Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Bennett, Karina Dostalova, Andrew McMurtrie, Hugh Morris, Barbara Newman, Deputy Richard Regan, Deputy James Thomson, and Mark Wheatley.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 22 September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 September 2015 be approved.

Matters Arising

The Chairman advised that the Committee Dinner on 21 January 2016 would be held at Apothecaries’ Hall.

To note list of Outstanding Actions.

The Committee received the current list of Outstanding Actions.

The Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy reported that a positive meeting had been held with local companies regarding mobile shredding vehicles idling outside their offices. The companies had agreed to work with the City of London Corporation to think of ways to reduce the shredding vehicles’ impact on air quality, such as the inclusion of internal shredding areas in new buildings. The outcome of future meetings would be reported back to the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the list of Outstanding Actions be noted.

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

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain, Director of the Built Environment, Director of Markets and Consumer Protection, and Director of Open Spaces that set out the latest revenue budget for 2015/16 and sought approval to the proposed provisional revenue budget for 2016/17, for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.

In response to a Member’s question, the Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations advised that the Recycling Team worked closely with local schools to educate young people about recycling and littering.

In response to another Member’s question, the Environmental Policy Officer advised that applications had been and would be submitted to maximise grant funding for air quality projects to ensure that the City Corporation’s statutory obligations were fulfilled.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the latest 2015/16 revenue budget be noted;

b)    the provisional 2016/17 revenue budget be reviewed to ensure that it reflects the Committee’s objectives and the budget be approved for submission to the Finance Committee;

c)    the draft capital budget be approved;

d)    the Chamberlain be authorised to revise these budgets for changes to the Additional Works Programme and in respect of recharges.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection that provided details of the on-going action to improve air quality in the City as part of the City of London Air Quality Strategy 2015-2020. Members were advised that the minutes and presentation from a recent Member Briefing on this matter were available upon request from the Town Clerk.

The Environmental Policy Officer explained how EU targets were due to be met throughout most of the City of London by 2020 via the Ultra Low Emission Zone. In response to a Member’s question, she added that colleagues in the Open Spaces Department were aware of the potential use of plants in City Gardens to reduce the impact of air pollution.

In response to Members’ questions regarding Beech Street, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that the results from air quality monitors would be included in future air quality update reports and the Chairman advised that the purpose of the washing regime was to help reduce the levels of fine particles to improve air quality.

A Member noted his concerns with emissions caused by standby diesel generators at businesses within the City. The Environmental Policy Officer advised that an application for funding had been submitted to develop a programme to encourage a reduction in the use of standby diesel generators as there were currently no legislative powers against them.

In response to Members’ concerns regarding air pollution caused by heavy traffic, the Director of Transportation and Public Realm advised that there was currently the lowest number of roadworks within the City for many years. He added that a list of current closed and part-closed streets would be submitted to the next appropriate Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee for information. The Deputy Chairman suggested that Members read

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection that provided details of the 43^rd City of London Thames Fishery Research Experiment which took place in October 2015 and sought approval to the 44^th Research Experiment in 2016.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    The report be noted; and

b)    The 44^th City of London Thames Fishery Research Experiment, to take place in 2016, be approved.

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 the City of London Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2015-2020.

RESOLVED – That the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2015-2020 be approved.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment that provided an update regarding the progress being made to achieve the savings agreed in the Service Based Review Public Conveniences Strategy. Members were advised that no complaints from members of the public had been received since the closure of the attended toilets and Smithfield.

A Member noted that, despite no complaints being received from the public, he had personally complained to officers regarding the closure of toilet facilities. The Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations advised that any cleansing issues with the Blackfriars toilets would be looked into. In response to Members’ concerns regarding public urination in Bishopsgate, the Assistant Director advised that Street Environment Officers would be meeting with the City of London Police to address the issue. The Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy added that Fixed Penalty Notices were being issued for public urination in accordance with Anti-Social Behaviour legislation.

A Member noted that the Members concerned could apply for a review of the licence for any premises causing particular public nuisance relating to urination.

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 that provided details of the working being conducted by the Street Environment Team to implement to the Obstruction Policy.

Members were advised that 124 obstructions have been removed from the City’s footways this year, with the majority of these removed voluntarily by the businesses once they were made aware of the policy. The programme of work being carried out by the Street Environment Team to ensure obstructions that contravened the policy were removed was expected to continue until April 2016.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor advised that sanctions were available under the Highways Act to prosecute any business who refused to remove an obstruction. In response to a Member’s question, he added that a person holding an advertising board were not considered obstructions under the Highways Act as it referred to static items.

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 Clean City Awards Scheme, which had achieved a current income of £41,000 in 2015/16 following the introduction of a membership fee in September 2014. The Committee congratulated officers for the success of the Scheme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the City Surveyor regarding the Operation Property Review. Members were advised that proposals for assets identified as surplus would be submitted to each relevant service Committee at the next appropriate meetings. Members noted that it was important for each Committee to consider the proposals for any assets directly under its control.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the drivers for undertaking the Operational Property Review be noted; and

b)    the emerging opportunities from this review that impact on the work of this Committee be reported to subsequent meetings.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk that advised Members of a decision taken under urgency procedures by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, regarding the delegation of powers to the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection for matters relating to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

RESOLVED – That the decision taken under urgency since the last meeting of the Committee be noted.

In response to a Member’s question regarding traffic congestion at Aldgate, the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee noted the concerns and agreed to provide a response to the Member following consultation with relevant officers.

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

The Chairman congratulated the Department of the Built Environment and the Department of Markets and Consumer Protection for their recent successes in the Local Authority Clean Britain Awards, the Krys Zasada Award, and an Excellence in Customer Service Award for the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. Members were advised that details of the Awards had been publicised on the City Corporation website.

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.

17 – 18                                               3, 5 & 7

19                                                        3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2015 be approved.

Joint report of the Director of Open Spaces, the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection, and the 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 the Director of Open Spaces that informed Members of the arrears of invoiced income as at 30 September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the City Surveyor that sought approval to a lease of office space at the Port Health Offices at Manorway House.

There were none.

The Chairman noted that it was the Assistant Director of Street Scene and Strategy’s last meeting so the Committee thanked him for his contributions toward the work of the Committee and wished him luck in his new job.