Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the following people:

Alderman Zaman, Leyla Boulton, Deborah Oliver, Jason Pritchard, and Alethea Silk.

These Members observed the meeting online:

Deputy Caroline Haines, Giles Shilson and Mercy Haggerty.

Chief Commoner Deputy Henry Pollard moved that Alderman Hughes-Penney take the chair until the election of the Chair, seconded by Deputy Peter Dunphy. 

There were no declarations.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 25^th April 2025 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

The Committee received the Order of the Court of the April 2025 meeting of the Court of Common Council.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 28.

A single expression of interest having been received, Deputy Peter Dunphy was duly confirmed as Chair of the Committee for the ensuing municipal year in line with Standing Order No. 28.

Deputy Peter Dunphy thanked the Committee for their trust and support, welcomed new Members and previous Members.

The Chief Commoner delivered a Vote of Thanks to the outgoing Chair Mary Durcan as follows:  

Members of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee wish to extend their sincere, appreciation and thanks to Mary Durcan for her exemplary leadership and dedication as Chairman of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee.  

Mary was passionate about the City of London maintaining the cleanest streets in London and was thus instrumental in securing an additional £1 million of funding, resulting in significant enhancements in street cleansing. She would frequently report in issues herself, acting as a conduit between residents, businesses, fellow Members and officers, listening and understanding concerns to ensure that they were resolved as quickly as possible whilst at the same time realising the constraints that the Service. She also chaired the judging panel and presented awards at three Clean City Awards, championing businesses adopting a sustainable approach to waste management. She recognised the importance of the City of London City maintaining its own waste transfer station at Walbrook Wharf and advocated for the continuation of sustainable waste transfer on the River Thames. She was also pivotal in the approval and adoption from the Court of Common Council of the Circular Economy Framework. 

During her tenure Mary has overseen the City of London Corporation’s readiness plans for the new Border Target Operating Model and checks of imported food and feed from the EU, resulting in a substantial increase of doubling staff and operational hours for Port Health, with checks set to rise

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

Three expressions of interest were received from: George Abrahams, Deputy Timothy Butcher, and Deputy Jaspreet Hodgson.

A ballot was held in line with Standing Order No.29, and the results of the first ballot were as follows:

George Abrahams 7

Timothy Butcher 6

Jaspreet Hodgson 6

Spoilt ballots: 2

No clear majority being reached, the results of the second ballot were as follows:

Timothy Butcher 10

Jaspreet Hodgson 7

Spoilt ballots: 4

The results of the third ballot were as follows:

George Abrahams 10

Timothy Butcher 9

Spoilt ballots: 2

George Abrahams was duly elected Deputy Chair of the Committee for the ensuing year.

George Abrahams thanked the Committee for their support and particularly to the two candidates for the position of Deputy Chair. 

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7^th January 2025.

RESOLVED, That the minutes of the meeting of 07 January 2025 be approved as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Report of the Town Clerk

RESOLVED, That the following appointments be made:

Local Plans Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee: deferred to July 2025

Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee: Mercy Haggerty

Projects and Procurement Sub Committee: deferred to July 2025

Thames Estuary Partnership: Deputy John Edwards

Thames21:  Deputy Marianne Fredericks

Deputy Peter Dunphy (Chair) confirmed his intention to take up his position on the Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee.

The Deputy Chair agreed to confirm by the July 2025 meeting whether he would take up his position on the Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee.

Health & Wellbeing Board: Marianne Fredericks as the appointed representative of the Committee. 

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment. The Committee noted the Port Health Service Plan 2025/26.

RESOLVED, That the Committee approve the Port Health Service Food Safety Enforcement Plan 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 1.

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

 The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment.

RESOLVED, That the Committee approve the Commercial Environmental Health Service Plan 2025/26.

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment.

RESOLVED, That the Committee

1.     Approve delegation of authority to the Executive Director Environment and in her absence the Port Health and Public Protection Director to institute proceedings and other enforcement remedies in respect of offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Part VIII; and

2.     Approve delegation of authority to the Executive Director Environment and in her absence the Port Health and Public Protection Director to authorise relevant officers under the provision of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024.

The Committee noted that these two approvals would enable the City Corporation’s Trading Standards Team to continue carrying out their full statutory duties.

