Section 106 growing spaces

Dear Ms Theis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REF: 2010-464

I am writing to confirm that we received your information request on 7
July 2010. For your information and future communications your request has
been allocated the reference number FOI2010-464. Please quote this
reference in any future correspondence.

We will consider your request and respond in accordance with the
requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Our duty is to
respond promptly or at least within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely

Robin Yu

Information Protection Assistant

FOIA Team, Business Protection Unit

Information Systems Division (ISD)

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX

Tel: 020 7938 8226

Web: [1]http://www.rbkc.gov.uk

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Dear Ms. Theis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REF: 2010-464

I am responding to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000,
which we received on 7 July 2010 for information held by the Council. You
requested:

1) What land for allotments or growing spaces, both private and public,
have you requested in the last 5 years?

The Council runs a project called the North Kensington Environmental
Project, which aims to improve the environment in North Kensington and
actively involve the community in doing so. One of the projects being
delivered over the last two years has been the Community Kitchen Garden
scheme, where under used or neglected areas of land are transformed into
gardens where local residents can grow their own fresh produce. To date 16
community kitchen gardens have been developed with over 100 small plots
being made available to local residents or community groups to their own
fruit and veg. A number of the sites transformed into Kitchen Gardens are
on Housing Estates and most of the these sites have been requested by
local residents.

2) From the land requested in the last 5 years, what land has not been put
into use for your residents to grow on?

A petition was received by the Council in Spring 2010, asking if part of
Kensington Memorial Park could be transformed into a community kitchen
garden. The Council responded by say a consultation would be held with
local residents and park users to ensure this was the best use of the
proposed site. The current community kitchen gardens focus on neglected
and unused areas of land such as the NHS owned disused tennis court on St
Quintin Ave or Housing Estate land, rather than existing public open
space.

3) How many planning applications do you currently have which could be
used to make a Section 106 requirement for land to grow on?

None

4) What targets are in place to increase the use of Section 106 to provide
more land for your residents to grow on?

None

5) What is currently being done in your borough to provide alternative
land for residents to grow on?

To date 16 community kitchen gardens have been developed with over 100
small plots being made available to local residents or community groups to
their own fruit and veg. Over 200 people now have access to a small plot
to grow their own fresh produce.

More community kitchen garden sites are being developed over the coming
year.

The Council is also working with environmental charity Groundwork to fund
two part time community gardeners to work with, support and advise local
residents in gardening and growing their own.

Copyright

Please note, all material provided by the Royal Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea in response to your request for information is for your personal,
non-commercial use. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea reserves
all rights in the copyright of the information provided. Any unauthorised
copying or adaptation of the information without express written
confirmation from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will
constitute an infringement of copyright. Any intention to re-use this
information commercially will require consent. Please forward any requests
for re-use of information to the FOI officer ([1][RBKC request email]).

Complaints

I trust this has satisfied your request. Should you be unhappy with the
handling of your request, the Council has an internal complaints process
for handling FOI Act complaints. Complaints are reviewed by the Town Clerk
and Chief Executive or his nominee. A form is available from our website
to lodge your complaint
[2]http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocra...
Please contact us if you do not have website access and we can provide you
with a copy of the form.

Following this review, should you still be unhappy with how your
information request has been handled, you have a further right to appeal
to the Information Commissioner who is responsible for ensuring compliance
with the FOI Act.

Yours sincerely

Robin Yu

Information Protection Assistant

FOIA Team, Business Protection Unit

Information Systems Division (ISD)

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX

Tel: 020 7938 8226

Web: [3]http://www.rbkc.gov.uk

Have your say on the Congestion Charge in Kensington and Chelsea.
email [email address] or visit www.cclondon.com

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