RESOLVED:

That the reference of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel be taken into account its reference set out in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.13 of the Cabinet report when making decisions on changes to Merton’s road networks and associated resident communications.

The Chair of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel presented the report which set out recommendations relating to the management of HGVs in the borough, roadwork maintenance, sustainable travel and school streets.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency thanked the Scrutiny Panel for their discussion and the residents groups who had made submissions to the Panel.  Work had already been carried out in this area, and where resources where available, further work would be carried out although there would need to be a London-wide approach.  He thanked the officers involved in the successful roll out of the School Streets programme which had made the environment outside schools safer and he would be working with other schools who had requested to be included in the programme going forward.

The Director of Environment and Regeneration advised that there was a great deal of activity across London to tackle air quality and road safety and his officers would consider positive ways to respond to the recommendations of the scrutiny panel within existing resources and utilising new emerging technology, with a further paper to Cabinet in due course.

The Cabinet Member for Women and Equalities addressed the effects of air pollution on health of the under-privileged in the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health thanked the Scrutiny Panel for their discussion and addressed the HGV issue.  HGVs were not the biggest contributor to air pollution in the borough and therefore it was important to retain a focus on all vehicle emissions.

The Chair thanked all for their contributions and it was

RESOLVED:

That the reference of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel be taken into account its reference set out in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.13 of the Cabinet report when making decisions on changes to Merton’s road networks and associated resident communications.