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Cabinet NOTED
the comments made by Mr Alastair Balfour (as a local resident in
Queens Park and lead petitioner) in support of a petition
containing over 1,400 signatures requesting that the Council
reconsider the Queen’s Park Healthy Neighbourhood proposals
given concerns in relation to their design and the engagement
process undertaken by MP Smarter Travel.  In introducing the petition, Mr Balfour informed
Cabinet that, whilst the proposals would appear to benefit
residents in the area, many had experienced disruption caused by
the current traffic restrictions and therefore felt the proposals
being consulted upon were ill conceived, unfair and would lead to
problems being pushed on to less fortunate neighbours in other
parts of the ward creating division and potentially creating a risk
to the health and safety to the many children attending schools on
the boundary roads as a result of displaced traffic, increasing
congestion and pollution.
 
As a result of
the concerns raised on the approach adopted, it was felt damage was
being caused to the community and trust in the Council which had
resulted (since an MP Smarter Travel engagement event at the start
of November 24) in the petition being presented having received
over 1,400 signatures, a leaflet being produced and delivered to
2,000 residents, a video objecting to the proposals being
circulated on social media, and newspapers picking up the
story.
 
Concerns were
also raised in relation to the engagement process being undertaken
by MP Smarter Travel, which the petitioners felt to be flawed and
unreliable.  In terms of specific issues
highlighted, the engagement materials were felt to be confusing and
to lack technical analysis, with changes to the online
questionnaire mid engagement process not having been effectively
communicated.  Outlining widespread
opposition to the options, including from those who it appeared
would benefit from the scheme, Alastair Balfour also queried the
focus of MP Smarter Travel’s role on modal shift rather than
as traffic management experts, which it was felt had resulted in a
lack of clear objectives and indicators of success or
failure.  Whilst recognising that the
issue was highly complex the petitioners, as a way forward, felt
that if Cabinet wished to improve the situation then there was a
need to go back to basics with joined up thinking, taking into
account all stakeholders. Recognising the budgetary constraints on
the Council, Mr Balfour proposed that officers should look to
utilise the skills and resources that existed within the community
to assist in developing a project roadmap and identifying solutions
to ensure transparent engagement and community support in seeking
to deliver a healthy neighbourhood scheme that worked for
everybody.  In supporting a process of
wider engagement and transparent co-operation it was hoped that the
Council would be willing to work with the local community to
deliver a successful scheme recognising the balance needing to be
achieved.
 
In summing up,
Alastair Balfour thanked Councillor Muhammed Butt for the
opportunity to address the Cabinet in relation to the petition and
for the confirmation it would be considered as part of the
engagement process, and as a final way forward concluded by seeking
a commitment on the following actions:
·            
To stop what the petitioners felt was the flawed MP
Smarter Travel engagement process;
·            
To halt all hyper local traffic schemes until
data-led area impact assessments had been
conducted;
·            
To sit down with local community representatives to
define the most pressing traffic issues (focussed on boundary roads
and schools) and agree a process roadmap the whole community could
support and commit resource behind, based on transparency in terms
of data sharing and communication with the petitioners also keen to
ensure lessons were learnt from the current experience in seeking
to develop a scheme that would support the Council’s
objectives for healthy neighbourhoods whilst also prioritising
health, safety, equality, prosperity and quality of life across the
entire neighbourhood.
 
In response,
Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment and
Enforcement) thanked Mr Balfour for attending Cabinet in order to
ensure the views of those supporting the petition were
presented.  In outlining the
Council’s shared commitment to traffic road safety and the
promotion of sustainable travel options Councillor Krupa Sheth also
acknowledged there were strong views within the community on how
best to tackle these issues involving a range of diverse
opinions.  Pointing out that residents
had consistently called for measures to reduce traffic, improve
safety and enable more active modes of travel the difficulty in
balancing the differing views on how to achieve these objectives
effectively and fairly were also highlighted and recognised as
requiring an inclusive approach.
 
On this basis,
Councillor Krupa Sheth took the opportunity to reassure the
petitioners that no decisions had been made on the proposals at
this stage, with the activity undertaken to date purely designed as
an engagement exercise in order to better understand the views of
all members of the community with the feedback provided playing a
central role in shaping any future decisions.  In response to concerns raised relating to the
role of MP Smarter Travel, the petitioners were advised they had
been commissioned to collect evidence through a variety of methods
to ensure inclusivity which had included face to face engagement
and pop up events designed to reach groups less able to participate
through traditional channels such as those digitally excluded or
others unable to attend specific sessions.
 
In concluding
her response, Councillor Krupa Sheth acknowledged and welcomed the
invaluable contributions from local residents and resident groups
who it was recognised had worked hard to provide a wide range of
feedback that would be carefully reviewed and reaffirmed the
Council’s commitment to listen and engage with the community
throughout the process to determine the best path forward,
reflecting the needs and aspirations of the community and ensure
local neighbourhoods remained safe, healthier and sustainable for
everyone.
 
Councillor Nerva
(as local ward councillor) advised he was also keen to endorse the
remarks made by Councillor Krupa Sheth and the iterative approach
being taken by the Council to deliver this work and continue
learning throughout the process.
 
In bringing the
item to close, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader) also took the
opportunity to assure the petitioners that the concerns raised
would be considered as part of bringing this work forward. He
acknowledged that whilst there were many different opinions, these
would all be captured and fedback in
order to develop a way forward designed to work for all to ensure
the delivery of a healthy neighbourhood.