Agenda and minutes

Venue: Livery Hall - Guildhall

Contact: Gemma Stokley
tel. no.: 020 7332 3414  Email: gemma.stokley@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

The Chair took the opportunity to welcome new member John Edwards to the Committee and to thank Karina Dostalova for her time served.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Christopher Hayward (Deputy Chairman), Henry Colthurst and James de Sausmarez.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' Declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

The Chair declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda Item 6 stating that the premises in question was in close proximity to his business premises.

 

Graham Packham and Marianne Fredericks declared non-pecuniary interests in relation to agenda Item 7. Mr Packham clarified that he had sat on the Licensing Sub Committee hearing held in relation to this premises in July 2018 but clarified that the focus of that was solely licensing and not planning matters. Ms Fredericks declared that the premises in question was situated within her Ward and that she had spoken in objection to the licensing application. She clarified that her focus today would, however, be solely planning matters.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 77 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 10 September 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved the minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2019 as a correct record.

 

MATTERS ARISING

Ocean Diva (page 2) – A Member questioned whether there was any further update on this matter. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director reported that the further information requested from the applicant remained outstanding to date. She added that the need for further public consultation on this application was extremely likely.

 

Enforcement Monitoring Report (page 4) – A Member referred specifically to the issue of short-term lets and raised the issue of staff resources in terms of addressing and monitoring any issues arising. She added that conditions applied to short-term lets were pointless without enforcement.

 

The Member went on to refer to a recent decision by the planning inspector following a planning appeal involving a premises that had changed from restaurant to bar use and had, over a number of years, caused huge problems for both local residents and Environmental Health Officers who were repeatedly called out to deal with the noise issues and the impact on residential amenity. She praised the decision reached which was to time condition use of the drinking establishment and took the opportunity to congratulate the planning enforcement team for their dedication and hard work in bringing this problem to a satisfactory and pragmatic conclusion.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

MINUTES OF THE STREETS AND WALKWAYS SUB COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 111 KB

To receive the draft minutes of the Local Plans Sub Committee meeting held on 22 July 2019.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee received the draft minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 22 July 2019.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

OUTSTANDING ACTIONS pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing outstanding actions from their last meeting.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

10 BOLT COURT, LONDON, EC4A 3DQ pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director seeking approval for the replacement of the existing balustrading, installation of new decking and planting at roof level in association with the formation of a roof terrace for use by occupants of the building between 9am and 8pm with the exception of 15 times a year when this would be extended to 11pm.

 

The Chief Planning Officer reported that the premises in question was a small, red brick, office building situated within the Fleet Street Conservation Area. Proposals were around the use of a flat roof as a roof terrace. She drew Members’ attention to a site plan of 10 Bolt Court and the location of 6 Bolt Court (where those residents who had objected to the application reside) which was immediately to the north of the site. Members were informed that there was a large deciduous tree between the two sites and that the proposals also sought to screen the proposed plant area at roof level. Planting was also proposed around the edge of the roof terrace which would become a decked area.

 

The Chief Planning Officer highlighted that a number of conditions were proposed to address the concerns raised by residents and that the ‘Roof Terrace Management Plan’ referred to therein would be as amended by conditions. Members were informed that details of any lighting to be used would be subject to approval.

 

The Chair thanked Officers for their introduction, introduced the registered objectors and invited them to address the Committee. Mr Toby Brown, a local resident, spoke first, highlighting that the area in question was currently a quiet space and that the existing office building was ordinarily vacated by 6.00pm. He expressed his concern that the original application had failed to even mention nearby

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

26A SAVAGE GARDENS & 9A-9B CRUTCHED FRIARS, LONDON, EC3N pdf icon PDF 928 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director seeking approval for the change of use of part ground floor from betting office (sui generis) to a mix of restaurant and drinking establishment (sui generis) (110sq.m) and works comprising:

 

(i)            replacement of shopfront on Crutched Friars;

(ii)           replacement of first floor windows on Crutched Friars and Coopers Row;

(iii)          installation of first floor window on Savage Gardens;

(iv)          replacement of first floor rear doors and windows fronting rear yard with new doors and glazing under the arches and installation of an external green screen;

(v)           replacement of door and installation of windows to the rear at ground floor;

(vi)          extension of external walkway on first floor rear elevation and replacement of external stairs for use as a means of escape;

(vii)        installation of a fence between the external walkway and neighbouring residential properties; and

(viii)       replacement of extract flue on rear elevation.

 

The Chief Planning Officer also highlighted that some amended wording for Conditions 4, 5, 8 and 9 had been tabled.

 

Members were informed that the application concerned a site situated to the east of the City, the majority of which was underneath railway arches. As some Members had alluded to at the opening of the meeting, under Item 2, it was correct to say that Planning and Licensing considerations were quite separate although many of the planning conditions proposed mirrored those already set by Licensing. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director confirmed that the first floor use was already sui generis a restaurant/bar area and that the proposed changes sought to remove access to the premises from the nearby residential area and improve access for all.

 

The Chair thanked the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director for their introduction, introduced the registered objector

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Tower Bridge HV System Replacement and Increasing Electrical Resilience pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor setting out the Outline Options Appraisal relative to the Tower Bridge HV System Replacement and Increasing Electrical Resilience.

