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 Sheriff Christopher Hayward (Deputy Chairman), Rehana Ameer, Sophie Fernandes, Marianne Fredericks, Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney, Natasha Lloyd-Owen, Andrew Mayer, Sylvia Moys, Judith Pleasance, James de Sausmarez and William Upton QC.

 ...  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 154 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 12 December 2019.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 12 December 2019.

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

4.

PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE STREETS AND WALKWAYS SUB COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 105 KB

To receive the draft public minutes and summary of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 December 2019.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee received the draft public minutes and summary of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 December 2019.

 

MATTERS ARISING

Beech Street Transport and Public Realm Improvements (page 17) – A Member commented on the decision taken by the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee on this matter, suggesting that it had brought to light an anomaly in the constitutional working of this grand Committee. She went on to state that the decision to proceed with the Beech Street zero emission project was reported here for information only, not for debate or approval, despite the fact that this was a Ward Committee, meaning that all wards were represented on it, and the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee was not.

 

The Member commented that there were no Members representing the Ward of Cripplegate on the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee at present although it was her view that it is, in part of Cripplegate, that residents will suffer increased pollution and decreased road safety as a consequence of this project. She added that children attending local schools will be particularly at risk from cars performing ‘U-turns’. The Sub Committee had information about the displacement of road traffic and pollution, but seemed to have ignored it.

 

The Member concluded by stating that, whilst she was aware that the Sub Committee has authority delegated to it by this Committee to act in accordance with its policies and strategies on certain matters, this did not alter the fact that they were able to make the decision to proceed without any representation from the Ward that will be adversely affected and had therefore effectively subverted the status of this Committee as a Ward Committee. She added that, in her view, democratic accountability is a problem in the City Corporation and that this undermining

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

5.

OUTSTANDING ACTIONS pdf icon PDF 53 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.

 

Daylight/Sunlight – Alternative Guidelines

In response to a question around this action, the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director reported that the BRE had still not progressed any additional guidelines around this. She added that any future report to the Committee on this matter would ask Members to decide if it was appropriate for the City of London Corporation to go about creating any alternative guidelines of its own.

 

RECEIVED.

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

6.

61-65 HOLBORN VIADUCT, LONDON, EC1A 2FD pdf icon PDF 2 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 permission for the demolition of an existing building structure and erection of a mixed-use building comprising four basement levels, lower ground, ground and ten upper storeys for (i) hotel use (Class C1) at part basement levels one to four, part lower ground, part ground and part first, and second to tenth floors level; (ii) restaurant/bar use (Class A3 /A4) at part tenth floor level; (iii) office workspace use (Class B1) at part basement levels one to three, part lower ground and part first floor levels; (iv) flexible hotel / café / workspace (Sui Generis) at part ground floor level; (v) a publicly accessible terrace at roof level and (vi) ancillary plant and servicing, hard and soft landscaping and associated enabling works at 61-65 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2FD.

 

Officers introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to an addendum that had been tabled setting out additional paragraphs to be inserted under ‘Residential Amenity’ after paragraph 155.

 

Officers corrected some of the figures in the table at paragraph 145 of the report which sets out the planning obligations that will be secured before the permission is issued. They reported that the ‘Total liability in accordance with the City of London’s policies’, in the ‘Contribution’ column should now read £2,397,654. Officers also clarified that the site is outside the Newgate Conservation Area as stated in the report

 

Officers noted that the proposed development was visually quite radical and ground-breaking on what was a very constrained site. It was highlighted that, whilst the long-stay carparking spaces to be provided on site were adequate, the number of short-stay spaces that would be possible fell short of requirements. However, the applicants were looking to work alongside the

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

7.

Traffic & Parking Service Programme 2020-2022 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the Traffic and Parking Service Programme 2020-2022.

 

The Assistant Director (Highways) reported that, when this Committee had last considered parking pay and display bays on 2016, they had expressed a desire to retain these in the City. However, cash now accounted for less than 1% (approximately £150 per day) of takings from the City’s on-street Pay & Display bays and it was therefore now recommended that a fully cashless on-street parking operation for Pay & Display bays be implemented. Members were informed that other elements of the re-evaluation of the Traffic and Parking Service Programme such as the introduction of new technology and changes in structure and delivery would be put before this Committee for approval as and when different matters progressed.

