• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Are you are aware there are at least 16 substantial brownfield or developed sites in the area that developments could take place on, and that some sensible discussions and negotiations with all the parties could actually see the development concentrated on appropriate brownfield sites rather than this greenfield site?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

I accept that planning permission has been given for the site, and that previous planning permission still stands. However, developers do not need to exercise the planning permission they have been given. Indeed, a precedent a few years ago was Crystal Palace Park where you came in as Mayor determined to try to stop this scheme, even though you had no formal powers to do so. Do you not think talking with the various parties, looking at alternatives, and talking to developers is a way forward if you are serious about seeing this as marshland?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Do you agree that Southmere Green, part of Erith Marshes, fits that criteria and should have been protected?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Can I tell them that you are happy to meet with them?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Perhaps we can have a discussion about that. That is something I could very usefully do. Like you, I accept that there is a balance to be struck here.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Like you, I welcome the opportunity for this development to take place on the right site, and I would therefore welcome any commitment to ensure that any sequential test is properly applied. I have seen the site because it is in my constituency, and I have also met with representatives of local residents who are concerned and who are opposed to the development. Would you be prepared to meet them as well?

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

The framework in the area that I am talking about is the Sustainable Development Commission's development framework, which looks at the social and economic as well as the environmental factors. I think that is something that could be used as a good tool in order to bring a robust framework to the work you are talking about.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

You do need to have a framework, because we cannot take every site on its own and then have a developer buying the land and them not knowing.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Earlier on you talked about the Sustainable Development Commission and their wonderful work with regard to the airports. They have produced a framework, which is an incredibly useful and powerful tool to identify the sustainability it brings in terms of the social and economic factors, as well as the environmental ones. It does that balancing act pretty effectively, if a framework is properly applied. How are you ensuring that your Planning Decisions Unit looks at this framework and implements it for planning decisions? Secondly, when are you going to sit down and talk to the areas, in the east mostly...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 28 April 2004

Do you not think it would be useful if you see for yourself what is at loss and meet the local people? You agreed to talk to the people of Kensington and Chelsea today, why not talk to the people of Wembley, or do they not matter?