Agenda and minutes

Introductions

The Town Clerk opened the meeting by introducing herself.

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 Town Clerk also reminded Members, and any members of the public observing the meeting on-line, that this was an informal meeting and that any views reached by the Committee today would therefore have to be considered by the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection or those deputising for him after the meeting in accordance with the Court of Common Council’s COVID Approval Procedure and that they would make a formal decision having considered all relevant matters. The Town Clerk highlighted that this process reflected the current position in respect of the holding of formal Local Authority meetings and the Court of Common Council’s decision of 15^th April 2021 to continue with virtual meetings and take formal decisions through a delegation to the Town Clerk and other officers nominated by him after the informal meeting has taken place and the will of the Committee was known in open session. Details of all decisions taken under the COVID Approval Procedure would be available online via the City Corporation’s webpages.

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Alastair King, Natasha Lloyd-Owen, Oliver Lodge and

Susan Pearson declared an interest in agenda items 4 and 4a and stated that she would therefore not participate in these.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 22 April 2021.

The Committee considered the public minutes of the meeting held virtually on 22 April 2021 and approved them as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director regarding the Former Richard Cloudesley School Golden Lane Estate London EC1Y 0T - Submission of Delivery and Servicing Plan for the school pursuant to condition 43 and 46 of planning permission 17/00770/FULL dated 19 July 2018.

Officers presented the case by highlighting that this item and Item 4a related to the discharge of conditions to the approved development for the COLPAI school and 66 affordable residential units on Golden Lane. Members were reminded that this development was granted planning permission in July 2018 by both the City and the London Borough of Islington. It was reported that the vast majority of the site was situated in Islington with just a small slither on the southern boundary crossing over into the City. Officers stated that the development was currently under construction with the school buildings now nearing completion. In terms of the proposal, Officers highlighted that the conditions require the approval of Delivery and Servicing Plans for both the school and the residential development together with the details for the managing and collection of refuse. The Committee were reminded that the approved scheme proposed that the delivery, servicing and waste collection for the school be via Baltic Street West and, for the residential element to be from Golden Lane. It was highlighted that the details submitted therefore accorded with the approved scheme.

Members were shown an overall picture of the approved ground floor plan depicting both the school and residential buildings. In terms of representations received, Officers reported that 81 objections had been lodged and 258 letters of support. It was highlighted that the main grounds of objection related to impact on amenity of surrounding residents and also the blocking of access to Hatfield House and Baltic Street

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director regarding Former Richard Cloudesley School Golden Lane Estate London EC1Y OT - Submission of Delivery and Servicing Plan for the residential/commercial parts of the development pursuant to condition 44 of planning permission 17/00770/FULL dated 19th July 2018.

RESOLVED - That the Committee resolves to discharge condition 44 of planning permission reference 17/00770/FULL.

To formally receive the Petition presented by Mark Bostock to the 15 April 2021 meeting of the Court of Common Council regarding the City of London Corporation’s current Planning process.

The Committee formally received the Petition presented by Mark Bostock to the 15 April 2021 meeting of the Court of Common Council regarding the City of London Corporation’s current Planning process.

A Member questioned when this petition would be debated by the Committee. The Town Clerk responded to state that it was customary for those Committees directed to receive petitions by the Court of Common Council to do so in the first instance and reported that this particular petition would form part of a wider debate on the potential establishment of a Planning Panel system – a report on which would be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Committee receive the petition.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director concerning Daylight and Sunlight Guidance.

A Member spoke to remind the Committee why this report had been brought forward and set out that two years ago he had pointed out that, whenever this Committee considered an application for a development that entailed a loss of light to neighbouring properties, a familiar pattern was followed. First, time and money would be spent carrying out an analysis using the BRE guidelines. Usually, the proposed developments would fail the BRE tests as regards some of the affected properties but the Officers report would then typically suggest that this was acceptable due to the City’s dense urban environment. He added that Members could not visualise how much  light would be lost because the NSL and VSC of the BRE were unintelligible to lay people. Members would then therefore have to make decisions without knowing how much the affected properties would be in the dark. However, an expert consultant hired by the Corporation to deliver training on this subject recommended the use of radiance studies as a way of enabling lay people to visualise the loss of light. This led to the Member questioning in Committee why the City did not use these studies and the Chief Planning Officer at the time had responded to set out the reasons for not doing so – one of which had been that an applicant was under no legal obligation to carry out a radiance study. However, it was noted that an applicant was under no obligation to do  anything, including producing a traditional BRE analysis. The Member went on to say that the issue of radiance studies had now been linked to a proposed revision of the BRE guidelines which had still not happened.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document – Adoption and Implementation.

RESOLVED – That, Members:

·         Approve the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document attached at Appendix 2 to this report

·         Resolve to adopt the Planning Obligations SPD today and to implement the SPD from 1 October 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.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding approval of a non-immediate Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for the change of use of offices (Class E(g)(i)) to residential (Class C3).

Officers highlighted a typographical error on the title of the order at appendix 1, in that the date on the printed and published version was 2021 when it should read 2015. Officers highlighted that this was a legalistic document and the first stage in a process to replace the City’s existing direction.

RESOLVED – That, the Committee approve the making of a non-immediate Article 4 Direction for the whole of the City of London, removing permitted development rights granted by Class MA, Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 for the change of use of a building or any land within its curtilage from offices (Use Class E(g)(i)) to residential (Use Class C3), as set out in Appendix 1 to this report

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding GW 1 & 2 – Climate Action Strategy – Cool Streets and Greening Programme.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk regarding the Outstanding Actions.

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a public lift report of the City Surveyor for the period 07/04/2021 – 26/04/2021.

RESOLVED - That Members note the report.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

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

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

The Committee received a report of the 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)

                             17                                                                           3 & 5

                          18 – 19                                                                          -  

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

The Committee received a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor concerning GLA Roads – Land Dispute with Transport for London.

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

There was no other business.