The Scrutiny Streets & Environment Sub-Committee met on Tuesday, 2 April 2024, to discuss the council's financial performance, proposed parking charge amendments, and the draft Air Quality Action Plan. Key decisions included welcoming the continued use of an emissions-based charging scheme for parking and recommending further work on the impact of parking permit price increases for social tenants.

Period 9 Financial Performance Report

The Sub-Committee reviewed the Period 9 Financial Performance Report for the 2023-24 Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery (SCRER) Budget. Discussions covered an anticipated £0.6m income pressure related to the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA), attributed to fewer coring inspections. The income target will continue to be monitored for potential revision.

A £0.5m pressure in Parking Services was explained by connection and configuration issues with newly installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. While ANPR shortfalls due to vandalism and maintenance are not unusual, opposition to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was cited as a factor in some camera vandalism. Parking income was reported to be in line with anticipated targets, though behavioural changes accelerated by the pandemic, such as increased working from home and altered shopping habits, were acknowledged.

Forecast underspends of £1.7m in staffing, due to vacancies, and £1.2m in waste services, due to reduced tonnage, were also discussed. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that difficulty in filling posts, particularly for programme and project managers in the Regeneration team, contributed to the staffing underspend, with a recruitment campaign planned. The council's successful bid for the Levelling Up Fund, alongside Growth Zone Funding, was noted as making regeneration work in Croydon more attractive.

An income underachievement of £0.6m in the Planning and Sustainable Regeneration Division was linked to lower activity levels in major planning applications and planning performance agreements. This trend was attributed to economic and regulatory factors affecting London and the UK. The council confirmed it was continuing to monitor its housing targets and currently met its Five Year Supply obligations.

To attract development, the council has a Planning Transformation plan in place, following recommendations from the Planning Advisory Service review in 2022. Planning department performance was described as strong against national indicators, with ongoing engagement through the Developer's Forum and Resident's Associations, alongside efforts to digitalise planning services.

The Sub-Committee also heard about a £9.439m Capitalisation Direction for 2019-20, required to settle a historic claim from a former contractor related to a highways maintenance contract from 2011-18. The council is exploring recovery options through arbitration. Additionally, £180,000 was secured through two Planning Skills Delivery Fund bids to address backlogs and digitalise services, with significant progress made in clearing the planning application backlog.

Cabinet Report: Proposed Parking Charge Amendments 2024-25

The Sub-Committee considered proposed parking charge amendments for 2024-25. The council aims to balance environmental incentives with encouraging economic activity. The current 90% discount for Electric Vehicles (EVs) was noted as being high compared to other boroughs. The proposals align with the Medium Term Financial Strategy savings target.

Discussions covered how the success of the proposed tariffs would be measured, with a focus on business footfall and vitality, alongside environmental impact. The council's Strategic Transport approach and Local Implementation Plan were highlighted as working to encourage public transport, active transport, and walking. National trends show an increasing purchase of EVs and hybrids, and the council is reviewing its provision of on-street EV charging points. The second meeting of the Croydon Advisory Forum on Active, Sustainable and Accessible Transport was scheduled for April 2024.

Of the 8,779 parking and residential permits issued in 2022/23, 264 were for higher polluting vehicles, with almost 80% for the middle band. The Sub-Committee queried why vehicle size and weight were not considered in the charging structure, with the complexity and the need for a simple, understandable system being cited as reasons. The potential for EVs to cause greater road wear and maintenance costs was also mentioned.

The proposed charges were based on a review of existing emissions data, UK average emissions benchmarking, and tariff benchmarking across London and neighbouring boroughs. Only one neighbouring borough offered a free parking period for district centres, limited to 30 minutes. Croydon Council decided not to increase Band 5 charges, which were already at the top end compared to other London boroughs. For Bands 2-4, Croydon's charges were around the London median, and the proposed charge for EVs was increased due to the significant current discount. Approximately 6,500 residents are expected to be affected by changes in Bands 1-4 parking permit charges.

The proposed charges will undergo a Traffic Regulation Order consultation process before implementation. The Sub-Committee noted that this was the first review of parking tariffs since 2019. One-hour free parking for district centres was decided in collaboration with local businesses to allow sufficient time for shopping, with the option to pay for extended parking. Business footfall will be measured using transaction data.

The recruitment of Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) has been successful, bringing the team to 40 full-time employees. A trial with RingGo technology is expected to help determine compliance levels and inform enforcement strategies. The Sub-Committee was informed that a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) had not been considered, with the council generally expecting employers to develop their own parking policies. Any surplus income from the proposed charges would be prioritised for road safety initiatives. The possibility of discounts for social tenants on parking permits was raised as a recommendation for further work.

Conclusions:

• The Sub-Committee welcomed the proposed parking tariffs' continued use of an emissions-based charging scheme.
• The Sub-Committee was encouraged by the Council's consideration of adopting Workplace Parking Levies (WPL) and requested to be kept informed.

Recommendations:

• The Sub-Committee recommended that the Council undertake further work to understand the impact of increased residential parking permit prices for social tenants and the feasibility of providing a discount.
• The Sub-Committee recommended that the Council develop specific Key Performance Indicators to monitor the footfall impact of the proposed charges on businesses in district centres.

Air Quality Action Plan 2024-29

The Sub-Committee reviewed the draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for 2024-29. Croydon has been designated an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) since 2002, requiring the production of an AQAP. This will be the fifth such plan. The AQAPs have had a positive effect, but further measures are needed to improve air quality.

