Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms 3 & 4 - 2nd Floor, West Wing, Guildhall. View directions

Contact: Antoinette Duhaney, 020 7332 1408,  Email: antoinette.duhaney@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Matthew Bell, Nicholas Bensted-Smith, Michael Hudson, Alderman Bronek Masojada, John Petrie, Ian Seaton, Deputy Tom Sleigh and Deputy Philip Woodhouse.

 

The Chairman welcomed John Edwards, Deputy Philip Woodhouse and Dawn Wright as new Members on the Committee.

 

 

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

2.

Members' declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

Gregory Lawrence declared an interest in agenda items 8, 9 & 10 on the grounds that he was a trader at Smithfield Market.

 

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

3.

Public Minutes pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 17.07.19

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 17.07.19 be approved as a correct record subject to Wendy Mead being added to the list of attendees.

 

 

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

4.

Brexit Planning (oral update)

The Director of Markets & Consumer Protection to be heard

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

Minutes:

The Director of Markets & Consumer Protection reported that discussions were ongoing with traders, relevant government departments and agencies, and via the Port Health Authority to minimise disruption to supply chains.

 

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

5.

Superintendent Updates

The Market Superintendents to be heard

 

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

Minutes:

Billingsgate – it was reported that

·       A recent traffic management assessment had made 71 recommendations which were being examined

·       Income of £68,000 had been generated by hosting a film crew for a TV documentary

·       Traders were appreciative of the recent Committee visit

·       Members were invited to the Billingsgate Harvest Fish Festival to take place on 13th October 2019 and the Chairman requested that further details be circulated to Members

 

New Spitalfieds - it was reported that

·       Debt collection rates had improved and further details on the reasons were set out in agenda item 19, Markets Debt arrears.

·       The Superintendent was leaving this role and following his departure, Debbie Howard would provide interim cover.

 

The Committee wished the Superintendent well in his new role.

 

Smithfield – it was reported that

·       Sprinkler replacement work was in progress and due for completion in November 2019

·       A recent HGV Audit of 99 deliveries had identified one concern in respect of compliance

·       8,500 visitors had attended the Smithfield Market Street Festival on 25th August 2019.  Staff at the Museum of London were commended for organising a successful event which had generated no complaints.

 

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

6.

Markets Business Plan and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Update Period 1 - 2019/20 (April - July) pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection providing an update on progress for Period 1 (April - July 2019) against KPIs and objectives outlined in the Markets’ Business Plan.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

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

7.

Markets Committee Risk pdf icon PDF 246 KB

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection in respect of risk management procedures to meet the requirements of the Risk Management Framework.

 

Members requested that the risks in respect of the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations were adequately reflected in the risk register.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

 

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

8.

Smithfield Market Car Park Utilisation: February - July 2019 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection in respect of the utilisation of Smithfield Market Car Park for the six month period from February - July 2019.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

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

9.

Concessionary Parking at Smithfield Market during the Christmas Period 2019 pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Report of the Superintendent, Smithfield Market

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection requesting concessionary parking at Smithfield Market over the Christmas season.

 

Members noted that Officers were recommending Option B - 9 days/nights of concessions rather than concessions for the whole of December which had been requested by the Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association (SMTA). 

 

Members accepted the justification put forward by officers that Option B would allow concessionary rates during the busiest pre-Christmas trading period whilst supporting implementation of the Traffic Management Plan to improve traffic flow around the Market and associated arterial roads.  The reduced period of concessionary parking would also go some way to off-setting the cost of additional traffic management measures over the concessionary period.

 

RESOLVED – That concessionary parking from 9pm on Sunday 15 December until 10am on Tuesday 24 December 2019 (9 days/nights) be agreed.

 

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

10.

City’s Wholesale Markets – Consolidation Programme Update pdf icon PDF 171 KB

Joint report of the City Surveyor & Director of Major Projects

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of Major Projects, Town Clerks, updating the Committee on the work of the Markets Consolidation Programme.  Officers advised that the appointment of a Markets Coordinator had provided a daily presence on the markets and facilitated greater engagement with tenants. 

 

In response to comments and questions from Members, Officers stated that

 

·         Most of the tenant engagement had taken place via the Markets Tenants Associations rather than direct with tenants.

