Agenda and minutes

Venue: Livery Hall - Guildhall

Contact: Gemma Stokley
tel. no.: 020 7332 3414  Email: gemma.stokley@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Rehana Ameer, Peter Dunphy, John Edwards, Sophie Fernandes, Tracey Graham, Christopher Hill, Natasha Lloyd-Owen, Sylvia Moys, Judith Pleasance, Deputy Henry Pollard, Oliver Sells, William Upton and Alderman 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 129 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 5 November 2019.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved the public minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2019.

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

4.

MINUTES OF THE STREETS AND WALKWAYS SUB COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To receive the public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 15 October 2019.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee received the public minutes of the 15 October 2019 meeting of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee.

 

In response to a question, the Town Clerk confirmed that the draft minutes of the December Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting would be received by this Committee in early January 2020. A Member referred to a report considered by the December meeting of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee concerning Beech Street and requested an update as to progress around this. Officers reported that the Sub Committee had approved the delivery of the scheme and that a further update was to be provided to the Resource Allocation Sub Committee this afternoon and to Projects Sub Committee early next week. It was intended that the works would be delivered by March 2020. The Member made a plea that both Barbican and Golden Lane residents be kept informed of progress around this. Officers undertook to ensure that this was the case.

 

RECEIVED

 

 

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

5.

OUTSTANDING ACTIONS pdf icon PDF 48 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing outstanding actions.

 

The Chair highlighted that the presentation of the list had now been amended in accordance with the views expressed by Members at the last meeting.

 

A Member requested that the need for an updated Supplementary Planning Document on contributions to Affordable Housing be added to the list going forward so that this was not lost sight of. The Committee were supportive of this suggestion and the Town Clerk undertook to amend the list accordingly.

 

RECEIVED.

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

6.

CITY POINT 1 ROPEMAKER STREET, LONDON, EC2Y 9AW pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 

                          

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director seeking agreement to alterations to the north terrace at level 6 to include installation of 1.3m high glass balustrade; timber decking, lighting, planters and seating; double doors to provide access to the terrace from the existing offices and installation of a spiral staircase to access level 7 and alterations to the west terrace at level 8 to include removal of existing projecting (non-structural) columns; installation of 1.3m high glass balustrade; timber decking, lighting, planters and seating; double doors to improve access to the existing terrace from the offices.

 

Officers tabled an addendum to the report detailing an additional condition setting out the need for landscaping and planting to be installed prior to the first use of the roof terraces at levels 06 and 08 and maintained for the lifetime of the development. Officers also highlighted some corrections to the report stating that the comment from the Department of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding usage of the terraces at paragraph 6 should read “… between the hours of 1800 hours on one day and 0900 hours on the following day”. Paragraph 8 of the report should also reference 28 neighbour responses received and not 24.

 

Officers went on to report that this application essentially centred around the refurbishment and improved use of two existing terraces. The main issues stemming from the application were striking a balance between office use and the concerns of neighbouring residents. Members were informed that residents had been consulted as part of the application process and that the applicant, who had originally requested use of the terraces from 8am-8pm, had made concessions around this to address concerns and had also agreed to no use on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

 

Officers summarised the

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

7.

Information Requirements for the Validation of Planning Applications pdf icon PDF 469 KB

 

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director regarding information requirements for the validation of planning applications.

 

Officers tabled an addendum to the report. Members were informed that consultation was recommended to take place over a six-week period.

 

In response to a question, Officers clarified that this was intended to include major applications too but that this could be made more specific in consultation documents, stipulating that it applied to all new buildings and extensions irrespective of their size.

 

RESOLVED – That, Members agree to consultation with the local community, including applicants and agents, on the local list of information required with planning and other applications as set out in Annexe A, Annexe B and Annexe C of this report, and that if no significant comments are received, that they authorise the Chief Planning Officer to adopt the list.

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

8.

Baynard House Car Park - Ventilation & Smoke Clearance System pdf icon PDF 173 KB

Joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the City Surveyor.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the City Surveyor relative to Baynard House Car Park – Ventilation and Smoke Clearance system.