 

A Member commented that, at present, parking in the City was free on evenings and weekends. He suggested that this wrongly encouraged people to drive into the square mile when there were good transport links here. He asked that Officers reconsider this and the impact that this was having in terms of air pollution levels. He asked that they look at what other local authorities were doing in this area. The Assistant Director (Highways) commented that the Transport Strategy set the context of this and that it was a matter of balance. He undertook to look into the matter further as requested.

 

Another Member commented that he was generally supportive of the direction of travel here but sought assurances that these issues, which seemed to be presented as lots of separate pieces of work, would be addressed comprehensively. The Assistant Director (Highways) agreed with the point made and reassured the Committee that Officers were keen to continue to do everything in the round, look at the context

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

8.

Revenue and Capital Budgets and High-Level Summary Business Plans 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment and the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Built Environment and the Director of Open Spaces presenting, for approval, the revenue and capital budgets for the Planning and Transportation Committee and final high-level summary Business Plans for the Departments of the Built Environment and Open Spaces for 2020/21.

 

A Member questioned the apparent 50% increase from £16m to £24m relating to Income from ‘Customer, Client Receipts’ under Central Risk. The Chamberlain reported that this related to a Fundamental Review budget adjustment for “Traffic Restriction Enforcement through improved camera technology, including Beech Street Zero Emission Zone” and that a substantial increase was anticipated for 2021. Members noted this point but highlighted that it was undesirable to see budget increases as a result of fixed penalties and was something that Officers should always seek to minimise.

 

In response to further questions, the Director of the Built Environment clarified that staffing costs had increased as more staff were required to deliver the Transport Strategy. The Department were also working hard to make the best possible use of the resources they already have and realign these with emerging priorities.

 

A Member stated that he felt that it was problematic for grand Committees to only see this budget information annually. He added that it would be helpful for Members to be provided with further information as to how certain figures had been reached and what ‘trade-offs’ might lie behind these for example. The Chair highlighted that some of these figures had, indeed, emerged from the Fundamental Review but agreed that more narrative would be useful.

 

Another Member stated that the forthcoming Governance Review would also afford Members the opportunity to comment on the general opacity of Committee budget reports and how these might look to provide Members with greater confidence

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

9.

Annual On-Street Parking Accounts 2018/19 and Related Funding of Highway Improvements and Schemes pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain on action taken in respect of any deficit or surplus in the City of London’s On-Street Parking Account for the financial year 2018/19.

 

An Alderman questioned why an increase in income of more than 50% was forecast for next year yet the same figure was down over the next three years. The Chamberlain reported that income had dropped in 2019 following a ‘spike’ in 2018 with the introduction of the Bank on Safety scheme. As compliance with this increased, the related income decreased. The same pattern was now predicted in relation to the Beech Street Zero Emissions Zone. This information was detailed within paragraph 11 of the report. A Member commented that any increase in income attributable to fixed penalties was undesirable and that Officers should look to minimise these.

 

RESOLVED – That Members note the contents of the report for their information before submission to the Mayor of London.

 

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

10.

Major Highway Activities 2020 pdf icon PDF 560 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to major highways activities 2020.

 

The Assistant Director (Highways) highlighted that this was an annual report setting out major highways activities and the efforts to co-ordinate and minimise the impact of these.

 

Members were informed that the works by Cadent in Poultry had now started and were having little impact on the overall road usage given that Bank was no longer a through road.

 

Officers went on to report that the most significant City of London project in this time frame would be the replacement of the waterproofing and bearings on London Bridge. This would commence in March 2020 and last for a period of 6 months. A communications plan was currently being worked on to provide both Members and the general public with further information around these works. The Chair commented that the management of the works on Tower Bridge had been a huge success with regard to communications and he hoped that this would therefore be managed similarly.

 

The Chair congratulated Officers on the 676 days of disruption saved in 2019 through collaborative working.

