R123 - GLA - Mayor's Question Time 29 Januiary 2014

The full text of Darren Johnson's questions and the Mayor's answers is below:

Questions for Written Answer
Mayor's Question Time
Wednesday 29 January 2014

Report No: 5
Subject: Questions to the Mayor
Report of: Executive Director of Secretariat

 
Crystal Palace Park freehold
Question No: 2014/0080
Darren Johnson
The brochure for the Crystal Palace project states that "the park will remain in the freehold ownership of the London Borough of Bromley". As Chair of the project advisory board, and guardian of Metropolitan Open Land in London, can you confirm that all of the land currently designated as Metropolitan Open Land including any built on by the developers would remain in the freehold ownership of the London Borough of Bromley?
Written response from the Mayor
Negotiations over the transfer of any interests within the park are a matter for discussions between the London Borough of Bromley and the proposed developer.
 
The impact of the proposals on Metropolitan Open Land is a matter for consideration through the planning process and will be considered by the borough and the GLA as appropriate.
 
 
Crystal Palace Park project and Metropolitan Open Land
Question No: 2014/0081
Darren Johnson
As Chair of the project advisory board, and guardian of Metropolitan Open Land in London, can you confirm that the project will not result in the net loss of functional Metropolitan Open Land, and that in making this assessment your calculations exclude the notional reintroduction of public access to land that is currently temporarily fenced off for safety concerns, and exclude the landscaping of land that is currently covered in hard surfaces such as car parking?
Written response from the Mayor
The impact of the proposals on Metropolitan Open Land is a matter for consideration through the planning process and will be considered by the borough and the GLA as appropriate.
 
 
Crystal Palace Park project trusts
Question No: 2014/0082
Darren Johnson
The brochure for the Crystal Palace project states that "the GLA and Advisory Board [which you chair] will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place" to protect community interests. If the Crystal Palace project establishes one or more trusts to own or manage any part of the project, will you commit to the local community having a controlling interest?
Written response from the Mayor
Free access to a fully restored park is an integral part of this. However, it is normal for public space to be owned and managed in a variety of ways, which successfully allow and encourage public access. There is potential for one or more trusts to successfully take on the responsibility for management of the park.
 
My officers are working with the borough and the developer’s team to ensure that local people are consulted in an open and inclusive manner as proposals for the park develop further. This will include consideration of the management options for the park.
 
 
Heritage and the Crystal Palace Park project
Question No: 2014/0083
Darren Johnson
What contact have you, your office or other officers in the GLA had with English Heritage regarding the Crystal Palace Park project?
Written response from the Mayor
A GLA officer joined a meeting between Arup and English Heritage to discuss the scheme in late 2013.
 
 
Heritage Lottery Fund decision on Crystal Palace Park
Question No: 2014/0084
Darren Johnson
What contact have you, your office or other officers in the GLA had with the Heritage Lottery Fund regarding the bid for Crystal Palace Park, which was rejected due to the new Crystal Palace Park Project?
Written response from the Mayor
The bid for Crystal Palace Park was developed and submitted by London Borough of Bromley in August 2013, with support from my officers. In the time before a decision over the award was made, the proposal for the development of the top site was announced. Following this, my officers met and corresponded with the Heritage Lottery Fund to understand how the proposed investment from the developer might affect the bid. Furthermore, the Deputy Mayor for Housing, Land and Property wrote to the Heritage Lottery Fund in November in support of the bid.
 
While the bid was unsuccessful, HLF acknowledge that the bid had been strong but that the Crystal Palace Project represented the greater opportunity to deliver transformation of the important heritage asset.
 
 
Crystal Palace Park project Stage 1 report
Question No: 2014/0085
Darren Johnson
The paper for the Stage 1 business case approval for the Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Project is currently reserved. Further your recent commitments to increased transparency, will you release a partially redacted version of this paper for the public?
Written response from the Mayor
Yes.
 
 
Crystal Palace Park Memorandum of Understanding
Question No: 2014/0086
Darren Johnson
In the interests of transparency, will you publish the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the GLA, the London Borough of Bromley and the ZhongRong Group in March 2013, and send me a copy?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

Ed:[end of DJ questions]

8 Feb 2014 Last Updated 8/2/2014