Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received the report of the Director of the Built Environment and noted the background and production of a draft City of London Open Space Strategy. Members noted ten key strategic objectives that addressed current and future open space provision and the proposed process for public provision and the timetable therein.

It was proposed that consultation took place over the summer, from June to

September 2014, with the aim of collating and incorporating comments and reporting back to the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee and the Planning & Transportation Committee in October with a final draft for adoption.

Members discussed the possibility of better signage around the City pointing out green areas and roofs with public access. The Chairman of Planning and Transportation said this was an important part of the strategy and would he supported the suggestion.

Members noted that while some businesses were now able to provide green areas on top of their buildings this did not diminish the fact that there was still a large area of floor space being taken by the building. Therefore, being able to provide green roofs was not a substantial gain from a building, but simply a factor of the building. Members also noted that there was a difference between play areas and areas with the provision of soft equipment provided for children. Officers were asked to differentiate between the two in future reports. 

RESOLVED: That Members approved the draft text of the City of London Open Space Strategy Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation.