Issue - meetings

Construction of outdoor gym including new canopy and boundary enclosures.

(Councillor Webb left the Chamber for the hearing of this item.)

10.1  The Planning Officer introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

10.2  The Interim Head of Regulatory Services informed the committee that the application site was in fact located on common land as well as metropolitan land and as such, any development on the subject site must remain unrestricted and open to public use in perpetuity.  To this effect it was confirmed that no fencing or any other means of enclosure forms part of this application.

10.3  Reference was made to the addendum which stated that an objection email dated 13 October 2008 had been received from the Hackney Parks Forum and Mabley Green Users’ Group.  Although they had not been formally consulted during the statutory consultation period, the objectors were informed of the proposed development through the 2012 Team and at meetings with the Head of Green Spaces.  The main objections and the responses to those were detailed within the addendum.

10.4  Matt Delaney, The Great Outdoor Gym Company, was in attendance to answer any questions that arose.

10.5  The Chair wished to clarify why this particular location was chosen and Matt Delaney responded by stating that they had gone to the Council and asked them where they felt was the most suitable place for this equipment to be located.

10.6  Councillor Hanson wished to know the estimated lifespan of the equipment and it was explained that the equipment had a guarantee of five years, however it was made of galvanised steel so had the potential to last up to twenty years.  The canopy was also fire retardant.

10.7  The Committee wished to clarify who was responsible for the maintenance of the site and it was explained that the site would belong to the Council, however the management arrangements would need to be finalised.

10.8  Councillor Desmond asked whether any supervision was proposed for the site.  Matt Delaney stated that as the site would belong to the Council, any supervision would need to be contracted by the Leisure Department.  He added that the adidas money could be match-funded in order to fund 20 hours per week supervised sessions and coaching.

10.9  Concern was raised over the advertising and how they would be perceived, as the adidas slogan would be displayed on the equipment.  Matt Delaney explained that the advertising would be kept to a minimum and that this had been managed well at other sites within London.

10.10  In response to a question from the Chair asking why the area of hard standing on Mabley Green could not have been used for the new equipment, David White, 2012 Unit, explained that this area would remain as car park and part of this would be used for changing rooms for the new facility.

RESOLVED that: