Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Officers

The Board received a presentation from Lucy Saunders (Public Health Specialist GLA/TfL) regarding the importance of road danger reduction in the context of health and wellbeing. Members were informed that people need 22 minutes of walking each day for good health to prevent many health conditions. Most Londoners didn’t get that activity but people who come into the City do, as the City was the walking capital of Britain and served a huge population from other borough and outside of London in keeping their population healthy.

There were also lots of people in London who cycle into or through the City and this was where there had been a big increase in KSIs (killed or seriously injured). Members were informed that it was a real challenge to accommodate the many people walking, cycling and the vehicles that need to get through plus the digging up needed to access services. The KSIs were an indicator that more needed to be done to make the environment not only safe but also pleasant to walk and cycle in. One simple but highly effective measures was the ‘courtesy crossing’ which served to make it much easier to walk uninterrupted, particularly for those with mobility difficulties, and at the same time they ensure vehicles slow down when approaching junctions.

In response to a query from Members, Officers advised that an education programme would help tackle the problem of anti-social cycling in the City. This could also be tackled by creating a calmer environment. Members queried whether introducing a 20mph limit in the City would impact air pollution. Officers advised that there would not be any significant shift in the level of air pollution if a 20mph limit was introduced, and the introduction could help create a calmer environment in the City. Members noted that pedestrians and cyclists shared the pavements in many European cities such as Hamburg and Helsinki which helped created a good relationship between the two groups. 

It was noted that committee reports should include health and wellbeing implications to ensure these were addressed by Officers when writing the report and considered by Members when making decisions. The Board agreed that health and wellbeing implications should be imbedded in the decision making process. Officers in the Community & Children’s Services and Town Clerks departments would look to progress this and provide an update at the next Board meeting in September.

RECEIVED.