GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY Report No: 5 Subject: Mayor’ s Question Time Report of: Executive Director Of Secretariat Date: 18 June 2003 1074 / 2003 - The Londoner Andrew Pelling Please detail which politicians appear in your May edition of The Londoner. Myself, Sally Hamwee, Samantha Heath, Nicky Gavron, Toby Harris, Diane Abbott. 1076 / 2003 - Croydon Police Andrew Pelling How much more difficulty do you feel that Croydon's Police will have in responding to calls when the number of their police cars is due cut from 60 to 44 under changes currently being considered by the MPS? What changes are being considered in other London Boroughs? I have been informed by the MPA/MPS that Croydon police total available vehicle fleet has been reduced from 53 to 39 vehicles. This is an actual loss of 14 vehicles all of which are unmarked. The MPS/MPA have also advised me that the ability of Croydon Police to respond to incidents has not suffered however they are experiencing difficulties in their proactive and support functions. With this in mind MPS managers are to meet in the near future to see if some additional support can be given. Decisions on vehicle fleet are taken locally within each BOCU, so any changes in other areas will be as a result of a local rather than corporate decision. 1077 / 2003 - Change in wording of pillar box plates Andrew Pelling As you will be aware, the plates on many pillar boxes across London have been changed. Instead of collection times, only a final collection time is listed. At the end of the notice, the Post Office advise that "additional collections will made throughout the day as required until the last time." What is your view of these changed plates? Many of my residents in Croydon and Sutton regard this change as likely to lead to a deterioration in the number of collections. I am not in a position to affect this action by the Post Office. The day-to–day running of the Post Office, including their restructuring plans, falls under the responsibility of the Royal Mail Group plc. The Royal Mail Group is a public limited company wholly owned by the government. 18 June 2003 1 However, I am concerned about any deterioration in the standards of postal services – as you know I have written to the Post Office a number of times with regard to their restructuring plans - and if you would like to provide me with further information about the particular concerns of your constituents, I would be happy to pass them on to the Royal Mail requesting their comments. However, the final decision rests with the Post Office, not the GLA. 1078 / 2003 - Consultation with the deaf community Darren Johnson Will you appoint a Deaf Adviser for the GLA to consult with one million Deaf Londoners, particularly with regard to the relationship between deaf people and the GLA in the development of accessible services for deaf people? I am fully committed to the promotion of disability and Deaf Equality and in February I announced "Disability Capital". This will include a major consultation exercise with disabled and Deaf Londoners and I will also be hosting a high-profile conference on December 13 to discuss the results of the consultation exercise and how to move forward towards accessible services for disabled and Deaf people. GLA officers will ensure that deaf people are fully engaged in the consultation process. I have no current plans to appoint a Deaf adviser. 1079 / 2003 - Tramlink Andrew Pelling Please could you advise as to the current state of thinking on proposals to extend Tramlink. I refer you to the answer that the Commissioner of TfL gave to your recent question at the Plenary Session of the GLA on 11 June 2003 (FBQT 134/2003). 1080 / 2003 - South Downs Andrew Pelling The South Downs countryside is enjoyed by many Londoners. What action do you feel can be taken to encourage the preservation of the little species-rich grassland which now represents only three per cent of the Downs? I am very much in favour of the conservation and enhancement of the species-rich grasslands and other wild landscapes of the South Downs, and support the proposed National Park there. I hope that the Secretary of State will approve the proposal, so that it will become the nearest National Park to London. However, my first priority will be to encourage Londoners to visit our own species-rich grasslands, included in the Sites of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation that I adopted in November last year. Visiting places like Saltbox Hill in Bromley and Riddlesdown and Farthing Downs in Croydon provides the same experience whilst avoiding the unsustainable long journeys required to visit the South Downs. 1081 / 2003 - Bus routes 47, 185 and 188 Darren Johnson Are there any plans to increase the frequency of buses on the 47, 185 and 188 bus routes? At present, there are no plans to increase the frequencies on any of these routes. All three services were reviewed during the planning work on the service enhancements implemented to complement the introduction of Congestion Charging. At that time, routes 47 and 185 were found to have adequate capacity for the existing and forecast demand. On route 188, frequencies were increased by about 30% in January 2003. 18 June 2003 2 All routes entering the central area are being carefully monitored and will be reviewed this autumn as part of the overall monitoring of the Congestion Charging Scheme. 1082 / 2003 - Free Student Train Travel Andrew Pelling Thank you for your answer to question 894. Sutton and Croydon school students and schools will welcome the opportunity for free Student Train Travel Concessions for Educational Trips. How are the consultations between the SRA and Train operators progressing on this proposal? Will the concessions be in place for the start of the new academic year? • I am still hoping to extend my free scheme for school party travel to include train services in London from the start of the autumn term. • The SRA are currently consulting with the Operators, with a view to beginning operation in September. • This has not yet been finally agreed. I will make a public announcement as soon as a final decision has been made. 1083 / 2003 - South Norwood Leisure Centre planning application Andrew Pelling Has the Mayor exercised his power to issue a direction on the planning application for a Leisure Centre off Albert Road, South Norwood, where the local Council intend to introduce one-way working of residential roads supposedly to mitigate the very poor vehicular access there is to this site? While the specific issues of the effect of traffic on local residents is not a strategic issue, and is a matter for the local planning authority, I commented on 9 October 2002, that whilst the proposed development potentially has many benefits, providing an accessible sports facility for all sections of the community and addressing issues of social exclusion, its location raises serious strategic issues with regard to the potential loss of Metropolitan Open Land and the location of intensive - use developments in an out-of-centre location. This is not to say that there are no circumstances in which such a development would be acceptable. However, the tests for out-of-centre developments and MOL need to be addressed in a clear and unambiguous manner, and the case made as to why the “inappropriateness… is clearly outweighed by other circumstances”, including full disclosure regarding the relative merits of alternative sites (particularly the economic case regarding South Norwood pool and details of other sites considered), details of the leisure deficiency in the area and any concrete plans for the regeneration of the adjacent athletics track. In addition, clarification is required as to whether this is a Croydon Borough–wide or a more local South Norwood facility. In these circumstances, on the evidence provided, the case has not been made with regard to national, regional and local policy and Croydon Council should submit further information to ensure national, regional and my draft London Plan policies and guidance are addressed in the interests of good strategic planning of London. Without this, I am minded to direct refusal. The question of whether to direct Croydon Council to refuse planning permission has not arisen yet, however the application will be referred to me again should Croydon resolve to approve it. 18 June 2003 3 1084 / 2003 - Mollison Drive no right turn Andrew Pelling Oral answer I am very grateful to you for meeting with the London Borough of Sutton officers and a residents' representative from my constituency about the proposed no-right turn into Mollison Drive. What compromise was it that you proposed ? The London Borough of Sutton are now denying that they accepted your compromise at the meeting you chaired. 1085 / 2003 - Albert Road in South Norwood Andrew Pelling What direction have you given on Croydon Council’s application to build on Metropolitan open land next to the arena site in Albert Road in South Norwood? While the specific issues of the effect of traffic on local residents is not a strategic issue, and is a matter for the local planning authority, I commented on 9 October 2002, that whilst the proposed development potentially has many benefits, providing an accessible sports facility for all sections of the community and addressing issues of social exclusion, its location raises serious strategic issues with regard to the potential loss of Metropolitan Open Land and the location of intensive - use developments in an out-of-centre location. This is not to say that there are no circumstances in which such a development would be acceptable.