Venue: Virtual Public Meeting (Accessible Remotely)
Contact: Richard Holt Email: Richard.Holt@cityoflondon.gov.uk / 020 7332 3113
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Apologies Minutes: Apologies were received from Karina Dostalova. |
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Members' Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda Minutes: There were no declarations of interest received. |
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ORDER OF THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL PDF 98 KB To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 15 April 2021 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference. Minutes: The Committee received the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 15 April 2021 for the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee.
RESOLVED- That the Order of the Court of Common Council Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee be noted.
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ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN The Committee are invited to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29. Minutes: The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. The Town Clerk informed the Committee that Oliver Sells as the only Member expressing their willingness to serve was, therefore, duly elected as Chairman for the ensuing year and took the Chair.
RESOLVED – That Oliver Sells be elected Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee for the ensuing year.
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ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN The Committee are invited to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30. Minutes: The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. The Town Clerk informed the Committee that Caroline Haines as the only Member expressing their willingness to serve was therefore duly elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.
RESOLVED – That Caroline Haines be elected Deputy Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee for the ensuing year.
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To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee held on the 12th of February 2021. Minutes: The Committee considered the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee held on the 12th of February 2021.
RESOLVED- That the considered the public minutes of the previous meeting of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee held on the 12th of February 2021 be approved as an accurate record. |
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APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE STREETS AND WALKWAYS SUB COMMITTEE The Committee are invited to appoint one Member as an Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee representative on the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee. The next Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee meeting is scheduled to take place On 29th of April 2021. Minutes: The Committee considered the appointment of one Member of the Committee as the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee representative on the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee. The Town Clerk informed that Barbara Newman and Alderman Ian Luder had expressed an interest in standing for this position. It was agreed that Barbara Newman be appointed to the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee as the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee representative, but it was suggested that a second representative would be a helpful addition. The Town Clerk informed that this would need to be agreed by the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee and, following this, the Planning and Transportation Committee as the responsible grand committee.
RESOLVED- That Barbara Newman be appointed as the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee representative on the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee.
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Open Spaces coverage 2021 PDF 188 KB Report of the Town Clerk. Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk on the Open Spaces media coverage summary.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Biodiversity Action Plan Update PDF 185 KB Report of the Director of Open Spaces. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Biodiversity Action Plan Update. The Director of Open Spaces introduced the report and highlighted the progress made on the project.
A Member commented on the requirement to advertise the opportunity to comment as widely as possible.
RESOLVED- That the draft plan be made available for public consultation. |
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Bunhill Fields Heritage Lottery Fund project PDF 105 KB Report of the Director of Open Spaces. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Bunhill Fields Heritage Lottery Fund project. The Director of Open Spaces introduced the report and noted the reasons why the project had lost funding.
Following a query from a Member of the Committee the Director of Open Spaces confirmed that all required safety works at Bunhill Fields were managed by the City of London Corporation’s City Surveyor’s Department and were being completed as required. In addition to this it was confirmed a contract to repair headstones and paving at the site had been agreed.
A Member commented that it was unfortunate that the project was not currently funded as the site was of significant historic importance and hoped that alternative funding opportunities for funding will be explored.
RESOLVED- That: -
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Report of the Director of the Built Environment. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment on the City Cluster Area Wellbeing and Climate Change resilience programme implementation 2021-2024. The Chairman commended the project and commented that this was the kind of project that needed to be undertaken in this area.
In response to a query from a Member of the Committee the Director of the Built Environment explained that the lack of bike access lanes on the stairs at St Andrews churchyard was because the use of bikes in this area was not actively encouraged. The Member responded that it was important to understand that bike usage was increasing across the City of London and, therefore, bike usage at this site should be considered.
RESOLVED- That: -
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City Cluster Area - programme update PDF 283 KB Report of the Director of the Built Environment. Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the City Cluster Area programme update.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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G3/4: City Cluster Area - Activation and Engagement programme PDF 276 KB Report of the Director of the Built Environment. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the City Cluster Area Activation and Engagement programme.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Joint report of the Director of Open Spaces and Chamberlain. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces on the King George’s Field Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2020.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Climate Action Strategy - Open Spaces "Carbon Removals" PDF 168 KB Report of the Director of Open Spaces. Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Climate Action Strategy Open Spaces “Carbon Removals”.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Climate Action Strategy - Cool Streets and Greening Programme PDF 922 KB Report of the Director of Built Environment. Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Climate Action Strategy Cool Streets and Greening Programme. The Chairman commented on the report by noting the importance of the greening the City of London’s Streets to improve the experience of those using them.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Award of Funding 2020-21: Enjoying Green Spaces and the Natural Environment PDF 138 KB Report of the Director of Open Spaces. Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Award of Funding 2020-21, Enjoying Green Spaces and the Natural Environment.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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City Gardens Manager’s Update PDF 233 KB Report of the Director of Open Spaces. Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the City Gardens Manager update. The report provided an update to Members of the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee on management and operational activities across the City Gardens section since February 2021.
The Committee discussed the Finsbury Circus reopening and the variety of events which were scheduled to be held. Members noted that it was important to utilise the space for suitable events but agreed that no event should limit the use of the space for any other users. The Director of Open Spaces informed the Committee that an upcoming report on events to be held in the City Gardens would consider this, noting the legal factors involved, to ensure that a suitable balance is targeted.
Responding to Member’s query the Director of Open Spaces confirmed that the Member had been written to following the same query at the previous meeting, and that a report on the future plans for the road between Finsbury Circus and Moorgate Station was being prepared by the City Public Realm team and was due to be presented to the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee for consideration. It was noted by a Member that they were determined that this matter be resolved promptly and would present a motion to the Court of Common Council in May if sufficient progress had not been made. The Chairman agreed noting that this was an example of an overly bureaucratic approach limiting progress unnecessarily.
The Chairman added that he wished to see more outside gymnasium equipment installed at appropriate open spaces.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted.
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Greening Cheapside: Sunken Garden (Phase 1B & Phase 2) PDF 214 KB Report of the Director of the Built Environment. Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Bulit Environment on the Greening Cheapside Suken Garden (Phase 1B & Phase 2).
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee Minutes: There were no questions recived in the public session. |
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Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent and Which the Committee Agree Should Be Considered Minutes: There was no urgent business considred in the public session. |
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Exclusion of the Public MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.
Minutes: MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act. |
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Non-Public Minutes To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting of the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee held on the 12th of February 2021. Minutes: The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meeting held on the 12th of February 2021.
RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meeting held on the 12th of February 2021 be approved as an accurate record. |
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Report of Action Taken Between Meetings Report of the Town Clerk. Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk on the action taken under delegated authority.
RESOLVED- That the report be noted. |
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Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee Minutes: The Committee received one question in the non-public session. |
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Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent and Which the Committee Agree Should Be Considered Whilst the Public Are Excluded Minutes: There was no urgent business considered in the non-public session. |