Agenda and minutes

The Director of Law to report that there are no changes.

1.1       It was noted that there were no changes to the Membership.

1.2       The Chairman welcomed Councillor David Harvey (Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community) and Councillor Richard Holloway (Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Young People) to the meeting.

1.3       The Chairman advised that Councillor David Harvey (Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community) to the meeting to observe and participate in the Committee’s discussion.  Any questions that Members had regarding his portfolio would be placed on the Committee’s Action Tracker.

To receive declarations of interest by Members and Officers of any personal or prejudicial interests.

2.1       No further declarations of interests in respect of items to be discussed were made, other than those noted in the circulated schedule as set out below in paragraph 2.2.

2.2       Table of Member’s interests tabled at the Committee Meeting was as follows:

To agree the minutes of the meetings held on 15 May 2017.

3.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2017 be approved for signature by the Chairman as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

a)    To note the progress in implementing the Committee’s Recommendation and Action Trackers.

b)    To provide comment and input into the Work Programme for 2017/18.

4.1       ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION TRACKERS

4.1.1   RESOLVED: That the Action and Recommendation Trackers be noted.

 4.2      COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME

4.2.1   RESOLVED: That the Westminster Voluntary Sector Strategy and the Review of the draft Open Spaces and Bio-Diversity Strategy be reviewed at its next meeting.

Councillor David Harvey (Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

5.1       The Committee received a written update from the Cabinet Member which covered current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

Councillor Richard Holloway (Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Young People) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

6.1       The Committee received a written update from the Cabinet Member who responded to questions on the following topics:

• the commitments made that no school and nursery will lose funding as a result of the National Funding Formula.
• the importance of maintaining excellence in schools and the forthcoming consultation with schools regarding their funding and budgets.
• the Young Westminster Foundation and the possible start date for the ‘needs analysis’ to better understand the needs of young people
• the positive school attendance figures of Westminster schools.
• the positive on-going work to reduce the number of young people whose education status  was ‘not known’.

To update on Year 1 progress and inform about the governance for the project.

7.1       The Committee received a report providing an update on Year 1 progress, the governance of the project and how monitoring and evaluation of the key projects was taking place.  The Committee noted the key areas of work completed in settling up the Marylebone Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN) and that it was established with a central focus on improving air quality.

7.2       The Committee heard how the partnership programme was managed, how the various stakeholders were responsible for delivering select programmes and that it would allow stakeholders, businesses and individuals to play a part in improving air quality for resident and those who work and visit the area.  The Committee discussed that many of the programmes would be trialled in London for the first time such as the emissions-based parking pilot scheme and that the project gave the opportunity to pilot a variety of different projects.  The Committee urged that marketing be used to raise awareness of the Marylebone (LEN) and that it was important to measure and evaluate the success of the projects both inside and outside of the Marylebone (LEN).  The Committee noted that action was required on a London wide and national basis to have a significant impact on the air quality in the area.

7.3       RESOLVED: The Committee made the following comments which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community for consideration:

1. The Committee welcomed the report and recognised the force of local as well as national and international steps to impact on behaviour change and air quality.

2. The Committee welcomed the opportunity for experimentation and innovation in the Marylebone Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN).

3. The Committee urged that marketing be used to raise awareness of the Marylebone Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN) with businesses, visitors, residents, faith communities and schools in the area.

4. The Committee recognised that action was required on a London wide and national basis to have any significant impact on air quality; and that TfL may need to take bold action to address air quality on Marylebone Road.

5. The Committee highlighted the need to plan for the future for the initiative in the area and neighbouring areas following the three year term of this pilot project.

6. The Committee recognised the need to hold regular events to sustain the programmes and urged the Council to consider a regular programme of play streets.

To review and contribute to the development of the draft strategy.

8.1       The Committee were given a presentation on the draft Physical Activity, Leisure and Sports Strategy which had emerged through a review of national, regional and local policy and strategy and an assessment of the key issues in Westminster.  The Committee noted that it had been designed around three key thematic areas and that the previous Strategy had resulted in a number of positive improvements and had sought to position Westminster as a genuine ‘City of Sport’.

8.2       The Committee discussed the importance of outreach work and the promotion of everyday activities by finding venues to hold sport and leisure activities nearer to resident’s homes/communities.  The Committee then discussed the wider use of open spaces and the possible conflict between partners such as using parks for sport versus using the park as a quiet place for relaxation.  The Committee noted that Westminster had significant sport and leisure areas and that these facilities needed to be utilised and effectively communicated and marketed to young people. 

8.3       The Committee considered the importance of promoting health and well-being in schools and increasing the participation on informal opportunities for exercise.  The Committee then noted the success of the Westminster Mile, the use of data to raise awareness of the local offer and the ambition to be the most active borough in London.

8.4       RESOLVED: The Committee made the following comments which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community for consideration:

1. The Committee welcomed the draft strategy and the opportunity to contribute to it in draft form.

2. The Committee welcomed the ambition to be the most active borough in London.

3. The Committee highlighted the importance of the range of opportunities for physical activities and not just sport.

4. The Committee welcomed the focus on the localities and the barriers to participation and the use of data to raise awareness of the local offer.

5. The Committee agreed the three key thematic areas of the strategy and requested that there be a broad representation of community representation as well as stakeholders on the Active Westminster Board.

Verbal Update (if any)