Public Question Time
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Minutes:
Norman
Muir, Helensburgh Community Council
There is
a profound democratic deficit in the consideration process of the development
of the Waterfront area left over from the completion of the Leisure Centre. In
particular the machinations of 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp & Bute in overriding the longstanding
detail of the Masterplan Addedum of 2013. This is
indicative of a disregard of the hitherto inviolate parameters contained in the
Masterplan, without reference to the community.
Much more
thought and analysis has to be devoted to the current standing pf the project.
In particular the reassertion of the principles of local democracy and
community engagement. This is a local issue which has to be addressed in
detail. The Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee
must meet with the Helensburgh Community Council and
other community interests to resolve this unsatisfactory situation as a matter
of urgency. When will such a meeting take place?
Councillor
Mulvaney advised that officers and elected members had
met with Helensburgh Community Council but due to the
Community Council being a bidder in the process they must be treated the same
as any other commercial interest.
Discussion took place in relation
to the legalities around communication with the Community Council, specifically
whether a subcommittee could be created to participate in the bidding process.
The Head of Commercial Services
advised that he would speak to colleagues within Legal and Regulatory Support
and provide clarification to Members by email. Ìý
Jackie Hood, Helensburgh Skatepark Project
Why have the Council chosen to misrepresent and manipulate the views and
aspirations of the Helensburgh Skatepark
Project in their recent report?
We as a Group have never said that the waterfront
site is too small and the wrong location. The skatepark
belongs on the waterfront and has been integral to the development of the site
since the Masterplan Addendum of 2012. Location is the most important
consideration, even over size. We have been told that if we choose to remain on
the waterfront, we will always be restricted by the arbitrary dimensions of 17m
by 20m stated by planning. Even though we refute these dimensions, we wish to
stay on what is a perfect site for a skatepark.
I would like to express my frustration and concern about these
misrepresentations. The recent allocation of £80,000 is very welcome but the Council
needs to clarify for the public that this money will be spent trying to find a
location which will allow for a bigger, more ambitious skatepark.
However if this turns out not to be possible, people know that the skatepark can definitely remain on the waterfront site and
any funds remaining will be used to improve it.
I would like it minuted that the skatepark
project does not agree with the report's recommendations that "the
waterfront site is not considered to be a suitable long term location for the skatepark’â¶Ä™.
The
Estates and Property Development Manager advised that during discussions the Skatepark Group
advised that they would like to develop a larger facility that would attract
visitors and users to Helensburgh. Mr Allan
highlighted that the waterfront site did not have capacity for both a larger skatepark and a commercial development, if indeed that was
the selected proposal.
Mr Allan highlighted that as noted previously,
future planning consents for the waterfront site would require to either
incorporate or relocate the skatepark and therefore
it made sense to explore those options which would allow the Group to achieve
the best outcome possible. Mr Allan confirmed that if it was not possible to
meet the larger skatepark vision the skatepark would be incorporated within the waterfront
development on a more limited scale.
Peter
Brown, Helensburgh Community Council
The
Council is being asked to approve the initiation of a retail study for Helensburgh. What is the timeline for this being completed,
will it be made public at that time, and how are Councillors expected to make a
decision about shortlisting retail ‘expressions of interest’ versus others
before that study informs them whether the town can accept more retailers?
The
Estates and Property Development Manager advised that the retail study had been commissioned
and would be completed within the next few weeks with it being made public
subject to any commercially sensitive information being redacted and that any
issues raised by the study would be considered by Members at the final offers
stage along with the other relevant factors.
Cameron
Foy, Helensburgh Community Council
In 2011 the Council's Masterplan for a large commercial area on Helensburgh's waterfront was overwhelmingly rejected,
resulting in the 2012 Masterplan "Addendum" which was approved with
the compromise of limited retail space (upto 2600sqm
gross) allowing space for public realm and a skatepark
following the completion of the new leisure facility and town parking.
How is the new proposal for a very large commercial space of 5,600 sqm, and forcing the skatepark
off the waterfront, compatible with the 2012 Masterplan Addendum?
The Estates and Property Development Manager advised that the full site area was c5,600sqm with the
commercial space allocation of c2,665 sqm. Mr Allan
added that there was no intention to develop beyond the allocation of c2,665 sqm and that it was not intended to relocate the skatepark unless a site was identified which the Skatepark Group preferred and would deliver their larger,
long-term aspirations.
Fiona Baker
A masterplan for Helensburgh pierhead was approved as Supplementary Planning Guidance in 2009.Ìý In 2011 the Council was of the view that this needed updated as market conditions had changed during the intervening years.Ìý The 2011 masterplan was rejected and in 2012 a masterplan addendum, generally referred to as the 2012 masterplan, was adopted. Now that over a decade has passed and the Council is today seeking the removal of the key element of the skatepark, and perhaps also over half of the site use being public realm before a new forthcoming economic assessment has been completed, will the Council be commissioning a new Masterplan Addendum that reflects the considerable changes to economic conditions and ... view the full minutes text for item 5
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