Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He stated this would be Bob Roberts’ last meeting of the Planning & Transportation Committee before retiring. On behalf of the whole Committee, he thanked Bob for his stewardship of the department during his time as Interim Executive Director, Environment.

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Fletcher, Alderman Hughes-Penney, Eamonn Mullally, Deputy Brian Mooney, Alderwoman Jennette Newman, Judith Pleasance, Alderwoman Susan Pearson, Alderman Simon Pryke, Hugh Selka and Shailendra Umradia.

In relation to Agenda Item 7, William Upton stated he was a cyclist and taxi user.

In relation to item 16, Natasha Lloyd-Owen declared that London Wall West site was within view of her home. She stated she had not been on the Planning Applications Sub-Committee when the item was considered.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 30 April 2024.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the previous meeting held on 30 April 2024, be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk, setting out a list of the outstanding actions.

A Member asked that the upcoming heritage training session be recorded. The Chairman asked that it also be uploaded to the file with previous training sessions and the link to the file be sent to Members.

A Member queried the amount and content of the base level training and asked Officers to benchmark the base level training against that of other Local Authorities. Another Member asked that external training also be considered. The Director of Planning and Development stated that training was broken down into an overview and then into topics e.g. thermal comfort. Officers could benchmark looking at the robustness of training and whether other Local Authorities used external or inhouse training and update the Committee.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Committee

1.        Note the report;

2.        Request Officers to record the heritage training session be recorded, upload it to the file containing previous training sessions and send the link to Members; and

3.        Request Officers to benchmark the base level training and update the Committee.

To appoint the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, or their representatives, as Members of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Committee appoint Deputy Shravan Joshi and Graham Packham as Members of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee.

Report of the Interim Executive Director Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director of Environment which provided the Committee with information needed to make a recommendation to the Court on whether to pursue a change to the restrictions.

The Interim Director of Environment stated that the Court of Common Council had requested a review of traffic restrictions at Bank junction and the report delivered on that request. He stated that the data was mixed and the arguments were finally balanced. The Chairman suggested the Committee ask for clarifications and technical questions with debate taking place at the Court of Common Council meeting in order to avoid repetition.

In response to a Member’s question about governance, the Interim Assistant Town Clerk advised that the Committee was required to choose one of the two options outlined in the Officer report to recommend to the Court of Common Council. The Court could then either choose to support the recommendation or not support it.

In response to a Member’s suggestion that the Court of Common Council could consider a report with options, the Interim Assistant Town Clerk advised that this would not be in the spirit in which the Court had set out its standing orders and the way it had chosen to conduct debate. She added that with the Committee recommending an option, the merits of the other option would still be presented to Court and Members could support or not support the recommended option.

A number of Members spoke in support of having a debate at the Committee meeting and the Chairman therefore opened up the debate.

A Member commented that the report only included highway considerations in detail, although it briefly mentioned other relevant considerations and he stated this was a finely balanced matter. He commented that another consideration was the purpose of any

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the Utility Infrastructure Strategy.

Members were informed that growth and prosperity was underpinned by, and relied upon, high quality utility infrastructure. The Strategy sought to bring together a holistic and co-ordinated approach to support and influence the operations of the utilities within the square mile.

Members were informed that consultation had taken place and a Member workshop had been held. There had also been positive engagement and response from the utility companies. The strategy had been updated following the consultation.

The Chairman stated the importance of having a forward plan in relation to utilities and stated the engagement with utility companies was welcomed.

A Member thanked Officers for highlighting the need to push for faster broadband coverage in the square mile for residents not living on the main estates as many experienced poor internet connections and WiFi. She asked that this work continue.

RESOLVED - That following recent public consultation, Members recommend the final strategy to the Court of Common Council for adoption.

