Agenda and minutes

Venue: VIRTUAL MEETING – ACCESSIBLE REMOTELY

Contact: Rofikul Islam Tel. No: 020 7332 1174  Email: Rofikul.islam@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Peter Bennett.

 

Vivienne Littlechild(Senior Commoner) moved that Alderman Sir Roger Gifford take the Chair.

 

 ...  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.

 

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

3.

Order of the Court of Common Council pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To note the Order of the Court of Common Council of Thursday 16 July 2020 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received the Order of the Court of Common Council of Thursday 16 July 2020, appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference

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

4.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

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

Minutes:

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. A list of Members eligible to stand was read and Deputy Keith Bottomley, being the only Member expressing willingness to serve, was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

 

The Chairman welcomed both new and returning Members to the Committee and thanked those Members who are no longer on the Committee for their service. Furthermore, upon taking the Chair, the Chairman read out the vote of thanks to the outgoing Chairman of the Committee.

 

Vote of Thanks: at this point in the proceedings, the Chairman delivered a Vote of Thanks to the immediate past Chairman.

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That - at the conclusion of his three year term of office as their Chairman, of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, the Committee wish to extend to:

 

Jeremy Lewis Simons

 

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the manner in which he has presided over their deliberations and the detailed care and interest he has shown in all aspects of the work of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee.

 

During his Chairmanship, Jeremy has been a real champion for air quality. He has made himself available to attend numerous events and has always been incredibly polite, helpful and constructive. Achievements have included the low emission neighbourhood in the north of the City with its pop-up garden, no idling initiatives, pioneering work to reduce pollution levels at the City’s primary school, the City’s Emissions Reduction Bill now progressing through parliament and the Capital’s first zero-emissions street. He is a real asset to the City Corporation and the Air Quality Team has appreciated his unwavering support and good humour.

 

Jeremy was responsible for the City of London Corporation becoming a signatory to the Royal Foundation of the Duke and

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

5.

Election of Deputy Chairman

The immediate past Chairman intends to exercise his right under Standing Order No. 30. (3) (a) to serve in this position for the ensuing year and as such there shall be no election for this.

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

Minutes:

The immediate past Chairman exercised his right under Standing Order No. 30. (3) (a) to serve in the position of the Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year and as such there was no election for the post of the Deputy Chairman.

 

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

6.

Election of one Member to the Streets and Walkways Committee

To appoint a representative on the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee sought to appoint a representative to the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee. No Members present expressed their willingness to serve.

 

The Chairman advised the Committee that he would write to Christopher Hill, the current representative, to ascertain whether he was willing to continue to serve as the Committee’s representative on the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee.

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

7.

Election of one Member to the Thames Estuary Partnership

To appoint a representative on the Thames Estuary Partnership.

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

Minutes:

The Committee proceeded to appoint a representative on the Thames Estuary Partnership. John Edwards, a past Member of the Committee, being the only Member expressing his willingness to serve was appointed for the ensuing year.

 

 

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

8.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 164 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on Tuesday, 3 March 2020.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the Public Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 3 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

 

 

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

9.

Outstanding Actions pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the current list of outstanding actions:

 

Garden Waste Recycling

Members were informed that Garden Waste Recycling had been postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,Officers undertook to reconsider the way forward in January 2021 and update Members accordingly.

 

Measurement and mitigation options for operational rail noise from London Underground affecting the Barbican Estate

Officers reported that a number of LUL’s (London Underground Limited) current projects have been postponed due to the ongoing uncertainty following the COVID-19 pandemic and that the long-term financial package for TfL had yet to be agreed by the Government.

 

This would directly affect the proposed rail noise mitigations under the Barbican Estate as follows –

 

• The new timetable has been deferred until March 2021

which in turn has deferred the introduction of a

Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR).

• The proposed mitigation works to the Brandon Mews

points and crossing have also been put on hold until

the financial position is clearer.

 

An update will be provided once the financial position for TfL is confirmed, Officers hoped to be able to provide this to the Committee at their meeting in November 2020.

 

Historic drinking fountains and pumps

Members were advised that the historic drinking fountains and pumps could be removed from the list of outstanding actions, as they cannot be brought back into use again.

 

 

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

10.

Update on the impact of the UK leaving the EU (Brexit) on Port Health & Public Protection pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Report of the Director of Consumer Protection and Markets Operations.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection on the update of the impact of the UK leaving the EU (Brexit) on Port Health & Public Protection.

