Islington Council's approach to managing its kerbside spaces has come under scrutiny from the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee. The committee met on Monday, September 21, 2026, to discuss the council's kerbside management strategy and its effectiveness, as detailed in the Public reports pack.
Officers presented an overview of the council's approach, emphasizing that each kerbside scheme is bespoke and developed using local evidence, consultation, and an understanding of the site's wider context. This includes considering connectivity to cycle lanes and walking routes, as well as surrounding businesses and community facilities. Climate evidence, such as canopy cover for cooling and flood risk, is also a key consideration, alongside physical access to sites. The council performs a gap analysis of current practices and reviews best practices from other boroughs.
Specific examples of these bespoke schemes were discussed, including the York Way Gardens scheme, which involved a major intervention to create seating for people and outdoor seating for cafes, aiming to foster a more inclusive economy. In contrast, other schemes might involve a lower level of intervention, such as the removal of parking to implement greening initiatives.
During the discussion, councillors raised questions regarding the process and timeline for initiating new kerbside schemes. Officers explained that the process begins with a thorough site analysis to understand current functions, movements, access, planting, and curbside activity. This is followed by identifying necessary changes and retaining existing positive elements. Evidence, including climate data, is used to test proposals before implementation. While the presentation outlined the design and implementation process, a specific timeline from need identification to completion was not detailed.
Concerns were also voiced about the maintenance and cleaning of transformed kerbside spaces. The council confirmed that morning, afternoon, and night teams are actively cleaning these areas. However, there is an ongoing discussion about adapting traditional cleaning rotas to meet evolving needs. The council is also exploring ways to encourage residents to help maintain their streets, acknowledging that different spaces require varied management approaches. The coordination of maintenance and cleaning responsibilities, particularly on housing estates, between different council services and housing departments remains an area requiring further attention.
Regarding the demand for cycle parking, the council assesses where demand exists and the proximity of existing local bike hangars, considering the walking distance for users. A waiting list for bike spaces has been in place, but it has significantly reduced due to expanded provision. The council aims to install bike hangars in areas with good occupancy rates, and these structures are designed to be temporary and relocatable if demand shifts.
The meeting highlighted that coordination between different council services and housing departments in kerbside management is an area that needs to be addressed. Confusion regarding the responsibility for cleaning and maintenance of green spaces on housing estates, which are adjacent to main roads but not managed by main council services, was specifically mentioned. The council acknowledges the need for joined-up approaches across service areas to ensure better resource utilization and quicker adaptation as environments evolve.
It was acknowledged that while the council possesses data to quantify kerbside usage, such as the location of all parking bays and yellow lines, this information has not yet been compiled. The focus has been on delivering schemes rather than on consolidating this specific data.
The overarching vision for kerbside management is outlined in the transport strategy, which aims to reduce car ownership and support active travel. Beyond these primary goals, the strategy seeks to create more attractive streets, positively impacting community safety and residents' perception of their environment. The aim is to bring the most benefit to residents in a particular place, with the overall vision of creating a more inclusive economy and fostering collaboration with other council teams.