 

RESOLVED – That, the Committee:

 

1.    Approve a budget of £37,000 for Baynard House car park ventilation system to reach the next Gateway 5;

2.    Note the total estimated cost of the project at £647,000(excluding risk); which has been included as part of the annual capital bid for the Department of the Built Environment 2020/21; funding requested from On-Street Parking Revenue account;

3.    Note the risk register in Appendix 2; and

4.    Approve Option 1A to install anew ventilation system to Baynard House car park.

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

9.

Tower Bridge Service Trenches Refurbishment pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to Tower Bridge Services Trenches Refurbishment.

 

A Member commented that, in essence, this was simply the replacement of the existing access plates with those that were more manoeuvrable and some additional ‘cleaning up’. He therefore found the estimated costs of £500,000 concerning for this work.

 

Another Member referred to the notable exclusions within he report and the statement that existing proposals and project budget did not include the replacement of the cast-iron bedding frames. He questioned whether any maintenance would at least be carried out on elements such as these whilst Officers had the relevant access.

 

Officers reported that the cast-iron frames had been recently inspected and seemed in good condition at present, no problems were therefore anticipated here, although a more detailed survey would be carried out in due course with any maintenance effected whilst Officers had access if this was deemed necessary.

 

In terms of costs, Officers stated that the replacement of these elements would involve a lot of work given that there was no ‘off the shelf’ equivalent to the existing plates. The estimates were arguably conservative at this stage although the Gateway process would refine these further.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee:

 

1.    Approve a budget of £10,000 for staff costs and investigations to reach the next Gateway;

2.    Note the total estimated cost of the project at between £300,000 and £500,000 (excluding risk); and

3.    Note that no Costed Risk Provision is requested at this stage, although £120,000 of costed risks against asbestos and contamination are identified in the Project Risk Register. These will be reviewed at the next Gateway following further investigations.

 

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

10.

Dockless cycle hire trial outcomes and next steps pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing Members with the Dockless cycle hire trial outcome and setting out next steps.

 

A Member stated that he was minded to support the Officer recommendation of Option C. He added that he had used the bicycles himself during the trial and that his experience matched what was set out within the report. He went on to question whether it would be possible to restrict parking provisions for the bicycles on pedestrian space going forward and push this, instead, on to the street side given that there were clear aspirations to reduce traffic flow on the City’s roads anyway. Officers confirmed that the assumption was that future parking would be provided for on the carriageway.

 

Another Member referred to the compliance rate percentages referred to within the report and questioned how this translated in terms of how many bikes were not parked appropriately and were a potential hazard to elderly or disabled pedestrians. Officers undertook to come back to the Member on this point but reported that they were constantly trying to move towards ever higher compliance rates with hire/bicycle companies proactively addressing any issues as they arise.

 

A third Member spoke to state that she was delighted with the success of the trial but found it disappointing that unsuccessful operators continued to bring their bikes into the City. She questioned whether it would be possible to rank bikes in parking spaces once the scheme was opened up . She also noted that there would be little control over what bicycles were coming in to the City once the London-wide byelaw came into effect so sufficient parking spaces and appropriate infrastructure would be key. The Member questioned whether operators might also bear the costs of providing such infrastructure

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

11.

Seeking a Public Space Protection Order - London Marathon Related Disorder pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Report of the Head of Community Safety.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Head of Community Safety informing Members of a proposal to seek a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to help respond to recurring issues of violent disorder and anti-social behaviour which have occurred on the day of the London Marathon.

 

RECEIVED.

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

12.

Public Lift Report pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of the City Surveyor.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor containing details of five public escalators/lifts that were in service for less than 95% of the time.

 

A Member questioned the official reported response rate or target for those stuck in lifts and referred to a recent case where he had been informed that one lift user had waited for over an hour for a response and, as a result, was forced to call the fire brigade in order to be released. The City Surveyor responded that the emergency response rate target with contractors was 30 minutes and that this had been achieved 100% of the time to date. She added that she had not been made aware of the particular incident referred to previously but would now seek to take this up separately with contractors.

 

Another Member referred to the lift failure at London Wall West and questioned whether there had been any further progress in terms of access here. He added that the escalators at this same location were also out of service for much of the same period. The City Surveyor confirmed access issues continued and that this was a difficulty particularly if failures happened out of hours.

 

RECEIVED.

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

13.

Millennium Inclinator Maintenance Update Report pdf icon PDF 42 KB

Report of the City Surveyor.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor giving Members an update on the current situation on the Millennium Inclinator maintenance schedule.

