Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mark Bostock, Deputy Keith Bottomley, Peter Dunphy, Tracey Graham, Christopher Hayward, Alderman Alastair King and Alderman Bronek Masojada.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the informal, virtual meeting held on 21 September 2021.

The public minutes and summary of the informal, hybrid meeting held on 21 September 2021 were considered and approved 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 Bury House, 31 Bury Street London EC3A 5AR – specifically, demolition of existing building and construction of a new building comprising 2 basement levels (plus 2 mezzanines) and ground floor plus 48 upper storeys (197.94 AOD) for office use (Class E), flexible retail/cafe use (Class E), publicly accessible internal amenity space (Sui Generis) and community space (Sui Generis); a new pedestrian route and new and improved Public Realm; ancillary basement cycle parking, servicing and plant.

The Town Clerk introduced the item referring to a late addendum that Members should also have received this morning, containing a number of late representations received, in addition to the main agenda pack and copies of the Officer presentation slides.

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director presented an overview of the scheme stating that the site was located in Bury Street. In terms of its wider context, it was reported that this was not in a conservation area but that it did directly join the Grade II* Holland House and, critical to this application, the Grade I listed Bevis Marks synagogue sat just 20 metres to the north. It was noted that there were also other listed buildings in close proximity, with the report addressing the impact on these heritage assets. Members were shown images of the existing building which they were informed dated from 1967 and was a somewhat dated building now coming to the end of its useful life, especially in terms of the external cladding. Officers reported that the reuse of the structure had been explored by the applicant in detail but was found not to be feasible. The Committee were informed that the site was located almost in the heart of the Eastern Cluster Policy Area

Report of the Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Environment concerning CR20: Road Safety Risk Deep Dive.

Officers underlined that they took the approach to vision zero and road danger reduction extremely seriously and highlighted that this report would also be considered by the Audit and Risk Management Committee later today.

A Member stated that he felt that the risk needed to be updated and increased given the introduction of electric scooters and a significant increase in irresponsible cycling witnessed by many in the City recently. He went on to mention that there had been increased focus on the speed of motor vehicles and not on cycles or electric scooters which were now often travelling faster than cars and therefore of greater concern. He felt that there was a real enforcement issue around these vehicles and identifying their users.

Another Member spoke to echo these sentiments and referred specifically to electric bicycles, the speed of which could often be misjudged by pedestrians. She went on to refer to particular concerns around delivery drivers and suggested that Officers might look to engage directly with specific companies on this point and adequate training.

A Member commented that the table featured at paragraph 7 of the report highlighted that, even despite the lockdown period, there had still been 41 serious injuries reported in 2020. With regard to electric scooters, she stated that she understood that the ones available for hire in the City were geofenced and limited to a certain speed – she asked if Officers could clarify this point. The Member went on to express concerns around private e-scooters being used illegally in the City and expressed the need for greater enforcement and awareness here.

Officers reported that it was important to differentiate between the e-scooters that were part of the hire

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.

Committee Papers

A Member commented that it could often be difficult to navigate this volume of papers electronically. She questioned whether some thought could be given to producing background papers as separate packs in future where papers were this extensive.

Another Member highlighted that the Mod.Gov app made it easy to edit and comment upon electronic papers and championed the use of this by Members.

Another Member thanked Officers for publishing and circulating the transcript of the meetings that Members were invited to attend with the applicant and the objector for today’s application. She suggested that it would be helpful to continue to provide this to all going forward and also to place this on the Planning Portal. Another Member echoed this point. The Chair also recognised the usefulness of this but underlined the resource implications. He undertook to discuss this matter further with Officers and the Deputy Chairman so that a proportionate approach could be taken.

Next Meeting of the Committee – 26 October 2021

The Chair reported that the next meeting, scheduled to take place on 26 October 2021, would require all Members to attend in-person and underlined that those who did not would not be able to speak or vote.

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)

                             11                                                                           3

                         12 – 13                                                                       -

To agree the non-public minutes of the informal, virtual meeting held on 21 September 2021.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the informal, hybrid meeting held on 21 September 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.