Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alex Bain-Stewart, Henry Colthurst. Sophie Anne Fernandes, Deputy Henry Jones, Gregory Jones QC, James de Sausmarez, Angela Starling and Graeme Smith.

Peter Dunphy declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 12 – Application for Designation of the Still & Start Public House as an Asset of Community Value – by virtue of being a member of the Campaign for Real Ale.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 4 October 2016.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

To receive the draft public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 September 2016.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2016 be received.

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee received a report of the Remembrancer advising of the provisions of the Government’s Neighbourhood Planning Bill, recently introduced to Parliament. The Bill would prevent the use of pre-commencement planning conditions without the agreement of the applicant, and empower the Secretary of State to impose further restrictions on the use of planning conditions through regulations. It also made changes to the neighbourhood planning regime and the compulsory purchase system.

RESOLVED – That the report and provisions of the Bill be noted.

The Committee received a report concerning the variation of a City Walkway known as Fish Wharf.

The variation was required due to the construction of a new staircase and landings leading from London Bridge directly on to the River Walk, and a new area of footbridge, which improved the existing access between the River Walk and London Bridge.

Members of the Committee welcomed the report and the new staircase was considered to be an outstanding success.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to vary the resolution of the Court of Common Council, dated 6^th November 2001 in the area shown on the City Walkway Variation Plan No. CWVP-01-16 (Appendix B) in accordance with the resolution set out in Appendix A.

The Committee received a report detailing the allocation of Transport for London (TFL) grants for 2016/17.

The report advised that TFL might award grants in respect of expenditure incurred by the City of London in doing anything that in the opinion of Transport for London was conducive to the provision of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities or services.  For the 2016/17 financial year TFL would allocate grants to the City totalling at least £3 137 456, the details of which were set out in the report.

RESOLVED – That the proposals outlined in the report be approved.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor seeking approval to declare an area totalling 24.243 sq m (261 sq ft) of City Fund highway land at Fenchurch Street and Leadenhall Street EC3 (above ground, and to be restricted by upper and lower datum levels) to be surplus to highway requirements, to allow its disposal and enable the development scheme which was being proposed by Vanquish Properties (managed by TH Real Estate).

The Committee was advised that the City Corporation regularly granted suitable land interests to owners and developers whose permitted schemes encompassed City owned highway, for the purpose of promoting long term development. In order to grant third party interests in City Fund highway land, the affected parts first needed to be declared surplus to highway requirements.

In response to questions concerning why the matter was not dealt with when planning permission was originally granted and whether or not public highway status would be lost, the Committee was advised that the request had not been made at the time and the existing highway stratum would remain public highway unless that status was removed by a stopping-up order.

The Deputy Chairman advised that the Committee was being asked to consider the highways issue not the disposal issue which would be separately reported for approval to the Property Investment Board.

A Member raised the question of whether or not consideration should be given to the introduction of a new policy when dealing with matters such as these and it was agreed that officers should report back on this issue.

RESOLVED –That:

1.  approval be given to declare the airspace areas of City Fund highway land at Fenchurch Street and Leadenhall Street, EC3 with a combined total of 24.243 sq m (261 sq ft) as shown on the

The Committee received a report advising on the activities and progress of the Parking Ticket Office (PTO).

The report advised of the key successes and improvements over what had been a highly successful year, particularly in relation to improving on previous performance, mitigating the impact of a change in legislation that banned the use of CCTV for issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs, parking tickets) for certain contraventions and the PTO becoming even more effective in the use of technology.  It also set out the key business challenges for the coming year. 

Members of the Committee raised a number of questions in relation to illegal parking by delivery vans, advantages and disadvantages of clamping, the introduction of a freight strategy and the impact of the body worn cameras for parking enforcement officer.

A Member commented that that the Parking Ticket Office should consider taking a stand at the London Summit and it was agreed that this would be looked into.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that officers explore the merits of taking a stand at the London Summit.

Update from the City Surveyor (This report will be tabled)

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor in relation to the public lift service.

The Chairman reminded Members that a site visit had been arranged for 2.00pm that afternoon.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee received the presentation.

Ludgate Circus

A Member reported that the No.11 Bus had recently been diverted without prior                 notice resulting in chaos at Ludgate Circus and asked why no information was available on the City Corporation website.

The Committee was advised that this was probably an emergency closure but that officers would provide a more detailed response to the Member.

Application for Designation of the Still & Start Public House as an Asset of Community Value

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment in relation to the application for the designation of the Still & Star public house as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The report advised that within the City Corporation responsibility for the determination of ACV nominations had never been specifically delegated to a committee and therefore currently rested with the Policy & Resources Committee. However, the issues raised were considered relevant to the terms of reference of the Planning & Transportation Committee and as such the Committee was asked to consider the evidence and provide advice to Policy & Resources Committee for determination.

Members considered the information put forward in the nomination from the Campaign for Real Ale, comments submitted in objection to a wider office-led redevelopment scheme for Aldgate Bus Station which would impact on the Still & Star, the participation of the Still & Star at City Corporation annual Community Fair events, and comments from the building’s owners.

The Committee debated the evidence presented but did not consider that the Still & Star met either of the required tests for designation as an ACV for the following reasons:

a)     Members did not consider that the pub furthered the social interests and wellbeing of the local community. The lack of engagement and support from the local resident community was considered to be important. Although a significant number of objections had been received to the demolition of the pub as part of a wider office-led redevelopment, it was felt that few of these objectors had a direct City of London connection;

b)     The pub was closed at weekends and therefore could not serve the social interests of the local community at these times;

c)     There were many other licensed

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 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item Nos.                                                           Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

14 - 16                                                                                     3

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

To receive the draft non-public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 September 2016.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2016 be received.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered and agreed a report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Property & Construction Category Board in relation to the Highways term Maintenance Contract.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received the Service Based Reviews (SBR) progress report for the Department of the Built Environment.

There were no questions.

Planning Committee Dinner

The Chairman reported that the Planning Committee dinner, to be held in honour of the past Chairman Mr Michael Welbank, would be held on Tuesday 22 November 2016.

Changes to November Meetings

The Committee noted that the scheduled meeting of the Committee on 17 November had been cancelled.

New dates for meetings of the Planning & Transportation Committee were as follows:

Monday 28 November at 10.30am

Wednesday 30 November at 9.30am.