 

RESOLVED – That the Planning and Transportation Committee:

 

1.    Approve recommended Option B;

2.    Approve a budget of £303,000 to reach the next Gateway;

3.    Note the revised project budget at £5.8m (excluding risk);

4.    Note the Costed Risk Provision in the total sum of £2,600,000;

5.    Note the revised project timeline changes from GW 1-2.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Wind Microclimate Guidelines pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director setting out the City Corporation’s Wind Microclimate Guidelines, produced as a result of officers working alongside the Wind Engineering community to establish a more robust and rigorous methodology for Wind assessments accompanying planning applications for new schemes.

 

The Chair thanked Officers for this piece of work which showed that the organisation was very much leading the way in this area.

 

A Member questioned why testing could not be done in situ, looking at existing scenarios, as opposed to within a wind tunnel. Officers responded that it was important to keep the number of anomalies down in test situations but that they would continue to work alongside the wind industry to look at how these might be reduced.

 

REOLVED – That the Planning and Transportation Committee endorse the Wind Microclimate Guidelines which established a more rigorous and robust approach to the methodology and techniques of Wind testing of proposed developments in the City and raised the benchmark of acceptable wind conditions.   

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Dockless Vehicle Hire Byelaw pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment asking Members to recommend to the Court of Common Council that it resolves to delegate to London Councils’ Transport & Environment Committee (TEC) the authority to exercise the City Corporation’s byelaw-making function for the purpose of regulating dockless vehicles on the highway and/or public places by way of an addition to the existing TEC constitution, as outlined within the paper. 

 

A Member questioned whether this was the first time that the City Corporation had delegated byelaw-making powers to another party and, if so, whether this would set a significant precedent. He went on to question whether this would constitute passing open-ended permissions with regard to dockless cycles to the TEC or if there would be scope to withdraw these at any point if necessary. The Comptroller and City Solicitor reported that, to the best of her knowledge, this would be the first example of such powers being delegated to another party. She reassured Members that a delegation could be  revoked.

 

A Member noted that the report suggested that detailed discussions around the wording of the byelaw were ongoing and questioned whether Members would have the opportunity to reassess the final version. The Comptroller and City Solicitor reported that the TEC included representatives from all 33 London Boroughs and that there would be further reference to TEC before the wording was finalised or further amended.

 

A Member sought clarification as to how this might impact on the City Corporation’s ongoing dockless cycle trial and questioned whether this proposal was slightly premature given that this was yet to conclude. The Comptroller and City Solicitor noted that it was highly unlikely that the byelaw would be introduced ahead of the conclusion of the trial given that it required the delegation of all

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Pipe Subways of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill over Thameslink pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to a Detailed Options Appraisal for the Pipe Subways of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill over Thameslink.

 

RESOLVED – That, the Planning and Transportation Committee:

 

1)    Approve the additional budget of £225,000 for GW4 to reach the next Gateway, including scope change for inclusion of structure supporting the carriageway of Snow Hill;

2)    Note the revised cumulative project budget of £481,000 (excluding risk);

3)    Note the total estimated cost of the project at £2.666m (excluding risk)

4)    Approve a costed risk provision of £75,000 (to be drawn down via delegation to Chief Officer); and

5)    Note that Gateway 4C Detailed Design is to be approved via Planning and Transportation Committee.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

West Smithfield and Charterhouse Street (Thameslink) Bridges Remedial Works pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment detailing issues relating to the West Smithfield and Charterhouse Street (Thameslink) Bridges Remedial Works.

 

RESOLVED – That, the Planning and Transportation Committee:

 

1)    Agree proposals to include additional waterproofing and re-surfacing of Charterhouse Street Bridge over Railtrack Sidings (Structure No. 33/23) as detailed in the plan at Appendix 2, which is an increase in the scope of similar work;

2)    Agree a project budget increase of £160,000 for the increase in scope to a total of £844,000. The increase of £160,000 to be funded from the Additional Capital Funds for City Fund Properties Programme; and

3)    Approve a Cost Risk Provision of £70,000 over and above the £160,000 (to be drawn down via delegation to Chief Officer).

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Millennium Inclinator Maintenance Update Report pdf icon PDF 50 KB

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor updating Members on the current situation in relation to the maintenance of the Millennium Inclinator.

 

A Member stated that, whilst the welcomed this report and the progress being made, he had been made aware that the Inclinator had broken down again only this morning. This underlined the fact that, ultimately, a more robust approach to its maintenance was required.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development and advertisement applications determined by the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director or those so authorised under their delegated powers since the report to the last meeting.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

VALID PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

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 report to the last meeting.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

DEPARTMENT OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: 'BREXIT' UPDATE pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment updating Members on the potential implications of Brexit for the Department of the Built Environment.

 

RESOLVED – That Members note the report and that further update reports will be made to subsequent meetings of the Committee as appropriate.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

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.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Non-public minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2019 and approved them as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

NON-PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE STREETS AND WALKWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 22 July 2019.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Minutes:

The Committee received the draft, non-public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 22 July 2019.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Tower Bridge - Replacement of Heating System Serving the High-Level Walkways and Towers

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the City Surveyor providing outcomes from the Tower Bridge project – Replacement of Heating Systems Serving the High-Level Walkways and Towers.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

23.

Non-Public questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

A Member raised a question relative to Extinction Rebellion’s planned protests in London.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the committee agrees should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.