OFFICER DELEGATED DECISION REPORT

Report title: School Green Screens Programme

Wards: All

Portfolio: Councillor Claire Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council (Sustainable Transport, Environment and Clean Air)

Report Authorised by: Sara Waller / Eleanor Purser, Strategic Director for Sustainable Growth and Opportunity

Contact for enquiries: Leena Khatri, Sustainability Technical Officer, LKhatri1@.gov.uk, 020 7926 0525

Report summary

The current administration’s 2018 manifesto committed to install green screens at Lambeth schools on a main road. This report considers progress to date and recommends the programme to deliver against this ambition by May 2022.

In recent years, green screens have been built at St Anne’s Primary and , as part of the Mayor’s Air Quality School Audit programme, and also at Wyvil Primary, St Helen’s Primary, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary, Loughborough Primary, St John the Divine Primary, Oasis Johanna Primary, and Rosendale Primary.

This report sets out proposals to install green screens at additional schools in Lambeth and explains the reasons why green screens are being recommended at certain schools. Table 1 lists schools in Lambeth which have not been selected for a green screen and the reasons why. An overview plan and list of schools included in the current green screen programme is set out in Table 2 of this report.

Finance summary

The total maximum cost of the school green screens programme is estimated to be £350,000. This cost can be met from the capital budget for Energy, Flood Prevention and Climate Change response infrastructure agreed by Cabinet in July 2020. If required, contributions could also be sourced from the capital budget for Transport and Public Realm agreed in July 2020 or from grant funding that becomes available for these measures.

Recommendations

1. To agree the protocol described in Section 1 of this report and establish a programme of installing green screens at schools on the borough’s main roads.

2. To agree a maximum budget allocation for this school green screens programme of £350,000.

1. CONTEXT

1.1 In 2017 the Mayor of released an updated report assessing the air quality in and around London’s schools, both primary and secondary, and made a series of recommendations to protect students from exposure to poor air quality. This list is based on data from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI). As part of this report, it was highlighted that children at 38 schools in

Lambeth are exposed to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The EU limit for nitrogen dioxide pollution levels is 40ug/m3; the levels at the schools listed in Table 2 are over this limit. To help reduce young children’s exposure to this, the current administration’s 2018 manifesto committed to install a green screen at every Lambeth school on a main road.

1.2 A green screen is made of ivy in movable planters, which act as shield for young children, providing a greener environment and improving day to day air quality. Studies show that green screens can reduce exposure to poor air quality by over 20%1.

1.3 The original list from the Mayor showed 47 and not 38 schools in Lambeth as exposed to high levels of air pollution. This list included universities, colleges and fee-paying schools, which have been removed as they are deemed not within this programme’s scope.

1.4 A main road is defined as an A, B or C road according to Lambeth’s Highway database.

1.5 Schools were assessed for whether a green screen should be built through a two-stage process. Stage 1 was a desktop exercise: all schools in Lambeth were cross referenced to see whether they were listed by the Mayor in an area of high air pollution or on the Council’s highway database as an A, B or C Road. To be within this programme’s scope, any school to be considered for a green screen had to be part of Lambeth Schools Partnership. Stage 2 was to visit each school which met the Stage 1 criteria to check there was a suitable and effective location for the screen and that the school supported the project.

1.6 The Council has already installed green screens at St Helen’s Primary, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary, Wyvil Primary, Loughborough Primary, Oasis Johanna , Rosendale and St John Divine. As part of the Mayor’s Air Quality School Audit programme, it has also built green screens at Stockwell Primary and at St Anne’s Primary, where officers are also working in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) and University College London (UCL) to develop a Living Wall.

1.7 Applying the above protocol, the schools listed in Table 1 have been assessed as not qualifying for a green screen; reasons why are listed next to each school.

