Agenda and minutes

The Chief Commoner was in attendance.

Apologies for absence were received from Alexander Barr, Tijs Broeke, Graeme Harrower, Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, Andrew McMurtrie, and Deputy Joyce Nash.

There were no declarations.

Joint Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the Remembrancer.

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of Markets and the Remembrancer which sought approval of London specific, focused proposals which would provide new adoptive powers for London local authorities to control emissions from combustion plant.

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection introduced the report adding that a resolution of the Audit and Risk Management Committee had been tabled at this meeting which asked that greater emphasis should be placed on the element of risk posed by air pollution to the health and wellbeing of local inhabitants. The Director advised that this would be incorporated as part of the revisions of the Air Quality Strategy in 2019.

The Remembrancer provided an overview of the timeline, explaining that following consultation, the proposals would be introduced as a private members bill in early 2019 with the intention of them either becoming law or informing policy.

A Member raised the point there were new boilers being installed at Golden Lane Estate and it was asked whether to reduce pollution, these could be made to comply with the tighter emission controls as set out in the report before Members. The Member also noted the emissions being produced from the bio mass system at St Giles Cripplegate Church.

In response, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that officers  were aware of past emissions issues with the biomass plant, and it was thought those issues had been resolved, but officers would investigate. With regards to the new boilers, officers agreed to look into this further, but advised that timing would be a factor and whether the installation would take place before the new legislation was passed.

The Director also responded to Members’ comments on addressing emissions from existing generators, advising that from a practical standpoint this would be difficult

There were no questions.

The Chairman raised the following items of business:

Visit to the Cemetery and Crematorium

The Chairman thanked Members of the Committee for attending the visit to the Cemetery and Crematorium, noting this had been an interesting and informative visit, and thanked Gary Burks, the Superintendent of the Cemetery and Crematorium for organising this event.

Director of Transportation and Public Realm

The Chairman advised the Committee that Steve Presland, the Director of Transportation and Public would retire at the end of the week and Members placed on record their thanks and best wishes for his work over the past 11 years.

Director of Markets and Consumer Protection

The Chairman advised Members that this was the final meeting of the Committee which David Smith, the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection would attend before his retirement. Members gave their sincere thanks to the Director for his work and enormous contributions over the past 16 years and wished him well for his future endeavours. In response, the Director thanked Members for their kind words and paid tribute to the great work carried out by his team.

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 100A(4) 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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment which sought approval for the contract award for Waste Collection, Street Cleansing and Ancillary Services.

There were no questions.

There was one item of business.