Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Rehana Ameer, Alderman Robert Howard, Judith Pleasance, James de Sausmarez and Deputy James Thomson.

Deputy Alastair Moss declared a personal interest in agenda item 10c) – Bernard Morgan House, and advised that he would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

Susan Pearson declared a personal interest in the same item by virtue of living on the Golden Lane Estate and having previously objected to the application. She advised that she would remain in the meeting but take no part in the discussion or voting.

Alderman Vincent Keaveny declared a personal interest in agenda item 10 a) – Creed Court and advised that he would remain in the meeting but take no part in the discussion or voting.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council, appointing the Committee and approving its terms of Reference.

This agenda item was not available at the time of publishing and will be circulated separately.

The Order of the Court of Common Council, appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference was received.

To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 29.  A list of Members eligible to stand was read and Christopher Hayward declared his willingness to serve.

With Christopher Hayward being the only member indicating his willingness to do so, the Committee;

RESOLVED – That Christopher Hayward be elected Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29 for the year ensuing.

On being elected, the Chairman thanked the Committee for its support.

The Chairman welcomed new Members Alderman Sir Michael Bear, Alderman Gregory Jones, Rahana Ameer, Mark Boleat, Mark Bostock, Deputy Keith Bottomley, Christopher Hill, Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, Andrew Mayer, Barbara Newman, Susan Pearson, Jason Pritchard, Oliver Sells and William Upton.

To elect a Deputy Chairman for the ensuring year in accordance with Standing order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 30.  A list of Members eligible to stand was read and Alastair Moss declared his willingness to serve.

With Alastair Moss being the only member indicating his willingness to do so, the Committee;

RESOLVED – That Alastair Moss be elected Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30 for the year ensuing.

On being elected the Deputy Chairman thanked the Committee.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk relative to the appointment of Sub Committees for the ensuring year (2017/2018).

A Member commented that the report before the Committee should also include Member’s individual attendance figures for the previous year in order to assist Members make appointments to the Sub-Committees.

The Chairman asked Members if they were in support of this but the majority were opposed.

RESOLVED – That,

a)             the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee Terms of Reference be approved;

b)            the following memberships be agreed:-

Streets and Walkways Sub Committee

Chairman of the Grand Committee – Chris Hayward

Deputy Chairman of the Grand Committee – Deputy Alistair Moss

Randall Anderson

Emma Edhem

Marianne Fredericks

Alderman Gregory Jones

Paul Martinelli

Graham Packham

Oliver Sells

Together with three ex-officio Members representing the Finance, Police and Open Spaces & City Gardens Committees.

Local Plans Sub Committee and Local Plan Working Party

Chairman of the Grand Committee – Chris Hayward

Deputy Chairman of the Grand Committee – Deputy Alistair Moss

Randall Anderson

Marianne Fredericks

Alderman Gregory Jones

Paul Martinelli

Susan Pearson

Together with an ex-officio Member representing the Policy and Resources Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 21 March 2017.

RESOVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

Question from Mark Boleat

Will the Chairman explain the rationale for Committee papers that run to over 800 pages in length including over 450 pages on a single item, most of which are repetitive.  More specifically will the Chairman explain why it is considered necessary to circulate early single communication about a particular application to the Committee, and will he tell the Committee whether this practice is followed by other London councils?

Response

This application has attracted a substantial amount of comments which is why the papers are so long. It is almost inevitable that these will repeat similar objections and grounds for support. A table in the report summarises the points made and where in the report the matter is dealt with.

Planning Authorities across London adopt a variety of approaches.

The Chairman sought the views of Members as to whether or not they would wish to access public comments in a different way and not to have them attached to the report and it was agreed that officers should report back to the Committee with some alternative options and information on the approaches adopted elsewhere.

Question from Marianne Fredericks

The viability reports are crucial - why were these not sent to Members?

Response

Members were given the opportunity to view them before the meeting, they couldn’t be circulated as part of the agenda as some of the information was commercially sensitive and not available to the public.

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 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

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer (CPO) in respect of the redevelopment of the site behind the retained facade of 3 - 5 Ludgate Hill to provide a part five, part seven storey building with three basement levels for use as a 132 bedroom hotel (ClassC1) with Class A3 retail at part lower ground floors and part ground floor, with associated plant at basement and sixth floor level (total floor space 7,660sq.m GIA).

The CPO reported that 50 objections had been received across three public consultations from 28 residents and their representatives regarding the proposed development. The objections related to the loss of office accommodation and local retail uses, the proposed hotel use, the impact on the St. Paul's Cathedral Conservation Area, the capacity of the surrounding streets for the vehicles and pedestrians associated with the development and the potential impact of the development on residential amenity including loss of daylight and sunlight, loss of privacy from overlooking, impact on air quality and increased noise from construction works, and the operation of the hotel and its associated plant.

The CPO advised that the proposed development would result in the loss of 3,381sq.m (GIA) of office floor space. Office viability information had been provided in support of the application, which demonstrated that continued office use would not be a viable option on this site. This information had been independently verified by consultants on behalf of the City Corporation.

The Committee noted that the principle of hotel use on the site was in accordance with Local Plan policies, and the proposed servicing arrangements were considered to be acceptable. There was considered to be sufficient capacity in the surrounding streets for the vehicles and pedestrians associated with the development. The building had been designed to sufficiently minimise the potential

Deferred.

Deferred.

Deferred.

Deferred.

Deferred.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Deferred.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Deferred.