Agenda and minutes

Chairman’s Welcome

The Chairman welcomed Zahur Khan, the newly appointed Transportation and Public Realm Director, to his first meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

The Chairman also welcomed the Committee’s new, permanent, Clerk Gemma Stokley.

Apologies for absence were received from Rehana Ameer, Henry Colthurst, Peter Dunphy, Stuart Fraser, Graeme Harrower, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, Graham Packham, Susan Pearson, Judith Pleasance and Deputy Henry Pollard.

Apologies for absence were also received from Carolyn Dwyer, Director of Built Environment.

The Deputy Chairman declared a non-pecuniary, professional interest in relation to Agenda Item 10 – ‘21 Moorfields – Acquisition of Land’ – and stated that, on the advice of the Comptroller and City Solicitor he would be withdrawing from the meeting whilst this Item was considered and would neither speak nor vote on the matter.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 11 September 2018.

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 11 September 2018 were considered and approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Communication Totems (page 2) – A Member referred to a recent article suggesting that communication totems in the City were ‘data harvesting’ from mobile phones. She questioned whether this practice was legal given that passers by would not be aware that this was the case. She referred to a similar issue which had arisen previously concerning recycling bins in the City. The Chief Planning Officer undertook to make enquiries about this but stated that she was certainly not aware that this was the case. The Chairman underlined the need to ensure that any data harvesting that might be taking place was both statutorily compliant and mindful of any data protection implications. Members suggested that it was important to ask these sorts of questions up front in future.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor clarified that, unlike with the previous occurrence referred to which concerned recycling bins in the City, there was no relationship between the City of London Corporation and the totem providers as far as she was aware. Officers nevertheless undertook to explore this matter further and report back to the Committee. 

Golden Lane Community Centre (page 6) – A Member questioned whether some further detail could be provided relative to the ‘additional condition’ that was to be imposed in order to address accessibility of the interview room and had been delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to finesse in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the last meeting. The Chief Planning Officer clarified that the additional condition related to use of the Community Centre as an Estate Office and was as follows: “Notwithstanding the details of the office

To receive the minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 4 September 2018.

The Committee received the public minutes and summary of the Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee held on 4 September 2018.

The Committee were of the view that future minutes of the Sub Committee submitted to the Grand Committee for information should be clearly marked as ‘draft’. It was agreed that the draft minutes of the Sub Committee would only need to be re-submitted to the Grand Committee if there were any material changes to them once they had been approved as a correct record.

RECEIVED.

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 advertising applications determined by the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director or those so authorised under the delegated powers since the last meeting.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development applications received by the Department of the Built Environment since the last meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director concerning an application under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to vary condition 49 (approved drawings) of planning permission dated 6 October 2017 to enable (i) removal of third basement level; (ii) internal reconfiguration to create 152 hotel rooms and associated alterations to the fenestration on Ludgate Square, Creed Lane and to the internal courtyard; (iii) relocation of the UKPN sub-station from basement to ground floor level; (iv) reduction in A3 (restaurant) floor area from 1,028sq.m to 466sq.m and relocation of the restaurant entrance door to Creed Lane; (v) reconfiguration of the waste storage facilities and service area; and (vi) other minor internal and external alterations.

The Assistant Director, Planning Development, introduced the application and presented the officer’s report, informing the Committee about the details of the scheme and its wider implications. Photographs of residential amenity in the existing courtyard were tabled at the meeting. The application was recommended for approval in accordance with the details set out in the report.

The Chairman highlighted that there were three objectors who wished to address the Committee as well as a speaker on behalf of the applicant. In response to a question, the Chairman clarified that all those addressing the Committee had been made aware of the Protocol on Public Speaking and to limit their speech to planning matters only.

Sir Brian Langstaff, a local resident, addressed the Committee in objection to the application. Sir Langstaff spoke with concern about the principle of securing planning permission for one scheme and then altering this in ways which may be perceived as non-material but will, in reality, make a substantial difference to the scheme overall. Consent had been given, in 2017, for construction of what was thought

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director seeking approval for the demolition of existing building and structures to existing basement slab level and construction of an 18 storey office building (Class B1) with ground and first floor retail (Class A1/A2/A3/A5), together with works to the two basements and the ground floor level with associated servicing, waste storage, plant facilities and cycle parking and public realm improvements to New Union Street.

Officers advised of an additional recommended proviso to the resolution, namely that the application be approved subject to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, being satisfied that the servicing arrangements to New Union Street are satisfactory.

Officers presented the report to Members, outlining details of the scheme and its wider implications. In light of objections received (primarily around the potential for noise from the roof terraces), conditions limiting the use of these areas at night were proposed. With regard to the reductions in sunlight and daylight to some residents, independent assessments had concluded that any loss was, in fact, due to the presence of overhanging balconies and not the size of the proposed development.

A Member commended Officers on refining the proposals in light of objections received. Members went on to question the possibility of the use of an external consolidation site for the servicing of the building. Officers stated that they had already suggested that this was something that the applicant should explore. The number of deliveries had been limited to 72 vehicles per day. Members suggested that this could be included as a condition.

