Agenda and minutes

Venue: Livery Hall - Guildhall

Contact: Gemma Stokley  Email: gemma.stokley@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Deputy Peter Dunphy, John Fletcher, Tracey Graham, Christopher Hayward, Deputy Tom Hoffman, Alderwoman Susan Langley, Depuy Henry Pollard, James de Sausmarez and Alderman Sir David Wootton.

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

2.

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

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

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 339 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 5 October 2021.

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

Minutes:

A Member advised of a correction to comments they had made in respect of Item 4, wherin the words “just 1% of City’s buildings” should read “only 1% of all listed buildings are Grade 1 Listed and only 4% are Grade II”, as the comments referred to national statistics rather than the City of London specifically.

 

RESOLVED – That, pending the above amendment, the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 5 October 2021 were considered and approved as a correct record.

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

4.

CUSTOM HOUSE 20 LOWER THAMES STREET & RIVER WALL, STAIRS AND CRANE, CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY LONDON EC3R 6EE pdf icon PDF 13 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director regarding Custom House, 20 Lower Thames Street & River Wall, Stairs and Crane, Custom House Quay London EC3R 6EE – specifically, to convert and change the use of the existing Grade I listed building Custom House, formally the HM Revenue and Customs Offices (Use Class E), to a hotel (Use Class C1), with flexible ground floor and roof level retail floorspace (Use Classes E & Sui Generis (Drinking Establishment)), leisure facilities (Use Class E), a ground floor museum (Use Class F1 (c)) and ancillary riverfront public realm. The Committee agreed that the item could be decided in conjunction with the application for Listed Building Consent at Item 4a.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director drew the Committee’s attention to the tabled addenda, which advised of corrections to errors within the planning officer’s report, Pan-London and Local Strategic Views, updated recommendations, amended conditions and additional late representations. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director then advised that the decision in respect of the planning application lay with the Planning Inspectorate, as the application had been appealed on the basis of non-determination.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director then introduced the application to Members and presented the officer’s report, informing the Committee about the details of the scheme and its wider implications and outlining the reasons for the officer’s recommendation. The officer’s recommendation was that the Committee resolve to inform the Planning Inspectorate that, were it empowered to determine the application for planning permission, the Committee would have refused permission. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director advised that the Committee’s decision would be a material consideration in the decision of the Planning Inspectorate.

 

The Chair invited the registered objectors to address the Committee. Edward Waller, a Conservation Adviser

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

4a

CUSTOM HOUSE 20 LOWER THAMES STREET & RIVER WALL, STAIRS AND CRANE, CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY LONDON EC3R 6EE - LISTED BUILDING CONSENT pdf icon PDF 12 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director in relation to Custom House 20 Lower Thames Street & River Wall, Stairs and Crane, Custom House Quay London EC3R 6EE – Listed Building Consent.

 

RESOLVED - That the Committee resolves to inform the Planning Inspectorate that were it empowered to determine the application for Listed Building Consent the Council would have REFUSED permission for the reason set out below:

 

1.    The proposed development would fail to preserve and would cause less than substantial harm to the exceptional special architectural and historic interest and setting of the Grade I listed London Custom House and the Grade II* listed River Wall, Stairs and Cranes at Custom House Quay which would not be outweighed by public benefits. The harm would result from external and internal extension, alteration and the loss of historic fabric, plan form and character. These proposals would be contrary to policies: London plan Policy HC 1; Local Plan Policies CS 12, DM 12.1, DM 12.3; Draft City Plan Policies S11 and HE1 and the NPPF.

 

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

5.

120 FLEET STREET LONDON EC4A 2BE pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director concerning 120 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BE – specifically, demolition of the existing River Court building at 120 Fleet Street, including part demolition of the basement and the

erection of a new building comprising two basement levels and ground floor plus 20 upper storeys (93.15m AOD) including retail, commercial, office and service use (Class

E). Creation of new pedestrian routes.

