Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Peter Dunphy, Deputy Kevin Everett, Deputy Bill Fraser, George Gillon, Deputy Stanley Ginsburg, Professor John Lumley, Alderman Julian Malins, Andrew McMurtrie, Henrika Priest, Deputy Gerald Pulman, and Philip Woodhouse.

Chairman’s Welcome

The Chairman introduced Members to the new Director of the Built Environment, who was attending her first Port Health and Environmental Services Committee meeting, and welcomed Keith Bottomley and Graeme Harrower to their first meeting as Members of the Committee.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7 July 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 7 July 2015 be approved, subject to the addition of an apology for absence from Deputy Richard Regan.

Matters Arising

Massage and Special Treatment

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that a visit to a potentially un-licenced massage parlour was carried out by the Police Licensing Team and an officer from the London Fire Brigade. There was no evidence found that the premises was being used for the provision of activities which would in any way suggest it was a brothel.

To note the current list of Outstanding Actions.

The Committee considered the following matters from the list of Outstanding Actions:

Public Conveniences

Members were advised that the relocation of the Aldermanbury Automated Public Convenience (APC) to West Smithfield had proved difficult due to the complex network of underground utilities and the only appropriate location was considered to be on top of the existing toilet facilities. This would require the underground toilets to be filled in to support the foundations of the APC unit, thus limiting or preventing the City Surveyor from disposing of the asset at West Smithfield and proving too costly to pursue.

Members noted that the Aldermanbury APC was very close to the toilet facilities at Guildhall but the Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy advised that it was particularly well-used compared with other facilities. After discussion amongst Members, it was agreed that the Aldermanbury APC would be upgraded to provide a modern and fully disabled-accessible facility, within the next 12 months. The Assistant Director added that a full list of facilities to be upgraded as part of the Service Based Review (SBR) would be circulated to Members.

Traffic in Cloth Fair

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Transportation and Public Realm advised that a questionnaire would be sent to local residents at the end of September 2015 and a report would be submitted to the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee and Planning and Transportation Committee for consideration in early 2016.

Introduction of Body Worn Video (BWV) for Street Environment Officers

Members were advised the Comptroller and City Solicitor had requested a change to the terms and conditions regarding issues relating to the Data Protection Act and Information Security from the supplier. This amendment had been added and the revised document was currently being considered by the City of London Police. It was

To receive a resolution from the Planning and Transportation Committee regarding the City of London Air Quality Strategy 2015-2020.

The Committee received a resolution from the Planning and Transportation Committee regarding the City of London Air Quality Strategy 2015-20. The Chairman invited the Director of Port Health and Public Protection to clarify and respond to the comments made by the Planning and Transportation Committee:-

·         Considerable action was already underway concerning idling vehicles and a further campaign would take place during autumn 2016.

·         There were no specific powers under Environmental Protection legislation to address the use of mobile shredder vans, so a joint officer group involving the Departments of Markets and Consumer Protection and the Built Environment had been established to explore the use of parking enforcement against these idling vehicles.

·         No restrictions could be placed on refrigerated vehicle movements at Smithfield Market; however a monitor had recently been installed to record pollution levels in the vicinity of the Market and appropriate action would be taken once the results are known.

·         The suggestion for planning permission to be granted only when resultant pollutants from premises were neutral was a matter for the Planning and Transportation Committee, which Members of this Committee would support if it were permissible and enforceable.

·         The presumption that only 20% of the City of London’s air pollution us generated within the City did not accurately reflect the position as a range of pollutants varied in different locations; nitrogen dioxide was mainly generated within the City of London, for instance, and the Environmental Health Officer could provide full exact figures upon request.

·         The draft Strategy was presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Department of the Built Environment, including relevant planning officers, prior to and during the formal consultation process, which lasted for a period of three months, and all responses were considered before it was presented to this Committee for approval.

·         The potential for

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee received a report of the Remembrancer regarding the Psychoactive Substances Bill. Members were advised that the Bill sought to tackle to the growing use of ‘legal highs’ by criminalising their production and supply.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the outcome of the first quarter of the 2015-18 business plan for the Cemetery and Crematorium. Members noted the excellent income performance of the Cemetery and Crematorium and the progress of the Shoot Project, which was due to commence in late September 2015 and be completed in early 2016.

In response to Members’ questions regarding the need to increase the level of fully abated cremations, the Superintendent of the Cemetery and Crematorium advised that the target of 60% and actual performance of 64% was above the national legal requirement of 50%. He added that the other non-abated equipment was due to be replaced by abated cremators by 2021, which should result in 100% abatement and 0% mercury emissions. Members noted their support for the increase in abatement and reduction in mercury emissions as soon as possible to demonstrate how the City of London Corporation could lead the field in this area.

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection added that mercury emission levels and current controls around the area surrounding the Cemetery and Crematorium would be provided to the Superintendent and subsequently reported to the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the progress made during period one of the 2015-18 Departmental Business Plan.

The Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations advised that a variety of cleansing equipment had been experimented with across City of London streets and walkways, but the issue of chewing gum was proving difficult to address. In response to a Member’s question regarding the cleanliness of pavements on the private Broadgate Estate, he added that resources were not available for the City of London Corporation to provide such a high level of cleaning across the City. He agreed to meet with the Member to discuss the matter if necessary.

In response to Members’ concerns regarding the Risk Register, the Director of Transportation and Public Realm advised that an updated version that included risk mitigation measures could be circulated to Members after the meeting.

The Chairman added congratulations on behalf of the Committee to the Department’s recent achievements in the NI 195 scores from Keep Britain Tidy and for retaining Gold Standard accreditation with the Transport for London’s Fleet Operation Recognition Scheme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding the progress made during period one against the key performance indicators and objectives outlined in the Port Health and Public Protection division’s 2015-18 Business Plan.

Members were advised of the recent successfully completed prosecutions related to Operation Broadway and an upcoming survey of premises displaying Food Hygiene Rating Scheme stickers, the results of which would be reported to the Committee.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that un-licensed nut-sellers had been recorded on the Millennium, Southwark, and London Bridges. The Comptroller and City Solicitor added that a nut-seller had been recently fine £500 for operating on London Bridge.

Members noted that the Departmental risk relating to air quality should be considered a corporate, strategic risk for the City of London Corporation as a whole. A Member suggested that air quality had already been added as a corporate risk at a recent meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Committee; this would be confirmed to Members after the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection that sought approval to an external consultation period for the draft City of London Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Members were advised that The City of London Corporation set out the minimum standards within the draft Standards that are applicable to all HMOs and refer to basic minimum standards for fire protection, room sizes, management and amenity provision.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the draft Standards for HMOs undergo external consultation until 10 December 2015; and

b)    a further report be presented to this Committee on 19 January 2016 to approve the subsequent final conditions.

There were none.

The Chairman advised Members that the Thames Annual River Inspection would take place on 10 October 2015 and that the next Committee dinner was scheduled for Thursday 16 January 2016.

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.

Item No.                                                         Paragraph No.

14                                                                                3, 4

15                                                                                3, 5, 7

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2015.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July 2015 be approved.

Members were advised of one matter arising.

Joint Report of the Director of Open Spaces, Director of Markets and Consumer Protection, and Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of the Built Environment, Director of Markets and Consumer Protection, and Director of Open Spaces regarding arrears of invoiced income outstanding as at 30 June 2015.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were none.

There was none.