Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Natasha Dogra  Email: natasha.dogra@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Jeremy Simons, Karina Dostalova and Michael Welbank.

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

2.

Members' Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

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

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 127 KB

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

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

Minutes:

Resolved – that the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record.

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

4.

Open Spaces Departmental Risk Register pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the way that risks are

presented using the departmental summary risk register alongside the divisional risk

registers. Officers believe this is because the current departmental summary risk

register does not provide sufficient detail. The report outlines alternative options for

the presentation of departmental risks. Members were asked to consider the options, and select one which can then be trialled.

 

The Open Spaces Department currently reports on risk using a summary

departmental risk register and divisional risk registers for each division. The

summary risk register represents the top 5 or 6 cross cutting or most serious

issues facing the department. These summary entries point to the detail

contained within the divisional risk registers. This approach has not been popular

with Members and so alternative presentations of risk are now presented for

Members to consider.

 

Recent discussions have identified two further risks which should be included on

our risk registers: historic landscapes and safeguarding. It has been identified

that a number of our historic landscapes and features could be at a risk of decline

or of further decline in their condition. Members noted that capital

projects are being considered to mitigate this risk. Safeguarding was not

previously included on the departmental risk register as it is reflected on the

corporate register. This is not felt to be a sufficient so it will be now added to the

departmental risk register. The Director is confident that the department is

managing this risk well having undertaken “train the trainer” session to prepare

staff in the Learning Team to deliver safeguarding training across the department.

This is in addition the online training available corporately. These risks will be

added to the revised risk register once the new format has been agreed by

Members. Members may also like to note

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

5.

Year 1 review of Learning in Open Spaces pdf icon PDF 265 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that Green Spaces, Learning Places, the Open Spaces Department’s new innovative learning programme, was launched in April 2016 and has reached over 45,000 children, young people and adults in the first year of delivery. This programme represents a key method for the City of London to contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents of some of London’s most deprived communities through connecting them more powerfully to their local green spaces.

The programme has achieved overwhelming success as highlighted in the first year

evaluation report. However, the future of the project remains at risk due

to uncertainty over the long term funding arrangements for the core areas of the

work.

 

Resolved – that Member received the report.

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

6.

Superintendent's update report pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

Members noted an update from the Superintendent of City Gardens in relation to activities taking places across various green spaces. The Committee noted that the budgets for both City Gardens and Bunhill Fields are in line with anticipated profile of expenditure for this time of year. Of the four Carry Forwards requested from the departmental City Fund underspend 2016/17, three were approved. Consequently improvement projects will take place this coming winter/spring at West Smithfield, Cleary and Tower Hill Gardens. The request for funding to undertake planting improvements at St. Dunstan’s in the-West was rejected.

 

City Gardens enjoyed a success in this year’s London in Bloom awards:

· City of London – Overall winner in the Town category (based on population

size)

· St Olave’s Churchyard, Hart Street – Gold and overall winner of Churchyard

of the year award.

· Beech Gardens, the Barbican Estate – won Gold in the Small Park/Garden

category

· St Dunstan in the East – also won Gold in the Small Park/Garden category.

 

Resolved – that the update be received.

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

7.

City Gardens Management Plan 2017-22 pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted a summary of the comments received during the recent

consultation process on the Management Plan (2017-22) for City Gardens.

Consultation lasted from May to July and included a broad range of stakeholders. All

comments received were supportive of the Draft Pan and some respondents

provided very specific feedback on certain issues, for example biodiversity or

sustainability. A table was produced listing the responses and

explaining where these comments have been included, if appropriate, in the revised

draft. Members approval was sought to adopt the attached final draft

document as the City Gardens Management Plan for the next 5 years.

 

The vision for the management plan is: “The creation of a network of high

quality and inspiring open spaces which helps ensure an attractive, healthy,

sustainable and socially cohesive place for the City’s communities and

visitors.”  To achieve this vision, the importance of working towards an agreed national standard for good practice in the management of parks and green spaces has been recognised.

