Agenda and minutes

Introduction by the Chair of the Commission and Commission Members

1.1  The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission (SEG) held a transport themed meeting to discuss with Transport for London and key stakeholders the plans for local transport infrastructure, connectivity and outlined their concerns about the affordability of transport.

1.2  At the meeting the following 4 themes were covered in the discussions.

·  Economic growth & transport

·  Investment & development

·  Capacity & connectivity

·  Equality & accessibility.

1.3  The key focus was on discussing the proposed changes and plans for the transport system in Hackney, in particular, how proposed changes to the bus services have taken stakeholder views into account.

1.4  The Chair advised the public in attendance there would be a recording of the meeting by a journalist present at the meeting.

Introduction by the Chair of the organisations, officers and representatives in attendance.

2.1  The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission Members introduced themselves at the meeting.

3.1  As per the agenda.

4.1  The Panel Members for this session were:

·  Chair of SEG – Cllr Mete Coban

·  Transport for London - Patricia Charleton, City Planning Area Manager and Gary Nolan, Local Communities & Partnerships Lead (East)

·  London Borough of Hackney Cabinet - Cllr Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Planning, Business and Investment and Cllr Feryal Demirci, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Health, Social care, Transport and Parks

·  London Borough of Hackney Economic Regeneration - Suzanne Johnson, Head of Economic Regeneration.

·  RMT Union - Janine Booth (RMT Night Tube stations supervisor and union rep, Victoria line) and Wale Agunbiade (RMT London Overground station staff rep).

4.2  The discussion in this theme covered the importance of the transport system in supporting economic growth.  How transport impacts the growth of businesses and connectivity to work - the ability of residents to take advantage of work opportunities.

4.3  Written information was submitted in advance of the meeting by the organisation on the panel.  The Commission moved straight into the questions and answer session for the theme.

4.4  Questions, Discussions and Answers

(i)  Members pointed out the evidence and research shows that app based transport services like Uber do pose a threat to transport strategies for London and local areas.  Members asked the Panel to outlined their plans for mitigation?

(ii)  Members enquired about the impact of air pollution on the economy?  Members also enquired if there has been a full assessment of the impact?

In response to the question about the impact of air pollution on the economy the Cabinet Member for Planning, Business and Investment agreed the outdoor spaces was just as important as the indoor spaces to an economy.  The Cabinet Member advised the impact on health is very clear as outlined by the Mayor of London.  However in addition to the health implications the Council does need to consider other effects like congestions, accessibility and the impact on the local economy.  The Cabinet Member pointed out prior to the improvements in connectivity for Hackney, in the past, a journey for a Hackney resident to their place of work would take an hour and a half in comparison to a resident in a neighbouring inner London borough like Camden, who could a journey of the same distance in 20-25 minutes.  This put a Hackney residents at a disadvantage.

The Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Health, Social care, Transport and Parks added it was not just the health impacts they needed to consider.  For the economy the council was trying to create an attractive environment where people will want to spend time in the space.  The Cabinet Member pointed out people will not want to sit in space that has polluted air.  In Shoreditch for example they have initiatives in place to try to help businesses reduce their emission like the ‘zero emissions network’ aimed at changing the behaviour of businesses through grants.  Grants to assist with switching from diesel to electric, electric scooters and installing showers in the work place to encourage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1  The Panel Members for this session were:

·  Chair of SEG – Cllr Mete Coban

·  Transport for London - Gary Nolan, Local Communities & Partnerships Lead (East) and Geoff Hobbs, Public Transport Service Planning Director

·  London Borough of Hackney Cabinet - Cllr Feryal Demirci, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Health, Social care, Transport and Parks

·  London Borough of Hackney Neighbourhood and Housing - Andy Cunningham, Head of Streetscene

·  RMT Union - Janine Booth (RMT Night Tube stations supervisor and union rep, Victoria line) and Wale Agunbiade (RMT London Overground station staff rep).

5.2  The discussion covered transport developments, upgrades and investment in the infrastructure (planned and proposed). To consider if the investment and development of transport in the borough has provided positive growth for residents and supported the growth of businesses.

5.3  Written information was submitted in advance of the meeting by the organisation on the panel.  The Commission moved straight into the questions and answer session for the theme.

5.4  Questions, Discussions and Answers

(i)  Members support the aspirations to increase air quality in the borough. 

