Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the guidance be agreed.

There were apologies for absence from Councillors Beales, Callaghan and Olszewski.

No declarations were made.

Webcasting of the Meeting

The Chair to announce the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record and film public meetings, I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and will be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available to those that request them.

If you are seated in the chamber it is likely that the Council’s cameras will capture your image and you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes.  If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast unless you have already indicated that you do not wish this to happen.

If you wish to avoid appearing on the Council’s webcast you should move to one of the galleries.”

Any Other Announcements

The Chair reminded those present that the meeting was being broadcast live by the Council to the internet and could be viewed for twelve months thereafter and then archived and made available on request. Anyone who had asked to address the meeting was deemed to be consenting to having their contribution recorded and broadcast and to the use of the sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

Requests to address the Cabinet on a matter on its agenda must be made in writing to the clerk named on the front of this agenda by 5pm two working days before the meeting.

Deputations were heard from the following in relation to items on the agenda.

Item 10.

- Juman Kubba

Item 11.

-   Camden Resident,

-  John Wood, Vice Chair of Camden Town District Management Committee (DMC) with Peter Wright, Chair of Holborn DMC and

-  Momota Khatoon, Vice Chair of Kentish Town DMC

Item 14.

- Georgina McGivern, Camden Clean Air Initiative, with Jeffrey Young and Valeria Pensabene

Item 15.

- Jeremy Leach, London Living Streets

The deputees were thanked for their contributions.

There was no notification.

On occasions part of a Cabinet meeting will be held in private and not open to the public, if an item is being considered which is likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt or confidential information. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, members of the public can make representations about why that part of the meeting should be open to the public.

No such representations were received in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no exempt matters for consideration on this agenda. No representations were received.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th November 2022.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th November 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting items referred from a Council Scrutiny Committee requiring urgent consideration will be taken.

There were no matters referred.

Please note that there were no alternative options considered or rejected by the Cabinet for the following items, unless indicated, although Cabinet Members duly considered, where applicable, options listed within the reports.

Report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden

This report seeks approval from Cabinet, having considered the relevant background and policy context, and consultation responses to the proposed cycling, pedestrian and road safety changes to High Holborn, Drake Street, Procter Street, Red Lion Square and Southampton Row, with measures to protect bus journey times and to improve public realm in the area.

The proposed changes include:

·                Increasing cycle boxes from 5m to 7.5m at the junction of Theobalds Road and Drake Street

·                Reducing Drake Street & Procter Street to one traffic lane and one bus lane permitting taxis and cycle, to allow space for a segregated cycle track. Bus stops and stands would be relocated and consolidated.

·                Permitting two-way cycling in and out of Red Lion Square.

·                Adding a “cycle gate” on Procter Street at the junction with High Holborn and a separate signalised cycle lane on High Holborn, approaching Procter Street, to provide further road safety benefits for people cycling.

·                Adding a cycle early release and bigger cycle box at the junction of High Holborn and Southampton Row, with two-stage right turn facilities, and buff-coloured surfaces at pedestrian crossings.

·                Extending the existing southbound bus lane (also permitting taxis and cycles) on Southampton Row from Catton Street through the junction to 20m south of High Holborn.  The bus lane would operate 24 hours a day as far as Remnant Street.

·                Changing the ahead & right turn lane on Kingsway north to a right turn only into Remnant Street.

·                Relocating the existing loading bay on High Holborn by 50m, with loading permitted 24 hours a day.  East of Procter Street allowing loading but banning parking on the north side of High Holborn between the hours of 7pm-7am, with a new cycle facility provided east of Procter Street outside of loading hours.

·                Providing loading on Procter Street on the approach to High Holborn, permitted 7pm-7am.

·                Improvements to public realm in the area by adding planting including rain gardens.

·                 

The report also proposes the following changes to the final scheme design following the consultation.

·                 Introduce contra flow cycling on Catton Street.

·                 On Fisher Street, introduce a westbound exit onto Southampton Row for     cycles only, as well as improved wayfinding for eastbound cyclists to improve the connection to Red Lion Square and also to provide an alternative southbound route from Southampton Row to High Holborn that avoids the Theobalds Road/Drake Street junction.

The proposed layout drawing for the scheme can be found in Appendix A.

The decision is being considered by Cabinet as the significant size and complexity of the changes (especially in the context of the road safety challenges in this location) is deemed to merit a Cabinet-level decision, in line with Camden’s agreed governance process for traffic schemes.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden that set out the proposed cycling, pedestrian and road safety improvements to High Holborn, Drake Street, Procter Street, Red Lion Square and Southampton Row, along with other “Healthy Street” improvements in the area. This included better pedestrian facilities, additional plants and trees, and new/extended operating hours of bus lanes. This decision was being sought in response to the history of cyclist fatalities in the Holborn area. 

