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THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF AND CHELSEA PUBLIC REALM SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 9 OCTOBER 2017

REPORT BY COUNCILLOR PASCALL DEPUTY LEADER AND LEAD MEMBER FOR BOROUGH SERVICES CURRENT ISSUES

The following are matters of current and future business. I can provide additional information at the Committee meeting if requested. FOR INFORMATION

PLANNING AND BOROUGH DEVELOPMENT

1 PLANNING POLICY TEAM

1.1 Local Plan Partial Review

Topics

The Council is undertaking a Partial Review of its existing 1 Local Plan to ensure it is up-to-date and fit for purpose. It covers the following topics:

• Vision and objectives • Places • Site allocations • Infrastructure and planning contributions • Planning enforcement • Shops and centres • Business uses • Arts and cultural uses • Hotels • Rail infrastructure • Archaeology • Housing • Gypsy and Traveller accommodation • Climate change • Flooding and drainage • Waste • Air quality • Impact assessments

1 www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningpolicy 1

Timetable

The Local Plan Partial Review is at an advanced stage and the timetable is:

• Issues and Options consultation : Tuesday 15 December 2015 to Tuesday 9 February 2016 • Draft Policies consultation : Friday 28 October to Sunday 11 December 2016 • Publication Policies consultation : Thursday 2 February to Thursday 16 March 2017 • Full Council approval: Wednesday 26 April 2017 • Submission to the Secretary of State / the Planning Inspectorate and commencement of Examination : Friday 5 May 2017 • Inspector’s Initial Questions to the Council : 31 May 2017 • Council’s Response to Inspector’s Initial Questions : 19 June 2017 • Confirmation of Postponement of Hearings : 8 August 2017 • Publication of Further Proposed Modifications regarding estate regeneration and Call for Further Participants : TBC October 2017 • Inspector consults the Council and Participants on Matters, Issues and Questions (‘MIQs’) : TBC November 2017 • Examination Hearings : TBC January 2018 • Consultation on Proposed Modifications : TBC Early 2018 • Inspector’s Report and end of Examination : TBC Early 2018 • Full Council final adoption : TBC Spring 2018 • Monitoring : 2018+ • Commence work on an early review of the Local Plan : 2018+

Further Proposed Modifications and Call for Further Participants

The examination is live and the examination hearings were expected to take place in September 2017. However, in light of the tragic fire at on 14 June 2017 and in response to petitions from the local community in , the Council decided to suspend estate regeneration projects in the borough and propose some changes called ‘Further Proposed Modifications’ to the Local Plan Partial Review. This was confirmed by the Council on 8 August alongside confirmation that the planned examination hearings for September were postponed until further notice. The updated timetable is provided above.

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The Further Proposed Modifications and supporting evidence base will be published this month (TBC) and at the same time, the Council will, through a ‘Call for Further Participants’, invite further participants interested in the Further Proposed Modifications to take part in the examination, through written statements and/or through participation in the oral hearings.

Early review of the Local Plan

Once the Local Plan Partial Review is adopted (TBC – early summer 2018), the Council has committed to an early review of the Local Plan, at least in part, to consider issues related to North Kensington, the Latimer ‘Place’, estate regeneration and housing supply, to be adopted within five years of the Local Plan Partial Review’s adoption. This would be expected to commence some time in 2018 and be undertaken in accordance with the Council’s commitment that if any future estate regeneration projects come forward they would be co- designed with the community and put to a binding vote.

Examination webpage

All the latest information is available on the examination webpage at https://planningconsult.rbkc.gov.uk/consult.ti/LPPRexam .

1.2 Article 4 Direction for Office to Residential

A separate dedicated report on this matter is provided to the Scrutiny Committee as a separate agenda item.

1.3 Proposed Brownfield Land Register

A separate dedicated report on this matter is provided to the Scrutiny Committee as a separate agenda item.