1 https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/reports/Green_Screen_Enfield_Report_final.pdf

TABLE 1: SCHOOLS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SCHOOL GREEN SCREENS PROGRAMME

School Comments Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Met Stage 1 criteria, but playground is not Ashmole Primary School exposed to emissions from main road Bishop Thomas Grant Catholic Secondary Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road School Bonneville Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road City Heights E-ACT Academy (may be reassessed following traffic interventions) Clapham Manor Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Crown Lane Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Effra Nursery School and Early Years Centre Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Elm Court School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Elm Wood School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Nursery is participating in Mayor's Air Quality Ethelred Nursery School and Children's Centre Nursery programme. Glenbrook Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Granton Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Heathbrook Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Henry Cavendish Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Henry Fawcett Primary School School has not accepted offer for a green screen. Met stage 1 criteria, but playground is not Hill Mead Primary School exposed to emissions from main road Immanuel and St Andrew Church of Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Primary School Not recommended as existing wooden fence Iqra Primary School around the school stops exposure to emissions Jessop Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Jubilee Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Julian's School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Met stage 1 criteria but all students are aged 16 King's College London Maths School plus La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road. Lark Hall Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Met stage 1 criteria, but playground is located in a Lilian Baylis Technology School road closed to traffic so not exposed to emissions from the main road Met stage 1 criteria, but playground is not exposed to emissions from the main road Macaulay Church of England Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Not above 40 according to LAEI, playground is Norwood School surrounded by greenery and so is not exposed to emissions from main the road

Met stage 1 criteria, but playground is not exposed to emissions from main road Paxton Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Met stage 1 criteria but playground is surrounded by green infrastructure and so is not exposed to emissions from the main road (may be reassessed following traffic interventions) Richard Atkins Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Funding provided through Our Streets programme Rosendale Primary School for a green screen at school Met stage 1 criteria, the school has already had a Saint Gabriel's College green screen installed Met stage 1 criteria, but students are only aged South Bank Engineering UTC 16 plus St Andrew's Catholic Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road St Andrew's Church of England Primary Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road School St Bede's Catholic Infant School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road St Bernadette Catholic Junior School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road St Leonard's Church of England Primary Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road School St Luke's Church of England Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Met stage 1 criteria, but playground is not St Mark's Church of England Primary School exposed to emissions from the main road Not above 40 according to LAEI, green St Martin in the Fields High School for Girls infrastructure at front of school. St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road St Stephen's Church of England Primary Met stage 1 criteria, but playground is not School exposed to emissions from the main road St John's Angell Town Church of England School has not accepted offer for a green screen Primary School Streatham Wells Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Sunnyhill Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Telferscot Primary School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road The Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road The Livity School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road The Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Holmewood Nursery School's Tree House Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Children's Centre Turney Primary and Secondary Special School Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road Van Gogh Academy (formerly Durand Playground is not located near to a main road Academy) Walnut Tree Walk Primary School Playground is not located near to a main road Not above 40 according to LAEI or on main road

2. PROPOSAL AND REASONS

2.1 Research carried out by Kings College London in 2015 suggests that green screens can help reduce the impact of air pollution on people by (a) acting as pollution sink and (b) forming a barrier to the transport of pollutants from nearby traffic sources in urban areas. This green infrastructure provides a cost-effective way to reduce the impact of air pollution on children whose lung growth is slowed in areas with high pollutant concentrations. Therefore, measures to reduce pollution levels at schools situated at roadsides will be of particular benefit.

2.2 Trials have shown that Hedera Ivy screens offer the best plant approach to capturing particle pollution. These not only create a near-instant barrier to the particle pollution the children attending the schools are exposed to, but they have a low water demand and enhance privacy and aesthetics, increasing physical and mental wellbeing. The screens’ installation is quick and low impact to the school and its surroundings. Ongoing maintenance has been included in current costings for the first year and as part of the agreement with the Council, the school will take over maintenance afterwards.

2.3 Using the experience of having installed green screens at other schools in the borough, officers of the Sustainability team have carried out site assessments to determine the feasibility of rolling out a borough-wide installation programme. The outcome of this assessment is detailed in Table 2.

