Issue - meetings

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report and supplementary report; and an additional condition (or amendments to conditions) to allow the Council to require the removal or relocation of benches if they are found to contribute to ASB and an amendment to condition 10 to add that the Council could make nominations for community usage.

PROPOSAL

Demolition of existing pavilion and erection of building for indoor sports and fitness

by Stonebridge Boxing Club (SBC) to include gym and sporting facilities, physio, ancillary office space, changing facilities and café.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

i)             The conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report.

ii)            That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee.

James Mascall, Planning Officer, introduced the report and set out the proposal.  Members were advised that the application proposed the demolition of the pavilion, which was a two storey building to erect a single story pavilion to be used by Stonebridge Boxing Club.  The new proposals would include 8 new bicycle stands, concrete benches and landscaping.  The supplementary report submitted the previous day addressed the comments made by Brent's Tree Officer originally raising concerns with regard to the location of the proposed development, and the impact this would have on existing trees within King Edward VII Park.  The Committee’s attention was drawn to the 'Trees, Ecology and Landscaping' section of the Committee Report, which discussed how the proposal had been amended to address these concerns.  It was noted that Brent's Tree Officer raised no further concerns.

The Chair thanked James Mascall for introducing the report and subsequently invited Mr Aamir Ali to address the Committee.

The following key points were highlighted:

·                Speaking as the manager of the Stonebridge Boxing Club, Mr Ali explained that the boxing club started in 2009 in Kasinga House and had moved premises on four occasions. Despite constant moves, the club had maintained its membership, which continued to grow.  Mr Ali said that 350 members attended on a weekly basis, with the oldest member being 78 years old.  

·                Mr Ali expressed that the boxing club kept children and young people off the streets and helped them make healthy choices and have a purpose in life.  The boxing club had received much support from large organisations but needed a permanent residence in order to continue to help the community. 

·                The boxing club was happy for a range of sports and activities to take place and for their changing rooms and gym to be used by non-club members.  

·                In summing up, it was felt the proposal would result in the redevelopment of an underutilised park and contribute to the improvement of anti-social behaviour in the park.

The Chair thanked Mr Ali for addressing the Committee and invited members to ask any questions they had in relation to the information presented, with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4