1.4 Draft Planning Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

A separate dedicated report on this matter is provided to the Scrutiny Committee as a separate agenda item.

2 PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION TEAM

2.1 Crossrail 2 (the former Chelsea-Hackney Line)

The next round of consultation on Crossrail 2 is expected in the New Year.

2.2 Kensal Portobello Crossrail station 3

Work continues with Network Rail on the feasibility and cost of the station and the associated changes to track layout in the vicinity of the proposed station. Officers will report on the outcome of this work to the Leadership Group and recommend whether to proceed to the next stage of the scheme’s development.

2.3 St Quintin and Woodlands Neighbourhood Plan

The judicial review of the Council’s decision to send the neighbourhood plan to Examination, brought by the owners of the Nursery Lane backland site that the plan designates as a local green space, thereby preventing development, was held 12-14 July 2017. This culminated with a further disclosure order and the hearing continued on 28 September 2017. Any further updates will be reported to Members.

2.4 Courtfield Neighbourhood Area and Forum designations

The Council has designated a new Neighbourhood Forum and new Neighbourhood Area located predominantly within the Courtfield Ward, following a six-week consultation on the proposals. The new Courtfield Neighbourhood Forum is responsible for bringing forward a Neighbourhood Plan for the new Courtfield Neighbourhood Area. The Council will assist the Forum as they develop their Plan.

2.5 Asset of Community Value (ACV) Nominations

The Council designated the Kensington and Chelsea College, Wornington Road, , W10 5QQ as an Asset of Community Value on 26 June 2017.

The Council has recently received a new nomination from a qualifying community group to list the Police Station, 99- 101 Ladbroke Road, London, W11 3PL. The Council will have 8 weeks to determine this application. If the owner of a listed Asset of Community Value wishes to sell it, they need to inform the Council who will in turn inform local community groups. Any private sale would be put on hold for an initial period of six weeks to give a community group an opportunity to consider whether they wish to bid for the asset to preserve its use for the future.

If a community group does express an interest in bidding for the asset, a six-month moratorium on any sale would come into place in order to allow time for the community group to raise funds to submit a bid. Once the moratorium on sale has passed the owner is under no obligation to sell the asset to the nominating community 4

group.

2.6 Conservation Area Appraisals

The Council has adopted 23 Conservation Area Appraisals (CAAs). Four further CAAs – Kensington Square, , Kensal Green and the College of St Mark and St John CAAs have been consulted on and will be adopted imminently. Consultation has started on the draft versions of the Brompton Cemetery, Queensgate and Nevern Square and Philbeach CAAs. Work is continuing on the final updates of the remaining out-of-date Conservation Area Proposal Statements (CAPS).

3 LEAD LOCAL FLOOD AUTHORITY

3.1 Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

The recommendations within the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy’s Action Plan are being implemented, including the recent policy review (which is part of the local plan) and consultants’ investigation into the feasibility of implementing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) within North Kensington and Critical Drainage Areas (CDAs)

The purpose of this feasibility study is to identify several locations that SuDS measures could be implemented to reduce the risk. Six locations that may assist with reducing surface water runoff within their respective sub-catchments have been identified.

This project forms the first stage of the £1m funding bid to the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to implement SuDS intensively in these CDAs. The overall funding amount will be dependent upon the outcome of the feasibility study and the ability to meet the necessary funding outcome measures. The draft report was received in September and it shows that the number of properties likely to be protected through the implementation of SuDS is much smaller than previously anticipated. This will lead to a reduced funding bid which will be confirmed with the Environment Agency later in the autumn. However, the implementation of SuDS by the Council is very important, not only to reduce flood risk but to show that they can be implemented in a constrained urban environment and to encourage developers to include green SuDS in their developments.

This project forms the first stage of the recently earmarked £1m funding bid to the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to implement SuDS intensively in these CDAs. The overall funding amount will be dependent upon the outcome of the feasibility study 5

and the ability to meet the necessary funding outcome measures. It is anticipated that this feasibility study will be completed by July 2017.

