Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Tijs Broeke, Jaspreet Hodgson, Deborah Oliver, and Glen Witney.

Shahnan Bakth, Caroline Haines, and Henry Jones observed the meeting virtually.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 7^th May 2024.

The Committee received the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting, held on 7^th May 2024, for approval.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting, held on 7^th May 2024, be approved as a correct record.

The Committee agreed that it would have an actions tracker for any Outstanding Actions.

(a)           To consider the following Resolution from the Ward of Cripplegate – 2^nd November 2023 and 20^th March 2024:

“This Wardmote resolves to call upon the City Corporation to provide an adequate number of constantly available public toilets to satisfy both the existing need and the ambition of Destination City.”

(b)           To consider the following Resolution from the Ward of Portsoken – 20^th March 2023:

“We welcome the consideration of given by the City of London Corporation’s Licensing Committee and Port Health and Environmental Services Committee to the issue of anti-social behaviour in Portsoken associated with the night-time economy, and further encourage the relevant Committee to consider the installation of pop-up public conveniences at night-time economy hotspots in the City to address the common issue of street urination.”

(c)           To consider the following Resolution from the Ward of Portsoken – 20^th March 2023:

“That the relevant Committee and/or Department of the City of London Corporation investigate whether there was a statutory nuisance or health and safety hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System in the Mansell Street Estate with regard to pest infestation, and any necessary steps taken to resolve any nuisance identified.”

The Committee received the Resolutions form the Grand Court of Wardmote.

With regards to the Resolution from the Ward of Portsoken (Item 4(a)), the Committee heard that officers had reviewed the complaints from the last six months from the Mansell Street Estate. These had been dealt with in conjunction with Guiness Estates, to ensure that the work was underway with regards to pest control. The Committee heard that the estate manager should be contacted if there were any concerns with pest infestation, and to contact the City Corporation if their issues were not being resolved with the estate manager. There was currently no statutory nuisance or health and safety hazard in the Mansell Street Estate and therefore no formal action. This was kept under continual review.

RESOLVED – That the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee receive the Resolutions from the Grand Court of Wardmote.

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning proposed changes to restrictions on domestic and commercial waste on the footway, and a proposal for strengthened communications, education and enforcement approach to improve compliance.

Members discussed the proposals. One area of concern raised was the impacts of the current waste presentation on small businesses that operated within the City, especially those which primarily operated at lunch hours (such as sandwich shops). Members shared concerns received from businesses who paid for extra hours for an employee to present the waste from 6:00pm, or else take the waste home. Members offered suggestions to address these issues, such as the small businesses working with larger restaurants to use their larger commercial waste bins which were lockable.

Members raised that if waste was put out prior to 6:00pm, this was during high footfall periods on the street and could cause further issues, and the changes to the restrictions does bring more flexibility for businesses to put out their waste later. Members heard that the City Corporation offered internal collection for smaller businesses, although there were a variety of businesses that separately collected waste for businesses throughout the City.

Members also discussed issues raised with having waste on the street, which included waste attracting rodents, foxes, and seagulls. Those businesses who put out their waste at 6:00pm may not have it collected until the early hours of the next morning. Vehicles collecting the waste during the nighttime could cause noise nuisances for residents – although on this point the Committee heard that the City Corporation’s fleet was electric which was quieter, and Veolia were transitioning into electric vehicles. The Committee heard that the Time Banding Scheme was introduced in 2012 as waste bags on the street caused further littering from members

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning the current public convenience provision in the Square Mile and outlined options for the future.

Members discussed the proposals. Points made included the need for improved publicising and wayfinding for public convenience facilities within the Square Mile, and need for better signage at locations such as libraries and train stations within the City. The Committee noted that one of the recommendations was to improve the wayfinding aspect of public conveniences. There had been discussions with Transport for London at the public toilet provision within the London Underground Network. There would also be consideration of extending the opening hours of the urilifts at Paternoster Hill utilising the nighttime levy.  

Some Members highlighted their concerns with the Community Toilets Scheme, such as its lack of ambition with the number of toilets available, and the signage not being prominent or large enough to be noticeable.

