ADD2380 Babington Road, London Borough of Lambeth – GLA Side Road

Under the Greater London Authority (GLA) Act 1999, the Mayor has a duty to keep under review the GLA Main and GLA Side Roads, which make up the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). The authority to make amendments to the TLRN has been delegated to the Assistant Director of Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity in accordance with paragraph 6.2 of the Mayoral Decision Making document (scheme of delegation).

TfL in consultation with the London Boroughs will, from time to time, undertake such a review and following agreement with the relevant London Boroughs officers amend the GLA Designation Orders for GLA Roads and GLA Side Roads, and Special Parking Area Orders as required to alter the TLRN expanse.

The Lambeth Urban Movement Scheme identified Babington Road as a primary location in Streatham for a weekly street market and better public space which was delivered as part of the TfL Road Modernisation Plan in October 2015. The scheme was designed to improve the Streatham Green area for cyclists and pedestrians while creating a new public space and was aligned with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to encourage more walking and cycling by providing safer and more attractive facilities on street.

As a result of the scheme implementation and agreement with the London Borough of Lambeth, Lambeth have taken responsibility for a small section of Babington Road, where it joins Mitcham Lane.

Babington Road was previously reviewed by the then Mayor as part of a consolidation exercise of all GLA side roads under MA 3052 on 23 April 2007.

No cost implications have been identified as a result of this change.

The Head of Network Performance at Transport for London has confirmed that this request meets all technical, operational and procedural requirements of the Highway and/or Traffic Authority and has been verified for GLA approval.

TfL have provided a draft of the amended GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Lambeth) Designation Order, see Appendix A, to propose, that the section of Babington Road, will no longer be a GLA Side Road. This has been agreed with the London Borough of Lambeth, and will give them Traffic Authority powers in addition to their existing Highway Authority powers for this section of road.

The objective is to transfer Traffic Authority status for a section of Babington Road to the London Borough of Lambeth so that they can introduce a weekly street market and better public space in the London Borough of Lambeth, having both Highway and Traffic Authority status, will be able to effectively manage Babington Road.

The Mayor and the Greater London Authority (GLA) are required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 when exercising their functions. Section 149 requires the Mayor and the GLA (and anyone exercising powers on their behalf) to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act;
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a “protected characteristic” and people who do not share it by;

- Removing or minimising disadvantages experienced by people because of their protected characteristics;
- Meeting the needs of people with protected characteristics; and
- Encouraging people with protected characteristics to participate in public life.

• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not.

London borough councils are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty.

In exercising the statutory power to amend the GLA Designation Orders for GLA Roads and GLA Side Roads as set out in this decision, the decision-maker (here the Assistant Director of Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity) must have regard to the matters set out in section 149 Equality Act 2010. The effect of this decision will be to transfer responsibility for the relevant highway to the London Borough of Lambeth which is itself subject to the Public Sector Equality duty when exercising its functions as Highway Authority or Traffic Authority. As such, this decision is not expected of itself to have any impact on the matters within the scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty.

a) key risks and issues

None identified.

b) links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

The scheme was part of the TfL Roads Modernisation Plan and was delivered in Oct 2015. The scheme delivery provided an upgrade to the cycling infrastructure, simplification of the road layout and urban realm enhancements leading to more walking and cycling by providing safer and more attractive facilities on street. These improvements align closely to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to encourage more walking and cycling by providing safer and more attractive facilities on street.

c) impact assessments and consultations

Public consultation for the scheme took place between the 24th November 2014 and the 18th January 2015 as part of the scheme approval process.

Nobody involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision has any conflicts of interest to declare.

The making of this Designation Order, as set out in Appendix A, has no financial implications for the GLA or its functional bodies.

The GLA is empowered by virtue of section 124A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to make the proposed GLA Side Roads Designation Variation Order with the consent of the relevant London Borough. Such consent has been given.

This project has been delivered by TfL in October 2015 and the Traffic and Highway Authority responsibilities have already in practice been passed to London Borough of Lambeth. The latter will be formally notified of this Decision.