3.2 Counters Creek

There is no update from Thames Water(TW) on the planning application submission. It is understood that TW will be submitting an application, but the actual dates are not known.

4 OTHER DEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS

4.1 Reserve for community projects for unowned assets

On 8 March 2017 the Council discussed unowned heritage assets and asked Cabinet to consider how it might find resources to assist in their maintenance. A £250,000 fund is proposed which can be accessed by community projects once matched funding has been crowd sourced. Criteria for the release of funds in a way which minimises risks to the Council and minimises the likely impact on staff resources have been drafted and shared with scrutiny committee members prior to a decision in October.

5. TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

5.1 Electric vehicle charging points

By the time the Committee meets I will have proposed a Key Decision that would approve the installation of 46 lamp column chargers and four bollard chargers for electric vehicles across the Borough. The chargers will be installed in columns alongside pay and display bays rather than residents’ bays to ensure a better turnover of vehicles - which will aid access to charging points. The locations have been chosen to reflect existing resident demand and our wish to achieve a good spread of charging points across the Borough. We intend to start installation this autumn.

5.2 Parking permits for those affected by the

An urgent Key Decision was confirmed to extend and formalise the special parking arrangements that were put in place to assist residents affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

The arrangements agreed are as follows: • Residents of Grenfell Tower, Grenfell Walk, Barandon Walk, Bramley House, Hurstway Walk, Testerton Walk, Treadgold House and nos.

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44-50 Verity Close on 14 June 2017 will not be charged for parking permits expiring on, or before, 31 March 2018;

• Eligibility for parking permits will be confirmed using information on our parking permit database, Council Tax, Electoral Register and advice from affected residents’ keyworkers and the RBKC housing department for those residents that are unable to provide the usual documentation;

• Any resident of the affected properties who did not have a RBKC permit at that time will be eligible for a free RBKC permit until March 2018;

• Anyone in temporary or permanent accommodation, in RBKC or any other local authority, as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire will be eligible for a free RBKC permit until March 2018 and the restriction on not holding a resident parking permit from any other local authority will be waivered.

5.3 Car club expansion

Ubeeqo, a new car club operator, will launch a car club service in the borough this autumn. They will provide 49 car club vehicles at distinct locations throughout the borough. Six of the vehicles will be provided on extant car club bays that are currently vacant. The Council’s contractors will mark out 43 new on-street car club bays during October and November. Ubeeqo will provide vehicles on these bays as they become available. Ubeeqo’s service will complement existing services offered by Enterprise and Zipcar and will increase the number of car club bays in the borough to 211. We will publicise the increase in car club provision, and the benefits of car club membership, in the local press once the roll out is complete.

5.4 TfL consultation on a cycle route from Hounslow to Olympia

Transport for London (TfL) is consulting until 31 October on proposals for a cycle superhighway running from Brentford to Olympia. Around half of the route would include segregated cycle lanes. The route would include a short section in the Royal Borough, from Olympia Bridge to Holland Road. Eastbound, there would be a 24 hour bus lane over the bridge; westbound, there would be a stepped cycle track. The consultation material produced by TfL suggests that some bus journeys along the Hammersmith Road / corridor would be faster, but at the time of writing, officers were still seeking more detailed information from TfL on the results of traffic modelling.

CLEANER, GREENER AND CULTURAL SERVICES 7

6. Greener Living Update

6.1 Staff Changes

A staff changes have taken place in the Greener Living Team, Mr Thomas Baylis is the Acting Waste Action Development Manager who oversees Waste Minimisation and Recycling in the borough and Mrs Anca Giurgiu has been promoted to Sustainable Projects Manager and oversees the Council’s Climate Change Programme.

6.2 Waste and Recycling Data

The table below shows performance against waste reduction and recycling indicators for 2017/18 to date. Note that WM2 is the main indicator in terms of recycling. Numbers in green show an improvement on the previous year’s performance and those in red represent a decline.

