Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Jeremy Simons, Alex Bain-Stewart, Brian Harris, Oliver Lodge and Deputy Michael Welbank.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 9 June 2014.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 June, 2014 be approved.

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.

To receive a joint presentation from the Assistant Director and Transport for London.

The Sub Committee received a presentation from representatives from Transport for London in respect of the proposals for the East-West and North-South Cycle Routes.

RESOLVED – That the public be invited back into the meeting.

Assistant Director, Environmental Enhancement to be heard.

The Assistant Director, Environmental Enhancement informed the Sub Committee of a slight change in scope to adjust the design and construction of the drainage/irrigation on the Riverside Walk (Millennium Bridge) site as result of ground contamination.

The Assistant Highways Director informed the Sub Committee that work on the Millennium Bridge Area would commence in July 2014 once the School had closed for the summer.

RERSOLVED – That the change to the scope of the project be noted.

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered which set out a proposed change to the Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy boundary and outlined the planned public consultation exercise on its review.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director, Environmental Enhancement provided assurance the consultation for this project would be coordinated with that of the Barbican Area Strategy.  It was noted that clear branding would be thought up to differentiate between the two consultations.

Page 17 of the report showed a plan of key public realm enhancement opportunities and it was agreed that an update would be provided to the next meeting in relation to courtesy crossings on Gresham Street.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the scope of the Cheapside Area Enhancement Strategy to include the Guildhall area be extended;

b)    additional resources of £20,761 be approved to carry out the consultation and finalise the strategy document £11,000 (fees) and £9,761 (staff costs) to be funded from the Section 106 agreement connected to the redevelopment of 100 Cheapside;

c)    the public consultation on the Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy be agreed to take place over autumn 2014;

d)    authority be delegated to the Director of the Built Environment to finalise the details of the relevant consultation materials in liaison with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee.

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered which provided an update in relation to the Road Danger Reduction in the Shoe Lane area (Stonecutter Street and Little New Street).9

RESOLVED – That,

a)    lessons learnt be noted from the previous report (Appendix C) and the project be closed; and

b)    the unspent balance be returned to the developer as per the conditions of the Section 278 agreement.

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered regarding the Fleet Buildings and Plumtree Court Highway Improvements.

The Sub Committee commented on the importance of ensuring that consideration is given to maintenance costs and ensuring the materials used for the highway provide top level safety.

RESOLVED –That,

a)    Option 1 at a cost of £250,000 be approved as outlined in the report and progression to the detailed design stage (Gateway 4) subject to the S106 contribution from the Fleet Buildings & Plumtree Court development being received (£1,636,475);

b)    the merging of the approved S106 Highways option with the S278 Security & Public Realm proposals be approved and both elements of the project be reported back to Members as a single project via a Gateway 4 report; and

c)    Delegated authority be given to the Director of the Built Environment and Head of Finance to adjust the budget between the elements listed in the fees, staff costs, and between the two (as indicated above), once more robust estimates have been established over the course of the detailed design stage.

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered in relation to the Barts Close public realm enhancements.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    The detailed options be developed in line with the project objectives set out in Appendix 1, at an estimated cost of £75,000 (staff costs), subject to prior receipt of written confirmation by the developer of Bart’s Close that such costs will be met through early payment of the Section 106 contribution in respect of the further Public Realm Works sum; and

b)    the Comptroller & City Solicitor be authorised to enter in to any necessary arrangements and/or agreements to secure the early payment (if required).

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered regarding the Crossrail Integration at Liverpool Street.

RESOLVED – That approval be given for,

a)    £115,000 to allow for design proposals to be progressed in line with the project funding estimates as set out in Table 1; and

b)    decision making authority over the Gateway 4 (stage 1) report to be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub-committee.

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered regarding the off-site works at 2 – 6 Cannon Street.

The Sub Committee noted the following correction on Page 35 of the report –

“PRE will carry out and complete the on-site physical improvements within property line, in accordance with landscaping planning conditions.  PRE and COL have agreed to work in partnership to deliver the off-site physical improvements.”

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the project continuing to the next gateway, subject to receipt of funding from the developer.

At this point, the time limit for Committee meetings as set out in Standing Order No 40 had been reached, but there being a two-thirds majority of the Committee present who voted in favour of an extension, the Committee agreed to continue the meeting.

A report of the Director of the Built Environment was considered regarding S278 works at 125 Wood Street.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the footway paving material surrounding the 125 Wood Street building be upgraded to York stone; 

b)    Officers be authorised to negotiate the necessary legal agreements in order for the developer to pay the full costs of this upgrade, with the highways works being undertaken by the City’s Term Contractor; and

c)    Officers be authorised to seek funding to upgrade with York stone the remaining section of Wood Street that is currently finished in mastic asphalt. When a suitable funding source has been identified, the decision to proceed with these works should be delegated to the Director of the Department of the Built Environment.

Storage Cabins on St Mary’s Axe – Further to a question, the Assistant Highways Director advised that the storage cabins were part of the work to complete the Bury Court Scheme and for site welfare to work on Leadenhall Street.  The cabins were due to be removed to a safer location.

Bank By-Pass Walking Routes project

The Assistant Director, Environmental Enhancement informed the Sub Committee that Officers were currently developing detailed design options and are at Gateway 4 of the Project Approval Procedure for the Bank By-Pass.  The Transport for London (TfL) funding for the project was time-bound and must be spent by 31 March.  In addition, the consultation on the design with local occupiers has just been completed and the Gateway 4 report was now being prepared.

In order to maintain the programme, Gateway 4 approvals need to be sought by September 2014.  Members noted that Officers intended to submit the Gateway 4 report to Projects Sub Committee at their 2^nd September meeting and this was by way of a request for agreement to delegate authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Sub Committee the to approve the Gateway 4 report.

RESOLVED – That delegated authority be given to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Sub Committer to approve the Gateway 4 report in relation to the Bank By-Pass Walking Routes project.

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 as follows:-

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.

To agree the non-public Minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2014.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2014 be approved.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.