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee received the report of the Executive Director Environment providing an update on progress made between 01 October 2024 and 31 March 2025 against the high-level business plan 2025/25 for the cleansing service, and Port Health and Public Protection.

Referencing the community toilet figure shown in appendix 2, a Member asked whether more visible and mandatory signs could be distributed to signpost community toilet availability. The meeting noted that a comprehensive report is expected at the Committee’s September meeting to examine the matter to include signage. 

A Member asked for more information on currently closed coin-operated toilets in the riverside area (Tower Hill and Steelyard Passage in particular), noting the increased demand for those facilities particularly during the summer. The meeting heard that those conveniences were closed by the Committee due to a funding gap that has not been closed, noting that the matter will be discussed at the September meeting.

A Member commented on the apparent connection between increased levels of graffiti and reduced police patrol presence, noting also that residents are ultimately meeting the costs of graffiti clean-up and querying whether a change of policy on that has been introduced. The meeting noted that the Highway Authority is not responsible for graffiti on private buildings.

A Member asked for more information on monitoring and management of river pollution and vermin. The meeting heard that the Corporation works closely with the Environment Agency on river pollution, and that complaints about vermin are investigated in line with the kind of premises involved, and that the Corporation works closely with relevant entities to tackle vermin issues. Members were advised to report issues to the Public Protection Teams for advice and information.  

Referencing the waste recycling rate shown in appendix 2, a Member asked for more information on how waste recycling

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee received the report of the Executive Director Environment setting out the key risks that fell within the remit of the Committee, these being Port Health and Public Protection and the cleansing service. The Committee noted that risk management procedures are in place within the Environment Department and met the requirements of the corporate Risk Management Framework. 

A Member commented that changes in corporate risk management approaches did not yet appear to be reflected in the report. The meeting noted that changes in risk approaches are expected to be rolled out to Departmental levels during 2025. 

A Member queried whether air quality risks could validly be shown as having a ‘low’ impact, referencing section 7 of the report and appendix 2. The meeting noted that further details would be provided.

On risk 006 (major incident affecting the use of Walbrook Wharf) a Member asked whether increased lithium battery use has been taken into account and whether firefighting measures around lithium-origin fires are in place. The meeting heard that such measures are in place and that lithium battery use has been taken into account.

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee received the report of the Executive Director, Environment and noted the statutory requirements and provisions placed on Public Authorities in relation to the Biodiversity Duty, as per the 2006 Act as amended by the 2021 Act and noted the reporting requirements of the Biodiversity Duty as set out in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the report. The Committee noted the report as part of the City Corporation’s statutory First Consideration of the Biodiversity Duty. 

In response to a question on whether the requirements were to extend to the foreshore, the Committee noted that the requirement did extend to the foreshore which would invoke the biodiversity duty – noting also the cost implications, and noting that the duty will be taken into account in future.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee noted the report of the Clerk summarising the action taken by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, to approve the awarding of the contract relating to the Cemetery and Crematorium Administration System to the preferred bidder GSS (NI) Ltd (PlotBox).

In response to a question on whether the system has been implemented and is working effectively, the meeting heard that the system is currently in transition.

The Chair reiterated the stipulation that questions will ordinarily be considered only where they are submitted 48 hours before the meeting in order to arrive at better-informed responses. 

A Member asked whether the Golden Lane recycling facilities are being properly advertised to all City users, and asked whether more recycling facilities might be available in other City locations. The meeting heard that the matter would be investigated and a response circulated.

A Member commented that noise nuisance in the South Bank area affecting the Queenhithe area did not appear to be properly monitored, particularly in respect of unlicensed busking and inappropriate amplification. The meeting noted that the Corporation has been liaising with the Borough of Southwark and Better Bankside to properly manage the busking issue (including better signage), noting the rising levels of complaints. The meeting noted that resource issues and staff changes are affecting Southwark’s capacity to respond and act in a timely and appropriate fashion, and that further liaison is expected to improve the situation.  

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

There was no other business.

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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7^th January 2025.

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting of 07 January 2025.

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director, Environment.

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

The Committee considered the report of the City Surveyor and Executive Director of Property and Executive Director of Environment.

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee noted the report of the Executive Director, Environment.