special anti-pee paint, which splashed back on individuals who attempt to urinate on treated surfaces."

Cultural Programme Update Report

This report describes the work of the Culture Service during 2024 and sets out their priorities for 2025.

This report summarises the vision and ambitions for the Culture Service, reflects on the development and delivery of the 2024 Cultural Programme and sets out the key priorities for the 2025 Cultural Programme for the communities of Camden.

It describes how the council plans to support the borough's cultural sector, including the Cultural Education and Learning Support Fund and the Artists' Network.

The Culture Service brings together the existing arts and events team who are responsible for event management of community festivals and civic events, managing the film office and generating income through venue hire and public realm activations as well as strategically growing and protecting arts and culture in the borough and leading the Cultural Partnership –Cultural Camden, who help deliver and champion the cultural framework’s vision.

It describes the work the council is doing with young people, including the Camden Spark STEAM work experience programme and the Set Ready initiative.

The Camden Spark Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)work experience took place in between 8 – 12 July. The Culture Service supported Camden Spark to provide 23 Year 12 students with the opportunity to participate in workplace activities at Universal Music, The Roundhouse, Celebro Media, London Film School, ATG Phoenix and the October Gallery.

Set Ready is a Film Fixer initiative where they leverage their position as Camden’s film service provider to secure paid work placements on shoots in the borough. The course is entirely free and provides entry-level opportunities to those aged 19 - 54 who want to get into the film industry.

The report summarises the work of FilmFixer, Camden's film service provider, and how they have been working to secure shoots for the borough, and to promote sustainable film making.

Film Fixer lead the film service on behalf of the council. Following on from the impact of the writers strikes on filming, Camden has continued to be one of the busiest boroughs in London in 2024 with 700 shoot days.

Film Fixer lead the Generator Project, highlighting research and recommendations for a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach for the Filming and Events industry. They have secured funding from the Mayors Air Quality Fund for three years of funding to carry out 40 site visits and emissions reports. Five visits on shoots in Hampstead High Street, Flask Walk Lincolns Inn Fields, Maresfield Gardens and Malet Street have been carried out to date.

It concludes with a description of the work the council is doing to develop a new Cultural Strategy, to replace the existing Cultural Framework which is due to expire in 2025.

The existing Cultural Framework was developed in 2019 and expires in 2025. This has created the opportunity to develop a new 5-year Cultural Strategy for the borough to cover the period of 2026-2031. From July – November 2024 the service undertook an extensive consultation programme with residents, cultural organisations/partners, schools, higher education, knowledge quarter partners, representatives from the Business Improvement Districts, young people, the Disability Oversight Panel, colleagues across the council and via an online survey.