Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Sophie Fernandes, George Gillon (Chief Commoner), Alderman David Graves, Alderman Sir David Lewis, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley and Deputy James Thomson.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 May 2013.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on14 May 2013 be agreed as a correct record subject to the following sentence being deleted in item 12.1 (St Paul’s Cathedral External Lighting – Outline Options Appraisal) –

“The scheme is to be managed by the City on behalf of the Cathedral which will be the recipient of the external sponsorship.’

The Town Clerk informed the Committee that at this point it was not certain who the recipient was likely to be and that this would be confirmed in the next Gateway Report.

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

The Committee received a report of the City Planning Officer relative to development and advertisement applications that he had dealt with using his delegated authority since the previous meeting.

RECEIVED.

Registered Plan No.: 13/00373/NMA

Proposal:- Non-material amendment under Section 96A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to planning permission reference 09/00302/FULL dated 28^th July 2009 and as amended by non-material amendment reference 12/00675/NMA dated 17th August 2012, to allow the marketing pavilion to remain in use (in connection with the Milton Court development) until 30 June 2013.

During discussion, reference was made to paragraph 28 of the report regarding the removal of the pavilion.  It was agreed that, should the pavilion not be removed by the 30^th June then the most appropriate enforcement action would be determined by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman under delegated authority.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the amendment to condition 1 of planning permission 09/00302/FULL, to enable the marketing pavilion to remain in place until 30^th June 2013, constitutes a non-material amendment to the original permission in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule; and

b)     delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee to agree enforcement proceedings if the pavilion was not removed by 30^th June 2013.

RESOLVED – That the application for Listed Building Consent in respect of Land at Moor Lane, Barbican be granted for the reasons set out in the schedule on pages 57 and 58 of the report.

Registered Plan No.: 13/00111/FULL

Proposal:- Demolition of the existing 1960’s extension to the building and the erection of a replacement three storey building for use as a cancer care facility (Class D1) with ancillary roof terrace and external landscaping.

The City Planning Officer informed Members that some additional letters of both objection and support had been received and had been tabled for Members consideration. 

The City Planning Officer detailed site and related information to Members.

Marcus Setchell, Peter Schmitt, Professor Gerald Libby and Wendy Mead spoke against the application and Peter Morris and Laura Lee were heard in reply.

During the discussion, reference was made to the following –

·       the modern visual appearance of the proposed development against the existing architecture.  Some Members considered there should have been other options to consider;

·       the historical significance of the site;

·       the impact the proposed development would have on the North Wing;

·       land ownership and confirmation that adequate notice of the planning application had been served, to which Members were informed it had;

·       provision of conveniences including DDA compliant facilities;

·       fire escape regulations;

·       landscaping, which Members noted would form part of a separate scheme and would be brought to the Committee for consideration, subject to this application being approved; and

·       the future use of the Great Hall, which Members were informed was not a matter for consideration as part of this application.

To summarise the debate, some Members supported the scheme and its principle, however, other Members considered there were still unresolved issues particularly in regard to the conservation and visual appearance of the proposal.

The Town Clerk reminded the Committee of the guidelines contained in the Planning Protocol around determinations contrary to recommendations of the City Planning Officer.  He advised that if the Committee were minded to refuse planning permission, then

RESOLVED – That further to the refusal of planning permission, this item be deferred.

RESOLVED – That further to the refusal of planning permission, this item be deferred.

Report of the City Remembrancer.

Consideration was given to a report of the City Remembrancer which summarised the main provisions of the Disabled Person’s Parking Badges Act 2013, which originated as a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Conservative MP, Simon Kirby.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding mechanisms for ensuring that the environmental impact of development was mitigated as far as is practicable through planning conditions, and the principles set out in the City’s Code of Practice for Destructions and Construction Sites (CoP).

RESOLVED – That,

i)                 the proposals set out in paragraphs 4 and 5, and the 7^th Edition of the Code of Practice (Appendix 2) be agreed; and

ii)                future iterations of the CoP, anticipated in eighteen months’ time, be consulted upon and subsequently agreed by your Committee.

Millennium Bridge Inclinator – A question was raised regarding the prolonged closure of the Millennium Bridge inclinator, and what steps were in hand to prevent a similar recurrence of failures.  The City Surveyor advised that certain parts of the Inclinator had been returned to the manufacturers to establish why the system had experienced a failure.  In respect of the guarantee arrangement with the manufacturer, the City Surveyor agreed to clarify with the Member following the meeting.

Redevelopment of Queensbridge House – An update was requested in respect of the proposed development of Queensbridge House, and in particular what were the contingency plans to complete the Riverside Walkway should the development continue to be delayed.  The City Surveyor confirmed that the developers was planning to start construction work on site in September 2013.

Vote of There were no items of urgent business.

Anne Pembroke paid tribute to Mr Martin Farr, the past Chairman.

RESOLVED - It was the sincere wish of the Members of the Planning and Transportation Committee to place on record their deep appreciation and thanks to

 
MARTIN CHARLES FARR

having decided not to seek re-election in March 2013, showed enthusiasm, integrity and professionalism through his Chairmanship of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

MARTIN FARR upheld the key role occupied by the Planning and Transportation Committee in ensuring that the Corporation's statutory role as a Planning Authority was efficiently and effectively carried out and, applied himself with equal vigour to the diverse transportation issues which had an impact on the world class commercial centre that comprised the Square Mile.

 
MARTIN FARR presided over meetings in a courteous manner, with leadership and vision and demonstrated a ready grasp of planning issues.  He oversaw major schemes which have strengthened the City’s position as the economic engine of the nation.

THE DECISIONS of the Planning Committee are self-evident throughout the City not just in terms of its built environment, but also its pleasant open spaces and, in terms of its overall ability to compete, to convince businesses and an increasing number of residents that the City is where they would be best located.

AND SO in taking leave of Martin Farr as their Chairman, Members of this Committee wish to thank him for his service and excellent leadership with which he has conducted the Committee's demanding agendas to decision and to wish him every possible success in the future.

Martin Farr responded, thanking the Committee for their kind words.

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.

Item No.                                              Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

            11                                                                                3

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 agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2013.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2013 be agreed.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.