TABLE 2: Schools recommended for inclusion in the School Green Screens Programme

Estimated Schools length of Details green screen Met stage 2 criteria. They are very Allen Edwards Primary 30 metres interested in a green screen and the School boundary appears suitable. Archbishop Sumner Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Church of England 20 metres exposed to emissions from a main Primary School road Archbishop Tenison's Met stage 2 criteria, playground is 20 metres School exposed to emissions from main road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Christ Church Primary 10-20 metres exposed to emissions from a main SW9 road Christ Church, Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Streatham Church of 25 metres exposed to emissions from a main England Primary School road. Met stage 2 criteria, playground is 30 metres exposed to emissions from a main road. Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Fenstanton Primary 40 metres exposed to emissions from a main School road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Herbert Morrison 20 metres exposed to emissions from a main Primary School road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Holy Trinity Church of 30 metres exposed to emissions from a main England Primary School road.

Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Kings Avenue School 20 metres exposed to emissions from a main road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Kingswood Primary 20 metres exposed to emissions from a main School road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is 30 metres exposed to emissions from a main road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Maytree Nursery School 20 metres exposed to emissions from a main road Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Reay Primary School 20 metres exposed to emissions from a main road. Met stage 2 criteria, playground is St Saviour's Church of 30 metres exposed to emissions from a main England Primary School road. Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Sudbourne Primary 12 metres exposed to emissions from a main School road. Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Triangle Nursery School 10 metres exposed to emissions from a main road. Met stage 2 criteria, playground is Vauxhall Primary School 60 metres exposed to emissions from a main road due to nearby construction work. Met stage 2 criteria, and the school is St Jude’s Primary School 48 metres very keen to have a green screen.

2.4 With the recent implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) in Lambeth, additional schools may be considered where they are located on the LTN boundary roads and may be subject to short- term increases in traffic. At the time of writing this report, council officers are working with the schools to determine whether the additional sites are suitable for green screens. A budget allocation of £350,000 has been requested for this programme based on estimates for screens at the schools identified above plus a contingency. It may be there is enough funding to include additional green screens (if these are determined feasible) and if not, the additional funding will come from the Low Traffic Neighbourhood programme.

2.5 As part of the tender specification, the successful supplier will be tasked with carrying out checks on the existing fences to ensure their robustness for supporting a green screen and confirm the exact measurements. This will ensure green screens are not built at locations, which cannot support the weight of the structure. Based on experience at building screens at other schools in the borough, the officer conducting the site visits has already made a visual check to ensure walls are suitable and therefore it is not considered likely that the programme will change significantly.

3. FINANCE

3.1 The total maximum cost of implementing the green screens outlined in this report is projected to be £350,000, as per the table below.

3.2 On 20th July 2020, Cabinet agreed a capital budget for Energy, Flood Prevention and Climate Change response infrastructure of £20,150,000 for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25. The costs of this project can be funded from that budget. If required, contributions could also be sourced from the capital budget for Transport and Public Realm agreed in July 2020 or from grant funding that becomes available for these measures.

3.3 The estimated project costs are broken down as follows:

Table 3 – Expenditure Spend (£) Green screen supply, installation and maintenance (including 305,000 contingency) Staff costs 45,000 Total Expenditure 350,000

4. LEGAL AND DEMOCRACY

4.1 Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 provides the Council with the power to do anything that individuals generally may do. The Council may exercise this power for, or otherwise than for, the benefit of the authority, its area, or persons resident or present in its area.

4.2 Sub-section 96(1) of the Highways Act 1980 empowers the council as a highway authority to plant trees and shrubs and lay out grass verges, in a highway maintainable at the public expense by them. Further, by virtue of section 96(4) of that Act, where the Council is not the highway authority for a highway maintainable at the public expense in its area, it may, with the consent of the highway authority, exercise with respect to that highway any of the powers conferred by subsection 96(1).

4.3 Section 11(2) of the Children’s Act 2004 requires the Council to make arrangements for ensuring its functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

4.4 Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 gives the Council the power to do anything (whether or not involving the expenditure, borrowing or lending of money or the acquisition or disposal of any property or rights) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of its functions.