WM1 WM2 WM3 WM4 WM5 [NI 191] [NI 192] Municipal Municipal Contamination Residual Household waste sent for waste sent for rate waste per waste sent reuse/recycling reuse, household for reuse, /composting recycling and (Kg) recycling and (excl. ash composting composting recycled) (incl. ash recycled from EfW facility)

Final 2016/17 455.11 25.70% 21.29% 41.82% 11.91%

Target 450 26.70% N/a N/a 11.91% 2017/18 April 35.97 20.88% 18.65% 41.78% 14.68% -1.73 -1.54% -1.24% -2.32% 3.89% May 39.42 24.09% 19.80% 39.32% 11.78% -0.54 1.27% 0.22% -2.23% 0.33% June 34.61 26.05% 19.21% 38.64% 13.23% 0.55 -0.08% -0.58% -2.95% 2.18% Quarter 1* 110.01 26.40% 21.16% 39.84% 13.23% -1.72 0.21% -0.33% -2.43% 2.13% July** 37.37 23.23% 19.39% 39.54% 12.09% 0.30 0.15% -0.03% -1.01% 1.02% August** 44.25 17.09% 16.81% 38.47% 14.30% 0.41 -1.39% -1.16% -1.41% 3.05%

* Data has not been officially verified by WRWA and the Environment Agency. This should happen by the end of October.

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** Some data is not yet available such as third party tonnage (e.g. shoes banks), and detritus. Estimations have been used where there is blank data. The impact on the figures tabled, of any changes will be very small.

Officers continue to work on a number of initiatives to increase recycling, minimise waste and decrease contamination, as outlined in the Waste Action Work Plan.

6.3. Mayor of London’s Draft London Environment Strategy

Attached in Appendix Greener Living 1 is a high level summary of the draft London Environment Strategy produced by the Mayor of London. The strategy is currently being consulted on and Local Authorities have been asked for their views on the strategy.

The consultation ends on November 17, 2017, therefore during October, the relevant officers will be reviewing the chapters for their service areas and an official Council response will be collated and submitted later in October, a copy will be circulated to PRSC Members.

If PRSC Members have comments which they would like included in the consultation feedback, please email them to [email protected] .

6.4 The Royal Borough Environment Project and Hanging Baskets in RBKC

PRSC requested a report on Beautifying the Borough, which includes the Royal Borough Environment Project (RBEP) and Hanging Baskets. This report was to be presented at the July PRSC.

Please see Appendix Greener Living 2 for the report.

6.5. Food Waste Collection Pilot

The recycling rate in RBKC has plateaued at around 26%, this seems to be a nationwide trend with most local authorities recycling rates staying the same or decreasing slightly. The Waste Action Team responsible for overseeing recycling and waste minimisation have a target to increase recycling year on year by 1%.

To achieve this the team, have a Waste Action Strategy, a detailed Work Plan and Communication Plan. This includes initiatives such as door knocking, running events, regular recycling communications informing residents how to correctly recycle and working in partnership with SUEZ to ensure collection crews are trained and work practices maximise recycling levels. New initiatives are also being

9 explored such as improving waste storage areas on estates, and Food Waste collections.

Residents often query why RBKC do not over a separate food waste collection when door-knocking, at events and via email. Often this comes from people who have lived in other boroughs that do offer a food waste collection service.

RBKC is one of 9 London boroughs (out of 32) that do not offer a food waste collection service. Food waste that is collected and disposed of separately is classified as recycling. In addition, the Mayor of London’s draft Environment Strategy lists running a separate food waste collection service for kerbside properties by 2020, as compulsory for all authorities.

Food waste can account for over a third of household waste, and is one of the main contaminants in recycling, so a separate collection should reduce general waste tonnages, increase recycling tonnage and reduce the contamination rate.

