The Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee met on Thursday 8 October 2026, discussing a petition for a zebra crossing on St Barnabas Road, a petition for a water activity play area, the Year 2 review of the Cultural Strategy, biannual performance monitoring of waste and street cleansing services, and the procurement of a new tree maintenance contract. The committee approved the feasibility investigation for the zebra crossing, decided not to proceed with a water play area at this time due to financial implications, noted the progress of the Cultural Strategy, approved an updated performance reporting framework for waste services, and agreed to award a new tree maintenance contract, subject to a budget increase.

Zebra Crossing on St Barnabas Road

The committee considered a petition with 91 signatures requesting a zebra crossing on St Barnabas Road, citing safety concerns for pedestrians, including children and churchgoers, and the road's use as a rat run for speeding vehicles. Police data indicated 308 speeding violations in under nine hours, with peak speeds reaching 43 mph in a 20 mph zone. While initial monitoring showed non-compliance just below the 15% threshold for further action, officers acknowledged that a well-positioned crossing could improve safety. The committee agreed to note the petition and to carry out a feasibility investigation into the proposal, with findings to be reported back to the lead petitioner. The scheme has been suggested for inclusion in the 2027-2028 Housing Infrastructure Programme, with funding likely to come from Transport for London. Concerns were raised about potential impacts on parking and traffic displacement, but officers suggested that the direct nature of St Barnabas Road would likely keep traffic on the route.

Water Activity Play Area in Sutton

A petition with 172 signatures requested the creation of a water activity play area within Sutton. The council acknowledged the benefits of play for children's development and its commitment to accessible playground equipment. However, the report highlighted the significant upfront costs, ranging from £55,000 to £900,000, and substantial maintenance costs, from £9,000 for a six-week period to £46,000 for a season. Water play areas are also only useful for limited periods of the year and incur additional expenses for water testing and hygiene. The committee agreed to continue gathering data on water play options for the future but decided not to proceed with providing facilities at this time due to financial implications. They also agreed to explore options for private investment opportunities for water play through the planning process.

Cultural Strategy for Sutton 2024-2027: Year 2 Review

The committee reviewed the second year of the Cultural Strategy for Sutton (2024-2027), which aims to foster community cohesion and economic development. Since 2024, the council and its partners have secured £561,388 in external funding for nearly 100 cultural events. In 2026-2027, £164,925 from the Neighbourhood Impact Fund supported projects like the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival, with 68% of this funding distributed to local creatives and communities. Key outcomes included musical programmes in care homes, celebrating diversity through events like South Asian Heritage Month, and engaging families and young people. The council expressed confidence in continuing to secure external funding due to established relationships with funders such as Arts Council England and the Greater London Authority. The committee noted the progress made in the second year of the strategy.

Biannual Performance Monitoring

This report provided a biannual performance review of waste collection, street cleansing, and recycling services. Resident satisfaction remains high, with 86% satisfied with waste collections and 75% with street cleansing, exceeding London and national averages. The report highlighted ongoing challenges, such as increasing the recycling rate, which currently stands at 41%, and initiatives to expand food waste collections and target flats for recycling education. The Household Reuse and Recycling Centre at Kimpton Park Way also showed strong performance, with high satisfaction scores for safety and ease of booking. The committee noted the monitoring report and approved the updated performance reporting framework for these services.

Tree Maintenance Contract Procurement

The committee discussed the recommissioning of the tree maintenance contract, as the current agreement ends on 31 March 2027. The council is responsible for nearly 250,000 trees and, after evaluating options including shared services and insourcing, determined that recommissioning a specialist external provider is the most viable approach. A preferred bidder was identified through a two-stage procurement process. However, all submitted bids significantly exceeded the current budget due to inflation and market pressures, necessitating further financial reviews. The committee approved the award of the contract to Contractor A for a period of five years, commencing 1 April 2027, with an option to extend for a further two years, and noted that this requires an increase to the existing budget. The committee also discussed the importance of selecting resilient tree species for future planting and the challenges of recruiting and retaining a skilled arboricultural workforce. The meeting moved into an exempt session to discuss specific financial details related to the contract.