Agenda item

Variation of condition E4 attached to planning permission HGY/2005/1439 (creation of Haringey 6th Form Centre) to allow opening between 0600 - 2300hrs every day, including the sports centre and theatre and restaurant facilities.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve variation of condition E4 attached to Planning Permission HGY2005/1439 relating to extended operating hours.

In a brief introduction of the report the Committee were advised that planning permission had been granted for the sixth form centre in October 2005, (HGY2005/1439) as part of a wider scheme including new housing and a new care home.  The residential element was now completed and occupied called Academia Way. The application sought the extension of the opening hours of the sixth form centre from those allowed in the original planning permission.  Condition E4 attached to that permission allowed the centre to open between 0700 and 2200 hours Monday – Friday, 0800 and 1800 hours on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays and Bank Holidays. It was now proposed to open the centre from 0700 to 2300 on every day.  The intention of the proposal was to encourage increased community use and make the facilities more accessible to local people in line with the advice from central government and policies G3 and CW1 of the Unitary Development Plan 2006.  It was considered that, as any issues associated with the running of the sixth form centre were included as part of an ongoing programme of initiatives by the sixth form centre to ensure good relations with the local community, that the issues raised by local residents would be addressed and the facilities within the sixth form centre would be seen to provide a valuable resource for local people in line with policy UD3 of the Unitary Development Plan 2006. 

The Chair asked if there were any comments from the Committee.

The Committee sought clarification as to whether the granting could be conditional on a 2 year period, in order to assess take up, and whether a condition could be added in respect of the issue of crowd control and dispersal, and litter clearing and noise monitoring. In response to both points the Committee were advised that the Committee could limit the operation up to a two year period, and that in terms of the issue of crowd control and dispersal, and litter clearing and noise monitoring this could be added not as a condition but as an informative.

The Committee then heard from Somerset Hall residents objecting to the proposed variation in the following terms:

·        That the levels of noise and litter/mess arsing from the existing hours operation caused much distress to local residents, and increases in service charges in order to clear litter/mess caused by students;

·        That there had been damage to resident vehicles and property;

·        Evidence of smoking illegal substances in the vicinity close to residents homes, as well as drug dealing;

·        That the effects of the existing facility on local residents had reached an unacceptable level;

·        That the concerns expressed to the College had not been taken seriously and no effective measures had been put in place by the College to combat the levels of noise, disturbance and damage to vehicles and homes;

·        The need to have adequate fencing with the cost being shared between the residents and the college;

·        The need for students to be constantly reminded of the need to ensure noise levels were kept to a minimum at all times and the emphasis that Somerset place was a place of residents, and that proper consultation take place with the College, local residents and the Council to ensure that concerns are taken account of should the application be granted.

The Chair, in thanking local residents for their address, asked if there were any comments from the Committee.  The Committee commented in response to some concerns expressed by stating that the college was not going to be used by students during the extended hours but would be used for adult and community usage, and would be a valuable asset to the area as a result, and should be encouraged.  A number of the concerns relating to the existing problems would surely be allayed by this usage.  The Committee also commented that there needed to be better dialogue between residents and the management of the 6^th form centre in respect of the issues raised by residents.

The Committee heard in response from residents that there needed to be far better consultation from the College and that there had to be a degree of recognition to the existing problems that local residents experienced throughout the day with students from the college. The Committee were further advised by residents of incidents of gang fighting/drug dealing, and the lack of response from Police Community Support Officers when incidents had been reported.

The Chair then asked the Principle of the 6^th Form Centre to address the Committee in support of the application.

Ms Jarrett advised the Committee that in terms of some of the incidents referred to by local residents it was the case that the College had on no occasion not dealt with, nor investigated any incidents reported by residents. Indeed since the previous September there had been a small number of complaints received and that she had been unaware that further incidents near the vicinity of Somerset Gardens had occurred and any previous issues had been dealt with.  There was also an on-site police officer who monitored the premises and activities both in, and surrounding the college. Ms Jarrett therefore commented that she strongly objected to some of the comments expressed.  The issue of noise levels and litter were emphasised at Assemblies and that the teachers at the college themselves over a period of months had carried out patrols during break and lunch times, following the reporting of incidents the previous autumn. Ms Jarrett further advised that college students were bounded by a code of conduct and that the use of drugs, the practice of vandalism/graffiti was totally unacceptable and explicitly stated in the code of conduct.

In response to points of clarification Ms Jarrett advised that the sports events would be supervised by Haringey Leisure Services and that the activities would be attracting a much older age group. In terms of trialling the activities for a 1 or 2 year period it was the case that the SLA was being sought for a 5 year period in order to ensure positive usage/take up, and the operation then being able to be cost effective, and that the operators were not minded to have anything less than the 5 year period.

The Chair advised that Councillor Bull would speak in support of the application.

Councillor Bull advised, in stating that he fully endorsed and supported the recommendations before the Committee,  it was evident that there had been issues of miscommunication between the local residents and the college. Councillor Bull commented on the need for such a community usage in the north Tottenham area which was much needed and he envisaged good usage. If the Committee were to grant the application then there needed to be better lines of communication and dialogue and he advised the Committee that he would work with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People – Councillor Santry – to ensure that there was open dialogue and exchange of views,and that perhaps a steering group of Ward Councillor, the College and local residents, chaired by Councillor Santry could be established.

Councillor Dodds particularly supported the comments of Councillor Bull in respect of the need to have a dialogue and understanding between all interested parties, and would welcome the establishment of such a steeriong group.  He also commented on the issue of drug dealing and that this would be taken up further with Councillor Santry and ensure that the Police were further aware of this concern.

The residents concluded their comments by stating that the area in question was where they had chosen to live in and it was being disrupted and this had a detrimental effect on their lives and well being. The Committee were urged not to agree the application but defer until such time as appropriate levels of consultation had been carried out with residents.

The Committee supported the suggestion by Councillor Bull to have a multi-agency working group to discuss the issues commented on by residents in order for the issues to worked through, with Councillor Santry leading on this group.

The Chair then MOVED that the recommendations as detailed in the report be approved.

Councillor Hare MOVED an amendment to the MOTION to restrict the period of operation for 2 years.  On a VOTE there being 1 for and 6 against the amendment.

The substantive MOTION was put to the vote.  There being 5 for, and nil against, and 4 abstentions it was:

RESOLVED

That the variation of condition E4 attached to Planning permission HGY2005/1439 relating to extended operating hours be approved.

INFORMATION RELATING TO APPLICATION REF: HGY/2008/0314

FOR PLANNING COMMITTEE DATED 06/05/2008

Location: Sixth Form Centre, White Hart Lane N17

Proposal: Variation of Condition E4 attached to planning permission HGY/2005/1439 (creation of Haringey 6th Form Centre) to allow opening between 0700 - 2300hrs every day, including the sports centre and theatre and restaurant facilities.

Recommendation: Grant permission

Decision: Grant permission

Drawing No’s: 1204 105 P1 & 106 P1.

Conditions:

1. No conditions.

Section 106: No