Funding for the AQAP will come from existing budgets, Section 106 Obligations, the Local Implementation Plan, the Mayor's Air Quality Fund (MAQS), DEFRA air quality grants, and Public Health funding. Lower-cost measures, communication campaigns, and synergy with initiatives like active travel will also contribute.

Discussions addressed the sources and proportions of PM2.5 emissions, with the plan aiming to work towards the 2005 WHO guidelines for PM2.5 by 2030. A Steering Group will be established to monitor the plan's delivery and effectiveness. While conversations with DEFRA regarding funding have occurred, bids have not been successful. Concerns were raised about local authorities having insufficient resources for ambitious air quality improvements.

The AQAP has been designed as a shorter, more targeted plan to ensure achievability and deliverability. The Steering Group will be chaired by the Director of Streets & Environment and include representatives from various departments. The plan aims to provide a framework and objectives for bidding for funding and collaborating with other bodies.

The effectiveness of School Streets schemes in improving air quality was discussed, with a Local Government Association study indicating significant reductions in Nitrogen Dioxide emissions. The Sub-Committee asked if monitoring would assess the impact on neighbouring roads, and the council is looking at increased traffic on boundary roads and complementary measures.

Health inequalities related to air pollution in Croydon were discussed, with residents living near major highways being disproportionately affected. The development of the public transport network in Croydon was noted as a factor in road transport emissions. Efforts are underway with Transport for London (TfL) to improve and expand the public transport offer.

The plan includes provisions for additional monitoring sensors through schemes like Healthy Neighbourhoods and School Streets. The AQAP Steering Group will coordinate sensor deployment and data gathering. The cost of monitoring stations and sensors was detailed, with fixed stations costing £20,000-£40,000 and lamppost monitors around £2,000. Croydon has four fixed monitoring stations, with one being replaced.

Physical monitoring for construction sites will fall under Construction Management Plans, with a dedicated officer engaging with developers. The Pollution Team has powers to engage with developers not adhering to these plans. The five 'Focus Areas' were chosen based on hotspot data identified by the Council and the Greater London Authority (GLA).

The AQAP aligns with GLA guidance and the London Plan. While chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) levels are higher in Croydon due to an older population, there is no current data to suggest higher asthma levels than the rest of London. The lack of specific timelines in the AQAP was noted, with the explanation that the Steering Group will engage with partners to agree deliverables and timeframes. A Delivery Plan with more detail will be published later in 2024.

The council's EV charging point rollout strategy is being developed, with Croydon having 358 on-street EV charging points. The Council is also considering its Fleet Strategy and the infrastructure changes required for adopting EVs. A strategic approach to delivering EV charging points, considering demand, payment methods, and grid infrastructure, is necessary. The council has engaged with other local authorities with successful EV schemes.

The council is encouraging a move away from private vehicle use through schemes outlined in the Local Implementation Plan, and is awaiting results from a £3 million bid to TfL. Road safety education is being reviewed. School workshops on car idling have been successful, with children often influencing their parents. The development of an anti-idling toolkit for drivers near schools is underway.

The effectiveness of previous education campaigns on idling has been noted, correlating with reduced complaints. The Sub-Committee suggested officers encourage residents to use the 'Love Clean Streets' app for reporting idling. Behavioural change will be a focus, with a dedicated Communications officer assigned to the AQAP. National Clean Air Day in June will feature an awareness campaign.

The promotion of Croydon's cycle lanes through social media or street signs was noted as limited, with the council considering how best to promote new cycle lanes. The feasibility of expanding 'Smoke Control Zones' is being explored, with a need for better education on wood burning practices. Enforcement in Smoke Control Zones involves identifying chimney smoke by colour, and nuisance complaints from bonfires increase in spring and summer.

The potential role of Biodiversity Net Gain and Urban Greening in delivering the AQAP aims was discussed, with a need for further discussion with the Planning department. The maintenance of new planters is being addressed through a developing planter policy. The pollution generated by the Beddington Incinerator is monitored by the South London Waste Partnership Joint Committee.

Requests for Information:

• Current levels of asthma in Croydon and comparative data with other London boroughs.
• A copy of the anti-idling toolkit for schools once developed.
• Information on the number of breaches in Smoke Control Zones over the last two years.
• Updates on the development of the Planter Policy.
• Updates on the development of any strategy or actions resulting from the AQAP focusing on behavioural change.

Conclusions:

• The Sub-Committee welcomed the Council's planned strategic approach to develop an Electric Vehicle Charging Point rollout Strategy and expressed interest in hearing about this at a future meeting.
• The Sub-Committee was encouraged that the Air Quality Action Plan would explore the feasibility of expanding Croydon's 'Smoke Free Zones'.

Recommendations:

• The Sub-Committee recommended that the Council further consider the roles that Biodiversity Net Gain and Urban Greening could have as part of the Air Quality Action Plan 2024-29.
• The Sub-Committee recommended that officers work with the Planning department to develop conditions around air quality for future developments.
• The Sub-Committee recommended that officers consider embedding air quality initiatives in the Local Plan concerning specific construction techniques that promote better air quality.

Cabinet Response to Scrutiny Recommendations

The Sub-Committee noted the report. The Cabinet Member for Streets & Environment clarified that walkabouts are prioritised to coincide with blitz cleans but can also be directly requested. Contract Monitoring Officers will also attend these visits in the future.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2023-24

The Sub-Committee noted the report.