Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Panel;

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 7.  Former Post Office Site, College Road, Harrow; 8.  Housing Zone Bid; 9.  Heart of Harrow Regeneration Programme

Councillor Sue Anderson and Keith Ferry declared a non-pecuniary interest in that they were Ward Councillors for Greenhill Ward.  They would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

Agenda Item 8.  Housing Zone Bid

Councillor Stephen Greek declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was an employee of the London Assembly but had had no involvement in the Housing Zone Bid.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non-pecuniary interest in that, as Deputy Leader of the Council the previous year, he had lobbied the Office of the Mayor of London.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2014 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2014, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 50 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, Friday 7 November 2014.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions, petitions or deputations were received at this meeting.

To receive a presentation from the applicant, Hyde Housing.

The Panel received a presentation from the Hyde Housing Group, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Inc architects and Jones Lang LaSalle planning consultants on the redevelopment of 51 College Road, Harrow, the former Post Office Site.  A copy of the presentation is attached as an appendix.

In response to questions raised by Members, it was stated that:

·                     discussions had taken place with Transport for London (TfL) regarding the possibility of a direct link from the site to Harrow on the Hill station. However these discussions revealed some practical difficulties of providing such a link, there being potential conflicts with TfL’s objectives for Harrow on the Hill station and the site configuration/land ownership of neighbouring First National House;

·                     pedestrian and vehicular access to the development site would be via the original entrance for the former Post Office from Station Road;

·                     the Baptist Church had been engaged in discussions with the developer as to whether to retain the Church’s existing building (but with new doors onto the proposed public space) or whether the Church would wish to see the construction of  new premises which could deliver a replacement place of worship together with shared civic/community functions;

·                     discussions were taking place with adjacent shops and offices regarding potential inclusion in a wider redevelopment site;

·                     there had been an overwhelmingly positive response to the public exhibition, with interim results showing 90% strongly in favour.  Some ideas for the public square had been raised during the consultation process.  Consultation was continuing and a further exhibition would be held in mid December accompanied by a model of the scheme;

·                     Hyde Housing would retain its ownership interest in the site post-development and so had an interest to ensure that the scheme continued to look good in 20-30 years time. The ongoing management of the site, which would be discussed as part of the design process, would be the responsibility of the developer.  Management plans were under consideration for the public square which could be adopted as public highway by Harrow Council or an arms length company, with a maintenance schedule financed by service charges.  Service charges would also be levied for items such as bins and window cleaning.  Hyde Housing would provide 24 hour monitored CCTV;

·                     a vertical transport consultant would validate the proposals to ensure that the lift specification was correct to meet the demands of residential occupiers of the upper floors of the development;

·                     entrances to affordable housing would be situated immediately adjacent to the entrances to private housing – there would be no design differences between the private and affordable entrances;

·                     in relation to micro climate, there would be an environmental impact assessment which would include wind modelling;

·                     the new buildings would be approximately 1.5 metres nearer to College Road.  The road did not carry sufficient traffic to necessitate remodelling.

The Committee was advised that the developers envisaged the submission of a planning application during January 2015 with a view to consideration by the Planning Committee in April. The developer would meet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To receive a presentation from the Divisional Director of Planning.

The Panel received a presentation on the Heart of Harrow Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan which incorporated the item on the Housing Zone Bid.  A copy of the presentation is attached as an appendix to the minutes.

A Member referred to the membership of the Regeneration Board and was informed that it was an officer Board with Majority Party input.

In response to questions by Members, the Panel was advised that:

·                     Phase 1A of the Kodak development was now available.  A detailed report on the scheme would be submitted to a future meeting to which Land Securities would be invited.  Although the developer did not need to access funding through the Housing Zone bid the system would accelerate planning and funding generally whilst adhering to planning requirements;

·                     all options for the redevelopment of the leisure centre were being explored prior to consultation with stakeholder groups, including Ward Councillors;

·                     options for the Civic Centre as to whether to move or refurbish would form part of the Council’s architectural works over the following few months.  The project offered multiple use opportunities and should be realised in approximately 2020;

·                     there was a lack of control by the Local Planning Authority due to permitted development to change office use to residential.  The aim was to provide new employment space that was fit for purpose and to engage with the public.  The opportunities that would arise due to the transport interconnectivity at nearby Old Oak common should be taken;

·                     the infrastructure development plan included both hard and soft developments.  This would include health provision such as health centres;

·                     community benefits such as the Lyon Road scheme were being realised.

RESOLVED:  That the presentation be noted.

To receive a presentation from the applicant, Lockglide.

It was noted that this agenda item had been withdrawn.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               a report be submitted to the next meeting on the development of the Cumberland Hotel;

(2)               a presentation by Land Securities on the Kodak development be made to a future meeting.