A voluntary food waste collection pilot proposal is being developed focusing on collecting food waste from single occupancy properties in the south west corner of the borough (See Appendix Greener Living 3 for a showing the collection area). This pilot will concentrate on 1700 properties and run for 12 months, and will be reviewed after six months.

Each household would receive a weekly food waste collection and would be given a 7 litre indoor caddy, with PE liners and an outdoor 23 litre caddy to decant the smaller caddy into. The collection crew would collect and empty the 23 litre caddy.

The 1700 single occupancy households to be included in the pilot have been selected as there is sufficient space at the front of the property to accommodate a caddy, therefore removing the need to store caddies on the street. There is no onus on residents to partake, and they can leave their caddies empty or ask for them to be returned if they wish not to participate.

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The 23 Litre Caddy to be used

W x D x H (mm) 320 x 400 x 405

The food waste will be taken to and disposed of at Transport Avenue in Brentford then transferred to an Anaerobic Digestion facility (not by WRWA).

Resource London are providing support for the communications and are providing funding for the caddies and liners.

It is anticipated that the food waste pilot commences in January 2018 for 12 months. This will allow a consultation with local residents to take place.

The consultation findings will be reviewed by the end of October and decision made how to progress.

6.6 London In Bloom 2017

On July 4, the Borough was judged for the City Category in London in Bloom 2017. The judges spent over four hours being escorted around the Borough showing them a selection of parks and open spaces, and meeting some of the fantastic volunteers and organisations who help maintain them.

The judges were shown the following:

St Quintins Triangle Emslie Horniman Park Meanwhile Gardens Bevington School food growing garden Pembridge Garden Square and the Ivy Holland Park

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Kensington Olympia Market Garden and Kitchen Garden St Luke’s Gardens Cremorne Gardens

The London in Bloom Awards will be announced on 22 September.

6.7 Climate Change Carbon Performance Update

A Carbon Management Performance Report and a Greenhouse Gas Emission Report are produced annually by the Climate Change Team which set out a detailed account of the Council’s performance in reducing its own carbon emissions.

In line with The Climate Change Programme’s strategy, the Council has two targets, set for March 2020 and based on a 2007/08 baseline: • Reduce carbon emissions from its operations by 40%, with a second interim target of 30% by March 2017. • Achieve £7.8m cumulative financial savings from carbon reduction, with a second interim target of £3.9m by March 2017.

Carbon Performance in RBKC 2013/201 2016/201 2007/200 4 7 Target 8 2014/201 2015/201 1st interim 2nd year (baseline 5 6 target 20% interim year) achieved target RBKC’s carbon 23,142 18,054 16,934 16.956 16.200 emission tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes s Carbon reduction from -22% -26.8% -26.7% -30% baseline year

The Climate Change Team is currently analysing the carbon data and will be reporting on the Council’s performance and achievement of the 30% interim target by November 2017.

The Climate Change Team has also started to plan ahead and to work with all Council’s departments and stakeholders in identifying projects that will strive to achieve the 40% carbon reduction target.

The Carbon Performance Report for 2016/2017 will be included in the next PRSC papers.

6.8 RBKC Zero Carbon Homes

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To accord with the requirements of the London Plan, from the 1 April 2017, the Council has fully implemented the zero carbon standard through the creation of a Carbon Offset Fund. Any new proposals will be assessed against this standard using information provided in their energy assessment. The Council’s carbon offset price is £1,800 per tonne of carbon.

Since 1 October 2016, London Plan policy 5.2 has required any new homes forming part of major developments to be zero carbon. Further guidance on this zero carbon standard is set out in the Mayor’s Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) published in March 2016 and the GLA’s guidance on Energy Planning.

To achieve the zero carbon home standard set by the Mayor, the residential element of all major schemes proposed in the borough should achieve a minimum 35% reduction of regulated carbon emissions on-site, and offset all remaining carbon emissions up to 100%. On-site reductions in carbon emissions can be achieved in a number of ways, for example by maximizing energy efficiency, using decentralized energy networks or through the use of on-site renewable energy technologies.

