A turf battle between Westminster Council and TfL stopped a cycle safety scheme at London's fourth most dangerous junction, where a truck later killed a cyclist.
Correspondence released after a Freedom of Information request shows that a Westminster Councillor questioned the need for TfL's proposed expenditure even though the junction is part of TfL's own Transport for London Road Network. The Council's Commissioner for Transport then told his TfL's opposite number that he was 'annoyed' that TfL had announced the scheme to Councillors. He criticised the TfL plan as 'a disaster' which 'would not work' but failed to suggest any improvements. TfL then announced that it was abandoning the scheme 'following concerns voiced by Westminster City Council'. Contacted by BBC London News after the death of the cyclist two and and a half years later, Westminster said that they were still waiting for TfL to come up with a new plan.
BBC London News item highlighting information disclosed under Freedom of Information:
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| Millbank roundabout proposal from TfL, October 2012 |
The map (left) shows TfL's plan to improve the Lambeth Bridge North roundabout on Millbank (October 2012). TfL chose this design because it presented less obstruction to traffic flow, perhaps in an attempt to head off objections by Westminster Council and local residents.
There is no superior authority to resolve conflicts and turf battles between the Greater London Authority and the Boroughs, which have power of veto over any traffic scheme even if it only involves TfL roads. In another example, TfL recently announced eight schemes for 20mph speed limit pilot schemes on its roads but Westminster, London's most unsafe Borough, was conspicuously absent. Questioned on this, the Mayor admitted that the choice was based on 'the level of Borough support'.
Against the background of the lack of an overarching authority, it is not surprising that TfL's Millbank proposal led to acrimonious correspondence with Westminster Council so that cooperation got off to a bad start and then ceased altogether. Westminster Councillors are obliged to represent the views of their electors, the residents, rather than road users. The Council's professional road planners are obliged to follow the political 'steer' of their Councillors. Democracy therefore imposes very different responsibilities on TfL and the Boroughs.
The issue of dual responsibility is known as the 'matrix management' problem and commercial organisations deal with it in such a way as to resolve conflicts. It typically arises when product managers and market managers are required to cooperate in order to launch a new product in a particular geographic market. If unresolved, the natural human tendency to shy away from conflict will result in opportunities being ignored as seems to be happening in the London road safety case.
The most relevant documents disclosed by Westminster Council under FoI request no. 869633 can be found here:
- Table of alternatives evaluated by TfL for Millbank roundabout
- Correspondence between TfL and Westminster Council
An identical FoI request to TfL on 4 May 2015 had received no substantive response by 25 July.
There is no superior authority to resolve conflicts and turf battles between the Greater London Authority and the Boroughs, which have power of veto over any traffic scheme even if it only involves TfL roads. In another example, TfL recently announced eight schemes for 20mph speed limit pilot schemes on its roads but Westminster, London's most unsafe Borough, was conspicuously absent. Questioned on this, the Mayor admitted that the choice was based on 'the level of Borough support'.
Against the background of the lack of an overarching authority, it is not surprising that TfL's Millbank proposal led to acrimonious correspondence with Westminster Council so that cooperation got off to a bad start and then ceased altogether. Westminster Councillors are obliged to represent the views of their electors, the residents, rather than road users. The Council's professional road planners are obliged to follow the political 'steer' of their Councillors. Democracy therefore imposes very different responsibilities on TfL and the Boroughs.
The issue of dual responsibility is known as the 'matrix management' problem and commercial organisations deal with it in such a way as to resolve conflicts. It typically arises when product managers and market managers are required to cooperate in order to launch a new product in a particular geographic market. If unresolved, the natural human tendency to shy away from conflict will result in opportunities being ignored as seems to be happening in the London road safety case.
The most relevant documents disclosed by Westminster Council under FoI request no. 869633 can be found here:
- Table of alternatives evaluated by TfL for Millbank roundabout
- Correspondence between TfL and Westminster Council
An identical FoI request to TfL on 4 May 2015 had received no substantive response by 25 July.