The proposed cycling, pedestrian and road safety changes and measures to protect bus journey times to improve the public realm were welcomed. In response to whether consideration had been given to whether bus lanes should be open to use by powered two wheeled vehicles, it was confirmed that this had been looked at but the current position was that their use in bus lanes would not be permitted.      

RESOLVED –

(i)         THAT the proposed changes to High Holborn, Drake Street & Procter Street, as set out in Section 2, subject to compliance with relevant statutory requirements be approved; and

(ii)    THAT authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Sustainability to take any further decisions required for this scheme.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes

This report sets out the context, aims, delivery proposals, process, estimated budget and proposed governance for the Overcrowding Strategy. The proposals will enable the Council to provide more support to overcrowded families and buy back former Right to Buy (ex-Council) homes in Borough to increase the number of bedrooms and bed spaces so that more overcrowded families on the housing register can be accommodated in Council homes, using receipts from small and/ or unsuitable properties. 

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes that set out the context, aims, delivery proposals, process, estimated budget and proposed governance for the Overcrowding Strategy.

Within the current challenges of meeting housing needs, the strategy was welcomed as a positive step towards addressing the shortage of social housing and providing appropriate family friendly homes for Camden. 

The deputations were thanked again for their contributions.  

RESOLVED -

(i)             THAT the Housing Support Initiatives Plan set out in Paragraph 2 (2.6.1) to (2.6.5) of the report be agreed

(ii)           THAT the Family Friendly Housing Purchase Programme (FFHPP) delivery plan set out in paragraphs 2 (2.4.1) to 2 (2.4.10) to increase the amount of family friendly accommodation in the Borough be agreed and to include:

a)      Adopting the Family Friendly Housing Purchase Programme assessment process to identify properties as suitable for retention as family friendly housing or to generate funds to increase family friendly bedrooms and bedspaces as set out in Paragraph 2 and Appendix 1 and Appendix 2

b)      Nominating Camden Living Ltd as ‘preferred purchaser’ for the FFHPP (subject to viability, legal compliance and Camden Living’s own decision making) with Camden Living purchasing properties at market rent

c)       The Fast Track Process for purchasing new family friendly homes as set out in Paragraph 2 be adopted

(iii)          THAT all further decision making to deliver the Overcrowding Strategy be delegated to the Executive Director Supporting Communities, in consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Services, the Borough Solicitor and the Cabinet Members for Better Homes, for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment, and for Finance and Cost of Living.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living

This report considers the options for a Council Tax Support (CTS) for the year 2023/24.

The report is coming to the Cabinet because The Local Government Finance Act 2012 amends the Local Government Finance Act 1992 which sets out the requirement for the Council to agree a local council tax reduction scheme on an annual basis.

Camden’s current scheme, launched in 2020/21, remains one of the most generous Council Tax Support schemes in the country with income bands based on London Living Wage, ensuring that 15,999 households (including pensioners) in Camden currently receive 100% support and do not pay any Council Tax. 

The coronavirus pandemic saw the number of claimants increase substantially due to changes in income and circumstances.  However, since restrictions lifted, caseload numbers have not returned to pre pandemic numbers as the number of households getting 100% CTS support has only fallen by 353 cases since October 2021. 

The current cost-of-living crisis adds further risk of significant changes to people’s employment and financial situations as residents struggle to afford the cost of food, energy and housing.  As a result, it is proposed that the current scheme remains in place for 2023/24, with minor updates only in line with legislative changes over the past year which have no negative impacts on our residents, so that the Council can provide certainty for residents.  Income bands will also be uplifted in line with the new levels for London Living Wage, meaning those with disabilities or children can earn up to £537.75 a week and still receive support.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living that set out the options for a support scheme that would provide  significant support for residents on low incomes by reducing the cost of Council Tax.   

Sitting within the context of the Cost Of Living Crisis, the proposals in the report were welcomed as providing greatly needed support with Council Tax and an uplift to income for Camden’s residents at a time of increased financial hardship.  

RESOLVED –

i)        THAT Cabinet recommends to full Council that the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme, be updated with minor wording amendments to reflect legislative changes made by central Government (as explained in paragraph 2.4 of the report) and as set out in Appendix B continues from 1 April 2023, and that a review be carried out in the summer of 2023 in order for a decision in January 2024, to consider options for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2024/25. 

ii)      THAT Cabinet recommends to full Council that the Director of Customer Services be delegated authority to make changes to the scheme during 2023/24 to reflect any requirements set by Government to either the prescribed regulations for pensioners or the local working age scheme and to ensure the scheme remains legally consistent and up to date as the legislation changes.