The Committee made points with regards to the funding of public conveniences, including utilising cashless systems and hiring staff via agencies to manage the facilities. On these points, the Committee heard that there was still a strong demand for coins, and there were issues with those who did not pay the fee and climbed the barrier into the toilets. It was not being recommended to remove the fees and charges for public conveniences, as it contributed to meeting the cost of running the facilities. The Committee were reminded of the challenge to backfill £1.2m, the toilets that had been closed had been closed based on usage data. Even if toilets were closed, there were still maintenance costs. It was confirmed that agency staff were used for managing the facilities.

Members of the Committee referred to Grade I listed facilities which had been closed, and a

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning the statutory Annual Status Report for air quality.

A Member enquired why there were gaps in the data for locations such as Upper Thames Street. It was explained that the air quality monitors had to be re-located as the sites was no longer viable, or monitors had not been installed until recent years.

A Member raised concerns on riverside pollution and enquired if this was monitored. The response was that a monitor had been installed on Tower Pier, and the City Corporation worked with the Port of London Authority (PLA) who also monitored pollution on the riverside. Monitors had also been installed on the City’s bridges in conjunction with the City Bridge Trust. The locations of the monitors were reviewed annually.

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

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning an update on the progress toward the delivery of the high-level Business Plan 2024/24, for Period Three (December 2023 – March 2024).

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

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning the actions being taken by the Environment Department to monitor, mitigate and effectively manage risks arising from the Port Health and Public Protection and the Cleansing Services.

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

Joint Report of the Chamberlain and the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Committee in 2023/24 with the final budget for the year.

A Member raised that Finance Committee was encouraging the service committees to receive regular reports for the current financial years budget, and enquired is this was incorporated as part of the Committee’s forward plan. The response was that financial updates were regularly included as part of the regular business update, the next of which was due to be received at the Committee’s November meeting.

It was explained that the figures in Appendix 1 were the net costs, with the figures in brackets being the net expenditure.

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

The Interim Executive Director for Environment to be heard.

The Committee received a verbal update of the Interim Executive Director for Environment concerning an update on Brexit in relation to Port Health. With the introduction of the second phase of the controls on 30^th April 2024, there had been a project of 140,000 consignments. There was an average of 3,000 consignments, which meant projections were currently accurate. This could increase as trade adjusted to the new border control regime. The new staffing resource was in place, with fixed-term contracts to cope with the additional work and extended operational hours. The Service was collecting data to be reviewed at six-months post-implementation, at which point the resourcing requirements would be reviewed. Issues had arisen with recharging for the EU goods on the IT system, and a workaround had to be created in the interim.

A Member enquired if it was known on what the percentage of the recharge would be on imported goods. The response was that this was currently unknown. The border control regime operated on a full-cost recovery basis, and the recharges were based on the cost recovery for the service. It was unknown how this would impact imported products on shelves, however the fees and charges structure was reasonably modest when compared to the other charges imports are subject to, and that these charges had been placed on imports from the Rest of World for many years. The charges were the same for medium risk goods for the EU imports and Rest of World. The primary difference with the new controls was the concept of a low-risk good, which was a surveillance process which cost approximately £10 per consignment.

It was queried why the IT system has caused issues for EU imports if it had previously been used for the Rest of World. The response was that

There were no public questions.

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

A Member raised a noise nuisance that had occurred at the Barbican during the preceding weekend. Residents had attempted to make contact with the noise team via the phone number on the City Corporation’s website, but was unable to get through. The Member enquired what had occurred and what assurances could be given that this situation would not occur again.

The response was that this matter had been picked up and the issues were being investigated, the initial cause appeared to be that the phone lines went down. Officers were attempted to recover and follow up on noise complaints received over the weekend. Once the investigation was complete, the Committee would be informed. The Committee were assured that this was a unique incident.

Members commented on the increasing issues of noise nuisances with holiday rental properties, and there was uncertainty on whether the noise arose from the tenants or visitors and was difficult to police. It took a lot of time, evidence, and work to convict.

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 May 2024.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 7^th May 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director of Environment concerning a write-off of outstanding debt.

A Member raised a question in relation to the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre.

There were no non-public items of urgent business.