Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to a proposed security project which would appropriately reflect the significantly changed environment of the Eastern Cluster and deliver suitable area-wide security measures. 

Members were advised that the gateway report had been approved by the Projects Sub-Committee on 23^rd November 2016 and the project would now proceed to gateway 3 –Outline options Appraisal (Complex) stage.

In response to a query as to why the security measures within the Eastern Cluster were being considered in isolation rather than within the wider context which could incorporate other significant issues including people, waste collection, street cleansing, traffic and policing, the Assistant Director of the Built Environment assured Members that the issues were not being considered in isolation.  He went on to explain that consideration of security issues arising from every planning application was an integral part of the planning process and this project was intended to enhance the area based approach to security within the Eastern Cluster.  Members were further advised that there may, in due course, be implications for how individual applications address security issues. 

A number of Members expressed support for the project and stressed the importance of ensuring that it was progressed with a degree of urgency and with adequate resources in place to ensure that there were no delays.  Due to the significance of the project, it was agreed that a resolution be submitted to the Projects Sub (Policy & Resources) Committee setting out the Committee’s view that the project should be expedited to ensure that the outline options appraisal (Gateway 3) was concluded before September 2017.

Resolved:- That –

(i) the report be noted; and

(ii) a resolution from the Planning & Transportation Committee be submitted to the next meeting of the Projects Sub (Policy & Resources) Committee setting out the Committee’s view that the project be expedited to ensure that the outline options appraisal (Gateway 3) was concluded before September 2017.