4.5 Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 sets out the public-sector equality duty replacing the previous duties in relation to race, sex and disability and extending the duty to all the protected characteristics i.e. race, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership and gender reassignment. The public sector equality duty requires public authorities to have due regard to the need to: a) Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited under that act; b) Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not share it; and c) Foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not share it, which involves having due regard to the need to- (i) tackle prejudice; and (ii) promote understanding.

4.6 Having due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard to the need to— (i) remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are connected to that characteristic; (ii) take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it, including steps to take account of disabled persons' disabilities; (iii) encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.

4.7 Compliance with the duties in section 149 of the Act may involve treating some persons more favourably than others; but that is not to be taken as permitting conduct that would otherwise be prohibited by or under the Act.

4.8 The Equality Duty must be complied with before and at the time that a policy is under consideration or decision is taken - that is, in the development of policy options, and in making a final decision. A public body cannot satisfy the Equality Duty by justifying a decision after it has been taken.

4.9 Given the values set out in the tables above, this report does not raise any public procurement issues.

4.10 The Council’s Constitution requires that all key decisions, decisions which involve resources between the sums of £100,000 and £500,000, and important or sensitive issues, must be published on the website for five clear days before the decision is approved by the Director or Cabinet Member concerned. Any representations received during this period must be considered by the decision-maker before the decision is taken.

5. CONSULTATION AND CO-PRODUCTION 5.1 The Council’s Sustainability Technical Officer has engaged with head teachers at schools situated in areas of poor air quality and on main roads. Site visits were undertaken and feasibility ideas on the installation of green screens were shared with the schools listed in Table 2.

5.2 All schools shortlisted for inclusion in the Green Screen Programme are Community Schools, controlled by Lambeth Council or academies.

6. RISK MANAGEMENT 6.1 Schools do not maintain: The procurement will include one year of maintenance by the supplier, who will teach the school how to maintain the screen. Schools will be asked to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) before the screen is installed confirming that they will be responsible for the maintenance following the first year.

6.2 Schools do not want a green installed: The Sustainability team have consulted with the identified schools to ensure there is support from senior leadership for the screens to be built and maintained.

Table 4 – Risk Register Item Risk Likelihood Impact Score Control Measures Procurement will include one year of maintenance by the supplier, who will teach the Screens school how to maintain the screen. Schools will 1 not 2 2 4 be asked to sign an MOU before the screen is maintained installed confirming that they will be responsible for maintenance. Schools Lambeth Sustainability has spoken to all decide to schools recommended for a green screen to 2 not have a 1 2 2 check there is support. Schools are keen for green green screens to be installed as soon as screen possible. Planning Planning colleagues have advised that planning permission 3 1 1 1 permission is not required for the proposed causes green screens. delays

Key Likelihood Very Likely 4 Likely 3 Unlikely 2 Very Unlikely 1 Impact Major 8 Serious 4 Significant 2 Minor 1

7. EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT 7.1 The Assistant Director for Highways, Capital Programmes and Sustainability has signed off the Equalities Impact Assessment on 9 March 2020. The Impact Assessment shows that no group is adversely impacted by this proposal. Where schools affected by Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are considered, each Low Traffic Neighbourhood has its own detailed Equalities Impact Assessment.

8. COMMUNITY SAFETY 8.1 There are no community safety implications.

9. ORGANISATIONAL IMPLICATIONS Environmental 9.1 The green scheme programme is in full accordance with the borough’s Air Quality Action Plan.

Health

9.2 There is evidence that green screens can reduce levels of NO2 and particulate pollution in a playground alongside a road by up to 20%.

9.3 A separate Climate Change Impact Assessment has been carried out showing this project has a positive impact on Lambeth reaching carbon neutral by 2030. This assessment has been passed by the Sustainability Team.

Staffing and accommodation 9.4 None.

