Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub-Committee received a list of outstanding references.

Swan Pier and Trigg Lane

The City Surveyor advised the Sub-Committee that work on Swan Lane was progressing and on programme. The project was due for completion in May 2019.

22 Bishopsgate

The Director of the Built Environment advised the Sub-Committee that the proposal taken to the developer to agree the remainder of the Section 278 agreement had been successful, with only one aspect, concerning drainage, outstanding.

Dockless Cycles

The Sub-Committee was advised that the Chairman had made a statement on dockless cycles at the most recent meeting of the Planning & Transportation Committee, and that a report on the matter would be brought to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

Members felt that the cycles were still an issue, as they were still being left in obstructive positions across the City. Some Members felt that it was possible the operators were placing the cycles deliberately in some locations, which was contrary to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City Corporation and operators. Members asked what powers the City Corporation had to remove the cycles and whether the operators could be charged for this.

The Director of the Built Environment responded that this was still a developing situation. The City Corporation did have an agreement in place with operators on removing the cycles from within the City boundaries, but there were no direct powers to remove the cycles and officers were still working with other local authorities to produce a pan-London approach on dealing with the cycles and operators.

Members suggested that the City Corporation issue notice to operators of intention to remove cycles on a specified date, with warning that the operators will be charged if the cycles were not removed by that time, or looking into passing byelaws to cover Corporation highways to give the Corporation more power to take action. A Member added that it was a criminal offence to obstruct the highway, so whilst there may be resource issues, the Corporation did have some power to act against obstructions, and supported the idea of giving clear notice and advice to operators to remove obstructing cycles.

A Member added that a pilot scheme under the new Transport Strategy could provide an opportunity, as the City Corporation could choose not to allow any operator that they had enforced against to participate in the pilot.

The Director of the Built Environment advised the Sub-Committee that there was a need to review the wider Street Obstructions Policy, which was focussed on A-boards, and a report would be brought to Committee on the subject. A Member asked that the report clearly distinguished between legal and policy considerations and separated out obstructions by type, so that each could be dealt with as appropriate.

Beech Street

The Sub-Committee noted that a report on Beech Street was on the agenda.

Blackfriars Bridge Underpass

The Sub-Committee was advised that TfL had the required items to repair the steps on order and it was hoped this would be completed by May 2019.

A Member added that progress had been made and one of the steps had now been replaced. The underpass was in a significantly better state than it had been previously, and the challenge now was to maintain it and keep it clean.

Frederick’s Place

The Director of the Built Environment advised the Sub-Committee that following the approval for environmental enhancements at Frederick’s Place at the meeting on 4 December 2018, officers had looked into the traffic order approved and had found a way to implement it without yellow lines.