Agenda item

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 made to the site. Mr

Harrington stated Traveller representatives had been provided with plans

and photographs of Pool Court.

Councillor Curran asked if a six pitch site would be big enough to cater for

demand. The Strategic Planning Manager assured him six pitches would cater

for current demand.

Councillor Curran received further assurances that vehicular access to the

site would be adequate for both caravans and emergency vehicles.

Councillor Hall stated his remaining concern that the site would be in a Flood

Plain.

Councillor Curran questioned the total comparative costs of this site and a

housing site and was provided with an answer in a closed session for his

question only.

Councillor Muldoon sought legal advice as to the consultation threshold. The

Deputy Monitoring Officer confirmed the level of consultation undertaken

exceeded any statutory requirement.

The Chair summed up the scrutiny of the Mayoral decision by advising the

Business Panel of the Constitutional options open to them. The Business

Panel agreed to note the Mayor’s decision and asked that a minute of their discussion be furnished to a meeting of the Mayor & Cabinet.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Mayor be noted and a minute of the

Business Panel’s discussion be provided to the Mayor & Cabinet