Open Spaces Strategy

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 16th Jan 2006

At Wednesday night's meeting, Cabinet agreed that the Liberal Democrat Group's concerns on the Open Spaces Strategy should be referred back to the Environment and Culture Directorate and used to strengthen the strategic document.

Liberal Democrat councillors had challenged the Labour Cabinet's decision to accept the Open Spaces Strategy, pointing to key areas where they felt that the strategy should be more robust.

In detailing Lib Dem concerns, Cllr Griffiths highlighted that the strategy does not outline how finite resources will be used effectively to meet the strategic objectives nor does it define what levels of maintenance will be provided and how this can support the objectives.

Cllr Louise Alexander, Scrutiny Lead Member for Learning, Achievement and Leisure said "The Parks Department's budget has been cut repeatedly over the last 12 years and we remain unconvinced that restructuring the department and re-tendering the maintenance contract will be enough to remedy these problems. What is needed is more investment."

Cllr John Griffiths, Spokesperson for Regeneration said, "I recognise the difference between strategic and operational issues, but there needs to be some meshing of the two here. We need to know, in broad terms, how the council hopes to achieve their aims given finite resources and increasing development pressures on open spaces in this borough."

Cllr Griffiths also focused on the loss of open space. The Open Spaces Strategy states that there will be no net loss of open space in the borough and that open space lost during the construction of Crossrail, DLR and East London Line will be provided elsewhere. Lib Dem councillors argued that it is not enough to merely make a statement in a strategy document; there must be information on where this space will be provided along with assurances that it will not be developed on in the meantime.

Previously, Lib Dem councillors have challenged the Labour-run council for the piecemeal sell off of public open space in Tower Hamlets. They have consistently argued that the borough already suffers from insufficient open spaces. Tower Hamlets has only 1.2 hectares of open space per thousand population - half the accepted national standard.

Cllr Louise Alexander said "This borough faces more and more pressure for land to build on and unless we make a stand to protect what we have we will lose it forever."

Ends