Report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden

This report provides Cabinet with the opportunity to consider and approve a new Flood Risk Management Strategy for Camden. The Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider the report and make any recommendations to Cabinet.

The report explains that the Council has a statutory duty to produce a Flood risk Management Strategy under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, in the Council’s role as Lead Local Flood Authority for Camden. It goes on to state how the Thames Basin Flood Risk Management Plan and Flood Investigation report into 2021 flooding in Camden supported the development of the Strategy.

The report provides an overview of the Flood Risk Management Strategy, explaining the key risks of sewer and surface water flooding in geographically defined flood risk areas. The report outlines how the Council and key stakeholders will respond by delivering flood risk management schemes and increasing preparedness for future flooding events.

The report also summarises the consultation process, including data gathering to thoroughly investigate recent flooding in Camden, engagement with key stakeholders, and public consultation, which concluded with support for the proposed approach. The report then outlines the aim to publish the Strategy if approved by Cabinet and to deliver the Strategy over the next 5 years.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden that explained the Council’s statutory duty to produce a Flood Risk Management Strategy. The report also included how the Thames Basin Flood Risk Management Plan and Flood Investigation report into 2021 flooding in Camden supported the development of the Strategy.

With an expectation of further incidents of extreme weather, the reduction of flood risk in the borough was a priority and the report outlined how the Council and key stakeholders would respond by delivering flood risk management schemes and increasing preparedness for future flooding events.

The schemes to help address heavy rainfall events and the work of officers in the Camden community were welcomed.   

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the Flood Risk Management Strategy set out at Appendix 1 be adopted;

(ii)            THAT it be noted, subject to 3 (below), that the Flood Risk Management Strategy will be delivered under existing delegations to officers; and

(iii)          THAT should existing delegations to officers not cover the actions and steps required to put the Flood Risk Management Strategy into effect, that authority be delegated to the Executive Director Supporting Communities to implement and monitor the Flood Risk Management Strategy.

Report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden

This report provides Cabinet with the opportunity to consider a new statutory Clean Air Action Plan for Camden, and also a new long-term strategy for cleaner air in Camden – the Camden Clean Air Strategy 2019-2034. The Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider the report and make any recommendations to Cabinet.

The report details the Council’s statutory duty to publish a new Clean Air Action Plan in 2023, in fulfilment of the Local Air Quality Management framework under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995.

The report provides an overview of the context of air quality in Camden before summarising the structure of the Camden Clean Air Action Plan 2023-2026 and the Camden Clean Air Strategy 2019-2034. The report then goes on to describe

the public consultation on the Clean Air Action Plan and Camden Clean Air Strategy which took place as part of the ongoing commitment to co-design the Council’s approach for delivering clean air for Camden in a way which addresses community priorities and tackles the inequitable effect of air pollution on vulnerable people and specific protected groups.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden that provided details of the new statutory Clean Air Action Plan for Camden, and also a new long-term strategy for cleaner air in Camden, the Camden Clean Air Strategy 2019-2034. Together they set out the Council’s approach for delivering clean air for Camden that addressed community priorities and tackled the inequitable effect of air pollution on vulnerable people and specific protected groups. 

The Camden Clean Air Initiative were thanked for their work in the borough and work in schools. Their highlighting of the issue of poor indoor air quality was also welcomed. 

Camden had made a commitment to working towards the World Health Organisation’s stringent guidelines for air quality with the vision that air quality should not affect the health of it’s citizens. 

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the adoption of the Camden Clean Air Action Plan 2023-2026 and the Camden Clean Air Strategy 2019-2034 set out in Appendix 1  be approved,

(ii)            THAT it be noted, subject to 3 (below), the Clean Air Action Plan will be delivered under existing delegations to officers and

(iii)          THAT should existing delegations to officers not cover the actions and steps required to put the plan into effect, authority be delegated to the Executive Director Supporting Communities to implement and monitor the Clean Air Action Plan

Report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden

Transport plays an integral part in the lives of Camden residents and those who visit, work and study in the Borough. Creating healthier, greener, safer streets and travel can improve our public realm, support business and enterprise, help make our Borough more resilient to the climate emergency, improve air quality and public health outcomes.  Since the Camden Transport Strategy (CTS) was adopted (2019) we’ve delivered multiple, transformational “Healthy Street” changes across the Borough that support those outcomes. This includes the substantial completion of the £35m West End Project, over 16km of new segregated cycle lanes, rolling out Safe & Healthy Streets (through-traffic restriction) measures to several neighbourhoods, rapid delivery of our Healthy School Street programme, new and extended bus lanes, and expansion of secure cycle parking and electric vehicle charging points. We’ve rolled out hire bikes and e-scooters, cycle training and schools-based road safety schemes. We’re currently ranked 4^th amongst all London Boroughs by the independent “Healthy Streets Scorecard” assessment.