 

Change of use of Daily Express Building from office (Use Class E) to learning and non-residential institutions use (Class F1), retail, flexible learning and non-residential institutions and commercial use (Class E), Alterations to and refurbishment of the existing Grade II* listed Daily Express Building at 120 Fleet Street, including works to detach the building from the River Court with demolition of part of linking floorplate and structure from basement level 01 to level 06, demolition of roof and installation of new roof with associated roof garden, erection of new north facade, retention of south-east curved corner and part

demolition of existing east facade from ground level to level 05, erection of new facade and shopfront and associated works.

 

RESOLVED – that:

 

1)    The Committee grant planning permission for the above in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule subject to:

a)    The application be referred to the Mayor of London to decide whether to allow the Corporation to grant planning permission as recommended, or to direct refusal, or to determine the application himself (Article 5(1)(a) of the Town & Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008);

 

2. That your Officers be instructed to negotiate and execute obligations in respect of those matters set out in "Planning Obligations" under Section 106 and any necessary agreement under Section 278 of the Highway Act 1980.

 

3. That

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

5a

120 FLEET STREET LONDON EC4A 2BE - LISTED BUILDING CONSENT pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director concerning 120 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BE – Listed Building Consent.

 

RESOLVED – that:

1.    That Listed Building Consent is granted for the above proposal in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule, subject to:

a)    Planning obligations and other agreements being entered into under Section 106 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 in respect of those matters set out in the report, the decision notice not be issued until the Section 106 obligations have been executed.

 

2. That your Officers be instructed to negotiate and execute obligations in respect of those matters set out in 'Planning Obligations' under Section 106 and any necessary agreements under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980.

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

6.

31 BURY STREET - REASONS FOR REFUSAL pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Joint report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director and Comptroller and City Solicitor.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director and the Comptroller and City Solicitor recommending reasons for refusal to reflect the views of the Committee in resolving, at your Committee’s meeting of 5 October 2021, that it would refuse the application for planning permission under application ref: 20/00848/FULEIA for Bury House, 31 Bury Street, London EC3A 5AR.

 

A Member commented that they had reviewed the recording of the meeting and looked carefully at the minutes, and did not feel that the reasons for refusal set out in the report reflected the views of the wider Committee. The Member added that the reasons for refusal should include additional points relating to the balance of public benefit against harm, and the wider impact on other heritage assets such as Holland House. The Chair responded that the report and its recommendation was devised with legal advice, and that his view was that the existing reasons were sufficient.

 

A Member advised that they wished to propose two amendments. Firstly, it was proposed that “(which harms would not be outweighed by the public benefit of the proposal)” be inserted into the fourth line of the first paragraph, as this reflected the thrust of the refusal as agreed by the Committee, and was consistent with the wording of the second paragraph. Secondly, the Member moved that the reasons for refusal be amended to include a reference to the impact on Holland House and other listed buildings.

 

The Comptroller and City Solicitor advised that in drafting the reasons for refusal, the first amendment was not included, but was felt to be implied, being more specifically relevant to the second paragraph. However, it could also be included explicitly within the first paragraph. The Chair sought Members’ views on the first amendment proposed,

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

7.

Recovery Taskforce - Final Report pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Deputy Town Clerk & Chief Executive providing an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Recovery Taskforce report, Square Mile: Future City, published in April 2021.

 

A Member commented that it was positive that exercise provision had been added to the Supplementary Planning Document, but added that an adult exercise area should be considered for the Barbican Podium, arising from a project which would create the City of London’s largest open space. The addition of accessible public amenity, which had been during the public consultation, would more greatly accord with the principles which the City of London Corporation applied to developers in the planning process, and a lack of public amenity would need to be taken into account when considering any planning application for the project.

 

Members commented that the project needed to aim for the widest possible benefit rather than specifically for residents of the Barbican Estate, and that it was hoped the application put to Committee would demonstrate broad consultation, with due consideration given to the provision of an adult exercise area. Permeability and access should also be key aims of the project, and Members urged officers to work collaboratively towards bringing the project to the Committee. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director advised that whilst feedback would be communicated to the relevant officers, it would be important to maintain a degree of separation between the planning officers and the applicant, given the nature of the nature the application.

