Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alex Bain-Stewart, Sophie Anne Fernandes, Gregory Jones, Deputy Henry Jones, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Brian Mooney, Deputy Alistair Moss, Tom Sleigh, Graeme Smith and Deputy James Thomson.

Paul Martinelli declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 4 (Poultry Market) as Managing Director of London Central Markets Smithfield.

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

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

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 since the last meeting.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

(The Appendices to this report are separately circulated.)

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director which sought approval to publish the Whitefriars and Chancery Lane Conservation Area and Character Summaries and Management Strategies for public consultation as part of the process of adoption as Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).

RESOLVED – That the draft texts of the Whitefriars and Chancery Lane Conservation Area Character Summaries and Management Strategies SPDs, appended as Appendices A and B to the report, be approved for public consultation until January 2016.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment which recommended that a full review of the Local Plan be carried out and sought approval for work on the review to commence. 

The principle of a review of the Local Plan was supported by Members, however, a two stage approach was preferred that would see a further report to the Committee on the budget, issues and options.

During the discussion, a number of points were raised around safety and security, Ring of Steel, resourcing and budgets, light pollution and the review of strategic policy CS7 (Eastern Cluster).

RESOLVED – That,

a)    a review of the Local Plan be supported in principle and a further report be submitted to the Committee which provided details of the budget, issues and clear options; and

b)    a meeting of the Local Plans Sub-Committee be scheduled on an appropriate date and the two vacancies on this Sub-Committee be advertised at the December Committee meeting.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment which summarised the activities and outcome of the 20mph speed limit scheme which commenced on 20 July 2014.

The Chairman reported that a high percentage of the pedestrian casualties in the City were caused by inattention and it was noted that this issue would be considered in future road danger reduction planning.  Although Members considered that more signs might be useful, the right balance needed to be struck between the number of signs for enforcement and their impact on visual amenity.

Members agreed that the key measure of the success of this scheme was the reduction in serious casualties.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a response from the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee regarding Air Quality. 

The Committee received a response from the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee regarding the City of London Air Quality Strategy 2015 – 2020.

The Committee were issued with an updated report which provided a more detailed response.

·         One Member suggested a solution might be to ban through traffic through the City during the day;

·         The significance of tackling air quality was acknowledged and a suggestion was made to include the matter as a high priority corporate risk for the Corporation; it was confirmed at Committee that this is already the case;

·         Technology was fast developing and more and more vehicles were now electric;

·         It was suggested to lobby parliament for changes to the enforcement legislation around idling engines. Members noted that at present the legislation was such that drivers who leave their engines idling must first be asked to turn off their engine before enforcement action could be considered.  Therefore, the programme to persuade and educate drivers to turn off their engines, if idling, was the best use of City resources with the present legal framework.

RESOLVED – that the response from the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee be noted.

A question was raised regarding the telephone masts between Cloth Fair and Long Lane and whether they had permission, who was consulted, and if permission had not been granted what steps were being taken to deal with them.

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director informed the Committee that Redgrove Consultants Ltd. by letter dated 3rd September 2015 informed the City of an intention to commence emergency works to install a Cell Phone Base Station at the above location. The equipment was required as an emergency installation for a maximum period of 6 months to cover the loss of a nearby site at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Planning permission was not required in this particular case as the works benefit from permitted development rights granted by the Secretary of State under Part 16, Class A(b) of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015.

The submitted “Emergency Notice” was a notification and not an application. The Local Planning Authority (LPA) had no power to make a decision [or take action] in such a case.

Officers would be monitoring the site to ensure that the equipment was removed after the six month period.

There were no items of urgent business.

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 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.

To receive the draft non-public Minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 21 September 2015

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 21 September 2015 be received.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding works on Tower Bridge.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.