Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Alderman Peter Estlin; Deputy Henry Jones and Deputy Kevin Everett.

Retirement of the Director of the Built Environment

The Chairman opened the meeting by paying tribute to retiring Director, Mr Philip Everett.  Mr Everett had worked at the City of London Corporation since 2001 and been a Director since 2006.  The Chairman commended Mr Everett for his extensive experience and professional delivery on all manner of issues; from pot-holes to high level debates on vast and complex developments.  Furthermore, Mr Everett had always remained calm, courteous and direct. 

The Chairman then welcomed the new Director, Carolyn Dwyer, who would take up her poston 19^th August  2015.

·       Ms Sophie Fernandes expressed a non-pecuniary (personal) interest in respect of agenda item 6 (a) 5-7 Ireland Yard, as she has a personal friendship with a developmental lead in this project.  Ms Fernandes therefore left the meeting when this item was discussed and voted on.

·       Mr Randall Anderson expressed a pecuniary interest in respect of item 6 (b) Barbican Trade Centre, Golden Lane, as he is a tenant of the Barbican Estate. Mr Anderson therefore left the meeting when this item was discussed and voted on.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 23 June 2015.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2015 be approved.

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

The Committee received a report of the City Planning Officer  and Development  Director in respect of the development and advertisement applications dealt with under delegated authority since the last meeting. 

·       In response to a query in respect of the externally illuminated commercial advertisement at St Paul’s Churchyard, Members noted that this had been refused. 

·       In response to a query in respect of the refurbishment of the Pathology Building at St Bartholomews’ Hospital, Members noted that the substantive application had been approved by the Committee.  The application set out in the report was for alterations to a previously approved scheme and the full report was available to Members on request.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

 Proposal:  Alterations to the façade including: 1) replacement of external cladding at ground floor level; 2) replacement of existing windows with double glazed steel framed windows throughout the building; 3) new double glazed steel framed entrance door to Friar Street; 4) replacement double glazed steel framed entrance doors to Ireland Yard.

The City Planning Officer advised the Committee that one of the objectors had provided a measurement of the width of Friar Street (of 2.87m) which she accepted.

Ms Ann Holmes and Mr Simon Barnes spoke in objection to the scheme; their concerns related to noise, residential amenity, traffic and highways (i.e. the extremely narrow width of Friar Street) and the location of an additional door onto the street. 

The Agent, Mr Matt Thorley was present to answer questions and the following matters were raised during the ensuing debate:

·       The additional entrance would increase the flexibility of use of the proposed office space; it was expected that 22 workers could use the door.  At present, the agent could not specify the number of workers that would be housed in the building. 

·       Low level noise confined to office hours was generally considered to be acceptable.

·       Employers generally do not allow their workers to congregate and smoke near doorways.  

·       The correct notification had been displayed and residents duly notified.

·       Members accepted and empathised with the concerns of residents but understood the need to strike a balance with the business community in the City and the need for high quality office accommodation.  

On being put to the vote, 14 voted in favour, 5 against, with 3 abstentions and the application was approved.

RESOLVED – That the above application, for the above proposal, be granted in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule.

Proposal: alterations to the ground and first floor elevations and podium level floor of Exhibition Hall 1, in association with the occupation of the premises by the London Film School. 

The City Planning Officer advised of an amendment to the printed report whereby permission for use of this part of the Barbican Trade Centre, as an exhibition hall, was granted in February 1980 and not October 1980. 

Members were reminded that there had been a number of objectors, primarily in respect of change of use (D1), which was not a material change of use. The Conditions would be amended to include odour control and wording to deal with matters in the email from Markets and Consumer Protection Department set out on pages 131/132 of the report.  

Mr John Whitehead and Mr Bruce Badger spoke in objection to the application and set out residents’ concerns in respect of noise, changes to the listed fabric of the Barbican (i.e. the new plant room), light from the frontage, smells from smokers and the café.    

The Director of the London Film School, Jane Roscoe, spoke in support of the application, setting out the drivers behind the decision to relocate.  The Architect, Mr James Taylor, advised Members that all consultation feedback had been carefully considered and he had twice met the Barbican Association to discuss aspects of the lease.  There would be no odour from ventilation plants; just air circulation.  In response to a question, the Architect advised that there had been no application for a late licence at the coffee bar.

The Chairman asked the Town Clerk to write to the City Surveyor, setting out the above concerns and particularly that the regular maintenance pursuant to the planning condition should include noise testing to ensure that there was no deterioration in the noise performance

Proposal: alterations to the ground and first floor elevations and podium level floor of Exhibition Hall 1 in association with the occupation of the premises by the London Film School. 

RESOLVED – That listed building consent be granted for the above proposal, in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule. 

