Freedom of Information Enquiry - Ruthlyn Black
It has become apparent that many organisations and members of the
public in LB Sutton were not aware of the recent consultation into
the Draft Mayor of London Transport Strategy.
Please explain the steps that Sutton Council took with TfL to make
the public aware of consultation into the Draft Mayor of London
Transport Strategy.
1) What publicity was undertaken across LB Sutton by TfL and by LB
Sutton?
There was a full page advert in the December / January issue of Sutton Scene - the council's free magazine that goes to all borough households. TfL held a roadshow / consultation day in Sutton Central Library on 24th November, which was widely publicised by TfL. There were also several adverts / features in The Metro free newspaper available at most borough stations, and there was coverage in other newspapers such as the Evening Standard. There was also ample coverage on the TfL / GLA websites.
(2)What was published that explained the Draft Strategy and the
consultation process and how were these made available?
TfL are responsible for publicising and explaining the Mayor's Transport Strategy as it is a Mayoral document, not a council one. Therefore this question should be directed at them.
(3)What steps were taken to try to ensure a balanced cross-section
of the public was made aware of the process?
This question should be directed at TfL.
(4)Where were leaflets distributed, and how was this decided?
What analysis suggested this would lead to a fair and balanced
distribution across the community?
This question should be directed at TfL.
(5)What steps were taken to ensure that hard-to-reach sections of
the community, such as those who travel exclusively by private car, were made aware of the consultation process and encouraged to
participate in it?
This question should be directed at TfL.
(6)What consultation discussions took place between LB Sutton and
TfL over how this process would operate?
No consultation discussions appear to have taken place with TfL over this issue. However this question may be better addressed to TfL as they managed the consultation process.
To what extent was the council consulted over the detail of the
consultation, and what views did it express?
See reply to question 6.
(7)Is the council happy with the consultation process? Was the council happy that the online questionnaire was so
flagrantly biased?
Was the council happy that were responders allowed to pick as many
as they chose from an uncosted wish-list?
The council has not made any comment on the consultation process.
(7)What steps were taken to inform and involve organisations
likely to have an interest?
This question should be directed at TfL.
(8)What programme of meetings was organised?
There was a TfL Roadshow in the library as mentioned above. There is no record of any other meetings.
Did Sutton Council ask TfL to attend meetings of the council's
Neighbourhood Partnerships, and how many did receive reports on the consultation from TfL? The council did not invite TfL to attend meetings of the Local Committees on this particular consultation. TfL's borough liaison officer attended the council's Public Transport Liaison Group meeting on 24th November where he briefed the meeting on the consultation. A report was presented to the council's Planning Advisory Group on the consultation on all three Mayoral Plans (London Plan, Transport Strategy and Economic Development Strategy), which was put on the council's website.
(9)How many meetings took place within LB Sutton between TfL and
the council as part of the consultation process? There are no records of any specific meetings between TfL and the council as part of the consultation process. However, the issue was on the agenda of the council's Public Transport Liaison Group meeting on the 24th November 2009, and it may have been discussed at other meetings.
What about with local groups in LB Sutton? This question should be directed at TfL.
(10)What pre-consultation took place with interested parties to
ensure that the process was fair and balanced? This question should be directed at TfL.
(11)Does the council support a MTS consultation on the Draft Mayor
of London Transport Strategy that offers so little for the driver - private motorist or professional driver of taxi, minicab, van, lorry or bus?
How important are private drivers in the overall use of transport
in Sutton?
Has the council expressed concerns over this unfair and unbalanced aspect of the consultation process?
(12) Does the council support a MTS in which the promotion of
cycling within the draft MTS does not also include warnings on the dangers of this mode?
Does the council support the proposition that a mass switch to
cycling would be beneficial justified, and on what evidence?
(13) Does the council support a MTS consultation in which costings
of various suggestions were not put forward, so that the public
could see how much tax each would entail?
(14) Does the council support a MTS consultation in which there was
no question on the level of subsidy that each mode should receive?
(15)Does the council support a MTS consultation in which no
question is asked as to whether the users of a mode should bear
all, most, some or whatever proportion of the costs of providing
that mode?
Questions 11-15 are questions of opinion and therefore not appropriate to a Freedom of information request. The council's comments on the MTS will be made public by TfL.
(16)What representations has or will the council make regarding
the consultation process into the Draft MTS as a result of this
enquiry or otherwise? There is no record of any representations that have been made by the council to date, or will be made regarding the consultation process.