Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Oliver Sells QC, Alderman Alison Gowman, and Deputy Clare James.

Apologies for lateness were also received from the Chairman who was having transport difficulties, Jeremy Simons, the most senior Member present, took the chair until he arrived.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 20 June 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 June were agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising

In response to a question concerning the rerouting of a large gas main through Tudor Street, officers advised that they would be fully engaged throughout the process.

Report of the Town Clerk.

RESOLVED  - That the list of outstanding references be noted and updated as appropriate.

London Wall Place

Officers advised that a report would be coming to the Sub-Committee after recess once assurance on technical compliance had been received.

A Member questioned whether it might be possible to name one of the high walks after John Barker and officers undertook to report back on the process for doing this.

The Sub-Committee considered an issue report of the Director of Built Environment concerning the detailed design works for the public realm enhancements on Farringdon Street, Stone Cutter Street, Shoe Lane and Plumtree Court, as part of Phase 2 of the Shoe Lane Quarter project.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an increase in the Section 278 works budget of £280k to allow the placing of the order for security bollards and the commencement of enabling works for the steps and retaining wall on Stonecutter Street.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Built Environment concerning improvement works to the public highway around 10 Fenchurch Street following concerns expressed by officers about the depth of the footway and other matters.

RESOLVED – that approval be given to the following:-

1.    The implementation of the Section 278 highway works with an estimated total cost of £541,308 as listed in the design summary in the main report and shown in the General Arrangement drawing (appendix 1);

2.    The adoption of the new areas of public highway created as part of the development despite it not meeting the City standards;

3.    The proposal for the developer’s own contractors to construct the central passageway;

4.    It be noted that the central passageway might need to be designated as a Street of Special Engineering Difficulty;

5.    The Director of the Built Environment in conjunction with the Chamberlain’s Head of Finance be authorised to approve any adjustments between elements of the approved budget, provided the total approved budget of £541,308 is not exceeded;

6.    Officers be authorised to seek relevant regulatory and statutory consents, orders and approvals as might be required to progress and implement the scheme (e.g. traffic orders); and

7.    The commencement of the Section 278 works be dependent upon full funding being first received from the developer.

The Sub-Committee considered an issue report of the Director of Built Environment concerning the provision of a pedestrian crossing in Leadenhall Street and the Lime Street (Scalpel) development.

RESOLVED – that approval be given to:-

1.         combining the Leadenhall Street Pedestrian Improvement Project and the 52-54 Lime Street Section 278 Highway Works to enable them to be progressed to Gateway4/5 as a single coherent package, with a revised total estimated cost of £218,108;

2.         the progression of the combined project on the light track approval route with Gateway 5 sign-off delegated to the chief officer subject to no changes to the total cost, specification or programme; and

3.         the approval of any changes to the total cost or specification being delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Projects and Streets & Walkways Sub-Committees.

The Sub-Committee considered a joint outline options appraisal report of the Director of Built Environment and the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection concerning improvements to the operation of Petticoat Lane Market and realm enhancements to  the central section of Middlesex Street between Sandys Row and St Botolph Street.

RESOLVED – that the objectives set out in appendix 1 (the schedule objectives) of the report be approved and that:-

1.      A budget of £1100k be approved to progress the project to Gateway 4; and

2.      Officers be authorised to review the legal implications of the proposals, including examining any relevant bye, legislative requirements and highways and planning provisions.

The Sub-Committee considered an outline options appraisal report of the Director of Built Environment concerning works to improve the public realm areas and security in and around the 22 Bishopsgate development (formerly known as ‘The Pinnacle’).

Reference was made to servicing and consolidation measures and officers agreed to report back on this.

RESOLVED – that the objectives set out in appendix 2 (the schedule objectives) of the report be approved and that:-

1.      A budget of £150k be approved to progress the project to Gateway 4; and

2.      Officers be authorised, in conjunction with the Comptroller and City Solicitor, to progress and sign the s278 agreement with the developer.