A Member stated that they would like to see the use of light sensors conditioned. Another Member reported that, whilst they were fully supportive of the proposals, they had some concern around

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director proposing that one conservation area be designated to include an area which would comprise the Barbican and Golden Lane Estates, the Barbican Registered Park and Garden, the Barbican Wildlife Garden, Bridgewater Square and the London Wall Scheduled Ancient Monument west and north of Monkwell Square.

The Chairman highlighted that the proposals presented had been shaped by public  consultation carried out between December 2017 and February 2018. The Assistant Director, Historic Environment, reported that some additional representations had been received after publication of the report but underlined that these contained no additional concerns to those that had already been raised elsewhere. She went on to report that a minor adjustment to the proposed boundary needed to be made to include the entire Barbican Wildlife Garden and that this would need to be approved in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

A Member stated that he very much welcomed this report and felt that Officers had been very responsive to the views expressed as part of the public consultation process. He added that he was pleased to see that the proposals now included the Barbican Wildlife Gardens in their entirety. However, the fact that certain buildings were not to be included within the conservation area (specifically 45 Beech Street and the Welsh Jewin Church) appeared to be a missed opportunity.

The Deputy Chairman stated that any redevelopment would have to consider the character of the adjoining Conservation area and that the importance of these buildings could therefore be recognised without having to necessarily include them within the proposed conservation area and adjust the boundaries.

A second Member stated that she also felt that it was a mistake not to include these buildings

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

N.B.: Appendix 5 to this report will be considered in Non-Public session.

The Deputy Chairman withdrew from the meeting at this point.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer seeking approval for the acquisition of land for planning purposes by agreement under section 227 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 enabling the operation of powers under Section 203 of the Housing & Planning Act 2016 to facilitate the carrying out of the redevelopment of 21 Moorfields.

RESOLVED – That, Members authorise acquisition of an interest in the Redevelopment Site by the City under S227 in order to engage powers under S203 for the planning purpose of facilitating the carrying out of the revised development (as described in paragraph 4 of the Main Report) and subsequent disposal of that interest to the Owner (or an associated company) under section 223 of the Town & Country Planning Act.

Subject to:

(i)            the City Surveyor being satisfied, following receipt of Counsel’s opinion, that the risks associated with the transaction are acceptable;

(ii)          there being a suitable Deed of Indemnity (as described in Paragraph 22) in place satisfactory to the City Surveyor; and

(iii)         the acquisition and disposal referred to above being substantially in accordance with the arrangements in Appendix 2 to this report with authority being delegated to the City Surveyor to agree final terms.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Deputy Chairman re-joined the meeting.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director in relation to site visits for planning applications on the Committee Agenda. The report sought Members’ views as to whether visits should be in relation to all planning applications or certain classes of applications and how these are to be organised.

The Chairman underlined that the suggestion was that site visits were offered for all future major applications and that this approach was to be trialled for a period of three months to assess its popularity.

A Member suggested that the Thursday morning visits proposed within the report would be problematic given that Court of Common Council meetings also took place on Thursdays. She also suggested that attendance lists should be published for all future visits.

Members went on to make a plea for more clarity around future visits in terms of which Officers would be accompanying Members and where they were to meet. A request for transport from Guildhall for future visits was also noted.

A Member suggested that a six month trial would be more sufficient in terms of assessing the popularity of such visits and deciding whether any alterations were then needed.

A Member suggested that a list of pertinent issues should be circulated to Members ahead of all such visits in future. It was also suggested that four days ahead of an application being formally considered by the Committee was not sufficient time for such visits and that the agenda planning process should be utilised to flag any major or genuinely contentious applications at a much earlier stage.

In response to a question, the Comptroller and City Solicitor clarified that those Members who were unable to participate in a site visit would not then be restricted in

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding a review of the protocol allowing commercial vehicles 40 minutes to continuously load and unload on-street.

The Assistant Director (Highways) stated that this issue fitted well within the City’s forthcoming Transport Strategy which would provide an overarching approach to freight in the City.

The Chairman stated that he was strongly of the view that 40 minutes was far too long and that his ambition would be to attempt to half this in the City. He also requested that the report’s first recommendation be amended to require this matter to be addressed by the end of 2019.

A Member asked whether the upcoming Transport Strategy consultation could be used as a way for this matter to be considered as soon as possible given the huge impact of this on the City.

A Member agreed with the urgency that should be attached to this matter. He reminded the Committee that the 40 minute rule had been in place for ten years now yet the volume of traffic in the City had escalated hugely in this time.

Another Member stated that it would be important to see that any revision to the continuous loading and unloading time was also adequately policed and enforced going forward.

RESOLVED – That Member agree that:

·         A review of the current 40min permitted loading and unloading period be undertaken as an early outcome of the Transport Strategy adoption process and, in any event, not later than the end of 2019 and

·         Appropriate data capture, informal engagement with the freight industry and discussion with London Councils be undertaken to inform this review in the interim period.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning congestion mitigation: Parking, Traffic and Cycling Enforcement resources.

