Brent FoE's 'critical friend' presentation at Scrutiny on the Climate Emergency Strategy wins support

 Sheila Simpson made a presentation at tonight's Scrutiny Committe on behalf of Brent Friends of the Earth, ahead of the Committee's consideration of progress on the Council's Climate Emergency Strategy. Three members of the Committee declared an interest as members of Brent FoE and it became clear that several members of the Committee led by Cllr Tom Miller (not a member of Brent FoE) shared many of the concerns Sheila had expressed. The Strategy was too patchy and ignored some major areas.  It lacked any effective means of measuring local progress in terms of emissions and of comparing progress with other London boroughs.

There was diligent questioning of officers and Cllr Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment, and the Committee made a number of recommendations. (Exact wording will be finalised by officers):

1. The provision of a framework and dashboard to enable assessment of progres.

2. As lack of resources was a major factor in making progress to lobby the government on the issue,

3. A review of progress to be brought to the Committee.

4. Every service in the Council should include a climate action impact statement in their reports as they do with equality assessments.

5. Explore ways that Strategic CIL could be used to deliver the infrastructure necessary to to tackle climate change.

 

Sheila Simpon's Presentation

 

 

Good evening, I’m Sheila Simpson a member of Brent Friends of the Earth with over 200 people on our mailing list. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on their behalf.

 

Deep concern about the urgency of the climate and ecological crisis and lack of government action is growing.  Our members were amongst many thousands of people on the streets of Westminster last weekend hoping to raise awareness, work on solutions and open dialogue with Parliament. 

 

Locally, too, we must work in partnership to make progress. No-one is outside the effects of climate change.  In this spirit, I’m sharing some of our comments, concerns and suggestions in relation to the Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy Update: Delivery Plan & Green Neighbourhoods. The aims are rightly ambitious.

 

The rationale for a narrower focus of resources on the selected Green Neighbourhoods is clear. Maximising impact and testing solutions in this way makes sense, but also risks taking time we may not have and leaving the majority of Brent untouched.

 

The commitment to consulting and co-designing plans with residents is welcome and key to creating a sense of community ownership. At a workshop for Church End and Roundwood Greener Neighbourhood, I saw how elements of our discussion were fed into the plan.

 

The resulting ‘patchwork’ of multiple, small-scale, individual projects can have some effect on carbon emissions within the area. But it is not clear which actions would be prioritised given limited resources, and some key proposals don’t appear.  

 

For example, increasing active travel: bicycle hangars will be of practical immediate help to some, whereas the longer-term vision of creating safe cycle/pedestrian friendly Green Corridors, is more tenuous, dependent upon feasibility studies, although it is more likely to get results. (Cyclists who feel themselves at risk from traffic are not bothered if the cars that present a danger use fossil fuel or electricity).

 

Aside from increasing the number of School Streets there is little action or clear aspiration to actively discourage or limit car use, this is effective in shifting behaviour away from harmful travel choices. Perhaps more action is envisaged, see para. 5.18 where the feasibility study may ‘consider potential for more ambitious interventions in the healthy streets agenda’?

 

Evidence grows for low traffic neighbourhoods improving safety and the quality of life for residents.

 

Supporting car clubs can provide affordable access to a low-emission vehicles and reduce demand for on-road parking. (see Dept. of Transport guidance)

 

Kingsbury Greener Neighbourhood focuses on schools Though a small number of schools are involved their enthusiasm and energy is promising; students have potential to be influencers at home, reaching diverse communities where extended families may well be living now with the consequences of our choices here.

 

We see further scope for quick wins with wider long-term impact.

 

Could the council be working more closely with Brent Pure Energy to get Solar Panels installed on school roofs?

 

Over-consumption of meat and dairy products as a major source of emissions, is not directly addressed in the plan. Work could start now to encourage plant-based diets in schools, (learning from the success of other local authorities, linking with organisations like ProVegUK and Plant Based Universities) leading to life-long switches to healthy low-carbon eating.

 

The Development Led Pilot with greater potential to impact the environment, is less formed and harder to comment on. Brent Friends of the Earth and individual members submitted considered and detailed views on plans for South Kilburn expressing many concerns including loss of tree cover, biodiversity and open space, and risk of flooding.

 

Brent’s 2021-2030 C.E.E. Strategy sees members of Brent’s Environmental Network as key to community-led behaviour change. Residents and businesses outside the green neighbourhoods also need to be informed and involved in these issues. The B.E.N. website is not always up to this task, (for example if you look at the section on Solar Power it leads to finding there is no current programme of support on offer or any signposting elsewhere.  It is also unclear how often the ‘regular’ newsletter can be expected)

 

Friends of the Earth distribute information and engage in climate conversations with the public; it would be good to be able to point them to council sources of up-to-date advice and information.

 

We will meet Cllr Donnelly-Jackson to discuss ongoing plans for meaningful Brent-wide public engagement.

 

Brent won’t monitor the effect of interventions, relying on UK government statistics to benchmark and demonstrate progress. This makes it almost impossible to see what the result of the planned actions is, and what is attributable to more general national and local trends. Without information linked to reduced emissions how will competing demands for resources be prioritised or effective action targeted towards net zero?

 

Public engagement needs credible feedback demonstrating results to avoid burnout or cynicism.

Friends of the Earth’s ‘Near You’ online database enables comparisons with similar local authorities, and we’ll follow progress closely.

Only 6.5 years to 2030. You have a vital task to keep the council on target to reach net zero emissions.  Given the urgency, size, and complexity of the problem we suggest this committee form a sub-group to focus on climate emergency issues.

 

We wish you every success.

 

Thank you.