Report of the Planning and Development Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Planning and Development Director which presented the City’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 (S106) planning obligations infrastructure funding statement at the end of the financial year 2022/23. The report summarised the City’s CIL and S106 balances, allocations and spend at the end of the financial year and updated the list of infrastructure projects or types of infrastructure the City would be wholly or partly funding by CIL. The CIL regulations require collecting authorities to produce an annual Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) for publication on the City’s website.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Committee note the contents of the report and approve the infrastructure list at paragraph 19, repeated at section 4 of Appendix 1 of the Officer report, for publication on the City’s web site.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which advised Members of the findings of the Building Control’s review into their previous fees and charges increases and recommended revised fees for 2024/25.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Committee

1.        Approve Option 3 - Agree an hourly rate, based on cost recovery for chargeable works including work undertaken on behalf of the Building Safety Regulator based on a cost recovery rate, plus a 20% surcharge to reduce the accumulated Trading Statement deficit, over the next five years. The hourly rate will be £163. Charges for other Building Control activities to be based on cost recovery basis at £136. Work to assist the Building Safety Regulator will be charged at £170 per hour. Work to deal with a dangerous structure when the Corporation has to carry out works with their contractor, will be charged at £170 per hour; and

2.        Agree a new “City of London Building Regulations Charges Scheme No 7: 2024”.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the Section 278 (S278) Highways and public realm works required to integrate the new building at 1 Stonecutter Street into the surrounding public highway.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Committee agree to enter into an agreement under Section 38 (S38) of the Highways Act 1980 to dedicate areas of private land (by the steps at Harp Alley as shown on Appendix 2 of the Officer report) as public highway maintainable at public expense. The cost to maintain the adopted area for 20 years has been included in the commuted maintenance sum as detailed in paragraph 4, and in Section 3 of the Officer report.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which recommended the recission of part of the existing city walkway known as the Alban Highwalk City Walkway at 125 London Wall.

Members were informed that the recission was to enable the redevelopment of Alban Gate, 125 - 130 London Wall, London EC2 which was approved by the Planning Applications Sub-Committee on the 9 May 2024.

In response to a Member’s question about whether the new walkway should be adopted in parallel, an Officer stated that this could not be done until the walkway had been laid out, had been inspected and met standards and that Members were being asked to give Officers the authority to do that once the inspection had been undertaken.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Committee

a.        Conditionally on the grant of planning permission (Registered No. 23/01115/FUL) for alterations at Alban Gate, 125 London Wall and the linked Section 106 Agreement having completed, resolve to vary the resolution of Court of Common Council made on 1st April 1993 to alter the city walkway known as Alban Highwalk City Walkway so as to exclude the area shown shaded pink on the City Walkway Variation Drawing number D6228D0702 Rev12 (Appendix 2B to this report) in accordance with the resolution set out in Appendix 2A to this report.

b.        Delegate to the City Operations Director authority to insert into the resolution an appropriate date for the coming into force of the resolution at (a) above.

c.        Conditionally on the grant of planning permission (Registered No. 23/01115/FUL) for alterations at Alban Gate, 125 London Wall and the linked Section 106 Agreement having completed, approve the use of non-standard materials in line with the existing Alban Highwalk City Walkway for the new city walkway to be declared by the

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

A Member asked a question about the addition of air pollution considerations to the developers' carbon options of refurbishment versus demolition/rebuild.

An Officer stated that this was a complex matter and that discussions were taking place between the air quality and planning policy teams about pathways and solutions. These would continue and Officers would report back to the Committee. She stated the Air Quality SPD would be refreshed and this could be taken forward as part of this work.

RESOLVED - To note the report.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor on the availability and performance of publicly accessible lifts and escalators monitored and maintained by City Surveyor’s, in the reporting period 16 February 2024 to 1 May 2024.

RESOLVED – To note the report.

The Committee received the public minutes of the meeting held on 13February 2024.

RECEIVED.

The Committee received the public minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2024.

Natasha Lloyd-Owen stated that she attended the meeting but was not on the list of attendees. An Officer stated the minutes would be amended accordingly.

MATTERS ARISING

The Inclusion Of Representations In Agenda Packs

A Member stated that there was a suggestion under Minute 8 that the approach taken to the inclusion of representations in agenda packs should be raised as a matter of policy at a meeting of the Grand Committee.  She asked for clarity on the approach taken as well as the approach to be taken forward. She also asked which documents were required to be included by law and which were optional. She asked if all representations and environmental statements could be included.