 The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment, which set out progress against the 2014/17 Business Plan and the Financial Outturn Report for the Department of the Built Environment.

Members suggested that the approach to road danger reduction might need more joined up thinking and asked for a further report, with particular focus on the 20mph speed limit.   Members commended the Awards received by the Transportation Team.

 The Committee received a report and presentation of the Director of the Built Environment, which provided an overview of how the City was evolving; now and over the next 10 years.  Members noted that an Officer/Member Working Party would be set up, after recess, in order to consider the drivers for change.  The Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board was in attendance and emphasised the Board’s commitment to this project and the significance of healthy office environments in workers’ happiness and wellbeing. 

RESOLVED – that the report be noted. 

Appendix A has been separately circulated - Foster Lane Conservation Area Character Summary and Management Strategy draft SPD and Finsbury Circus Conservation Area Character Summary and Management Strategy draft SPD.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer in respect of draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) for Foster Lane Conservation Area and Finsbury Circus Character Summaries and Management Strategies.  The documents were issued for public consultation in March/April 2015 and in response to comments received, a number of amendments were set out in the report.

RESOLVED – That:

1.     The amendments to the Foster Lane and Finsbury Circus Conservation Area SPDs, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be agreed.

2.     Members resolve to adopt the amended Foster Lane and Finsbury Circus Conservation Area SPD’s. 

Joint report of the Chamberlain, Director of the Built Environment, Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries and the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment, the City Surveyor and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, which compared the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Planning and Transportation Committee in 2014/15 with the final budget for the year.

RESOLVED – That the Revenue Outturn Report for 2014/15 and the proposed carry forward of underspends to 2015/16 be noted. 

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

 The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection in respect of the Air Quality Strategy for 2015 – 20.

During the discussion on this item, the following matters were raised/noted:

·       There should be more enforcement action on idling vehicles.

·       Members strongly objected to the use of shredder vans.

·       There was no reference to the number and size of refrigerated vehicles moving in and out of Smithfield.

Consideration be given to granting planning permission only when resultant pollutants from premises are neutral.

·       It was understood that 80% of Air Pollution comes into the City but only 20% of Air Pollution is generated within the City, primarily by traffic. 

·       Planning Officers and the Chairman would meet with the Chairman of Port Health to share the Committee’s views. 

·       The report could have gone to the Planning and Transportation Committee and the Health and Wellbeing Board for comments, before being presented to the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee for decision.

·       Given that the City of London initiated the national legislation to control smog when the City Act in 1954 presaged the national Act in 1956, it should have a lead, strategic role with the current clean air campaign for London.

It was Proposed by Mr Streeter and Seconded by Mr Mooney that the Air Quality Strategy 2015-20 be considered inadequate in its current form, as it lacked pace and required a more radical approach.

RESOLVED – That:

1.     The Port Health and Environmental Services Committee note the comments of the Planning and Transportation Committee as set out above and at Resolution 2 below.

2.     The Strategy be considered inadequate in its current form as it lacked pace and required a more radical approach.

At 12.30, the Committee agreed to waive standing orders in order to complete the

1.       The Mayor’s Vision for Cycling – ‘Quietways’

          Further to an article in Monday’s Evening Standard on the Mayor’s Vision for Cycling, officers provided Members with a summary of the report presented to Streets and Walkways Sub Committee, the previous day, in respect of a Gateway 3/4 Options Appraisal Report : ‘The Mayor’s Vision for Cycling – Quietways’.  Members noted that a press release was being prepared in response.

2.      Sugar Quay

          A Hearing date had been set for 20^th July and documents exchanged. 

The Chairman agreed to the admission of an item of urgent business, as follows:

City Fund Highway Declaration – Thames Tideway Tunnel Development at Blackfriars – Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor. 

The Committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor in respect of the Thames Tideway Tunnel Development at Blackfriars.  In response to a question about possible disruptions to pedestrians, the officers confirmed that there would be some occupation on the footpath. In response to a  Member’s question as to why a requirement for subsoil resulted in surface level highway being removed the Chairman asked for a plan or drawing to clarify the position to be provided to the Member.

RESOLVED – That an area of highway/river wall at Paul’s Walk, Blackfriars, EC4 measuring in total approximately 1,451 ft² (134.81 m²) be declared surplus to highway requirements, in order to enable its disposal to Thames Water Utilities Limited, for incorporation into the Thames Tideway Tunnel permanent works at Blackfriars foreshore, upon terms to be subject to the approval of the Property Investment Board; the resolution to take effect upon the land ceasing to be a highway structure and following its incorporation into the Thames Tideway Tunnel permanent works.

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

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.

Items 12 – 15                                                  Paras    3, 5 and 7

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2015.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2015 be approved.

There were no questions.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

Members received a report of the Director of the Built Environment

There were no further items of urgent business.