The motion was moved by Councillors David Dean and Iain Dysart.

The amendment set out in item 19d was moved by Councillors Martin Whelton and Andrew Judge.

Voting on the amendment

For: 30 Against: 26 – carried

The substantive motion was agreed and it was

RESOLVED:

This Council notes that:

·        Merton's open spaces are constantly under pressure from development;

·        Dundonald and the wards of Central Wimbledon (Hillside, Abbey and Trinity) have far less green space than other wards: only 10% of the land in

Dundonald ward is green space, compared to the borough average of 35%.

·        Dundonald ward's percentage of green space is less than any Inner London borough apart from the City of London

·        Dundonald Rec is the only public access green space in Dundonald Ward. It is the most popular Rec in the borough with a quarter of a million visitors a year

·        The appropriation of 2,578m2 for the expansion of Dundonald Primary School amounts to over 5% of the public open space of Dundonald Rec. However, the expansion of the school will mean less actual building footprint on the Rec than at present as both the single storey pavilion building and a storage shed would be removed and returned to open space; most of the land will remain in use by local residents, including the Pavilion and the multi use games area (MUGA)/ tennis courts which will have a formal legal agreement allowing public access to the courts outside school hours and at set times during the school day; and only 579m2 of former open space will revert to exclusive use by the school, just 1% of the total area of the Rec.

·        The expansion will ensure improved public access to open space and will allow delivery of new facilities for community use including a new replacement pavilion social space, toilets and changing rooms for those using the Rec’s facilities, a larger children’s public playground, an outside green gym, an increase from two to three tennis courts, and school hall facilities available in the evening and weekends.  The council is providing a Unilateral Undertaking to ensure sufficient public use of the tennis courts/multi-use sports area and the pavilion.

·        The London Borough of Merton has a legal obligation to provide school places for all the children needing education and the latest demographic information from the Greater London Authority, based on the 2011 census, confirms that there is a continued increase in demand for school places in the Wimbledon area.

·        Since 2007 there has been a 50% increase in reception class places in schools within one mile of Dundonald, compared to a 30% increase in the number of four year olds.  Nonetheless, demand still outstrips supply and Dundonald school is the most oversubscribed school in the borough, with the most total number of preference applications of any primary school in the borough last year (435) and the most first preferences per available place.  Non-sibling places are only able to be offered to a very small area - in the last two years this has been between only 105 and 217 metres.

·        All alternative schools that could be expanded in the local area have already been expanded and the Capita report on site searches did not show a viable alternative option in the local area.

·        The Department for Education recognised the benefit of expanding Dundonald School in providing a specific grant to the school’s expansion, prioritising it from bids across the country to provide additional high quality school places where they are needed.

·        On 17 January 2013 Merton Planning Applications Committee approved the application to expand Dundonald Primary School with linked works to the recreation ground.  The Greater London Authority and the Secretary of State have both agreed they do not wish to intervene with this decision.

·        On 25 June 2013 the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has agreed Merton's application to modify the restrictive covenant for a small area of Dundonald Rec to allow the expansion of Dundonald Primary School.

·        The appropriation of land has not yet been considered by Cabinet.  Consultation took place in the autumn and officers are currently analysing the results.  When this has been completed a report will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

This Council believes:

·        Merton Council is committed to improving the quality of life for people who live in the borough, and to do so, takes an active role in maintaining Merton's open spaces and improving their quality for users;

·        In maximising public access to a network of open spaces in the borough that are sustainable, safe and clean, and that enhance quality of life through promoting active and healthy living.

·        Given the lack of public open space in central Wimbledon, that the appropriation of land for the expansion of Dundonald Primary could be detrimental to the above if this was not undertaken in a way that guaranteed improved facilities for residents.