To note any public questions received.
Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received. There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.
[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, Thursday 3 October. Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk
No person may submit more than one question].
Minutes:
RESOLVED: 1 public question was asked at the meeting.
Mike Wiliams asked the following question.
We note the overwhelming positive response to the West Harrow LASC consultation, but we also would draw your attention to the repeated concern voiced by the community that the micro clusters proposed for designation exclude much of the wider area which had an identical history and character.
When this was first discussed at Cabinet it was introduced as the first phase.
Would the committee please now actively consider widening the area covered particularly as it is the area as a whole which creates the character the council is seeking to protect?
The question was answered by the Chair as follows:
‘This matter was addressed within the published report at section 6.12-6.17.
It was recognised that the proposed West Harrow Local Area of Special Character developed at a similar time to many of its surrounding streets and, like much of Harrow, these surrounding streets shared pleasing qualities that help make West Harrow an attractive place for residents to live in. The local support received for the quality of these surrounding streets in West Harrow was valued and recognised.
The Local Area of Special Character’ designation was one that was required to meet National Planning Policy, Planning Practice Guidance, the London Plan and Historic England requirements that local heritage areas are clearly identified and evidenced in relation to exacting heritage criteria. This was to ensure planning proposals can be weighed against this clear understanding of significance in relation to national and local planning policy. The report sets out in detail how the proposed area for designation was evidenced to meet exacting designation criteria. Should areas be designated that do not clearly meet these specific criteria, designation would undermine the value of the designation, such that its intention and purpose could not be fulfilled. Consequently, whilst designation of the proposed area of West Harrow would bring some recognition to its surrounding streets for their associative historic value in any case as part of the setting of the area, it would not be appropriate to take these surrounding streets forward for designation in their own right.
Mr Williams asked the following supplementary question.
We believe that that evidence does exist and that those streets are pretty much in the same state as they were when they were originally built, which was about 120 years ago. And we believe there is a case, in fact an overwhelming case. And we absolutely understand the point about dilution. We can't go designating areas which simply don't qualify. But we believe that there is an overwhelming case that additional areas within West Harrow do qualify and we would like an opportunity to make that case. And that would obviously be outside of this meeting, but to actually talk directly perhaps with officers and show you why we believe that to be the case. A nd that is all we're asking for.
The Chair, responded by stating that the officers had thoroughly considered the issue, and she personally agreed with their conclusions. She recounted a site visit to Hillingdon with the Chief Planning Officer, where they examined similar designations in that borough. The Chair explained that while parts of the area in question had historic value, they did not fully meet the criteria required for formal designation. She emphasised the importance of ensuring that any designation could be properly evidenced to maintain its effectiveness in planning decisions. The Chair welcomed further discussions with officers but reiterated the need to be cautious in expanding such areas to avoid undermining existing protections.