Hounslow Streetspace governance

The requirements by government to work at pace means that the normal process of decision making for implementing changes to the highway has needed to be amended. The process being applied for the borough wide Streetspace programme is as follows:

Schemes identified by officers, elected members, direct from stakeholders or from borough wide consultation.
Officers review proposals for compliance with statutory guidance, technical feasibility, potential impacts (including on those with protected characteristics under relevant Equalities Legislation) and cost.
Viable schemes discussed with Lead Members for Transport, Highways and Climate Emergency/Air Quality and decision made as to whether or not to proceed to trial.
Engagement with ward councillors.
Further engagement with statutory consultees where required (e.g. emergency services)
Determination of progression to trial implementation (via a temporary or experimental traffic order). This is set out in a Chief Officer Decision which will be published on the Council’s website. The use of temporary and experimental traffic orders in this way allows the council to implement the scheme quickly and simultaneously consult those impacted by it. Feedback received through this consultation is then considered at the point at which the council determines whether or not to make the scheme, or any aspects of it, permanent (more information on this below).
Measures announced. Notification letters to properties fronting onto the measure in question, and advance warning signs approximately 1 week prior to start of trail scheme.
Trial scheme implemented.
Monitoring and collation of feedback provided by residents and stakeholders through responding to the consultation.
Emergency changes made if required.
Interim review (after approximately 3 months) to be undertaken by an independent consultant - data relating to each scheme and all feedback received to be analysed.
Report on conclusions produced by independent consultation from their analysis.
Officers will review independent consultant's report and draw up recommendations to be shared with Cabinet members. Recommendations will state whether to modify, approve or withdraw the scheme in question.
Final review (after approximately 6 months). At this point a decision is made as to whether the trial continues, is removed (entirely or in part) or made permanent. This decision will be taken by the relevant Lead Member either as a single member decision or in discussion with the Chief Officer.

As required by Government, the Council is proceeding at pace with these trial changes. As a result, some of the measures may have unintended or unforeseen consequences and may need to be amended or removed altogether. Others may deliver on the objectives of the programme, and also contribute to our wider policies around addressing the climate emergency and air quality for example, and so may be made permanent.

The following will be taken into consideration when reviewing each individual scheme;

General compliance with national, regional and local transport and environmental policy
Feedback from the community, including those with protected characteristics under relevant equalities legislation
Reductions in traffic flow and/or speed on residential roads
Any positive evidence of modal shift to walking and cycling
A review of any relevant road safety implications, including collision data where available
Relevant wider environmental changes, including air quality implications

Having considered the above, officers will provide a report with recommendations which will be circulated to local councillors to review, prior to a final decision being made by the Council’s Cabinet/lead member. The outcome of each trial will be communicated via the Council’s website and through letters to the local community.