Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

NB: The report has been considered by the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee and a resolution from the Sub-Committee will follow. The report is also to be considered by the Planning and Transportation Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning traffic congestion and a range of measures which could be considered to improve traffic flow.

The Committee noted the recommendations of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee.

In response to concerns about the absence of more detailed information and focus on measures such as restricting deliveries, the Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee advised that there was no easy solution to the current traffic congestion problems. The City Corporation had a long way to go and the suggested measures contained in the report were just a starting point to assist the debate on finding appropriate solutions.  He pointed out that at this stage the proposals represented macro level thoughts which would need to be developed and discussed with Transport for London in due course. The Chairman and another Member expressed concern at the time being taken on the issue, which had been raised more than a year ago.

A Member advised of the importance of developing policies which were deliverable, for example, whilst daytime deliveries were a major issue for the City it was a London-wide problem and the City Corporation did not have the power to deal with the issue in isolation. Any measures to be pursed should therefore include information on whether proposals were deliverable.

In response to concerns about the impact of night-time deliveries, it was noted that it was possible to manage any adverse effects such as noise. 

Detailed discussion ensued, during which, amongst other things Members acknowledged that it was important to strike a balance between the needs of all road users; noted that traffic congestion was the subject of the biggest single complaint received by City Corporation and expressed support for consideration of restrictions on daytime deliveries to be progressed, including through consolidation centres and night-time deliveries. The Committee also acknowledged the need for London’s bus routes and timetabling to be re-examined to make bus use more attractive.

Reference was made to the recommendation relating to the overarching objective of reducing traffic in the City and it was suggested that it should be amended so that it took into account the views of the City Corporation’s communities. Members supported the suggestion.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to:-

1.       the next steps as set out at paragraph 41-45 of the report subject to the proposal contained in paragraph 43 being amended to include a focus on exploring reduction of deliveries within certain times and hours with a view to achieving consolidation;

2.       an overarching objective of reducing traffic in the City, subject to establishing the extent that the City Corporation’s communities find it acceptable, and that this be emphasised in the next draft of the Local Implementation Plan;      

3.       the allocation of a  sum of £50k and £40k, respectively, towards the appointment of consultants to advance the City of London’s approach to consolidation centres and the appointment of a FTE post, on a one year trial basis, to investigate how better construction and servicing/delivery planning might alleviate City congestion; and

4.       with the exception of the introduction of toll on bridges, the measures as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be developed in more detail.