Responsible Procurement 9.5 Because its value is over £100,000, Lambeth Contract Standing Orders require that four procurement gateways apply to this project: − Gateway 1: Business Case (which this decision report functions as) − Gateway 2: Procurement Strategy − Gateway 3: Contract Award − Gateway 4: Contract Implementation & Management

Quality Apprenticeships, targeted Employment for Lambeth residents and Lambeth Priority Group 9.6 As part of tender, Lambeth will ask potential suppliers to offer opportunities for apprentices to be employed to help install green screens.

Reduce Emissions: Lambeth Council has a commitment to being Zero Carbon by 2030 9.7 A Climate Change Impact Assessment has been completed. As part of the tender, Lambeth will stipulate that potential suppliers will be scored more highly if low emission vehicles are used and materials are sourced locally.

Single Use Plastics 9.8 As part of the specification tender, Lambeth will stipulate that potential suppliers will be scored more highly if they do not use single use plastics.

Positive Health and Wellbeing 9.9 It is unlikely based on the industry that the successful supplier will have more than 250 employees, but we will score any supplier with credentials relating to promoting health and wellbeing more highly.

Other Offers (Innovation) 9.10 As part of the tender specifications, we will encourage suppliers to offer extras, such as lessons to children at schools regarding green screens, gardening, air quality and climate change.

10. TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION 10.1 The table below details the stages for implementing the recommendations:

Activity Proposed Date

Gateway 1: Business Case Sign-off January 2021 Gateway 2: Procurement Strategy January 2021 Gateway 3: Contract Award June/July 2021 Between July to Supplier to deliver screens December 2021

AUDIT TRAIL Date Comments in Name and Position/Title Lambeth Directorate Date Sent Received paragraph: Deputy Leader of the Council Councillor Claire Holland (Sustainable Transport, 06.04.20 08.04.20 Environment and Clean Air) Sara Waller or Eleanor Strategic Growth and 31.03.20 31.03.20 Purser, Strategic Director Opportunity Rob Bristow, Director Strategic Growth and Development, Planning & 31.03.20 31.03.20 Opportunity Housing Hannah Jameson, Assistant Director Strategic Growth and Sustainable Growth & 27.03.20 30.03.20 Opportunity Climate Change Response Andrew Burton, Assistant Recommen- Director of Highways, Resident Services 13.03.20 20.03.20 dation 1, 1.7, Capital Programmes and 9.5 Sustainability Andrew Round, Sustainability and Road Resident Services 20.02.20 20.02.20 Throughout Safety Manager Recommen- Matthew Gaynor, Finance Finance and Investment 25.11.20 26.11.20 dation Finance Summary, 3.0 Greg Carson , Legal Legal and Governance 05.03.20 05.03.20 4.1 to 4.9 Services David Rose, Democratic Legal and Governance 26.02.20 04.03.20 5.0 Services Colm Doyle, Delivery Lead: Lambeth Schools Education and Learning 29.09.20 07.10.20 Services

REPORT HISTORY

Original discussion with Cabinet Member Ongoing since 2018 Report deadline N/A Date final report sent 07/12/20 Part II Exempt from Disclosure/confidential No accompanying report? Key decision report No Date first appeared on forward plan N/A Key decision reasons N/A Mayor of London report assessing the air quality in and around London’s schools Background information London atmospheric emissions inventory

Impact of a green screen on nitrogen dioxide – Enfield Council

Appendix A - Climate Change Impact Assessment Appendices Appendix B - Equalities Impact Assessment

APPROVAL BY OFFICER IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCHEME OF DELEGATION

I confirm I have consulted Finance, Legal and Democratic Services and taken account of their advice and comments in completing the report for approval:

Signature: ______Date: ___09/02/2021____

Post: Leena Khatri, Sustainability Technical Officer

I approve the above recommendations:

Signature: ______Date: _____08/02/2021____

Post: Hannah Jameson, Assistant Director Sustainable Growth and Climate Change Response

Any declarations of interest (or exemptions granted): None

Any conflicts of interest: None

Any dispensations: None