Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Randall Anderson, Ian Bishop-Laggett, Dawn Frampton, Jaspreet Hodgson, Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney, Deputy Henry Pollard and Shailendra Umradia.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 12 December 2023.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 December 2023, be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the list of Outstanding Actions.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Interim Executive Director Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director Environment concerning the City Plan.

Officers gave a presentation on the City Plan 2040. An Officer stated that the City Plan was the City of London Corporation's vision for how the Square Mile would develop up to 2040, and it set out a suite of policies to guide development in the city, ensuring growth was economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

The Officer stated that the plan had been in production for a number of years, with initial issues and options explored and consulted on in 2016, a draft plan consulted on in 2018/19, and a proposed submission version of the plan produced and consulted on in 2021. At that point Members had decided to revise the plan and undertake further work and increase the evidence base.

Members were informed that over the last 18 months, new evidence had been produced and further informal engagement had taken place. The City Plan had been amended to reflect the findings, the engagement responses received, and to align the plan with other updated corporate strategies. Work was also informed by the advice of the Local Plans Sub-Committee. The Officer stated that the evidence documents were available on the Corporation’s website, and they included extensive work on historic buildings, tall buildings and their impacts on office demand and capacity.

The Officer stated that the consultants from Arup and from Knight Frank were in attendance at the meeting.

An Officer stated that the plan had also been updated in light of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2023. Work had been undertaken to ensure alignment both with national policies in the NPPF and regional policies in the London Plan. Changes to the NPPF included how the housing requirement was to be calculated,

Report of The Chamberlain.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain concerning the Annual On-Street Parking Accounts and Related Funding of Highways Improvements and Schemes before submission to the Mayor for London.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Committee note the contents of the report before submission to the Mayor for London.

The Committee received the public minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2023.

RECEIVED.

A Member stated that he had been liaising with Officers on whether a register existed of conditioned community, cultural and heritage space and also start-up space and space for social enterprises and charity use. He had been advised that there was not a register but a draft was in process.

The Member asked how these were recorded so that they could be promoted to interested parties and how the spaces were monitored post development to ensure they were being used for the correct purpose or whether they were used at all.

An Officer stated that there were some community spaces in operation and there were more currently under construction. Officers would consider which team corporately should keep records and Members would be kept updated. The Officer thanked the Member for raising this and stated that a register would be maintained and publicised externally.

Member-Led Recruitment

The Committee considered a report of the Chief People Officer and Executive Director of Human Resources which outlined the proposed process for the recruitment to the Executive Director of Environment post. This report had been circulated as a late report.

An Officer stated that it was intended to have recruited to this post by mid-April 2024. The candidate’s start date would be dependent on their availability. The Officer stated that the report would also be submitted to the Corporate Services Committee, Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, the Natural Environment Board and also the Licensing Committee under urgency in order to progress with the recruitment as soon as possible. The Officer highlighted the elements of the recruitment process which were set out in the Officer report.

A Member stated the importance of seeking applicants widely from different backgrounds and requested that this take place.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Committee

1.        Agree the proposed recruitment timetable (including assessment centre) as outlined in the Officer report;

2.        Agree the proposed Interview panel as outlined in this report;

3.        Agree the proposed selection of search and select agencies (headhunters) for this appointment; and

4.        Agree that decisions on alternative panel representation from the committee, e.g. in the event of an absence or availability of a Member is delegated to the Town Clerk and Chief Executive. This is to allow the recruitment to continue without delay.

Alan Benson

The Chairman stated that it was with great sadness that the news of Alan Benson’s death last month was received. He stated that Alan was a passionate and tireless campaigner for disabled people’s right to travel freely and confidently. His work included co-chairing Transport for All, the disabled-led group that worked to break down barriers to create an accessible transport

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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023 be approved as an accurate record.

Report of The Chamberlain.

RESOLVED - That the non-public appendix be noted.

There were no non-public questions.

There were no additional urgent items of business for consideration in the non-public session.