(ii)  Members enquired about the plans by Hackney and the wider transport network to support accessibility and growth?

(iii)  Members referred to Hackney’s transport strategy and noted that cycling was at the top above transport use.  Members enquired about the reason for this trend and queried if both modes of transport should be on par in the future if air quality was to be addressed in the borough?

(iv)  Members commented Hackney has an ambitious programme planned for skills and growth in the borough.  Members expressed concern that TfL have a different strategy to the borough i.e. their proposed changes relate to central London bus routes but does not consider how the bus routes serve Hackney.  Members commented Hackney is projected to have an extra 50,000 people in the borough in the next 10-15 years but TfL’s proposals will reduce bus capacity over the next 2 years.  Members made the following enquires:

a)  To what extent TfL takes into consideration Hackney Borough’s strategy? 

b)  Does TfL dovetail their plans with borough plans and take into consideration economic development locally? 

c)  Does TfL have a Hackney Borough strategy?

In response TfL confirmed their strategy does dovetail with the boroughs.  TFL advised they look at the transport provision they are proposing and take into account things like trip patterns, population, employment and all the other characteristics relevant to a London borough.  They have noted the very large increased in job creation and population in Hackney.  TfL use the London Plan to inform their technical decisions alongside local data provided by the local plans from each council.  This process over the years has led to the increase in transport facilities in Hackney.  TFL explained people are using the Victoria line more to travel from Walthamstow into Hackney and this has reduced the number of people using buses from Walthamstow through Hackney.  This has resulted in a reduction in the number of people using the buses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The Panel Members for this session were:

·  Chair of Skills, Economy and Growth – Cllr Mete Coban

·  Transport for London - Gary Nolan, Local Communities & Partnerships Lead (East) and Geoff Hobbs, Public Transport Service Planning Director

·  London Borough of Hackney Cabinet - Cllr Feryal Demirci, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Health, Social care, Transport and Parks

·  London Borough of Hackney Neighbourhoods and Housing - Andy Cunningham, Head of Streetscene and Dominic West, Principal Planner.

·  RMT Union - Janine Booth (RMT Night Tube stations supervisor and union rep, Victoria line) and Wale Agunbiade (RMT London Overground station staff rep).

·  London Travelwatch - Tim Bellenger, Director of Policy

·  Social-Eyes representatives Elspeth Morrison and Lilly Chung

·  Disability Backuprepresentatives John Thornton.

6.2  The discussion covered capacity and connectivity taking into consideration the changes to bus routes and the management of stations and interchanges (e.g. Hackney Downs, Dalston, Clapton and Hackney Wick) in relation to passenger numbers.  Looking at the ability of Hackney’s transport system to respond to the increasing passenger/commuters numbers following the growth of the local economy.

6.3  The discussion covered the impact of proposed transport changes on equality and accessibility for vulnerable groups like low income employment groups, the disabled and elderly.  The discussion will also cover: the consultation process, costs, how the needs of vulnerable groups are taken into consideration, the risks and the actions taken to mitigate negative impacts.

6.4  Written information was submitted in advance of the meeting by the organisation on the panel.  The Commission moved straight into the questions and answer session for the theme.

6.5  The Chair invited Cllr Patrick to present information about the local community’s views in relation to the proposed changes to bus routes by TfL in her Ward (Kings Park) and the impact of these changes.  Kings Park Ward is one of the least connected parts of the borough in terms of public transportation services.

6.5.1  Kings Park Ward is home to the Council’s waste depot on Millfields Road, borders Chatsworth Road and Homerton High street and includes Hackney Marshes.

6.5.2  The Ward is approximately 90% residential.  They have 1 major employer in the Ward and that is the council. Bus services are important to residents in the east side of the borough.  Buses are the main source of transport in that part of the borough for residents.  The residents in this part of the borough need access to buses for jobs and growth.

6.5.3  In the Ward the 242 bus route is the main bus in the ward and the source of connectivity for residents in the Ward.  This bus route provides connectivity to Mare street, Clapton Road, Dalston, Liverpool street and beyond.  This bus route was recently subject to a service alteration and no longer goes to Tottenham Court Road but now terminates at St Pauls.  There are further proposals to redirect the bus route to Aldgate from St Pauls.  The local councillor urged TfL to reconsider this service alteration and keep  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  Themes 3 and 4 were merged and discussed under item 3 above.