 

The Committee was informed that the United Kingdom (UK) had left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 and that the country was currently in a transition period until the end of 2020. During the transition period, arrangements and controls at the UK border would not change.

 

The Committee was further informed that there will be a phased introduction of controls at the border for imports from the EU.  From January 2021this will include checks associated with live animals, organics and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.  Checks on high risk food and feed both of animal origin and non-animal origin will commence in April 2021.  The City of London is waiting for confirmation of the level and frequency of checks that will be required on EU imports.  Current border controls for products imported into the UK from outside of the EU will remain unchanged.   The City of London needed to be prepared for all eventualities and, as a result, had made a number of funding bids including to the Food Standards Agency for staffing resources.  

 

Additionally, the Committee were informed that the Government wanted to establish a number of freeports, which have different customs rules to the rest of the country, that are innovative hubs, boost global trade, attract inward investment and increase productivity. In doing so, the Government wants freeports to generate employment opportunities to the benefit of some of our most deprived communities around the UK.

 

A Member queried if there was a legal view on the World Trade Organization rules for EU goods coming into the UK. Officers advised the Committee that the Government would

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

11.

Air Quality Annual Status Report pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection on the Air Quality Annual Status Report.

 

The Committee was advised that since 2019, air quality had improved in the City of London; The Deputy Chairman thanked the Air Quality team on their efforts around successfully lowering the air pollution within the City of London.

 

A Member noted that areas around the Barbican benefited a lot more in terms of the air quality improvement in comparison to other areas within the City. Officers advised the Committee that this was due to the fact that the Barbican area is situated in a backstreet with less traffic.

 

A Member mentioned that the Green Finance Institute had published a new report around this, and that the Committee might   benefit from a presentation from the Green Finance Institute in due course. The Chairman agreed that a presentation should be arranged going forward.

 

RESOLVED Members noted the content of the 2019 Air Quality Annual Status Report.

 

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

12.

Cemetery & Crematorium Performance 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 426 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Cemetery & Crematorium Performance 2020/2021.

 

The Committee was advised that the report title referring to 2018/19 was an error, however the content of the report accurately reflected the Cemetery & Crematorium Performance 2020/21.

 

RESOLVED Members noted the content of the report.

 

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

13.

Cemetery & Crematorium Risk Management pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Report of the Director Open Spaces.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Cemetery & Crematorium Risk Management.

 

RESOLVED Members noted the report and approved the divisional risk register outlined in the report and at Appendix 2.

 

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

14.

The Commercial Environmental Health Team Service Plan 2020-2021 & The London Port Health Authority Food Service Enforcement Plan 2020-2021 pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection on the Commercial Environmental Health Team Service Plan 2020-2021 and the London Port Health Authority Food Service Enforcement Plan 2020-2021.

 

The Assistant Director (Public Protection) apologised to the Committee for a drafting error on page 149 of the pack when the figures for last year’s Food Standards work were omitted from the Commercial Environmental Health Service Plan. Members were advised that those figures are available and would be included in the final version to be published on the City of London’s website.

 

Furthermore, Members were advised that the Commercial Environmental Health Service Plan was noticeably different from previous years in that it was borne out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the various lockdown restrictions surrounding it.

 

The plan is configured around a 3-stage approach for which there were originally no dates, - these only emerged as the pandemic grew and national measures were introduced.

 

The 3-stage approaches are as follows:

 

Stage 1: Initial monitoring of businesses and activities posing the highest risks.

All planned food hygiene and food standards inspections were stopped nationally at the direction of the Food Standards Agency as priority was given to COVID-19 related advisory work and other urgent reactive work.

 

City of London Officers also checked-up on cooling tower sites to ensure that they continued to be managed safely to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella sp. bacteria, the cause of Legionnaires disease. 

 

Stage 2:  Moving towards recovery

The Commercial Environmental Health Team have been supporting City businesses to recover from the effects of the pandemic and the team provides advice to City businesses on a wide range of Food Safety, Health & Safety, Pest Control and general trading matters, linking up with City of London in Trading Standards, Licensing and Pollution

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

15.

Update on the temporary alterations to Cleansing Service activities in response to Covid-19 pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment on the update on the temporary alterations to Cleansing Service activities in response to Covid-19.

