Issue - meetings

10.1 This item was considered alongside item 11 Creative Lewisham 2001 report.          

10.2  Simone van Elk (Scrutiny Manager) introduced the report. The following key points were noted:

·      The report was based on the part 1 (open) evidence that the Committee had gathered during its review into the Catford regeneration programme, and the recommendations to Mayor and Cabinet it had previously made.

·      The recommendations were for the Committee to agree the renewed terms of reference and timetable as they had decided to continue receiving evidence on the regeneration programme.

10.3 Janet Senior and Kplom Lotsu (SGM Capital Programme Delivery)  answered questions from the Committee about the regeneration programme. The following key points were noted:

·      Discussion with TfL about the possible relocation of A205 (South Circular) were progressing. The Council was making it clear that the road should be moved.

·      A full report on the regeneration programme was being prepared for Mayor and Cabinet in the autumn and would be presented to the Committee first. The report would include a plan for communicating with residents and Councillors. It would include clear communication strategy for developing a vision for the town centre. The vision presented as part of the development of the later withdrawn Catford town centre local plan would need to be reviewed to see what was still relevant in the current circumstances. 

·      The feasibility of the regeneration programme needed to be considered but the central element of the scheme was what Catford as a place would feel like. This sense of place should include thoughts about how the park, the stations and roads fit into the town centre, and access throughout should be a key consideration.

·      Autumn would likely to time to engage residents in the plans for Catford town centre and ask for their contributions in visualising what the town centre should look like.

·      As the demographics of the borough change, there may be more residents interested in a night time economy in Catford.

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10.4 The Committee made a number of comments. The following key points were noted:

·      The Broadway theatre would need to be a central focus in the town centre. There was currently very little to attract people to Catford in the evening and it would benefit the theatre if conditions for a healthy night time economy were taken into account in planning the town centre.

·      The Committee felt strongly that this regeneration programme should be made to come alive for residents. The vision for the town centre should be developed alongside residents, and not be presented to residents as a fixed plan.

·      Local residents had become galvanised about the future of the town centre when a planning application for a building on the former Catford Greyhound Stadium site was recently considered. Residents should be involved in developing a vision for the town centre.

·      There are lessons to be learnt from the way the Lewisham Gateway development had progressed. Once a vision for a regeneration scheme had been developed it was important to ensure that vision was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10