Housing and Planning (Supplementary) [8]

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  The land that The Crystal sits on is owned by the GLA Land and Property (GLAP) company.

Zack Polanski AM:  Is that public space or yet more private‑public space?

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  It is owned by the GLA and so it is owned by the public sector.  All of that space is publicly accessible and open.  We have recently invested quite significantly to improve that public space, and it is used regularly by the local community.  We put events on in that space as well.

Zack Polanski AM:  It is really good to hear about that engagement with the community.  What I am really interested in is how you govern that space, because we have a problem in London with these spaces that have both that public engagement and also are owned by a private developer. The GLA is a kind of hybrid model.  There is a problem with seemingly arbitrary rules about nuisances or photography, or sometimes much more serious issues about invasions of privacy or security.

My question is: what policies are you putting in place to keep the public protected and safe so that the space remains free, open and available?

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  It is an issue that is very relevant in the Royal Docks for some of the reasons that you have set out.  Clearly, there are some very large development sites out there that have been delivered in various ways over time, and there are different authorities with different responsibilities and access for the maintenance and management of that space.  It is something that we have looked at very carefully since the Royal Docks team was established in 2018 and we have worked very closely with all the partners to try to get a regime in place that respects lots of the things that you have talked about.

One of the things that we have done fairly recently is establish a Public Spaces Working Group with many representatives of the local community to think about how we manage that space and, importantly, how we guide investment in the public realm.  At the moment, since 2018, a significant part of the delivery plan for the Royal Docks team has been to significantly improve a number of those bits of public spaces that are in GLA control.  We are very keen to work with that group and we are working very closely with that group ‑ there was a tour only yesterday with them ‑ to make sure that they are being delivered in a way that meets their needs.

Zack Polanski AM:  It is really good to hear that you are live to that issue.  How transparent is that group?  Where are the policies?  Are they published online and accessible, for instance?

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  Yes, there are terms of reference.  We have a community engagement strategy that is also on the Royal Docks team website.  I am very happy to share that with you.

Zack Polanski AM:  Fantastic.  That would be great.  Can I ask you along similar lines about facial recognition, particularly from private closed‑circuit television (CCTV) cameras?  Do you have a policy around that?

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  We do not have a specific policy around facial recognition, but that is one of the things we could certainly look at.  We are obviously working very closely with the GLA security team in specific relation to the area immediately around The Crystal.  CCTV is not an issue that has been raised as a particular issue within the local community.  Perversely, there are very often demands from the community for additional CCTV.  It is fair to say that there is not a huge amount around the Royal Docks estate.  There is some, but not a huge amount.  That is certainly an issue that we can look at.  We can use the Public Spaces Working Group to consider the community’s views on that.

Zack Polanski AM:  That is really good to hear.  I would stress that often these issues do not immediately come up in the local community because they might not be aware of them until it is too late.  When you say you will look at it, can I just push you specifically on what you will do to make sure things like biometric data are not kept or stored by private companies?

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  I can certainly go away and look at it and look at what our remit is to be able to do that.  I would be very surprised.  I would have thought that would have been a breach of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), but I can certainly go away and check that any of the CCTV systems that are in operation that the GLA has any involvement in are not doing that.

Zack Polanski AM:  Thank you, Daniel.  Finally, just very briefly, I have been speaking to the ramblers.  Will you put in some wayfinding signs, for example, from the Thames Barrier Park to the Capital Ring?

Daniel Bridge (Royal Docks Programme Director, Greater London Authority):  Yes, absolutely.  We are investing quite heavily in the London signage network.  We have been investing in the
Legible London network and have introduced a number of signs over the last couple of years.  We are also working on looking at a signage strategy to get people to the new City Hall, and access to the new City Hall.

Zack Polanski AM:  Thank you, Daniel.  I am on the clock, but I appreciate your commitment to that.  I have no further questions. 

Andrew Boff AM (Chair):  Thank you.  Assembly Member Clarke.