 

In response to questions, the Assistant Director (Highways) stated that feedback from the City’s film team had suggested that requests for filming in the City had tailed off in the last year. He added that Officers would always look to try and manage/accommodate such requests as best they could when they were forthcoming. In response to further questions around checks on-site during filming in the City, the Assistant Director (Highways) reported that on-site visits and checks were the norm in these circumstances and that any issues that arose outside of such visits should be reported to relevant Officers through the usual processes.

 

RESOLVED – That Members receive this report.

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

11.

PUBLIC LIFT REPORTS pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Reports of the City Surveyor.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received two reports of the City Surveyor containing details of those public escalators/lifts that were operational for less than 95% of the time.

 

Members regretfully noted that these were some of the worst statistics that had been reported in many years, particularly in relation to the Millennium Inclinator. The Chair spoke to report that he understood that a group of school children had also recently been stuck in the Inclinator.

 

The City Surveyor reported that the new contractor had now taken over the maintenance of the Inclinator and had reported no issues to date. The new contractor had specialist knowledge of the Inclinator and was willing to take on the maintenance contract as it stood.

 

A Member questioned if there had been any follow up in terms of the resident who had recently been stuck in the London Wall lift, as discussed at the last meeting. The City Surveyor reported that the issue here had been that the engineer had been unable to access the lift control room at 1 London Wall as it was not City of London property and was therefore deemed a security issue. Members were informed that a new procedure was now in place that would ensure that our engineers had access to the control room at all times although this had not yet had to be tested. The City Surveyor took the opportunity to remind users of this lift that they should follow the signs in the lift itself and use the emergency call point in situ should they experience any difficulties as opposed to trying to dial out on a mobile telephone.

 

A Member questioned whether Officers were continuing to look at the possibility of introducing a notification system for disabled visitors to the City informing them of what lifts were out

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

12.

Delegated decisions of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director pdf icon PDF 159 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 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 12.

13.

Valid planning applications received by Department of the Built Environment pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

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.

 

RECEIVED.

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

14.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

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

15.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

The Tulip

The Chair reported that the applicant for ‘The Tulip’ intended to appeal to the Secretary of State.

 

In response to questions around the process, the Comptroller and City Solicitor reported that the City Corporation would be required to submit documentation to the Appeal and that objectors and supporters of the scheme would also be notified of the details of this. It was anticipated that the Appeal would take place in June/July and that further details would be communicated with the Committee once they were known.

 

Heathrow Expansion

The Chair reported that further consultation would be taking place on this in April 2020. He added that it was primarily a concern of the Policy and Resources Committee who would be coordinating a formal response on this, but that it should continue to be reported to this Committee for information.

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

16.

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 16.

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(s).                                                     Paragraph No(s).

              17 - 21                                                                       3                     

                22                                                                            7

                23                                                                            3

            24 & 25                                                                        -

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

17.

Non-public minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2019.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2019.

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

18.

non-public minutes of the streets and walkways sub Committee

To receive the draft non-public minutes and summary of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 December 2019.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee received the draft non-public minutes of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 3 December 2019.

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

19.

Barbican Podium Waterproofing, Drainage and Landscaping Works (Ben Jonson, Breton & Cromwell Highwalk) Phase 2 - 1st Priority

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to Barbican Podium Waterproofing, Drainage and Landscaping Works (Ben Jonson, Breton & Cromwell Highwalk).

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

20.

Term Consultancy Services for the Inspection and Management of Highway Structures - Tender Report

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of the Built Environment advising on the results of the current tender process for the provision of Term Consultancy Services for the Inspection and Management of Highway Structures.

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

21.

Term Consultancy Services for the Inspection and Management of Thames River Bridges (Bridge House Estates) - Tender Report

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of the Built Environment advising on the results of the current tender process for the provision of Term Consultancy Services for the Inspection and Management of the Thames River Bridges (Bridge House Estates).

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

22.

Security Programme

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to the Security Programme.  

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

23.

Tower Bridge Sacrificial Glass Update

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces informing the Committee on the proposed way forward in relation to the Replacement of Sacrificial Glass Layers at Tower Bridge.

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

24.

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

Minutes:

There were no questions raised in the non-public session.

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

25.

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 25.