Agenda item

Report of the Planning and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Planning and Development Director which set out the proposal for a Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum and Area.

Members were informed that an application had been submitted by a group of residents living in the Barbican and Golden Lane Estates, proposing a neighbourhood area and forum. If designated, this would be the first neighbourhood forum and area within the City.

An Officer outlined the statutory framework contained within the report and informed Members that Local Authorities had 13 weeks to determine an application after it being publicised. The date for this application was 8 August 2023.

Members were informed that for a valid application, the proposed forum must have met the four requirements in legislation. Their purpose must be for promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of an area. Membership would include people who lived or worked in an area and elected Members. It must have a written constitution. The proposed area covered the Barbican and Golden Lane estates and neighbouring areas and the area covered a wide range of uses including, residential, business, cultural and green spaces. Submission of an area application must include a map which identified the area and a statement that the organisation was a relevant body. The application had to provide justification for the boundaries and detail the cohesion of the proposed area including how the community groups operated together, common physical features which defined a natural boundary, the natural setting and the relationship to existing planning policies. The Officer stated that the majority of comments through consultation were in full support of the area and 78% of people agreed with the proposed area unaltered. The key reasons of support for the area were that it focused on an area with important issues to residents such as traffic, the environment and development. It recognised geographically tight relationships between the residential and cultural areas, contained Postman’s Park and the Barbican Wildlife Garden as important local green spaces and it followed ward boundaries.

The Officer stated that the Corporation had undertaken public consultation for six weeks from 9 May 2023 to 21 June 2023 to gather public feedback on the proposal. 122 responses were received and then majority were positive and supportive. 93% of respondents were in full support of the application. Approximately three-quarters of respondents who supported the area, supported it as proposed.  Officers recommended the forum and area be designated.

Liz Hurst, a member of the neighbourhood forum addressed the Committee. She stated that this was the first neighbourhood forum in the City. The consultation had shown the level of support. Ms Hurst informed Members that the owners of One Silk Street had withdrawn their objection and provided a revised representation of support. She stated that this demonstrated that the forum was not anti-development.

Ms Hurst stated that the constitution met the legislative requirements for designation. Following legal advice, it had been decided that the northern boundary should be the same as the City’s boundary as otherwise it would be too complex operationally to work with two planning authorities. Consultation had included talking to representative groups, running briefing meetings, sending out briefing packs and holding a drop-in session at Golden Lane. Stakeholder engagement had included cultural bodies, institutions, workers and local businesses as well as local businesses. Further consultation would take place following designation.

Members of the public and residents who had worked on this proposal were thanked for their work.

Seeing no questions from Members, the Chairman asked that the Committee proceed to vote on the recommendations before them.

The Committee voted on these recommendations.

Votes were cast as follows: IN FAVOUR – 19 Votes

           OPPOSED – none

There were no abstentions.

The recommendations were therefore carried.

RESOLVED – That Members designate the proposed Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area.