 

It was drawn to Members’ attention that related documents and strategies were listed within the management plan.

 

Resolved – that Members adopt the attached draft Management Plan (2017-22) for City Gardens.

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

8.

Greening Cheapside: St. Paul's Tube Station Area and St. Peter Westcheap Churchyard Improvements pdf icon PDF 4 MB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

Members noted that Greening Cheapside project was identified as a high priority in the Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy (adopted by the City in 2015) with the objective of enhancing greening and re-landscaping in the area. This project was developed with the active support of the Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA) and the Diocese of London. They have been consulted on its development and are in support of the proposals outlined in this report. The CBA has also contributed financially to the project at Gateway 1 and 2 stage, and a further £100,000 contribution to deliver detailed designs for this next stage has been secured.

 

There are a number of current corporate priorities in the area which the project

would contribute to including improving connections into the emerging Culture

Mile and security of the City. Completed enhancements in the area include

improvements to the former St. Paul’s Churchyard coach park, Festival Gardens

and Carter Lane into accessible gardens, as well as the One New Change

shopping centre and 150 Cheapside developments.

 

A Gateway 1 and 2 report was approved by Committees in April 2016, and the

project proposes public realm enhancements to two sites: the area around St.

Paul’s tube station and the churchyard of St. Peter Westcheap (Wood Street) as

shown in the location plan in Appendix 1.The environs of St. Paul’s Tube station

is currently congested with poor wayfinding and movement throughout the site, as

well as a lack of seating within close vicinity of St. Paul’s conservation area. St.

Peter Westcheap is located on Wood Street and is populated primarily by

smokers and the associated detritus and smell of cigarette butts. It also contains

limited signage, planting and railings that are in need of restoration. In response to a query it was noted that the railings

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

9.

Senator House Garden Improvements pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that the City has entered into a licence agreement for the use of its Senator House Garden as access for a major refurbishment of Senator House. The agreement includes the closure of the garden for the works period, waterproofing of the City’s slab over the London Underground Ltd tunnel which runs under the

garden and the refurbishment of Senator House Garden following the

construction work. All the works are to be carried out at the expense of the

Senator House tenant, Legal & General.

 

The proposed works to Senator House Garden represent an improvement on

the previous garden and provide a high quality, accessible and welcoming

garden which is clearly identifiable as a public space provided by the City.

 

Resolved – that Members approve the detailed design of the proposals to improve Senator House Garden at no cost to the City of London Corporation.

 

Members were also invited to receive a presentation regarding the Churchyards Enhancement Programme, which was noted by the Committee.

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

10.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

A Member raised a query stating that when trees were planted in the pavements in Queenhithe Ward it was not possible to plant as many as was hoped because of the utilities beneath the pavements and walkways. Since then the cycle way has reduced Upper and Lower Thames Street to one lane in most places through the Ward and this, added to the reduction of traffic speed to 20 mph, has seriously affected air quality (and noise pollution) in access points to residential flats and at various points along the walkways. Residents were now getting restless at what appears to be a lack of real intention to 'green' the environment and it was a major issue at the recent Wardmote.

The Member felt it could harness the phrase in the City Together Strategy that the City was "contributing to a world class City that promotes and enhances our environment".

Officers did not have a detailed response to hand but agreed to provide the Member with a detailed answer via email.


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

11.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent and Which the Committee Agree Should Be Considered

Minutes:

The Committee were invited to consider the City of London Culture Strategy and submit any comments to the Town Clerk after the meeting,

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

12.

Exclusion of the Public

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business 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.

 

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972,

the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business 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.

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

13.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

 

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

Minutes:

Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.

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

14.

Bunhill Fields Heritage Lottery Fund project

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces

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

15.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There was one question.

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

16.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent and Which the Committee Agree Should Be Considered Whilst the Public Are Excluded

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

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