Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment outlining the major special events planned for 2019 and providing Members with an opportunity to consider and comment on the appropriateness of those events, taking into account their nature, scale, impact and benefits. The Director of the Built Environment introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points. There was a core of 14 regular major events which were professional and well-run, with an increasing variety of one-off events and increasing authorised filming events. The Sub-Committee was advised of the Lunchtime Streets event to promote the evolving Transport Strategy, and that the City of London Corporation had been approached to support an event in conjunction with international Car Free Day on Sunday 22 September 2019. Members were asked for their views on such an event.

Members discussed whether the annual report needed to be referred to the Policy & Resources Committee following consideration at Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee as a matter of course. Members felt that consideration at Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee was sufficient, except in cases where an event was considered to be particularly controversial or political, and escalation was required. This could then be considered on an individual basis. The Chairman added that he would raise the matter with the Chair of Policy & Resources going forward.

The Chairman added that several approaches had been made regarding the Car Free Day, and that if it was supported by Members, the City of London Corporation should work with the GLA and TfL in organising an event.

A Member queried whether a Car Free Day would apply to all traffic, or just private vehicles, and whether the City of London Corporation had the power to refuse requests for road closures for filming made under new powers.

Members were supportive of the City of London Corporation participating in Car Free Day, and raised a number of points, including the possibility of a Car Free Week, Car Free Areas or joining up the Car Free Day with other events in September such as Totally Thames Month or the River Marathon. A Member added that this was a good opportunity to see how a Car Free Day would work in practice, as this could be the first of many such events, which would be beneficial for visitor attractions such as St. Paul’s Cathedral.

A Member said that the increase in filming was positive, but that the income often seemed to get lost, and could be put to better use by being used to promote the Corporate Plan. The Member also suggested that the section on benefits in kind be sent on to Finance Grants Oversight and Performance Sub-Committee.

Members stressed that the organisation of the event needed to account for the impact on residents and workers, and on the wider implications for visitors such as through access to car parks. A Member suggested that if there were to be significant crowds then limits on drinking should be considered, as there had been issues during the London Marathon last year. Officers should also consider the impact of cleaning the streets following events and ensure these costs were recovered where possible.

The Director of the Built Environment responded to points raised by Members. Officers would undergo further discussions with relevant stakeholders, but the proposal was likely to be for full closure to all traffic on certain roads, with any issues arising from this to be worked through as appropriate. Soft-level engagement would be undertaken over what to do with the space freed up by road closures. Officers would commit to progressing discussions and would keep Members updated. The Director of the Built Environment confirmed that the City of London Corporation did have powers to push back on requests for road closures for filming, and that officers could look into the way income from filming was used.

RESOLVED – That the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee:

a)    Agree to support the regular core events programme listed in paragraph 5 and detailed in Appendix 1;

b)    Agree to support the additional Cultural, Visitor & Transport Strategy events outlined in paragraphs 18-36, subject to the appropriate degree of due diligence regarding safety, licencing approval, traffic orders (where required) and impact on local stakeholders; and

c)    Note the Benefits in Kind listed in Appendix 4.