Agenda and minutes

There were none.

(Report 405/09-10)

St Leonards Ward

Key Decision – Urgency Item

Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration

Interim Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment

Contact: Sandra Fryer, 020 7926 2489

Email: sfryer@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 405/09-10) (Key Decision – Urgency Item. Call-in period ends Tue 13 April 2010)

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration introduced the report and stated that she and her colleagues were very pleased that an agreement had been reached on a regeneration scheme for Streatham Hub.  The Cabinet Member acknowledged that there had been a number of setbacks in reaching this agreement, resulting in numerous delays over the years, however, a way forward had now been agreed upon, as set out in the report. Both members and officers were now confident that the scheme would be completed by the end of 2012.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities empathised with  anxieties expressed by the local community regarding the scheme, and in particular the proposal to erect a temporary ice rink on Streatham Common. She provided reassurance, however, that all permissions were temporary. A number of options had been considered, identifying Streatham Common as the only viable site for the temporary rink. It was planned to ring-fence funds in order to ensure that when the structure was dismantled, Streatham Common would be restored to it current state with various improvements.

The Divisional Director, Strategy and Partnerships, added that officers would now commence work to develop the terms of the agreement with Tesco, as well as submitting planning applications and carrying out the necessary public consultation on the proposals.

Cabinet received the following representations:

·        Andrew Boyle, Project Manager Spen Hill, Tesco, stated that the agreement represented a good partnership between Tesco and the Council. The Council had been tough negotiators and he felt that a scheme had been developed that would give all parties and the community the maximum benefit. He added that once the plans for the temporary ice rink had been finalised a public exhibition would be held in order to present the proposals to the community.

·        Saki Hajnal, Streatham Ice Skating Action Group, highlighted the importance of ensuring continuity of ice throughout the process. She enquired whether: the agreement would stipulate that the Tesco store could not open until the new leisure facilities had been completed; whether the planning applications for the main development and the temporary ice rink would be linked; and whether discussions with the Mayor of London and the Government Office for London (GOL) had already started in order to ensure that agreement from these organisations to proceed with the project did not cause unnecessary delay.

·        Peter Newmark, Friends of Streatham Common, stated that he was very concerned at the proposals to use Streatham Common for the temporary ice rink and the Rookery car park for a temporary gym. He felt that erecting and dismantling these structures would cause unacceptable damage and disruption to the Common. The Friends of Streatham Common felt that, given the choice, it would be better for the use of the Common to remain undisrupted than to ensure continuity of an ice rink in the area.

·        Councillor Ashley Lumsden, Liberal Democrat Group, stated that he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.