The Publishable Officer Decisions meeting included reports on active travel, weed removal, Transport for London (TfL) grant funding, and pavement improvements. The reports pack contains information on the decisions that officers are authorised to make.

Active Travel Action Plans

The adoption of two new transport action plans, the Walking and Wheeling Action Plan and the Cycling Action Plan, were included in the report pack. These plans aim to boost active travel in the borough, aligning with Hounslow's Transport Strategy to meet sustainable mode share targets and enhance health outcomes.

The Walking and Wheeling Action Plan focuses on increasing walking and wheeling (defined as moving with wheels at walking pace, such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs or luggage, but not including bikes or e-scooters). The plan identifies six themes:

• Changing travel behaviour
• Enhancing the walking and wheeling network
• Maps and wayfinding
• Pavement maintenance and coordination
• Sustainability
• Local centres and new development

The report pack notes that a route identification exercise and audits were undertaken with the public and stakeholders, which identified seven key issues:

• Quality of surfacing
• Quality of crossings (dropped kerbs)
• Resting places
• Obstructions
• Inclines
• Quality of crossings (missing phases)
• Wayfinding

The Cycling Action Plan builds on previous work to improve cycling infrastructure, parking, and training. It focuses on three areas:

• Priority Cycle Network
• Cycle Parking
• Behavioural change

The report pack notes that formal consultation on the draft Cycling Action Plan was undertaken from October 2024 to January 2025, and that minor changes were identified including:

Strengthening the role of micromobility including reference to the borough's existing dockless hire scheme.

Detailing the actions that the council is already taking with the Metropolitan Police to tackle illegal e-bikes and e-scooters.

The report pack also includes the walking and wheeling action plan¹ and the cycling action plan² as appendices.

Weed Removal Programme

A one-off budget of £285,000 was included for discussion, to commission Hounslow Highways to start the 2025/26 Weed Removal Programme. The funding would come from the Parking Revenue Account (PRA).

The council restricted the use of herbicides in 2020, but since then, weed growth has increased. The report pack notes that weed-related complaints have increased from 461 in 2020/21 to 1202 in 2023/24.

The proposal is to use herbicide treatments as part of an integrated weed management approach. The funding would allow for up to two spray treatments with more operatives. The council and its contractors would monitor the impact of the treatment.

TfL Local Implementation Plan Grant Funding

The report pack included a recommendation to accept and allocate £1,781,000 of TfL grant funding to fund projects outlined in Appendix 1 of the report. The funding is allocated across several programmes:

• Safer Corridors and Neighbourhoods (£1,165,000)
• Better Bus Partnerships (£20,000)
• Cycleways Network Development (£247,000)
• Bus Priority (£165,000)
• Cycle Training (£87,000)
• Cycle Parking (£97,000)

The report pack notes that the council submitted applications for Safer Streets and Better Bus Partnerships discretionary funds but was unsuccessful.

Pavement Pledge Budget Allocation

The report pack included a recommendation to approve the allocation of £2 million for the Pavement Pledge, an administration promise to invest in pavements across the borough.

The pledge criteria were set by the Lead Member and communicated to all 62 ward councillors. The funds would allow a programme of works to begin in spring 2025, with the remaining funds to be delivered in summer/autumn 2025, and a small number of closure schemes in March 2026.

The report pack notes that all ward councillors were consulted during the discovery and scoping phase of the pledge.