Agenda and minutes

The Chairman congratulated Deborah Cluett (Comptrollers and City Solicitor’s Department) who was recently awarded highest rated council Lawyer for the second year running following ‘the Planning Law Survey 2015’.

Apologies for absence were received from the Dennis Cotgrove, the Reverend Dr Martin Dudley, Sophie Anne Fernandes, George Gillon, Deputy Henry Jones and Deputy James Thomson.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 17 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2015 be approved.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director relative to development and advertisement applications dealt with under delegated authority.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director relative to development and advertisement applications dealt with under delegated authority since the previous meeting.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director which provided details of valid planning applications received by the department.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the departmental Business Plan for 2015 – 2018. 

The Director explained the direction in which the department hoped to progress over the next three years in terms of promoting leadership, expanding the use of KPIs and how the department fits the wider picture.  He also referred to the future of the City in relation to providing greater public access, the development of buildings and making buildings more accessible.

A commitment was given to the installation of the London Bridge Staircase by Summer 2015.

Specific reference was made to the planning for Capital Projects and how these would be managed.  The Director advised that the project management function would be dealt with by the Department who would source information as required from other departments.

The Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee referred to the vision for environmental enhancement and thanked the Department for their outstanding work in transforming public space in the City.

The Committee commended the Director on a Business Plan which provided excellent clarity on the ambitions for the department, the standards it would attain, how it would operate as a department, where it fits into the corporate plan and how the department would continue to make improvements.

RESOLVED – That the Department of the Built Environment’s Business Plan for 2015 – 2018 be approved.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment which set out details of the planned public consultation exercises to aid the development of the Barbican Area Strategy Review.

The Committee discussed air pollution on Beech Street and noted the local pressures to remove the traffic in this area; however, it was noted that this matter would need to be considered in the wider regional context.

It was agreed to circulate details of the Barbican Area Strategy review meetings to Members.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the Draft Barbican and Golden Lane Area Enhancement Strategy be approved for consultation; and

b)    authority be delegated to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee to approve details of the display and promotional materials to be used for the consultation.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment which introduced the use of Body Worn Cameras (Bodycams) for Civil Enforcement Officers (Parking).

Members discussed the protocol for use of recorded material for training purposes and the option to undertake a trial.

RESOLVED – That the introduction of Body Worn Cameras on 1 May be noted.  A review would be undertaken after 6 months and the outcome would be reported to the Committee in the Autumn.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the waiver of an Assurance and rescission of part of the existing city walkway which provided access to Moorfields Highwalk.  The report also sought approval from Members to enter into a Section 106 agreement for the re-provision of the access.

Members noted that any decision to rescind the City Walkway would be required to come before the Committee and details regarding maintenance would be considered as part of a separate report to Committee.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    authority be delegated to the Director of the Built Environment the authority to agree the final terms of the proposed Section 106 agreement relating to the re-provision of City walkway access to Moorfields Highwalk;

b)    subject to the completion of the Section 106 Agreement referred to above and detailed in paragraphs 8 and 9 of this report, Members resolve to waive the Secretary of State’s Crossrail Assurance of  December 2005 (the ‘Assurance’) regarding provision of continuous access to the foot of the escalators and staircase adjacent to Moorgate station entrance and to vary the resolutions of the Court of Common Council dated 26^th May 1977 to remove the escalator access to Moorfields Highwalk so as to exclude the area shown hatched on the City Walkway Variation Plan No. CWVP-01-12 Rev.PO1.2 in accordance with the resolution set out in Appendix 1 to this report; and

c)    the Director of the Built Environment be authorised to insert an appropriate date for the coming into force of the resolution to vary the resolutions of the Court of Common Council dated 26^th May 1977.

Joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding updates to the Scheme of Delegation in relation to statutory powers and minor material amendments.

Minor Material Alterations – The Committee discussed the proposal to delegate consideration of minor material amendments to Officers to streamline the planning system.  Some Members considered that the proposal would not provide a transparent and fair planning system.  Upon being put to the vote, the proposal to delegate consideration of minor material amendments to officers was not approved.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the amendment to the Scheme of Delegations in respect of local planning authority functions as set out in paragraphs 2 and 4 of the report be approved; and

b)    the amendment of the Scheme of Delegations in respect of the Lead Local Flood Authority functions as set out in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 of the report be approved [subject to the Court of Common Council delegating those functions to Planning and Transportation Committee].

Redevelopment of Queensbridge House – An update regarding the development was requested.  The City Surveyor advised that the latest position would need to be provided in non-public session and it was -

RESOLVED – That under Section 100a(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

The public were invited to re-join the meeting for the remainder of the public business.

Car Park Barriers – One Member requested an update regarding the installation of new barriers in car parks.  The Transportation and Public Realm Director agreed to provide a response following the meeting.

There were no items of urgent business.