The Deputy Chairman, who was in the Chair at the meeting on 9 April 2024 stated that the Officer summaries were useful and helped Members to navigate the documents. He suggested that if all responses were to be included, this should be in a separate pack.

The Chairman stated that for Planning Applications Sub-Committee after the 9 April meeting, Officers had included all representations.

The Director of Planning and Development stated that all representations could be included. He added that he could not commit to include the environmental statements as they were very large and this would be an onerous task.

The Legal Officer stated that there was not a legal position on which documents should be included other than the Officer report and a list of background papers i.e. papers relied on to a material extent to write the report. She stated that the papers included by Officers were beyond what they were required to include in law.

In response to a Member’s comment about the organisation of representations,

Deborah Oliver stated that in relation to the declarations she and Steve Goodman made, they had been given dispensations to vote as well as speak and the minutes should be amended accordingly.

A Member stated that she had some amendments to the minutes to suggest. The Chairman stated these could be sent to the clerk and that the minutes would be submitted to the next Planning Applications Sub-Committee for approval.

Matters Arising

A Member asked for clarification on the point raised in relation to a climate emergency. She stated the motion in 2020 in relation to declaring a climate emergency failed, not because Members disagreed that there was a climate crisis but it was suggested that it was better to take action via the robust Climate Action Strategy rather than focus on a declaration. She raised concern that the comment made suggested that the Corporation did not consider there to be a climate emergency was an incorrect understanding of the motion.

The Chairman clarified that the Member was not suggesting an inaccuracy in the minutes and that this was being raised as a matter arising and the Member confirmed this was the case. The Chairman stated at the meeting where the motion was put, the City’s fully funded time marked climate action plan was approved. He asked the Director of Planning and Development to clarify that this was still in place. The Director confirmed it was and the comment was a reflection of the Court of Common Council’s decision not to declare a climate emergency.

RECEIVED.

The Committee received the public minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2024.

RECEIVED.

Blackfriars Undercroft

A Member asked about the plans for Blackfriars Undercroft and the disused rifle range. He asked if Officers could work with the Sports Strategy Team and City Surveyors as the Sports Board was keen to allocate this space to an outside sporting facility. He added that the Sports Strategy team were locating areas as public exercise facilities. There was funding available for three years and this space could be available within a year. The Member stated that Thames Water wanted the space to be used. An Officer stated that work would take place with the Sports Strategy team.

Standing Orders

A Member asked a question about the standing orders. She stated that they were currently silent on time for debate and the time by which materials should be submitted in order to be taken into account by Members. She raised concern that representations for the meeting on 17 April 2024 had been submitted just before the meeting and she stated the lack of debate was not in line with the Nolan principles. She stated that the protocol should state that there would always be time for debate and she considered that it was inappropriate to have a motion to move straight to the vote at a quasi-judicial meeting. She asked if this could be looked at. The Member stated that other local authorities had a cut-off and whilst she welcomed the City being more generous, there was a need to consider if there should be a cut-off to enable Members to read the representations.

The Interim Assistant Town Clerk stated that under the Court of Common Council’s Standing Order 37, Members could put a motion on moving to the vote and there were no exceptions made for Planning Applications Sub-Committees.

The Director of Planning and Development stated that

The Chairman stated that he was pleased to announce that an appointment had been made to the position of Environment Director and a press release would be made shortly with further details.

The Chairman stated that the Planning Division has been shortlisted for 6 awards in the prestigious Planning Awards and Building London Planning Awards including National Planning Authority of the Year.

It had also been shortlisted for groundbreaking initiatives on:

- Free to visit inclusive public elevated areas in developments (A view for all)

- Carbon Options Planning Advice Note

- Suicide Prevention Planning Advice Note

- Thermal Comfort Guidelines

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.

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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee considered a non-public report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the Non-docked Micromobility Scheme Statement of Intent.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no urgent business to be considered in the non-public session.