Agenda and minutes

Introductions

The Town Clerk opened the meeting by introducing herself and stating that the Committee was quorate.

A roll call of Members present was undertaken.

The Town Clerk highlighted that the meeting was being recorded as well as live streamed and would be made available on the City Corporation’s YouTube page for a period of time after the meeting had concluded. With this in mind, it was confirmed that participants in the meeting had all individually agreed and given their consent to being recorded and that all personal data would be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The Town Clerk highlighted that, for further information on this, viewers could contact the City Corporation using the details provided on the public webpages.

The Chair then introduced himself and welcomed all those in attendance and viewing the meeting via YouTube.

Apologies for absence were received from Douglas Barrow, Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney, Natasha Lloyd-Owen and Oliver Lodge.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held virtually on 26 January 2021.

The Committee considered the public minutes and summary of the meeting held virtually on 26 January 2021 and approved them as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

55 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0EE (page 27) – The Town Clerk reported that Susan Pearson had also requested to have her name added to the list of those who had voted in objection to the application and undertook to make this addition before finalising the minutes.

Report of the Interim Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Chief Planning Officer and Development Director regarding 70 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0HR, specifically, demolition of all existing buildings and the erection of a new building comprising basement levels and ground floor plus 33 upper storeys (15mm AOD), including office use (Class E), flexible retail uses (Class E, drinking establishment (Sui Generis) and hot food takeaway (Sui Generis)), a public viewing gallery, cycle parking, servicing, refuse and plant areas, public realm improvements, and other works associated with the development including access and highways works.

The Town Clerk introduced the item. The Interim Chief Planning Officer and Development Director presented the application and began by highlighting that a very late addendum had been circulated to the Committee yesterday evening containing a direct response to a very late representation received yesterday which had to be addressed. He added that the addendum report also contained some fine tuning of conditions and points of clarification.

He went on to report that today’s proposals involved the total redevelopment of the building at 70 Gracechurch Street , replacing it with a 35 storey, 155m tower. Members were informed that the existing building dates from 2001 so therefore a fairly recent building and it was reported that the applicant had explored refurbishment and extension options in great detail but these were not considered to be viable options.  

The Committee were shown an aerial view of the site with Offciers highlighting that it was not in a conservation area but did have the Leadenhall Market Conservation Area to the north and east of it and, to the south-west, the Eastcheap Conservation Area. The site did not sit in an area that was suggested as inappropriate for tall buildings and sat within both the Eastern Cluster Policy Area identified within the

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the draft text of the Barbican Listed Building Management Guidelines Draft SPD, Volume III, due to be published for formal public consultation in March 2021.

At this point, the Chairman sought approval from the Committee to continue the meeting

beyond two hours from the appointed time for the start of the meeting, in accordance with Standing Order 40, and this was agreed.

A Member commented that he was minded to vote against the recommendations noting that there had been much talk under previous applications about minimising embodied carbon in construction, particularly with the adoption of the Climate Action Strategy, and yet this document suggested that tiles should be replaced like for like with no reference whatsoever to any effort  having been made to deal with the embodied carbon. He noted that the City Corporation were the owners and therefore in complete control of these proposals. In response, Officers advised that as much of the original building fabric as possible would be retained which was entirely compatible with whole life carbon and sustainability. In conservation terms, what was being suggested was that the retention of the original fabric was the preferred option but that Officers would also keep an open mind on this if better options were available in terms of carbon footprint.   

Another Member commented that this related to the conservation of the Barbican and that it had taken many years to get this important document in place. He went on to question whether the other Committees that had considered this document prior to the Planning and Transportation Committee had made any changes to it and, if so, how these had been accounted for. Officers confirmed that no changes had been made to the guidelines when considered

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2021-27.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Planning and Transportation Committee adopt the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2021-27 (Appendix 1).

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment outlining the re-allocation of funding in the financial year 2020/21 to deliver the objectives of the Local Implementation Plan.

RESOLVED - That Members note the report.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a Gateway 5 report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to West Smithfield & Charterhouse Street (Thameslink) Bridges Remedial Works.

RESOLVED - That, the Committee:

·         Agree the total revised project budget of £645,000 (excluding risk);

·         Approve the appointment of Dyer & Butler (incumbent Tunnel Lids contractor) by means of a variation to their currently approved works order in the total value of £390,000;

·         Approve a Costed Risk Provision of £150,000 over and above the £645,000 (to be drawn down via delegation to Chief Officer).

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection providing a summary of pavement licences granted following the easing of lockdown 1 and proposals to facilitate the pavement licence application process following the easing of current lockdown 3.

RESOLVED - That, Members:

·         Agree the pavement licence duration period until 30 September 2021 as outlined in paragraph 11(a) of the report;

·         Agree a zero fee for all pavement licence applications received after 1 April 2021 as outlined in paragraph 11(b) of the report.

Report of the Chamberlain.

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 2019/20.

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

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment updating Members on progress with delivering the City of London Transport Strategy for Quarter 3 of 2020/21 (October-December 2020).

RESOLVED - That Members note the report.

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

With regards to the action concerning construction works, a Member queried if there had been any movement on this since it was originally raised on 18 June 2019. The Member voiced concern for the residents severely impacted by late-night works taking place whilst they were increasingly stuck at home and noted the limited powers that Environmental Health Officers had to assist with this. Officers were asked if there was anything that could be done to assist builders, residents and local businesses on this.

It was acknowledged that there was a need to refocus efforts on this piece of work and Officers agreed to re-engage with Environmental Health colleagues on the matter to build more momentum on this.

RECEIVED.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a public lift report of the City Surveyor for the period 09/01/2021 – 29/01/2021.

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.

Report of the Interim Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

RESOLVED –That the report be noted.

Report of the Interim Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.

There were no questions.

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

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 the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

                        Item No(s)                                                     Paragraph No(s)

                             19                                                                       3

                             20-21                                                                    -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held virtually on 26 January 2021.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the meeting held virtually on 26 January 2021 and approved them as a correct record.

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

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