The Town Clerk reported that the Resource Allocation Sub Committee had considered the report at their meeting on 4 October 2018 and had approved the necessary funding.

The Assistant Director (Highways) reported that it was proposed that additional Indigo officers were used in the evening given the changes in traffic flow in the City at this time and that new technology was reinvested in in order to enhance the parking enforcement service as a whole. The report also recommends funding from the On-Street Parking Account be set aside to allow the introduction of three new City Corporation Traffic & Congestion Officers, whose role would be specifically aimed at identifying and resolving congestion hotspots on the ground and tackling things that Indigo currently cannot. Through a new City Police accreditation system, they would also have the authority to stop and direct traffic as well as to deal with minor police enforcement duties such as low level cycling offences.

Members were told that this should be viewed as a positive step towards being able to deal with these kinds of issues in ‘real time’ and providing additional resources to help improve the effectiveness and safety of the City’s road network.

A Member commented that this clearly presumed that the income generated in this area would outweigh the expense. He asked that this be monitored and that a report on this and the overall effectiveness of the initiative be brought back to Committee in a year’s time.

RESOLVED – That, Members of the Planning and Transportation Committee:

·         Approve the supplementary parking enforcement measures outlined in this report and

·         Approve the introduction of three City Corporation Traffic & Congestion Officers for an initial two-year period

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment presenting information on green initiatives in the City of London and outlining the results of a study into the use of a technique called Urban Greening Factor (UGF) as a means of delivering additional greening.

The report indicated that the City was surprisingly ‘green’. A Member stated that there had been a number of new trees planted in the City since 2010 and that it was disappointing to not see this referred to within the report. It was suggested that the City Commons at Ashtead and West Wickham should also be referred to in order to demonstrate the breadth of the City’s green interests.

A Member commented that the map at Appendix 1 depicting the distribution of trees across the City seemed to show a lack of planting in the Fleet Street area and the South Western block of the City. He therefore questioned how many trees had been planted here in the past 12 months or how many were planned in future for this area specifically.

Officers undertook to report back to Members on the number of trees planted and in which areas in recent years.  

A Member stated that the initial cost of any future planting needed to be taken in to account as well as the ongoing maintenance of any trees planted.  

A Member referred to the statement which highlighted that ground level space was at a premium in the City within the report and questioned whether this Committee and its Officers should be bold in future and focus on the provision of open/pedestrian space with developers. He suggested that perhaps a factor could be adopted going forward whereby developments likely to attract in excess of, say, 1,000 additional people to a certain area would

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk listing their Outstanding References which had been recently updated with the help of the responsible Officers.

Ludgate Circus

The Assistant Director (Highways) reported that updates had been received from TfL on their actions to date since the time of publication of this report. Collision diagrams had now been provided and these highlighted that the main cause for these were left turning vehicles in conflict with pedestrians crossing informally.

Members were informed that TfL had now agreed to allow the City to use their Enforcement Team to assist in undertaking cycle behaviour training at the Ludgate Circus Junction. TfL had also agreed to look in to the cost of surveys on the junction and report back. A review of signal timings at the junction would also take place in the next few months.

The Deputy Chairman stated that whilst he was not surprised by TfL’s conclusion that the biggest risks here related to pedestrians crossing informally, he would like to ensure that they were not dismissive of the issue simply because it happens elsewhere. He asked that City Officers continue to press TfL to identify ways in which these informal crossing routes could be made safer and more pedestrian friendly.

Blackfriars Bridge Underpass

Members were informed that TfL had undertaken footway repairs in the underpass and that a deep clean of the area had also been undertaken by City Highways. TfL had now also undertaken to look at the issue of rough sleeping here alongside the City’s own outreach team, and TfL would also be dealing with the subway lighting that has been failing on a regular basis. The Assistant Director (Highways) was pleased to report that, although progress to date was slower than hoped, things were certainly moving in the right

Residents Association representation at Annual Committee Dinners

In response to a question, the Chairman reported that he would be happy to include Residents Association representatives on the Annual Committee Dinner guest list going forward and had already confirmed this in writing to the Member who had originally posed this question.

Annual Committee Dinner

The Chairman reported that the 2018/19 Committee Dinner would tale place on Thursday 21 February 2019 at Glaziers Hall.

Local Development Plan and Transport Strategy Member Briefing

The Deputy Chairman reminded Members that an informal briefing on the Local Development Plan and Transport Strategy that was open to all Members of the Planning and Transportation Committee was scheduled for 10.30am on Thursday, 11 October 2018. He stated that prior notice of any specific issues/themes which Members wished to explore within this context would be useful in terms of focusing discussion on the day.

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.

Item No.                                  Exempt Paragraph(s)

19-20                                                   3

21-22                                                   -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2018.

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2018.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 4 September 2018.

The Committee received the draft non public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee meeting on 4 September 2018.

There were no questions raised in the non public session.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration in the non-public session.