The Sustainable Development Select Committee met on Thursday, 18 July 2024, to discuss active travel and sustainable streets, the Community Asset Policy, and the committee's work programme. Key decisions included the election of Councillor James Royston as Chair and Councillor Sian Eiles as Vice-Chair, and the recommendation to explore convening a forum for community groups to support them in managing and maintaining their assets.

Active Travel and Sustainable Streets

The committee received an update on the strategic programme to improve active travel in the borough, highlighting available funding and recent milestones. Seamus Adams, Head of Commercial Operations and Development, and Zahur Khan, Director of Public Realm, responded to questions regarding parking permit income allocation, the integration of controlled parking zones with street improvements, and the ongoing consideration of a borough-wide electric vehicle charging programme. Measures to allow residents to pay for parking permits in instalments were also discussed.

Councillor Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Climate Action, noted that London Councils was working on a pan-London agreement for micromobility, which would aim for better competition between providers and improved regulation. She also highlighted Lewisham's strong performance in implementing school streets.

The committee resolved to request further information on Lime bike hire numbers, the costs of implementing e-bike bays, the timing of Local Implementation Plan (LIP) and climate action investment funded projects, and improvements to or new crossings in the borough. They also recommended that officers consider 'Swiss style' signs indicating distances between walking and cycling locations.

Community Asset Policy

Petra Marshall, Senior Programme Manager, introduced the draft Community Asset Policy, which aims to align community asset use with the Council's corporate priorities and strengthen the capacity of Voluntary Community Sector (VCS) organisations. The policy seeks to regularise tenancy arrangements, introduce fair rent setting, and clarify responsibilities for repairs and maintenance.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about ensuring ongoing access to community assets for a range of groups and communities. It was recommended that a database of trusted traders be compiled for use by community groups and that consideration be given to a small charge to support a resource within the Council for coordinating skills sharing and knowledge between community groups.

The committee resolved to recommend that officers consider convening a forum for community groups to support them with managing and maintaining their assets, continue to implement principles of openness and transparency, and that tenants sign up to a set of principles to ensure open access and fair operation. Consideration was also to be given to whether a small increase in rates could provide centralised capacity for coordination and support for providers. The register of community assets was to be provided to the committee.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee considered its work programme for the 2024-25 municipal year. Suggestions for inclusion comprised support for electric vehicle adoption, the Catford Regeneration Programme, retrofitting, Lewisham Town Centre Regeneration/Levelling Up, and a re-evaluation of community infrastructure funding. Officer suggestions included a waste services review, and issues arising from previous scrutiny such as the climate emergency action plan and flood risk management.

The committee resolved that its work programme for 2024-25 be submitted for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.