 

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

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

8.

Transport Strategy Update: Quarter 1 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 148 KB

Report of the Executive Director, Environment.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Environment updating on progress with delivering the City of London Transport Strategy, covering Quarter 1 of 2021/22 (April – June 2021). A Member expressed his significant frustration at the delays to the reinstatement and improvement of the Thames Path for public access along the Riverside Walkway at Globe View. In response the Executive Director, Environment advised that officers appreciated the frustration and gave assurance that efforts were being made to progress the work.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

9.

STREETS AND WALKWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE - PUBLIC MINUTES pdf icon PDF 143 KB

To receive the public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee meeting held on 10 September 2021.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee meeting held on 10 September 2021 be noted.

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

10.

Outstanding Actions pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing the Committee’s list of outstanding actions. In respect of the outstanding action relating to Construction Management, the Chair commented that the 120 Fleet Street would be a useful case study. A Member commented that in his experience, after-hours work required regulations including direct communication with neighbouring residents, and queried whether this was still the case.

 

RESOLVED – That the outstanding actions list be noted.

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

11.

Delegated decisions of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development and advertisement applications determined by the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director or those so authorised under their delegated powers since the report to the last meeting.

 

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.

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

12.

Valid planning applications received by Department of the Built Environment pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development applications received by the Department of the Built Environment since the report to the last meeting.

 

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.

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

13.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

A Member asked whether the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director could assure the Committee that officers would verify any statement they make about a planning application in their report or presentation. The Member added that this was in order to prevent a recurrence of the Committee’s consideration of The Tulip application in April 2019, during which the Committee was informed that “the provision of an educational facility … is a significant benefit of the proposal enabling each London school child to visit once in their school lifetime”. The Member advised that this statement was unverified, and on one calculation could only be true if each London school child remained in school beyond the age of 32. Subsequent to this, the origin of the statement was not explained. The Member asked what was done to assure that such statements were verified before their transmission to the Committee.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director assured the Committee that the verification of statements was undertaken at the application stage, and officers made every effort to address inaccurate or misleading statements throughout the application process.

 

A Member then commented that, given the considerable size of the main agenda packs, tabling further documents during a meeting was problematic, and further to this, if the Committee was to move towards paperless working, power points were needed due to length of meetings. Members further suggested that officers avoid submitting multiple applications to meetings, that the length of officer presentations be reviewed, and that the meeting equipment in the Livery Hall be improved, with a system like that in the Committee Rooms.

 

The Chair acknowledged the teething issues experienced, this being the first meeting following a return to fully physical attendance, and advised that feedback would be taken forward in preparation for the next meeting. The

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

14.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There was no other business.

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

15.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

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

Minutes:

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 the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

            Item Nos.                                                                    Paragraph No(s).

            16                                                                                            6

            17                                                                                            3

            18 – 19                                                                                    -

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

16.

CUSTOM HOUSE LOWER THAMES STREET LONDON EC3R 6EE - TPO

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director concerning the Custom House Lower Thames Street London EC3R 6EE – TPO.

 

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

17.

Civil Parking & Traffic Enforcement - Off Street Car Parks Management and barrier equipment replacement; Provision of CCTV Enforcement Cameras; and
Support services for collecting payments and issuing notice. Procurement Stage 2 - contract award report

Report of the Department of the Chief Operating Officer.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Department of the Chief Operating Officer regarding the Civil Parking & Traffic Enforcement – Off Street Car Parks Management and Barrier Equipment Replacement; Provision of CCTV Enforcement Cameras; and Support Services for Collecting Payments and Issuing Notice.  Procurement Stage 2 – Contract Award Report.

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

18.

Non-Public questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions in non-public session.

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

19.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the committee agrees should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There was no other business in non-public session.

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