The Transport and Air Quality Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council met on Monday 27 January 2020, deciding not to proceed with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Sheen and approving the proposed revenue budget for 2020/21 and revised fees and charges. The committee also noted the Q3 budget monitoring report, which indicated a projected overspend.

East Sheen Low Traffic Neighbourhood

The committee decided not to proceed with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in East Sheen (Parkside) at this time, citing insufficient support from residents. Experimental measures that had been in place were also to be removed, and a 12-month moratorium on systematic traffic changes in the area was imposed. During this moratorium, residents are encouraged to develop alternative, well-supported traffic arrangements, though minor interventions like traffic calming may still be considered. The council will continue to monitor traffic, parking, and movement data in East Sheen over the next twelve months.

During the discussion, several residents and action groups spoke, expressing disappointment at the potential removal of measures that they felt had improved safety and quality of life, mitigating aggressive driver behaviour and vehicle damage. Concerns were raised about satellite navigation systems diverting traffic through residential streets like Coval Road and Palmerston Road. Some speakers argued that the consultation results were flawed and that greater weight should have been given to the roads most affected by traffic. There was also a call for continued monitoring of traffic and air quality, with some suggesting that a 12-month moratorium was too short, especially given the unknown reopening date of Hammersmith Bridge.

Questions were raised about why the moratorium was not linked to the reopening of Hammersmith Bridge, and how access for emergency services would be ensured. The council responded that emergency vehicles are exempt from restrictions and that physical closures would include provisions for emergency access. Regarding consultation responses, the council clarified that while some residents expressed a desire for traffic restrictions, there was not a clear majority supporting the specific LTN proposals, and a petition with over 1,500 signatures requested the removal of the experimental measures. The council also addressed concerns about Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), stating that while some pockets of support existed, introducing small CPZs would likely cause significant displacement of parking onto neighbouring roads. The cost of the trial measures was also questioned in light of the council's budget deficits.

The committee acknowledged the council's climate change strategy and commitments to modal shift away from car journeys, but ultimately agreed with the officer's recommendations due to local opposition. They expressed hope that the community would collaborate during the moratorium to find a solution that benefits the widest number of residents.

Revenue Budget 2020/21 - Transport & Air Quality

The committee noted and commented on the proposed revenue budget for 2020/21. The report highlighted additional expenditure due to staff cost inflation, but also noted efficiency savings, particularly from reduced electricity consumption through LED streetlighting. Income from Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) was expected to increase, and fees and charges were set to rise by 2.6%. The report also identified a risk to income from a reduced reliance on cars. Revenue from Source London Charging Points was expected to grow.

Proposed Fees and Charges Applicable from 2020/21

The committee approved the revision of fees and charges to be implemented from April 2020. These revisions included a 2.6% increase across the board, with parking permits seeing a 5% rise. The operation of Taylor Close car park was to be investigated further. The committee discussed the 10% parking discount for residents with a Richmond Card in the context of the council's climate change commitments, acknowledging the point but noting that the discount helped residents park at a competitive rate.

Quarter 3 Budget Monitoring 2019/20

The committee noted that there was a projected overspend of £499,000 on the services within its remit for the 2019/20 financial year. This overspend was attributed to a reduction in parking income resulting from the implementation of anti-idling enforcement. The recruitment of 18 additional Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) was approved to support this strategy, with seven of these posts remaining vacant at the time of the meeting. The council had made a strategic decision to prioritise anti-idling enforcement over activities that might generate additional revenue. The overspend was not linked to the implementation of 20mph speed limits. The committee also noted the position on the Capital programme.

Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP) Actions Progress Update

The committee noted the progress on actions outlined in the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP), as detailed in Appendix A. A review was planned to establish a better set of performance indicators for agreement at a future meeting. Good progress had been made on various indicators, including the rollout of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points, with Richmond having the most EV points of any Outer London Borough. The council was in the process of submitting planning applications for Source London points on the Twickenham side of the borough. Usage data for EV points was available and could be shared. The committee also considered if any areas of performance should be recommended for inclusion in the Policy and Performance Review Board's workplan.

Forward Plan

The committee agreed the items on the Forward Plan and approved moving the June meeting from Thursday 25 June 2020 to Thursday 18 June 2020. Additional items to be added to the Forward Plan for future consideration included updates on Hammersmith Bridge, the Active Travel Plan consultation, Richmond Town Centre, Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZs), the Diesel Levy Consultation, and Performance Indicators.