 

A Member stated that he was concerned bout Kone’s comments that the inclinator required a roof. He added that it was clear that the whole thing, ultimately, needed replacing. He thanked Officers for all of their hard work on this matter but added that, unfortunately, it was simply not successful.

 

In response to further questions around the proposal for a roof, Officers reported that the suggestion was that the inclinator should be covered by a roof in totality but that they were under the understanding that this had not previously been pursued due to planning restrictions.

 

Officers concluded on a more positive note stating that Acute seemed to have taken up the maintenance of the Inclinator very proactively to date.

 

RECEIVED.

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

14.

Update on Governance and Spending of the City of London's Community Infrastructure Levy and the Planning Obligation Affordable Housing Contributions pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment responding to Member requests to summarise the governance arrangements and recent spending for the City Corporation’s City Community Infrastructure Levy (City CIL) and for the use of Sec. 106 planning obligations to contribute funding for the provision of affordable housing. The report also outlined potential changes to governance arrangements and the process for increasing the scale of Sec. 106 funding for affordable housing.

 

Officers reported that, in terms of current governance, this Committee were responsible for setting CIL rates with spending decisions then taken by the Policy and Resources Committee. To date, this Committee’s areas of interest had attracted 80% of the spend in comparison to the 40% originally envisaged.

 

With regard to funding for affordable housing, Officers reported that they would be looking to increase the contributions developers were required to make here and were discussing this at present with consultants in terms of a viability study. It was intended that this would be the subject of a further report to this Committee in March 2020.

 

The Chair spoke to underline the need for pace with regard to affordable housing contributions. He added that different local planning authorities varied in terms of how CIL funds were governed and also reminded Members that the City of London was due to commence a Governance Review of its own in the near future.

 

A Member thanked Officers for a helpful report and stated that he, personally, was in favour of continuing to separate collecting and spending powers given that this Committee’s areas of work were currently doing well from the process.

 

Another Member stressed the importance of any viability study on affordable housing contributions needing to be of net profitability of building in the City and not necessarily just of

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

15.

Definition of Net Zero Carbon pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing definitions of zero carbon that are in use in planning, demonstrating how these are applied in practice and highlighting the weight given to the draft London Plan targets since publication of the draft London Plan Panel Report in October 2019.

 

Officers highlighted that the draft London Plan required new developments to be net zero-Carbon, commencing Spring 2020, and would otherwise require developers to contribute funds though carbon-offsetting. 

 

A Member stated that the definitions within the report were clear but questioned how far back these went and whether they also referred, for example, to the deconstruction or construction of a building and how this would be possible to achieve with the use of fossil fuels and the like. Officers agreed with the difficulties highlighted by Members but stated that the zero-carbon assessment set by the London Plan related to the building’s use only. 

 

In response to further questions, Officers highlighted that the City Corporation’s draft Local Plan included a circular economy policy that strongly emphasised the benefits of re-use/re-cycling of existing buildings over the demolition of one to be replaced by another on the same site.

 

RESOLVED – That Members note the content of the report.

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

16.

Freight Programme Update pdf icon PDF 854 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing Members with an update on work to date to reduce the impact of freight on City streets.

 

Members thanked Officers for a well drafted, specialist report.

 

A Member highlighted the reference within the report to ‘River Logistics’. He stated that, whilst he was in general agreement with these proposals, fuel standards for river transport were significantly lower that those of road vehicles. He therefore questioned the overall effect that this was likely to have on air quality. He concluded by stating that the Port of London Authority (PLA) were currently working on exhaust scrubbers and encouraged Officers to work collaboratively with them on this.

 

The same Member went on to refer to the work being carried out alongside Ford Mobility to trial multi-modal delivery using pedestrian porters in the Square Mile. He expressed concern that this could add to the already overly congested pedestrian pathways in the City and create more opportunities for accidents.

 

Another Member stated that she was concerned that some work in this area was not progressing quickly enough. With regard to ‘River Logistics’ she referred to cities in Europe that had introduced electric vehicles only to their waterways with great success. The Member referred also to the City’s carparks and suggested that these should not be hastily sold off as they could prove strategically important spaces going forward.

 

The Deputy Chairman also spoke on river logistics, agreeing that work here should continue to drive forward as soon as possible as he was of the view that the River Thames was a fantastic, underused resource for the City at present. Officers were pleased to report that Air Quality funding had now been secured from the Mayor of London to enable them to trial the

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

17.