The Sub-Committee considered a progress report of the Director of Built Environment concerning Aldgate Highway Changes & Public Realm Enhancement project.

The Sub-Committee noted that sufficient S106 resources for the project had yet to be identified and that in the interim costs were being underwritten from the On Street Parking Reserve.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor highlighting a number of issues relating to the Aldgate Pavilion works.

RESOLVED – approval be given to the following

1.     An increase of £318,926 in the Aldgate Pavilion project sum, comprising £267,702 for the Kier contract and £51,224 in fees and staff costs, making a revised total of £4,337,188. The additional cost to be met by savings in the Aldgate Highway Changes and Public Realm Enhancement Project;

2.     An increase in the Kier contract sum of £410,487 for construction issues and mitigation measures, of which £267,702 was included within the above increase to the Pavilion budget and the remaining £142,785 contained within the existing budget for the main AHCPRE project;

3.     Note the new key programme milestones; Pavilion opening in December 2017 with the remaining Aldgate Square (part of the Aldgate Highway Changes & Public Realm Enhancement project) completing in March 2018; and

4.     The realignment of works and fees budget to capture project costs accurately be noted.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment presenting the draft Freight and Servicing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Equality Analysis.

The SPD had been produced to provide additional guidance on the interpretation of policies in the City of London Local Plan in relation to freight and servicing movements.  The SPD sets out potential measures for managing freight through minimising trips, matching freight demand to network capacity, and mitigating the impact of essential freight trips. RESOLVED – approval be given to the following

RESOLVED – That the draft SPD and SEA be approved for public consultation.

Appendices 1,2 and 3 will be circulated separately electronically and colour copies will available at the meeting.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment which provided an update on the work carried out to date on the preparation of an area enhancement strategy for the public realm in the Eastern City Cluster (ECC).

Members noted that additional funding had been secured from Transport for London 2017-2018 LIP contribution (£100,000), and it was proposed to utilise a further £158,000 from the Section 106 Contribution from the Pinnacle development to complete the Strategy.

RESOLVED - That

1.         The content of the update report and associated supporting information attached in appendix 1 and 2 be noted; and

2.         Additional funding of £158,000 from the Section 106 contribution connected to the Pinnacle development to finalise the area strategy be approved.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning Tarmac’s purchase of JB Riney.

Members noted that representatives of Tarmac had made it clear that although Riney would be operating as part Tarmac’s highways services arm, Riney would continue to trade as usual, retaining the company name, management team, corporate identity and branding.

Officers reported that both companies were doing all they could to reassure the City that the contract would continue to its previous high delivery standards and the high quality services provided to the City of London would continue to be delivered.

The Chairman reported that he was due to be formally introduced to the Tarmac team that afternoon allowing him the opportunity to emphasise the importance of this contract continuing to operate to its previous high standards.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive any update.

The Sub-Committee received a verbal update on the Tudor Street mitigation measures.

Officers reported that there had been no meaningful progress since the last update and while there was one viable option, this would be expensive and TfL would be likely to require a contribution towards it.

A member questioned what the real issue was at Tudor Street and how much officer time had been spent trying to resolve issues that appeared only to be driven by the Temple and not other stakeholders.

Officers advised that a full report was being drafted for a number of committees which would include this detail.

There were no items of urgent business.

Bollards/Bakers Hall Court

A Member asked if skinny bollards could be installed in order to stop delivery vehicles mounting pavements.

Yellow Bikes

A Member asked what could be done about the number of yellow bikes being dumped around the City.

Members advised that a number of bikes schemes had been opening around the City which were like ‘Uber’ for bikes instead of taxis. A report was being prepared for a number of Committees in relation to the problem but essentially any bikes dumped illegally could be removed.

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 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.

To agree the non-public Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2017.

That the non-public minutes of 20 June be agreed as a correct record.

The Sub-Committee considered and agreed an issue report of the Director of Built Environment concerning the provision of additional security measures at the London Wall Place.

The non-public questions were noted.

With the prior approval of the Chairman, officers provided an update on the increased security measures being introduced in the City of London.