Apologies were received from Cllr Laxmi Attawar (with Cllr Ben Butler as sub) and Cllr Geraldine Stanford.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Matters arising: The AD of Public Spaces gave a brief update to the Panel on waste management and the fly tipping strategy.

The Director of Corporate Services updated the Panel with information of the budget gap, efficiency savings and provided further information in response to questions raised.

The Panel moved to discuss recommendations.

Councillor Dean proposed a motion that “The Emissions Based Parking tax is based on increasing the cost of parking cars in areas with cleaner air and it should be suspended and replaced with something that will reduce pollution across the borough. This was seconded by Councillor Holden. There were three votes for and four against. Motion fell.

Following a vote of five votes for and two abstentions for both motions, the Panel RESOLVED to send the following recommendations to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission:

“This panel commends Merton’s Environment and Regeneration workers on their hard work, expertise and positive attitude during the Covid pandemic. Noting in particular that they have worked within current limited resources to deal with necessarily increased duties and expresses the hope they will be suitably rewarded as soon as conditions permit”.

“This panel welcomes the department’s efforts for digital innovation, particularly the use of a GIS system, and recommend, given increase in internet use, taking advantage of such innovation in full to support residents and service provision where resource and funding is available”.

This report is provided separately and will be discussed as part of the preceding agenda item on the Business Plan Update

Taken with Item 4

The Head of Future Merton outlined the report on roadworks and network co-ordination.

The Panel RESOLVED to send the following recommendations to Cabinet;

“The Panel recommends that enhanced information with regards to road and footpath maintenance and repair - especially with regards to the proactive work and how that is established - is added to the Merton website and advertised appropriately”.

The Chair suggested revisiting this item in the future work programme. The Panel were in agreement.

The Head of Future Merton gave an introduction to the report on managing HGV’s in the borough.

The Chair welcomed the public speakers to share their views:

Nicola Thompson, Haydon’s Road North community group, made three suggestions;

1.    Count quantity of HGV traffic on key streets.

2.    Make contact with businesses and encourage compliance. The Council holds power and influence.

3.    Look at the locations – why are pollution generating sights still here? Why is there no long term plan to relocate them somewhere more appropriate? This has been done in Benedict Wharf.

Peter West, Wimbledon Park Residents Association, commented on the large number of HGV’s carrying waste near Weir Road and Durnsford Road industrial site. These sites were permitted in the 2012 Waste Plan but there have been no checks or assessment of the pollution they generate. In the new Waste Plan no account has been taken of the high levels of air pollution in the local area - the nearest air quality focus area monitored was Wimbledon Broadway which is 1.5km away. We have surveyed the number of movements to and from Weird Road – Even during lockdown there have been around 650 every day (one a minute). As mentioned before, it’s been done at Benedict Wharf 

Susan Cusack, speaking on behalf of BERA and WEHRA, described the location of the Weir Road waste recycling centre as being the major issue. Merton’s Local Development Scheme 2019-22 (re the SLWP) stated they would ensure that waste facilities would have the least impact on the environment, but this is not happening particularly with number of HGV’s transiting the borough. Our ultimate suggestion is that this site is wound down and relocated. In order to reduce noise, nuisance and pollution we suggest;

• Replace old diesel vehicles with electric
• Fine companies ignoring correct route
• All skip lorries to have chain covers
• All keep to 20mph

The Chair thanked residents for their input and helpful comments.

Following discussion and further questions of clarification, the Panel RESOLVED to send the following recommendations to Cabinet;

 “The Panel supports the work the Council has done so far on HGV’s and would encourage further work in this area, particularly a wider emphasis across the borough on numbers and emissions, and with an increased focus on those areas outlined by residents as a concern, where the financial resource is available”.

“The Panel also recommends that an information hub to support residents in dealing with complaints about problems with HGVs is created and added to the Merton website and advertised appropriately”.

The Head of Future Merton gave an update on the current funding situation. Unfortunately in March 2020, TfL scrapped all boroughs LIP allocation funding to deliver the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. Some funding has since been reinstated hence the stop and start nature of initiatives and the quick turnaround to implement LTN’s.

As requested by residents, we have secured funding for cycle hangers. From the summer we will roll out twenty of these.

The Panel RESOLVED to send the following recommendation to Cabinet;

“The Panel welcomes the decisive action from the Council on establishing the largest number of schools streets in London and request communications to encourage further resident feedback and explore expanding the scheme with the support of the schools”.

The Chair suggested revisiting this item in the future work programme. The Panel were in agreement.

The Panel noted that the performance indicators have been impacted by Covid.

The work programme was agreed.