Agenda item

Application for Designation of the Still & Start Public House as an Asset of Community Value

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment in relation to the application for the designation of the Still & Star public house as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The report advised that within the City Corporation responsibility for the determination of ACV nominations had never been specifically delegated to a committee and therefore currently rested with the Policy & Resources Committee. However, the issues raised were considered relevant to the terms of reference of the Planning & Transportation Committee and as such the Committee was asked to consider the evidence and provide advice to Policy & Resources Committee for determination.

Members considered the information put forward in the nomination from the Campaign for Real Ale, comments submitted in objection to a wider office-led redevelopment scheme for Aldgate Bus Station which would impact on the Still & Star, the participation of the Still & Star at City Corporation annual Community Fair events, and comments from the building’s owners.

The Committee debated the evidence presented but did not consider that the Still & Star met either of the required tests for designation as an ACV for the following reasons:

a)     Members did not consider that the pub furthered the social interests and wellbeing of the local community. The lack of engagement and support from the local resident community was considered to be important. Although a significant number of objections had been received to the demolition of the pub as part of a wider office-led redevelopment, it was felt that few of these objectors had a direct City of London connection;

b)     The pub was closed at weekends and therefore could not serve the social interests of the local community at these times;

c)     There were many other licensed premises and public houses in the City which could meet social interests and wellbeing and the application contained little information to enable the Still & Star to be distinguished from these other premises;

d)     No information had been provided to satisfy the Committee that it was realistic to think that the pub could continue to meet the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community in the future and thereby meet the second test in legislation.

The application was put to a vote and resulted in:-

 10 votes in favour of the application

 13 votes against the application

 2 Members who abstained

RESOLVED – it be recommended to the Policy and Resources Committee that:-

1.               the application for the designation of the Still & Star public house as an Asset of Community Value be refused for the reasons referred to above; and

2.               consideration of the procedure for the determination of future nominations for ACV status be deferred, pending the Planning & Transportation Committee’s further consideration of and recommendations on appropriate guidelines for determining ACV applications in the City of London.