Issue - meetings

Having considered an officer report, and a presentations by a Bellingham

Ward Councillor and by the jobshare Cabinet Member for Environment &

Transport, Councillor Sophie McGeevor, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) additional capital programme contribution of £1.936m be approved to

secure the investment;

(2) approval be given to begin the process of obtaining a traffic management

order for Beckenham Place Park, to enable the introduction of parking

enforcement;

(3) approval be given to grant a lease of the new education centre to the Field

Studies Council and responsibility be delegated to the Executive Director for

Customer Services, in consultation with the Assistant Director of

Regeneration and Place and the Head of Law, to agree final terms as set out.,

The report was presented by Councillor Sophie McGeevor who welcomed the

vastly increased use of the park as improvements were made. She backed

proposals seeking an additional £1.936M of capital expenditure.

Bellingham Ward Councillor Alan Hall next addressed the Cabinet. He

complained he had been denied access to the full costings of the scheme. He

presented the Mayor with a series of written questions submitted by a

Downham Ward resident. He said he believed the development of proposals

and the perceived failure to answer questions amounted to a complete failure

of financial control.

Councillor Breda Dacres said regular and complete updates had been made

to the Overview and Scrutiny Business Panel. Councillor McGeevor added

that she had tried to include Councillors in the three park wards in discussions

and planning. All questions she had received had been responded to. She

highlighted the Naked City Festival due to commence on July 20 which was deemed to have made Lewisham the centre of an emerging jazz scene attracting a worldwide following.

Councillor Best welcomed the attraction of the Naked City Festival and said

the increased use of the park vindicated the decision to close the golf course.

Councillor Dromey added his thanks to former Councillor Rachel Onikosi and

pointed out the doubling of visitors to the park included welcome rises in

numbers of BAME residents and younger people. He noted concerns had

been raised about potential parking problems but pointed out latest strategies

involved greater use of pun=blic transport and cycling and a deliberate effort

not to pander to car usage in new developments.

The mayor gave his personal endorsement to the proposals saying he was

greatly impressed by the progress that had been made.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentations by a Bellingham

Ward Councillor and by the jobshare Cabinet Member for Environment &

Transport, Councillor Sophie McGeevor, the Mayor and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by a vote of 9-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) additional capital programme contribution of £1.936m be approved to

secure the investment;

(2) approval be given to begin the process of obtaining a traffic management

order for Beckenham Place Park, to enable the introduction of parking

enforcement;

(3) approval be given to grant a lease of the new education centre to the Field

Studies Council and responsibility be delegated to the Executive Director for

Customer Services, in consultation with the Assistant Director of

Regeneration and Place and the Head of Law, to agree final terms as set out.,