2019 Car Free Day update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment updating Members on the September 2019 Car Free day.

 

A Member commended TfL for the re-routing of bus routes on the day to ensure that gridlock was avoided. She added that she was, however, surprised to see that traffic had been permitted at Tower Hill on the day. The Member added that Hotels and other occupiers in the area had gone to great lengths to promote the car free day to their guests and others and many of these people were therefore disgruntled to learn that this was not the case for all and that they could have arrived at their destination in taxis. Officers stated that they would like to pick this matter up separately with the Member in terms of details of the Hotels concerned as communications had clearly depicted those areas that would remain open to traffic on the day.

 

RESOLVED – That, Members note the report.

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

18.

6-month update on the Ultra Low Emission Zone pdf icon PDF 814 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment summarising the GLA’s evaluation of the impacts of ULEZ over the first six months of operation.

 

Officers reported that the highest impact seemed to be for evenings and weekends. More clarity was, however, being sought on impact specific to the City and the types of vehicles affected. This would be forthcoming in the next few months and would be presented to this Committee in March 2020 when once analysis of this had been carried out.

 

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.

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

19.

LOCAL PLAN UPDATE

The Director of the Built Environment to be heard.

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

Minutes:

Officers were heard relative to the progress of the City’s draft Local Plan.

 

Members were informed that the Local Plans Sub Committee was scheduled to meet further in January and February 2020. Thereafter, it was intended that the full, draft Plan would be presented to this Committee for approval in March 2020 and to the Court of Common Council in April 2020. The finalised draft would then be for forward submission to Government.

 

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

20.

Department of the Built Environment Risk Management - Quarterly Report pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing Members with assurance that risk management procedures in place within the Department of the Built Environment are satisfactory and that they meet the requirements of the corporate Risk Management Framework.

 

A Member queried whether the work being undertaken around freight consolidation could be referenced as a mitigation under the Road Danger Reduction risk. Officers undertook to raise this when the risk register was next reviewed.

 

Another Member referred to the risk associated with major projects and key programmes not being delivered as TfL funding was not received and questioned why the target risk rating attached to this seemed to be worse than the current risk rating. He noted that there were also four other risks within the register where the target risk rating was intended to stay the same as the current risk rating – he questioned whether this was the correct approach. Officers clarified that risk targets were based on corporate risk appetite and that whilst they would accept a worse position in relation to this particular risk, they were not intending worse. Members were also informed that TfL funding was cyclical and that the current risk score reflected where the department happened to be within that cycle at present.

 

Officers went on to report that, at present, the organisation was doing well in terms of LIP funding and were therefore comfortable with a higher risk around this. They added that the organisation was fortunate enough to have other income streams to make it so that TfL funding was not critical. The Member accepted this explanation but asked that this be detailed against the risk so that the document did not give the impression that there was ambition for a worse position.

 

RESOLVED – That Members

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Delegated decisions of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

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.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Valid planning applications received by Department of the Built Environment pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

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.  

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

23.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

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 25.

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 No                                                                       Paragraph No(s)

            26 & 27                                                                                    3

                28                                                                                     3 & 5

                29                                                                                  3, 5 & 7

                30                                                                                        3

            31 & 32                                                                                    -

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Non-public minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2019.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Report of Action Taken

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 27.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk advising Members on action taken by the Town Clerk since the last meeting of this Committee, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, in accordance with Standing Orders Nos. 41(a) and 41(b).

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Bridge House Estates Strategic Review - Update Three

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Chief Executive and the Chief Grants Officer and Director of City Bridge Trust.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

Minutes:

The Committee received a joint report of the Town Clerk and Chief Executive, the Chief Grants Officer and the Director of City Bridge Trust providing Members with an update of the work that has been undertaken as part of the Bridge House Estates (BHE) strategic governance review since the last report in June/July 2019.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Debt Arrears - Built Environment (P&T Committee) Period Ending 30th September 2019

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 29.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment informing Members of arrears of invoiced income as at 30th September 2019 and providing an analysis of this debt.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

Transportation and Public Realm Consultancy Framework

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 30.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding a framework contract for procuring external consultancy services in the Transportation and Public Realm Division within the Department of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

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

Minutes:

 There were no questions in the non-public session.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

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

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.