The agenda for this meeting included an interview with a Cabinet Member, presentations and discussions about encouraging community gardening, active travel, biodiversity corridors, provision of cycle parking and commissioning for behaviour change, a briefing and update on estate waste, a response to two draft Supplementary Planning Documents, and a discussion of the work programme.

Waste on Estates

Seven estates - the Setchel Estate, the Rouel Road Estate, the Lettsom Estate, the Aylesbury Estate, the Pullens Estate, the Newington Estate and the Brimmington Estate - were identified as having particular issues with waste. A report pack presented to the committee included the following about why these estates were identified:

Waste on estates can be an issue for various reasons including the following:

• Missed waste collections – often due to lack of access, eg due to parked cars.
• Insufficient container capacity for the volumes of waste produced – especially recycling bins.
• Use of estate containers for disposal of household waste from residents not living on the estate or for disposal of commercial waste.
• Contamination of recycling containers which cannot be emptied by recycling collection crews
• Broken/inadequate/unsafe chute systems (storey level and chute chambers), including chutes that are too small to fit bags into, leading to residents leaving waste in stairwells and next to chute hoppers.
• Waste container theft - roughly 40 skip type containers have been stolen in the last few years, and around 200 metal communal. These are all from council estates where bins are more easily stolen due to lack of security.
• Insufficient storage capacity for residual and/or recycling waste containers leading to residents having to fill bins to overflowing point, and then put bagged waste on the floor.
• Waste containers being stored in the open - this both attracts vermin, and increases thefts risks, and can also attract abuse such as fly-tipping on estates.
• Residents leaving waste at storey level, or making no attempt to use working chute systems, or not simply placing waste in available containers provided.
• Bulky waste fly-tipping – this is habitual on most estates
• Poor original estate design – including pedestrianised estates with no vehicular access for collections, resulting in bins being stored on the edge of estates where they are often misused by non- residents
• Challenges in providing space and storage for recycling containers in old blocks that were only designed for storage and collection of a single stream ie. residual waste.

The report pack set out the issues on each estate and the proposed solutions. The report pack included proposals for consultations with residents, but did not say whether these had happened. The document proposed that the plans would be formally approved in Spring 2025.

Interview with the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks & Young People

The agenda included an item for an interview with Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks & Young People. Councillor Mwangangye's portfolio covers a wide range of areas including leisure centres, parks, green spaces, biodiversity, trees, gardening, and young people.

Environmental Health Review: Active Travel and Biodiversity Corridors

The agenda included a presentation of a report on active travel and biodiversity corridors. The report noted Southwark's commitment to protecting biodiversity, making nature accessible, and promoting active travel.

The report suggested that improving access to green spaces through active travel can have significant public health benefits, particularly for residents experiencing deprivation. The document referred to the Southwark Nature Action Plan, the Southwark Environment Scrutiny Review Report, the 'Healthy Environment' goal, and the 'Staying Well' goal from Southwark's plan for 2030.

The report explored various types of green corridors, including:

• Strategic nature corridors which prioritise nature. The report notes that such corridors are often less suited for active travel due to a lack of access/infrastructure. Examples given in the report are railway sidings and cuttings, and the Albion Channel.
• Pedestrian nature corridors which combine wildlife routes with active travel routes. Examples given in the report include Surrey Canal Walk, Green Dale, Kirkwood Road Nature Garden, Deal Porters Walk, and Brenchley Gardens.

The report went on to discuss various examples of green corridor projects including:

• The North Bermondsey Wildlife Corridor which aims to connect St James's Churchyard to Southwark Park.
• The North Camberwell Wildlife Corridor which aims to connect Burgess Park with three other local nature areas.
• The Low Line
• B-Lines - a national scheme to develop pollinator pathways.

The report also discussed the role of existing parks and open spaces in providing opportunities for both biodiversity and active travel. These areas provide extensive path networks, vehicle-free shortcuts and exercise routes alongside wildlife habitats.

The report also acknowledged potential conflicts between active travel and biodiversity. The report pack said:

Considerations for active travel and biodiversity

• Requirements for additional safety infrastructure for active travel, such as lighting, hard standing, can have negative impacts on biodiversity.
• Increased pedestrians, cyclists, dogs, etc. can have negative impact on biodiversity, e.g. through soil compaction, disturbing wildlife, collisions, or trampling plants.
• The best green corridors for wildlife are often places where active travel is not possible or encouraged, e.g. railway sidings.
• However, better infrastructure can both protect wildlife by keeping people on specific routes and promote active travel. For example, planned pathway improvements for LWT’s ‘Reuniting Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods’ project will keep walkers to the paths, protecting wildlife and making the woods more accessible to those with diverse mobility requirements.

The report pack included information about the involvement of various organisations including:

• Trees for Bermondsey (TfB)
• Southwark Nature Action Volunteer (SNAV)
• Elmington Community Gardens
• Friends of Burgess Park
• Better Bankside
• Blue Bermondsey
• Borough Market
• Team London Bridge
• The Arch Company
• Buglife
• London Wildlife Trust
• Black Girls Hike
• Bankside Open Spaces Trust
• Surrey Docks Farm
• Walworth Garden
• The Conservation Volunteers

Environmental Health Review: Provision of Cycle Hangers and Commissioning for Behaviour Change

The agenda included a presentation of a report on the provision of cycle hangars and the commissioning of behaviour change schemes. The report provided background on Southwark's active travel strategy and highlighted initiatives aimed at encouraging cycling.

The report noted the importance of cycle hangars in providing secure cycle parking and said:

Cycle hangars are the primary secure cycle parking facility the council offers that is available to all residents.

The report included information about Southwark Council's participation in Transport for London's e-scooter trial and the recent trial of e-bikes.

The report also listed various other active travel initiatives in Southwark, including:

1. Travel Training Bus
2. Pedestrian Training
3. Active Travel Maps
4. Southwark Cycle Fest
5. Free Cycle Training
6. Try Before You Bike
7. Second Hand Bike Markets
8. Bike Marking
9. Fix a Bike
10. BetterPoints
11. Walking Diary - Walk to School Week
12. Parent/Carer Coffee Mornings
13. Theatre in Education
14. Children Design a Road Sign to Slow Down Traffic
15. TfL ‘Travel for Life’

Environmental Health Review : Encouraging More Diverse Community Gardening and Food Growing

The agenda included an item for a review of environmental health relating to community gardening and food growing. The only information in the report pack about this item is the names of the people who would be attending the meeting:

• Racheal Dring : Capital Growth (London's largest food growing network) and Sustain
• Community Gardener Coordinators
• Idman Abdurahaman, Co-Director, Earth Tenders CIC

Climate and Environment & Householder SPD

The agenda included an item to allow the Commission to consider its response to the Climate and Environment SPD and the Householder Development SPD.