Agenda item

Note: Items 19.1 and 19.2 (formerly items 17.1 and 17.2) were heard together.

Juliet Seymour, planning policy manager, introduced the two reports, and explained that neighbourhood planning was an opportunity for local residents to put together planning documents, which the council would use when making planning decisions.

The area set out in the reports was partly in Lambeth and partly in Southwark. One part of it, north of The Cut, was also included in another neighbourhood area application - by the Bankside Neighbourhood Forum - which had previously been commented on by the community council. Members were now asked to comment on the options for dealing with the potential overlap: 

1. Moving the proposed boundary of the Bankside area, so that the whole of the area indicated on the map forms part of the South Bank and Waterloo neighbourhood area. 

2. Not moving boundary of the Bankside area and for the area north of The Cut to remain within the Bankside area. 

3. Moving both boundaries, with Blackfriars Road and the western borough boundary not forming part of either area. 

4. Assigning the northern part of Blackfriars Road to the Bankside area, and the southern part of Blackfriars Road to the South Bank and Waterloo area. 

Juliet explained that the Bankside group had had its forum and area agreed, and that maps for all the proposed neighbourhood areas were on the council’s website. 

Mark Richards, chair of the proposed South Bank and Waterloo forum, explained that in the long term there were a lot of issues which concerned both groups, and on which they would cooperate. In the short term, however, his group felt that the contested area should be part of the South Bank and Waterloo neighbourhood forum (SBWNF).

In answer to questions from councillors, Mark Richards explained that the group had 230 members, with an even split between residents and businesses. The number of Southwark members was 67, also evenly split. The forum strongly wanted to be part of Southwark. He went on to say that neighbourhoods crossed borough boundaries, and that it was therefore important to have forums which span those boundaries, where appropriate.

Tim Wood, the chair of the Bankside forum, explained that should the boundaries be redrawn, this would mean the Bankside forum would have to put in another application, which would delay constituting the area. He went on to say that the groups would probably pursue similar aims.

Members then discussed the report and the issues raised by it.

RESOLVED:  

That the official feedback of the community council to the cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy be as follows:

• There is residents’ support for both forums.

• Close cooperation between both groups is needed and desirable.

• While borough boundaries may be arbitrary, it would be easier, if forums had to deal with only one authority, as their plans will need to be in conformity with policies and strategies of the planning authorities they sit under.

• An argument can be made for letting residents decide in the referenda whether they feel part of the areas proposed. 

• Changing the boundary would put the Bankside forum back in the process which is not desirable. Therefore, the northern end of Blackfriars Road should be part of Bankside area, the southern end should be part South Bank and Waterloo area.

• Given that quite some time has elapsed, a decision should be taken speedily.