Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Karina Dostalova, Dennis Cotgrove, Graeme Harrower, Andrew McMurtrie, Hugh Morris, and Henrika Priest.

Deputy Stanley Ginsburg declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to commercial waste collection in Bishopsgate as a business owner on Middlesex Street.

To note the Order of the Court of Common Council of 21 April 2016, appointing the Committee and setting is Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED – That the Order of the Court of Common Council, 21 April 2016, appointing the Committee and its Terms of Reference, be noted.

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

RESOLVED – That in accordance with Standing Order No. 29, Wendy Mead be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

The Chairman welcomed Dennis Cotgrove and John Scott back the Committee and welcomed Anne Fairweather as a new Committee Member. She added her thanks to the outgoing Members: Deputy John Bennett, Henry Colthurst and Marianne Fredericks, for their contributions to the Committee.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

RESOLVED – That in accordance with Standing Order No. 30, Jeremy Simons be elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 8 March 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2016 be approved.

Matters Arising

Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC)

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that the HARC hosted a meeting with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to discuss issues being experienced surrounding both The Pet Travel Scheme and the standards of US veterinary paperwork and Emotional Support Animals. Five members of the USDA based at the US Embassy in London attended. Discussions on these matters proved fruitful and good contacts were made. Since the meeting the HARC had seen an improvement in veterinary paperwork and were made aware that the issue of Emotional Support Animals is being discussed in Washington with US carriers and the US Department of Transport.

Recycling Action Plan

The Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations advised that waste collectors had been instructed to lock waste storage bins within the Middlesex Street Estate and this instruction would be re-iterated. The Assistant Director added that the new Bishopsgate Bin units had been delivered and were soon to be installed to encourage the recycling of newspapers and magazines in and around Train Stations.

Rough Sleepers

The Chairman advised that the various contact methods and details for reporting locations of rough sleepers to relevant Officers had been circulated to Members following the last Committee meeting. Members noted that there remained a number of rough sleepers within the City of London who were offered accommodation through Broadway, a homeless charity who worked in collaboration with the City of London Police to target a reduction in people sleeping rough in the community. Members of this Committee who were also Members of the Police Committee could raise Members’ concerns at a future Police Committee meeting.

Noise Pollution

The Director of Port Health and Public

To note the current list of Outstanding Actions.

The Committee received the list of current Outstanding Actions. Members noted that the report from the West London Riverside Waste Authority regarding the piloted recycling-incentive scheme was still being produced so would be reported to the Committee when available.

RESOLVED – That the list of current Outstanding Actions be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces that provided a year-end update regarding progress against the sections of the Open Spaces Business Plan 2015-18 that related to the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. Members noted that the Cemetery and Crematorium had ‘overachieved’ during 2015/16, having achieved more income than anticipated and budgets underspend.

RESOLVED – That the Open Spaces Business Plan 2015-18 year-end progress be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces that outlined the Open Spaces Business Plan 2016-19, with a particular focus on the elements within the Plan that related to the Cemetery and Crematorium. The Business Manager added that risk management had been reported in January 2016 and would be reported again at the next Committee meeting.

In response to a Member’s questions, the Superintendent of the Cemetery and Crematorium that an objective relating to the long-term percentage of market share cremations and burials would be considered in future Plans. The Superintendent added that income could still be generated from burials despite numbers decreasing as competitive prices could be charged for large variety of burial options.

In response to some Members’ suggestions regarding the installation of new fully abated cremators being brought forward from 2020/21, the Superintendent advised that the some local crematoriums used solely non-abated cremators so the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium was ahead of its competitors in this respect. He added research had shown that the mercury from the current non-abated cremators was released high into the atmosphere and then precipitated over the North Sea, so it was not a threat locally.

In response to another Member’s question, the Superintendent advised that the installation of photovoltaic panels on the flat roof of the Crematorium had produced 30,000kw of electricity during 2015/16. He added that the panels could not produce enough electricity to run the Cemetery and Crematorium site as 260,000kw were used during 2015/16.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the overall Open Spaces 2016 – 2019 Business Plan be noted

b)    the key actions and performance indicators relating specifically to the Cemetery and Crematorium be approved.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment that sought approval to the sections of the Department of the Built Environment Business Plan 2016-19 that related to Environmental Services.

RESOLVED – That the Department of the Built Environment Business Plan 2016-19 be approved.

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 risk management procedures in place within the Department of the Built Environment in accordance with the corporate Risk Management Framework.

RESOLVED - That the actions taken in the Department of the Built Environment to monitor and manage effectively risks arising from the Department’s operations 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 NI195 survey results conducted by Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) for the City Corporation Cleansing Service from June 2015 to March 2016. The Committee congratulated the Department for the survey results, which were the best since 2006. The Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations added that the Cleansing Service still faced the challenge to reduce the amount of chewing gum and smoking relating litter within the City of London.

In response to a Member’s question regarding fly posting, the Assistant Director advised that KBT would be asked to pay particular attention to this during their next survey. The Assistant Director added that the London Borough of Camden had recently prosecuted a music events promoter for fly posting; he would liaise with the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s Department to discuss the possibility of prosecutions within the City of London.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the Holborn viaduct staircase, the Assistant Director advised they had recently been cleaned following a site meeting. It had previously been cleaned twice a year but this would be increased to four times per year in addition to daily inspections by sweepers. The Member requested that the cleans be increased beyond four times per year so the Assistant Director agreed to discuss this matter at the next site meeting and report back to the Member.

RESOLVED – That the NI195 Survey results 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 provided an update regarding the progress against the key performance indicators and objectives outlined in the Port Health and Public Protection Business Plan 2015-18 for Period three of 2015/16.

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 the 2016-19 Business Plan of the Port Health and Public Protection Service.

RESOLVED – That the Port Health and Public Protection Business Plan 2016-19 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 2016/17 Massage and Special Treatment Licence fees and the fees for those premises seeking to register for acupuncture, tattooing, ear and cosmetic piercing or electrolysis.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that some fees had reduced in comparison to 2015/16 because the fees could only be set on a full cost recovery basis in accordance with the Licensing Act.

RESOLVED – That the proposed fees for 2016/17 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 Corporation’s Health and Safety Intervention Plan 2016/17.

RESOLVED – That the Health and Safety Intervention Plan 2016/17 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 and the London Port Health Authority Food Service Enforcement Plans 2016/17.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that food market stalls are regularly checked and should always be registered with the Local Authority where they were based.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the City of London Food Service Enforcement Plan 2016-2017 be approved; and

b)    the London Port Health Authority Food Service Enforcement Plan 2016-2017 be approved.

There were none.

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

There was none.

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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2016.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 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 a new lease of additional office accommodation for Port Health Offices at Manorway House.

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

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 the arrears of invoiced income outstanding as at 31 March 2016.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were none.

The Chairman reminded Members of the following upcoming Committee events: the Annual River Inspection on Friday 8 July 2016 and the bi-annual visit to the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium on Tuesday 13 September 2016.