Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Absolom, Henry Colthurst, Kevin Everett, George Gillon, Deputy Stanley Ginsburg, Vivienne Littlechild, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley and Mark Wheatley.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 13 May 2014.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2014 be agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Members were advised that a date for the start of the Ludgate Hill pedestrian crossing trial would be circulated once it had been finalised, along with a briefing note outlining the current situation.

To note the Wardmote resolution from the Ward of Broad Street.

The Committee received a Wardmote resolution from the Ward of Broad Street regarding concerning the level of noise and exhaust pollution local to Lothbury, and the written response from the Department of Markets and Consumer Protection.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that regulations against idle vehicles were being enforced by signage and Civil Enforcement Officers. The Environmental Health Officer added that the regulations were a deterrent to prevent exhaust pollution from idle vehicles; vehicles had to have been observed by an Officer for at least one minute and drivers had to have refused to shut down the engine before a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) could be issued.

RESOLVED – That the resolution from the Ward of Broad Street be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received the list of outstanding actions.

Light Pollution

Members were advised by the Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy that the City Corporation was not a regulatory body for light pollution but businesses should adhere to industry standards through built-in efficiency systems within their buildings.

The Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy advised that the City Corporation would focus on engaging with problem buildings to demonstrate best practice. He added that the Clean City Awards scheme could be used to score businesses energy consumption to reduce light pollution.

Street Trading

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that there were currently 53 convictions against unlicensed ice cream vans and one van had recently become the first to have been seized under the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1987 (as amended by the City of London (Various Powers) Act 2013).

RESOLVED – That the list of outstanding actions be noted.

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee received a report of the Remembrancer regarding the provisions in the Deregulation Bill that are most relevant to the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment, the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment, the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the Director of Open Spaces that compared the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee in 2013/14.

In response to a Member’s question, the Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy advised that the mild winter contributed towards the underspend in Street Cleansing due to, for example, a reduced amount of salt being used over the winter period.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment which set out the progress against the 2013/16 Business Plan and the Financial Outturn.

Members were advised that the 2013/14 year end outturn position for the Department of the Built Environment services covered by this Committee revealed a net underspend of £171,000. A bid had been made to carry forward much of this sum into 2014/15.

In response to a Member’s question, the Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy advised the Committee information regarding the nature of the TPR1 Key Performance Indicator (KPI) would be supplied to Members on request. The Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy reported that there would be an increase in the number of resident communication and engagement campaigns and events in the second half of the year following detailed analysis of recycling rates and identification of areas where recycling participation was lower.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding the appointment of a Director/Trustee to the Thames Estuary Partnership (TEP).

RESOLVED – That Members recommend to the Court of Common Council the appointment of Mr Nigel Challis CC as a Director/Trustee to the TEP.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding environmental screening and salmonella in imported animals. The report provided interim information about the most recent sampling results at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection in relation to air quality.

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised the Committee of the five key areas in the City Air Quality Strategy 2011-2015: taxis, Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ), traffic management, local energy generation, and public health. Members were also advised of the joint air quality event with the Greater London Authority (GLA) at Mansion House on 29 July 2014 and the planned autumn air quality conference, which would involve representatives from all London boroughs.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the concentration of PM10 on Beech Street, the Environmental Health Officer advised that the additional street washing to reduce levels would continue. Street washing would be considered in other highly pedestrianised and monitored areas.

In response to Members’ questions regarding taxis, the Environmental Health Officer advised that new taxis registered with Transport for London (TFL) would be zero emission-capable from 2018 and some private mini-cab firms already had new green-standard vehicles, which supported the strategy of low and zero emission taxis in the City.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the traffic management objective to reduce the negative impact of commercial vehicles, the Environmental Health Officer advised that initiatives such as the City Air Business Engagement programme, the Sustainable City Awards and Clean City Awards were in place to encourage best practice and reward compliant businesses.

RESOLVED – That the actions being taken to address poor air quality in the City and the five key areas that have been identified for inclusion in the revised Air Quality Strategy, be approved.

There were none.

There was none.

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 ground 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 13 May 2014.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2014 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environmental Health regarding a write-off of bad debt.

There were none.

There was none.