·         A tenant engagement meeting for Smithfield Market would take place in October/November 2019.

·         Customer engagement was via the website and stakeholder groups as officers had no direct access to customer data.

·         The Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee was in a dialogue with TfL in respect of the A13 and Homes England was supporting efforts to get landowners together to release sites.

·         Initial traffic modelling had been undertaken to get an appreciation of the impact on A13 and nearby road networks and it was expected that the wider strategy for A13 improvements would underpin the Private Bill.

·         A report on the learning from visits to large wholesale markets abroad and identifying synergies would be presented to the Policy & Resources Committee in November 2019.

·         Thus far 42 acres of land had been purchased and a site acquisition strategy would identify a further 30-40 acres.

·         Two Member Oversight Groups were being established to support the MCP to

a) consider the future of existing market sites and

b) consider the development of the new market. 

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes:

·         The progress of the Markets Consolidation Programme in developing requirements, particularly the growing interaction with tenants, customers and suppliers at all three markets;

 

·         The initial feedback from the public consultation and the ongoing engagement with tenants;

 

·         The establishment of the new

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

11.

Energy Costs Update pdf icon PDF 287 KB

Report of the City Surveyor

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor on energy costs and forward strategies to deliver the most economically advantageous terms by forward buying energy.

 

In response to questions from Members, Officers stated that energy efficiency initiatives at Smithfield Markets had achieved energy savings of £200k pa and the scope for delivering further energy savings were being explored.  The energy team are presently undertaking a tender exercise to forward buy 50% of the Corporations electricity supply through a Power Purchase Agreement (a long-term electricity supply agreement) toprovide cost certainty and long-term reduced commodity cost.

 

The Committee was concerned that all reasonable steps should be taken to mitigate against increasing energy costs for traders and agreed that a letter be sent to market traders explaining the actions being taken by the Corporation of London to reduce energy consumption and energy costs.  It was also suggested that Officers engage with Tenants Associations and report back to the next meeting on proposals to further reduce energy costs and energy consumption taking into consideration the views of traders.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)   That the report be noted.

 

(2)   That all reasonable steps should be taken to mitigate against increasing energy costs for traders and agreed

 

(3)   That a letter be sent to market traders explaining the actions being taken by the Corporation of London to reduce energy consumption and energy costs.

 

(4)   That Officers engage with Tenants Associations and report back to the next meeting on proposals to further reduce energy costs and energy consumption taking into consideration the views of traders.

 

 

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

12.

West Smithfield and Charterhouse Street (Thameslink) Bridges Remedial Works (Gateway 5) pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment outlining remedial work proposed to West Smithfield and Charterhouse Street (Thameslink) bridges.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

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

13.

Pipe Subways of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill over Thameslink (Gateway 4) pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment outlining work proposed to pipe subways at Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

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

14.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

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

15.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

Strategic Review Meetings – The Chairman reported that the previous two Strategic Review Meetings had been cancelled so the Committee Chairman and Deputy Chairman not been consulted, despite statements to the contrary.  The Chairman was hopeful that a Strategic Review Meeting would take place in the near future.

 

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

16.

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 16.

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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

 

Items

Paragraph

 

17 - 22

3

 

 

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

17.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 17.07.19.

 

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 17.07.19 be approved as a correct record subject to the insertion of “be noted” at the end of resolution 1 on page 57 of the agenda pack.

 

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

18.

Markets Debt Arrears - Period Ending 31.07.19

Report of the Director of Markets & consumer Protection

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection in respect of arrears of invoiced income for the period ending 31 July 2019.

 

 

 

 

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

19.

Tenancies at Will and Assignments

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection regarding Tenancies at Will and Lease Assignments at the Corporation of London’s Wholesale Markets.

 

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

20.

Proposed Animal Rebellion Protest at Smithfield Market (oral update)

The Director of Markets & Consumer Protection to be heard

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered an oral report from the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection in respect of planned protests by Extinction Rebellion from 7th October 2019 for two weeks.

 

 

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

21.

Non-Public Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 

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

22.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent and which the Committee Agree Should be Considered Whilst the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

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