However, where it is demonstrated that a 100% reduction in emissions cannot be achieved on-site, the Council has established a carbon offset fund for cash in lieu contributions from developers to meet the standard off-site. The offset monies received will then be spent on carbon offsetting projects around the borough to achieve carbon savings.

The nationally recognised price for carbon dioxide is best represented by “the Zero Carbon Hub price, currently £60 per tonne”. The SPG states that “The overall contribution should be calculated over 30 years. For example, using the Zero Carbon Hub price equates to £60 x 30 years = £1,800 per tonne of carbon dioxide to be off-set”. Contributions should be secured by a s106 agreement”.

Where an energy assessment demonstrates that the carbon savings required cannot be delivered on-site, the annual remaining regulated carbon emissions figure will be multiplied by the carbon offset price to determine the required cash in lieu contribution. These contributions will be secured through Section 106 agreements.

The Climate Change Team is working with the Planning Department/colleagues to develop an implementation and expenditure framework. Also, the Climate Change Team has been liaising with all relevant departments to collect a list of appropriate

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carbon reduction projects/initiatives which could be funded through the carbon offset fund.

Further information will be reported once the implementation and delivery framework is agreed.

LEISURE SERVICES

6.9 Kensington Leisure Centre

The leisure centre usage membership continues to grow strongly in line with expectations. User numbers have fallen slightly but is not cause for concern. Twenty-eight schools use the pools for swimming tuition this is approximately 12,000 school pupils attending lessons. Private Hire bookings are in place with 33 local sports clubs and community groups having facility bookings across a range of activities including swimming, netball, basketball, badminton and martial arts. New products have been added to the programme in the form of gymnastics and trampoline lessons. Additional services such as spa and exercise referral show steady organic growth.

However, there continues to be dissatisfaction with BYUK in rectifying the building defects, Corporate Property officers have met regularly with the consultant team to record and monitor progress of the rectification of defects and leaks. BYUK’s inability to satisfactorily deal with the roof and internal leaks affecting service delivery. These outstanding issues are causing significant embarrassment to the Royal Borough. I am in regular contact with our Officers and the project team that are addressing these matters with BYUK.

Service interruption occurred during June following 8day closure of Kensington Leisure Centre for it was used as a staging area for emergency services following Grenfell Tower Fire.

Following the reopening, Kensington the centre hosted a Community Open Day on Sunday 9th July in order to encourage local residents to return to the centre and take part in a host of free activities - including table tennis, badminton, swimming, basketball, boxing, toddlers world, cardiowall games, 3 hour thermal spa session, fit beats, pilates and yoga classes, as well as discounts on all café products, and reduced prices on all spa gift cards and retail stock. Excellent feedback from customers and positive atmosphere throughout centre.

6.10 Chelsea Sports Centre

The upgrade works to the wetside changing rooms have been completed. Closure occurred from 31st of April through to 23rd of

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August. The project was completed slightly ahead of schedule providing a good opportunity for a soft opening. The and refurbishment included.

• 12 cubicle showers • 30 single changing cubicles • 3 family changing cubicles with baby changing facilities • 2 group changing rooms • 2 accessible changing rooms • Designated buggy storage area • New costume dryer and hairdryers • Improved air circulation for a more comfortable swimming and spectator experience • Improved energy efficient lighting • Ceiling maintenance work • Re-tiled floor around the perimeter of the pool • Improvement works on the viewing gallery

Due to the refurbishment usage and membership has dropped marginally this quarter, the drop was anticipated. Its expected usage will surpass previous year on year figures, as the investment has significantly improved leisure offer at Chelsea.

Councillor Will Pascall DEPUTY LEADER AND LEAD MEMBER FOR BOROUGH SERVICES CURRENT ISSUES

Report Authors: Mark Chetwynd, Megan Hession, Joan McGarvey, Terry Oliver, Jon Wade,

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