Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from David Bradshaw, Emma Edhem, Alderman Peter Estlin, Christopher Hayward, Deputy Henry Jones, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Paul Martinelli, Deputy Alistair Moss, Deputy Henry Pollard, Graeme Smith and Deputy James Thomson.

There were no declarations of interest.

Joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Director of the Built Environment regarding the delegation of Powers to Officers in relation to S106 Agreements relating to schemes otherwise within Officer delegated powers.  

RESOLVED - That,

a)    the amendment to the Scheme of Delegations in respect of local planning authority functions as set out in paragraph 7 and 8 of this report be approved; and

b)    delegated authority be given to the Director of the Built Environment, and/or the City Planning Officer and/orthe Assistant Director (Development) to determine applications to discharge requirements and approve details pursuant to the Thames Tideway Tunnel Development Consent Order and other similar Development Consent Orders, and to discharge conditions and approve details pursuant to deemed planning permission granted by Transport and Works Act Orders and statutes in respect of infrastructure projects subject to the applications being in accordance with policy, not being of broad interest, and there being no more than 4 planning objections.

REASON: to enable applications now being submitted under the Thames Tunnel DCO to be dealt with under delegated authority, and to ensure the arrangement can then be adopted for the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade proposals (in the event of the Order being made) and any similar infrastructure proposals which benefit from deemed planning permission and other consents granted by the Order process or similar.   

Report of the Director of the Built Environment, being considered by the Policy and Resources Committee on 11 December 2014, and the Court of Common Council on 15 January 2015.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the adoption of the City of London Local Plan.

The Local Plan was published for its final stage of public consultation between December 2013 and February 2014 and was subsequently examined by an independent planning inspector.  The inspector issued his report on the examination, which found that the Local Plan was sound and recommended that it be adopted. 

RESOLVED - That the Common Council be recommended to adopt by resolution the City of London Local Plan subject to the modifications.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, Director of the Built Environment and Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain, Director fo the Built Environment and Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries which provided the annual submission of the revenue and capital budgets overseen by the Committee. The report sought approval for the provisional revenue budget for 2015/16, for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.  Details of the Committee’s draft capital budget are also provided.

Members noted that business priorities for the forthcoming year included:

Director of the Built Environment

·        Supporting the ongoing Service Based Reviews to deliver savings for 2015/16 and beyond;

·        2015/16 will be a year of delivering high profile external schemes, maintaining our high quality external services whilst continuing the improvement to our internal processes;

·        Developing our Road Danger Reduction Plan will be a high priority; and

·        Modernisation of the Planning Service.

RESOLVED – That,

a)               the budget be approved for submission to the Finance Committee;

b)             the Chamberlain be authorised to revise these budgets to allow for further implications arising from potential budget developments including changes to the Additional Works Programme and changes in respect of recharges;

c)               it be noted that the Service Based Review changes reported to your Committee on 11^th November 2014 which were agreed, have been included in 2014/15 and 2015/16 budgets.

Report of the Chamberlain, being received by the Finance Committee on 9^th December 2014, the Court of Common Council on 15 January 2014 and the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee on 19^th January 2015.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain which advised that the City of London in common with other London authorities was required to report the Mayor for London on action taken in respect of any deficit or surplus in its on-street parking account for a particular financial year.

The purpose of this report was to inform members that:

·           The surplus arising from on-street parking activities in 2013/14 was £5.290m;

·           A total of £4.137m, was applied in 2013/14 to fund approved projects; and

·           The surplus remaining on the on-street parking reserve at 31st March 2014 was £15.653m, which will be wholly allocated towards the funding of various highway improvements and other projects over the medium term.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor which sought approval to declare an area totalling 576ft² of City Fund highway land at Bartholomew Close, Little Britain and West Smithfield, EC1 to be surplus to highway requirements, to allow its disposal and enable the development scheme which is being proposed by Helical Bar.

RESOLVED – That the areas of City Fund highway land at Bartholomew Close, Little Britain and West Smithfield, EC1 with a combined total of 576 ft² (53.50 m²) as described in Appendix 2 and upon which the Barts Square permitted development scheme is to be built (consent no. 12/00256/FULEIA) be declared surplus to highway requirements to enable its disposal upon terms that are to be subject to the approval of the Property Investment Board.

The Police Committee requests that the Planning and Transportation Committee, during their consideration of the development application in relation to 21 Moorfields, gives consideration to including a planning condition such that any planning consent which may be granted is contingent upon the development providing sufficient CCTV coverage of the nearby entrances to the Barbican Highwalk on the grounds that this would have a significant benefit to public safety.

The Police Committee requested that the Planning and Transportation Committee, during their consideration of the development application in relation to 21 Moorfields, gave consideration to include a planning condition such that any planning consent which may be granted was contingent upon the development providing sufficient CCTV coverage of the nearby entrances to the Barbican Highwalk on the grounds that this would have a significant benefit to public safety

The Committee acknowledged the comments of the Police Committee and the Chairman advised that upon consideration of the development application for 21 Moorfields, their comments would be taken into account.

Clarification was sought from the City Surveyor regarding the planning brief for the Museum of London and also the status in terms of the redevelopment of Queenhithe.  It was agreed to provide a response following the meeting.

MOTION – That under Section 100(A) 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 I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) 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 I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment which informed of arrears of invoiced income as at 30^th September 2014.

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor, being considered by the Policy and Resources Committee on 11 December 2014.

The Committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor regarding the delegation of additional powers to London Councils Transport and Environment Committee – Delivery of the Parking on private land appeals service.

There were no questions.