The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss a food waste service update, the active travel strategy consultation, a school streets programme review, and homes in multiple occupancy.

Active Travel Strategy

The sub-committee was scheduled to scrutinise the Active Travel Strategy Consultation document and Active Travel Summary Document. Officers were expected to present slides on the subject.

The Havering Active Travel Strategy outlines an approach to improving streets, paths and spaces for walking, wheeling and cycling in the borough. The strategy aims to provide alternatives to car use, improving social, environmental and economic conditions by making active travel more accessible.

The strategy intends to achieve goals related to transport, sustainable travel, less traffic and Vision Zero¹. Indirectly, it hopes to benefit people's wellbeing, social equality, climate resilience, economy recovery and housing growth.

To achieve its vision, the council will plan and implement measures under seven themes:

• Infrastructure, physical routes and network development
• Collaboration, engagement, behaviour change and outreach
• Funding
• Policy, design guidance and data
• Traffic management, road safety and road operations
• Travel Information
• Micromobility & access to cycles

The strategy includes an action plan presented by each of the seven themes, along with the expected timeframe and wider policy alignment.

The foreword to the strategy from Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Cabinet Member for Environment, notes that the strategy sets out a bold vision and comprehensive action plan for the next 15 years . It is aligned with the National Gear Change Vision and Mayor's Transport Strategy for London, and has been developed in consultation with local stakeholders.

The strategy recognises challenges in terms of traffic congestion, air pollution, and inactivity-related health issues. It aims to make Havering a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable place to live, work and visit by prioritising active travel.

School Streets Programme Review

The sub-committee was scheduled to note a report on the School Streets Programme, covering modal shift, traffic displacement, air quality and perception surveys. The report puts forward options for recommendations for taking the School Street Programme forward in future phases.

School Streets zones are enforced through ANPR². Entering a School Street zone during the times of operation may incur a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if the vehicles are not granted an exemption permit.

The report notes that School Streets support several sub regional and local policies, including the Mayor of London's Healthy Streets agenda, Policy 23 of the adopted Havering Local Plan Transport Connections, Havering's Air Quality Action Plan and Climate Change Action Plan.

The report presents findings from monitoring carried out on the first three phases of the School Streets Programme:

• 12 out of 17 schools experienced an increase in the percentage of pupils travelling actively to and from school
• 11 out of 17 schools saw a decrease in car use
• 3 out of 17 schools saw an increase in pupils travelling by public transport
• 13 roads showed displaced traffic through surveys
• 60% of respondents said the surrounding streets feel more congested at drop-off and pick-up
• 51% of respondents said there has been no effect on air quality outside the school at drop-off and pick-up
• 66% of parents surveyed said a school street feels safer for children to walk/cycle/scoot on the street at drop-off and pick-up
• 21% respondents said the School Street has seen them walk to school more
• 46% of respondents said crossing the road outside the school gate feels fairly safe and 38% saying very safe
• 48% of respondents said it feels fairly safe and 44% very safe to walk, cycle or scoot on the street outside the school gate

The report notes that a School Street simply isn't a viable option for each and every school in the borough. Officers intend to identify further schools to be considered for School Street zones following implementation of Phase 4b in the New Year.

Food Waste Service Update

The sub-committee was scheduled to note a report on the food waste service update.

The Environment Act 2021 requires local authorities to provide a weekly separate collection of food waste to all households by 31 March 2026. Havering has received capital funding of £1.89m to contribute towards the purchase of vehicles and containers.

Havering's food waste collection vehicles are due to be delivered in September-October 2026. Officers are procuring food waste caddies and liners via a procurement framework to ensure that these can be distributed to coincide with the vehicle arrivals, ready for service commencement from October 2026.

The council has in its budget £4.0m annually to cover the service costs from year 1 (2026/27) onwards, however there is an expectation that DEFRA³ will fund approximately £1.5m annually.

Havering's Communications Team will continue to play a role in ensuring that the public is kept updated on the service rollout, to ensure residents are well informed and enable a good take-up of the service.

Homes in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs)

The sub-committee was scheduled to receive an update on HMOs. Members have asked to understand the position with HMOs picture as a whole in Havering, both licensed and unlicensed properties.

Members have asked for information on the HMO Consultation Response, the numbers of reports of suspected unlicensed HMOs, inspections carried out, and enforcement measures undertaken.

Members have also asked for information on Unlicensed HMOs as well as details of the total numbers of HMOs, broken down by ward.