Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Chief Commoner Deputy Peter Dunphy (Deputy Chairman), Dawn Frampton, Jaspreet Hodgson, Andrew McMurtrie, Deborah Oliver, and Deputy Henry Pollard.

Chief Commoner Deputy Peter Dunphy (Deputy Chairman), Henry Jones, Andrew McMurtrie, Deputy Henry Pollard and Deputy Dr Giles Shilson observed the meeting virtually.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 9^th July 2024.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on 9^th July 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Under matters arising, the Committee noted that the changes to the waste presentation restrictions had been displayed on the Corporation’s website, and there was a communications plan to inform those affected of the changes. Enforcement would commence in 2025. Further, the Committee noted it would receive a report at its January 2025 meeting on public convenience provision.

The Committee to note the Outstanding Actions.

On Item 1, the Committee heard that officers were exploring alternative funding options, including the CIL. Transport for London (TfL) had informed the Corporation that it would have to fund the full or a substantial amount of the £4m required for the works. The Chairman informed the Committee that they were arranging to meet with the MP for Cities and Westminster to discuss the matter.

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the outstanding actions.

Report of the Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director for Environment, concerning the impact of the additional resources introduced in April 2024 for street cleansing in the City of London. Following the introduction of the report, members of the Committee asked questions and made comments, as follows:

A Member queried whether there were additional street cleansing resources in Bishopsgate Ward, specifically referencing the high footfall in Liverpool Street Station. The response was that the area did receive additional resources, including additional beats and a night-washing crew.

It was confirmed that it had been agreed with the Chamberlain, the Resource Allocation Sub Committee (RASC), and Policy & Resources Committee that there would be medium-term funding allocation from the On-Street Parking Reserve.  The Reserve was ringfenced and could only be used for specific matters, such as street cleansing. It was noted that should the financial situation ever change, and for the worse, resources would have to be allocated based on priority.

It was queried what campaigns had occurred with the new officer role focused on public engagement for littering and other anti-social behaviour. The Committee heard that there had been a campaign trialled in lunch areas for workers to dispose of their rubbish, which was hoped to be communicated out more widely. There had also been a controlled campaign to discourage smokers from using drains to dispose of cigarette ends with Keep Britain Tidy and Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge across six sites in the City. On the latter, Members suggested handing out pocket ashtrays to smokers at pubs. The Committee heard that there had been some on-street activity with enforcement workers to identify issue spots and hand out the pocket ashtrays. The enforcement officers would return to the same site two months later and enforce, utilising Fixed Penalty Notices.

Formerly a third-party app

Report of the Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director for Environment, concerning the statutory duties for animal health and welfare in relation to imports into Greater London. It was confirmed that under the Animal Health Act 1981, the only means the Corporation had for levying any charges to these duties was though the byelaw procedure. The Byelaws had been reviewed, and it was suggested that the byelaws could be worded to provide for a maximum charge which would allow for operational flexibility to amend the charges without changing the byelaws. 

RESOLVED – That Members:

• Note the legislative explanation for why all charges for services at HARC are controlled under the Byelaws.
• Note the provision for the maximum charge to be listed under the Byelaws, allowing reductions to be applied.

Report of the Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director for Environment, concerning an update on the activities underway in relation to the Resolutions received from the Wards of Portsoken and Cripplegate.

RESOLVED – That the report be received, and its contents noted.

Joint report of the Executive Director for Environment and the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a joint report of the Executive Director for Environment and the Chamberlain, concerning an update on the Committee’s 2024/25 local risk budget position at the end of June 2024.

RESOLVED – That the report be received, and its contents noted.

The Chairman notified the Committee of the a question received from the Chairman of Planning and Transportation Committee, as follows:

“The Chairman of Culture, Heritage and Libraries and I went for a walkabout in Portsoken and a number of issues came up, which I know the Chair of Port Health & Environment is also aware of from her previous visit to the area. Could Officers please urgently address the following and commit to a date by which Members can expect an update:

1. TfL (Place for London) own a derelict site on the corner of Mansell St and Aldgate High St. The site has a stairwell that is open and being used for all sorts of decrepit activities. Can we get this shut down right away please? That site looks very abandoned and has been that way for some time. Can we get some idea of TfL plans for the site and maybe it’s something an investor wants to come in on and work up something in the City?
2. Around the corner on Aldgate High St is a digital advertising billboard. It is on another abandoned site and is a Decaux board- can we get it removed please? It seems contrary to our no advertising policy in the city. That site is rat infested and also abandoned. Can we get EHO on the case in the first instance and then look at what regeneration opportunities there are?
3. The bus station used to have a sign encouraging drivers not to idle their engines. That seems to have gone and on every subsequent visit I have been on, the buses are all static and running their engines. Can we get this reinstated, or speak to TfL about this as the air quality is terrible there.”

It was agreed that the Committee should focus on

Any items of business that the Chairman may decide are urgent.

Two items of urgent business were raised:

• The Chairman suggested and the Committee agreed to have timings for the agenda.
• The Chairman raised recent site visits, including the visit to Walbrook Wharf and to the Cemetery and Crematorium, and reminded the Committee of the upcoming Annual Fishing Experiment and a site visit to the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre.

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 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 9^th July 2024.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th July 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director for Environment, concerning the Animal Health and Welfare Service (AHWS) Delivery Plan.

Joint report of the City Surveyor and Executive Director of Property, and the Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a joint report of the City Surveyor and Executive Director of Property, and the Executive Director for Environment, concerning the Walbrook Wharf feasibility project for 2027 and beyond.

Report of the Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director for Environment, concerning the Port Health and Environmental Services debtors, for the period ending 30^th June 2024.

The Executive Director for Environment to be heard.

Note – During this item, the Committee agreed that, under Standing Order 40, the meeting be extended to conclude its business.

The Committee received a verbal update of the Executive Director for Environment concerning an update on Brexit in relation to Port Health.

A Member raised a question in relation to the Cemetery and Crematorium.

There were no non-public items of urgent business.