 

The report outlines the action the Department had taken since the outbreak of COVID-19. The Committee was informed that the main priority of the Department at present was to ensure the safety of the public and City of London staff. Members were informed that the Department is working on ensuring that its priorities are maintained, and the service level has been adjusted. 

 

The Committee was further informed that the City’s water refill points remained out of service, as did a number of other services, such as the internal collection of bulk items from residential properties and the garden waste recycle trial.

 

The Assistant Director - Cleansing Operations and Street Environment  - advised the Committee that the Department was looking at the  re-opening  of the City’s four automatic public conveniences along with attended conveniences at Tower Hill and Paternoster Square opening first, with the intentions to open the Royal Exchange on a later date, if it is safe to do so. Members were advised that, at present, it was not considered safe to open the attended public convenience at Eastcheap.

 

A Member stated that the COVID-19 pandemic now seemed to be a long-term issue, and questioned whether this, coupled with the City’s working population decreasing, would impact on the Department’s budget.  The Assistant Director - Cleansing Operations and Street Environment - advised the Committee that, as part of the cost savings the Department were no longer using any agency staff for the Cleansing Contract.

 

The Chairman thanked the team for their handwork during this difficult time.

 

RESOLVED Members noted the content of the report.

 

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

16.

City water refill points pdf icon PDF 629 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 on the update of the City Water Refill Points.

 

Members were informed that a huge amount of work had gone into the City’s Water Refill Points, with the Department looking at future KPI’s being included in the Department of the Built Environment’s business plan. At present, the water refill points remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers from the City of London are working with their counter parts across London to ensure that the water refill points are only reopened when it is safe for staff and members of the public.

 

A Member asked if the Department intended to install smart water meters at the water refill points where there are no smart meters at present. Officers assured the Committee that the plan is to ensure that all the City of London’s water refill points have a smart reader, however, the installation of these had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Another Member commented that coffee outlets in the City were not accepting customers’ own reusable mugs and thus having to use single use plastic cups, he asked what impact this was having on the plastic free use of particles. Officers commented that the City of London would engage with local businesses on matters such as these as soon as possible after the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

RESOLVED Members noted the content of the report.

 

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

17.

Licensed Street Trading update pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection on the Street Trading Fees 2020/21.

 

 RESOLVED Members agreed the proposed fees for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 1. 

 

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

18.

Massage & Special Treatment Licence Fees 2020/21 (Reduction for COVID-19 restrictions) pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection on the Massage & Special Treatment Licence Fees 2020/21 (Reduction for COVID-19 restrictions).

 

RESOLVED – Members agreed the proposed reduction of fees for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 2 (column two).

 

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

19.

Revenue Outturn 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 125 KB

The joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment, the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection and the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment, the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection and the Director of Open Spaces on the Revenue Outturn 2019/20.

 

RESOLVED – Members noted the report, the proposed carry forward of local risk underspending, and the carry forward of local risk overspendings to 2020/21.

 

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

20.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

River Pollution

A Member asked what actions were being taken by the City of London in light of the pollution to the river, as due to COVID-19, there had been an increase of PPE including masks, gloves and wet wipes being thrown into the river.

 

Officers advised the Committee that London Councils were working to address this and that the City of London was working collaboratively with them on this matter. Members were informed that the City of London had asked London Councils to lobby TfL to provide information to commuters and increase awareness via their public announcement systems.

 

 

 

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

21.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent

Any items of business that the Chairman may decide are urgent.

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

Minutes:

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

 

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

22.

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 22.

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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 Item no                                  Para no

23                                            3

24                                            3, 5 & 7

25                                            3

26                                            3

27                                                 3

 

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

23.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 3 March 2020.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the non public minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 3 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

 

 

 

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

24.

Port Health and Environmental Services Debtors - Period Ending 31 March 2020

The joint report of the Director of the Built Environment, the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee received the joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment, the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection and the Director of Open Spaces on the Port Health and Environmental Services Debtors Period Ending 31 March 2020.

 

 

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

25.

Maintenance contract for four Urilift (pop-up toilets) in the City

Report Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 25.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment on the Maintenance contract for four Urilift (pop-up toilets) in the City.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

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

Minutes:

Members raised questions regarding the use of face masks and the Climate Change Strategy.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

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

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.