Agenda and minutes

None were made.

Gypsy and Traveller Site Local Plan Update.

The report was introduced by the Strategic Planning Manager who explained

the background to the recommendations accepted by the Mayor at his

meeting on March 15.

The Chair noted the Pool Court site was on the boundary of the Bellingham

and Rushey Green wards which essentially meant a Catford location. He

asked had full consultation taken place with nearby affected residents and

businesses such as the scaffolding firm, St Dunstans College and Canadian

Avenue residents.

The Strategic Planning Manager laid out details of the lengthy consultation

process that had begun in March 2016. He was pressed by the Chair to say

what specific consultation had taken place with the businesses and localities

he had mentioned. Graham Harrington, a Council Planning Consultant,

responded by mentioning notices had been published in the Pool Court area

advertising open consultations available to all.

The Chair asked how many consultees had agreed with the Pool Court

designation. Mr Harrington responded by saying figures were shown in an

appendix to the Mayor & Cabinet report.

The Chair asked if consideration had been given to undertaking a consultation

on one site only. The Strategic Planning Manager said this would occur as

part of the Local Plan process in September or October 2018. The Chair

believed that would be on the details only and felt the previous consultation

which pitted the Pool Court site against an alternative social club location in

New Cross was unbalanced.

Councillor Muldoon pointed out Pool Court was within a Site of Nature

Conservation Interest (SNCI) because of the existence of Stag Beetles, an

endangered species. The Senior Programme Manager reported on the

presence of Japanese Knotweed which had eroded the quality of the SNCI in

this part of a much wider designated area. He also stated the land in question

was the subject of heavy flytipping and any ecological survey was more likely

to find industrial waste than rare bugs. He added that rotting timber locations

were the preferred habitat for Stag Beetles.

Councillor Sorba observed that the proposals appeared dependent on the

purchase of Network Rail and that elsewhere in the borough that body had

proved difficult to deal with. Officers expressed optimism that Network Rail

would release their holding allowing the site to be expanded from three to six

pitches.

Councillor Curran noted GLA funds would not be forthcoming for the flood

alleviation element and he received categorical assurances from the Senior

Programme Manager that Lewisham had the funds in place to undertake the

scheme. He said planning permission would be sought later in the year and

works would take 12 to 18 months to complete, culminating in mid 2020.

Councillor Curran asked what consultation had taken place with the Traveller

Community. Mr Harrington replied that three meetings had taken place with

the ad hoc Lewisham Traveller Forum which strongly supported the Pool

Court site. The Chair said he had met with the Irish Centre’s Traveller

Outreach Worker who indicated no visits had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972,

the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of

business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt

information as defined in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of

the Act, as amended by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)

(Access to Information) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2006:-

4. Decision made by Mayor and Cabinet on 15 March 2018

Deptford Southern Housing Sites

The report was presented by the Housing Strategy and Partnerships

Manager.

The Chair he said he felt the report title was somewhat obscure and he had

been made aware of some contentious elements relating to the proposal.

The Chair questioned the achievability of the ambitious affordable housing

targets. The Housing Strategy and Partnerships Manager stated the original

35% target had been guaranteed by contract; the increase to 50% following

additional grant aid was secured by signed contract and the latest 74% target

was under the terms of a signed legal agreement.

The Chair queried the viability of the funding and was informed Peabody had

a long term strategic funding relationship with the GLA and all necessary

funding was in place.

The Chair mentioned protests being made by supporters of the Tidemill

Community Gardens and asked if there was any way in which that facility

could be retained in its current location. The Housing Strategy and

Partnerships Manager said the scheme would become significantly smaller if

the Garden was kept. Efforts were continuing to try and reprovide the facility

in an alternative location.

Councillor Sorba asked if there were general implications if the Council used a

majority of its global Right to Buy receipts on one location. The Housing

Strategy and Partnerships Manager advised the Panel that it was important to

commit the Right to Buy receipts as failure to spend meant they had to be

given to the Government with interest.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.03pm