Agenda item

5.1   PROPOSAL: Submission of details pursuant to conditions 4 (enlarged bin store/public w.c.facility) and 9 (Bird and Bat Boxes) of planning permission 2018/0792 dated 07/08/2018.

POST SUBMISSION REVISIONS: None

5.2  The Senior Planner, Major Projects outlined the application as published. During the course of his presentation reference was made to the addendum, which outlined a number of amendments to the report including details of objections raised by local residents and some Hackney Councillors.

5.3  The Sub-Committee first heard from the objectors who felt the proposals did not meet the needs of the users of Gillett Square, particularly those with disabilities and young children. They hoped that any steps that could be taken by the applicant, Hackney Cooperative Development (HCD), to ensure that the security of local residents was not compromised with the installation of toilets would be welcomed. The objectors were of the view that incidents of anti-social behaviour in Gillet Square were not unique to Dalston and to not install toilets in the square because of these incidents was illogical.

The Sub-Committee noted that the representatives for the applicant would be answering questions only.

5.4  The Sub-Committee entered the discussion phase where a number of points were raised including the following:

·  The Sub-Committee expressed concern about the inclusion in the application report of categories of people who would have access to the cafe toilet.The Sub-Committee did not agree with the cafe owner having discretion over which members of the public could use the toilet

·  In the original application from 2018 the condition did not include an obligation for the applicant to provide toilets in the square

·  The applicant explained that they were providing two managed toilets; one in the cafe and one on the ground floor of their building. The cafe would work with HCD to manage use of the toilet

·  On a point of clarification, regarding persons staying in Gillet Square, one of the objectors explained that these persons were not rough sleepers

·  The Sub-Committee noted that the application before them was about the extension of the bin storage area only

·  Hackney Council’s Area Regeneration Manager stated that having unmanaged toilets in Gillet Square would compound those anti-social and crime issues already occurring there

·  The Council’s Partnership Analyst and Performance Manager explained that the situation in Gillet Square was different to the situation in, for example, Hackney Central. The last few years had seen an escalation in violence in the square leading to considerable Council investment in Closed Circuit Television (CCTV). Any unmanaged standalone toilets in Gillet Square  would likely be subject to misuse

·  The Sub-Committee acknowledged that the application was about the extension of the bin storage area but yet the application had included a detailed report from the Secure by Design Officer. The application needed to be clearer. The Chair reminded the Sub-Committee members that the decision to provide public toilets was not part of the application under consideration

·  The Sub-Committee noted that Hackney Council would be subject to challenge if the application was refused on the grounds that it did not include a provision for public toilets

·  The Chair recommended that an informative be included stating that the applicant use the least discriminatory language when outlining the list of persons who could use the cafe toilet. The Sub-Committee agreed to the informative

·  The Sub-Committee also recommended that a sign be included stating that the cafe toilet was for public use

·  The applicant explained that the cafe was in their building and they would allow manage which people would be allowed to use the toilet

·  The Chair reminded the Sub-Committee members that they were being asked to make a decision on the design of the bin store, not on whether an external toilet should be provided

Vote:

For:  Councillor Bell, Councillor Hanson, Councillor Race, Councillor Stops

   and Councillor Young.

Against:  None.

Abstention: Councillor Joseph.

RESOLVED, to discharge the conditions.

At the conclusion of agenda item 5 Councillor Race left the meeting for the duration of item 6 (see agenda item 2 above for further details).