This report summarises progress so far, and details of the CTS Delivery Plan 2022/23-2024/25, with proposals to continue to deliver at pace to achieve our strategic objectives. It also includes proposals for allocations of Transport for London (TfL) “Local Implementation Plan” (LIP) funding for Camden for 23/24 and 24/25 (a part of the wider Delivery Plan) to be submitted to Transport for London.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden. 

The report provided a review of the Camden Transport Strategy (CTS) progress since 2019 and details of the CTS Delivery Plan 2022/23-2024/25. This included proposals to continue to deliver healthier, greener, safer streets and travel that would improve public realm, support business and enterprise and help make Camden more resilient to the climate emergency, improve air quality and public health outcomes. The transport plans included a range of projects to support walking and cycling journeys, with traffic free schemes and a cross Camden Cycleway.

In response to comments about how the ward based consultations on particular schemes had been carried out/implemented the Cabinet Member advised that some schemes had been implemented on a trial basis and there continued to be opportunities for ongoing conversations about local changes.

RESOLVED –

(i)      THAT progress in delivering the Camden Transport Strategy since April 2019 and the previously approved in-year Delivery Plan programme (2022/23) be noted

(ii)    THAT the proposed strategic Camden Transport Strategy Delivery Plan for 2023/24 and 2024/25 subject to scheme-by-scheme decision, consultation & equality considerations, and funding be approved; and

(iii)   THAT the proposed Local Implementation Plan submission to Transport for London for 2023/24 and 2024/25 be approved

Report of the Borough Solicitor 

This is the London Borough of Camden’s annual complaints report for the period 1^st April 2021 to 31^st March 2022.

It is a single report that includes information on complaints across all directorates. The report also provides information for decisions issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and the Housing Ombudsman (HO) in the same period.

The report also includes information on other types of formal enquiries which are often linked to complaints:

-       Member Enquiries and MP Enquiries.

-       Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests.

-       Judicial Reviews

The Council’s Constitution states that the Ombudsman decisions on cases where there have been mistakes or failings (called “maladministration”) should be presented to Cabinet on an annual basis for their information only. Therefore, the report provides the decisions issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and the Housing Ombudsman (HO) in the same period and this report will be presented to Cabinet on 14^th December 2022.

The report, how it is presented and what it contains, continues to develop and evolve and as in previous years suggestions for improvements are sought from Members.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Solicitor that provided information on complaints across all directorates. This included information about decisions issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Housing Ombudsman, as well as other types of formal enquiries which were linked to complaints. 

Camden’s transparent complaints and formal enquiries process provided a regular and rich source of feedback from residents that informed the Council about when things had gone wrong. The annual reporting of complaints was taken seriously and the learning from this information had provided the opportunity to improve services by identifying trends and where additional resources were needed to support Camden’s citizens.

RESOLVED –

THAT the contents of the report be noted.

Report of the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment

This report seeks approval of the draft Euston Area Plan Update for consultation and engagement.  The consultation will focus on the draft document and is proposed to run for six weeks from early January 2023. 

This report outlines the work completed to date in preparing the update to the Euston Area Plan and the broad content of the proposed updates to the plan which is proposed for consultation.

The Council’s Constitution requires all strategic planning policy documents to be agreed by Cabinet.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment that was seeking approval for public consultation on the draft Euston Area Plan (EAP) update. 

The report outlined the EAP work that had been completed and included the broad content of the updates proposed for consultation, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report. The consultation would run from January 2023.     

The report was welcomed and the work of the Euston Area Partnership Team  was also noted.

RESOLVED –

i)               THAT public consultation on the draft Euston Area Plan update, substantially in the form appended to the report, subject to amendments agreed under recommendation ii) and iii) below be authorised;

ii)              THAT authority be delegated to the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment to (a) make appropriate changes to the draft Euston Area Plan  Update, including reflecting factual updates and/or corrections and non-material wording changes; and (b) changes to reflect updated technical professionally assessed viability information.

iii)            THAT authority be delegated to the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment, to approve the final consultation material and timing of the consultation.

There was no urgent business.