Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Shravan Joshi, Paul Martinelli and Ian Seaton.

Deputy Fredericks stated that in relation to Agenda Item 4 – 100 Minories: 278 Highway Works (Phase 1), and Public Realm Enhancements (Crescent)(Phase 2), she was a resident of Tower Ward, knew the architects of the two hotels and had attended the event currently taking place in Crescent.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2023.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes of the meeting of 4 July 2023 be approved as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Matters Arising

Letter from TfL regarding the rerouting of Number 11 bus route

A Member asked if a response had been received to the letter sent to TfL. An Officer stated that a response had been received and would be circulated to Members of the Sub-Committee.

Barbican and Golden Lane Healthy Streets Plan

A Member asked about the governance of the joint project with Islington Council. An Officer stated that a working group had been established with Officers at Islington Council and the arrangements for Member level governance had been discussed. A Member working group would be set up to inform and oversee the work to develop the proposals and these proposals would be submitted to the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee. Islington had fewer ward Members than the City so it was suggested that two or three representatives from the City sit on the working group. The Chairman had suggested these representatives should be Members of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee. The Officer stated that a meeting of Chairman and Deputy Chairman plus the relevant Executive Member at Islington Council would be arranged.

In response to a Member’s question about when the proposals would be submitted, an Officer stated that it was anticipated they would be submitted to the Sub-Committee in the first half of 2024 and this would be followed by the consultation.

Dockless Cycles

A Member asked about the performance of Lime since the new agreement had been signed. She raised concerns about the cycles constricting the pedestrian flow on Cheapside. An Officer stated that the latest statistics from the operators had not yet been received, there had been increased usage over the summer and the City

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

Members received a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which outlined Phase 1 of the project which involved S278 funded highway works to integrate the hotel development at 100 Minories into the City’s highway and Phase 2 of the project which involved public realm enhancements and the landscaping of Crescent.

The Chairman stated that a late public submission had been received and gave Members time to read it.

The Officer stated that there had been a delay in finalising the S278 agreement over several years and this had increased the costs. The costs had been reported to the hotel operator and the works could not proceed without payment. Any delays to the payment could result in further costs due to inflation.

The Officer stated that the design of the public realm enhancements had evolved following consultation and liaison with occupiers and TfL. She stated that TfL required 24 hour, 7 day a week access to their substation for the Circle and District Lines which was in Crescent and they had made comments on the design which Officers had worked to address. Officers had also worked with the Destination City team to accommodate more event activities. The team had advised that the ideal space for events and activities was 100 square metres. Officers had also worked with the relevant Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and had held a workshop to talk about possible events. She advised that Officers had held several meetings with the hotel and the hotel architects and had taken on board their comments, which had evolved over the consultation. The Officer stated that two options had been developed.

The Officer informed Members that the first option was similar to that approved in January 2023 by the Sub-Committee and the second option included more space for events. The Officer

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which provided an update on the delivery of the City Cluster programme.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee

1.         Note and approve the content of this progress update;

2.         Note the funding strategy in Appendix 2 of the Officer report, and the commitment of £1m from the EC Business Improvement District, subject to the outcome of the City’s capital bid which has been submitted for consideration;

3.         Approve funding of £35,000 from the S106 contribution of 40 Leadenhall Street for staff costs and fees for the management of the City Cluster programme including communications, for the next reporting period, as set out in Appendix 2 of the Officer report; and

4.         Approve the following recommendations regarding the Leadenhall Street Improvement project, to enable the project to progress to Gateway 3:

i. Approve the progression of the project’s design shown in Appendix 3 of the Officer report towards a more-detailed design with costed greening and public realm options for future consideration and approval by Members;

ii. Approve the increased and amended budget shown in Appendix 4 of the Officer report to enable the above work to take place and reach the next gateway, including the requested increase of £173,000 to a new overall budget of £391,000. (proposed to be funded by the 20 Fenchurch Street S106 monies);

iii. Approve the inclusion of a works budget line to accommodate trial holes to help validate potential greening locations along the street; and

iv. Approve the amended Risk Register in Appendix 5 that has been updated following the outcome of TfL’s Bishopsgate Experimental Traffic Order to release the funding previously held in the register back into the project.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning proposed public realm and highway improvements to the Creechurch Lane, Mitre Street and Bury Street area.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee

1.         Approve the initiation of this project;

2.         Approve the budget of £75,000 (staff costs and fees) for the project to reach the next Gateway 3/4, funded from the Section 106 agreement of 40 Leadenhall Street development;

3.         Note the total estimated cost of the project at £500,000-£780,000 (excluding risk); and

4.         Authorise officers to prepare and agree a funding letter to receive the external funding contribution from the EC Business Improvement District.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the proposal to replace the ageing external lighting system at St Paul’s Cathedral with a new innovative and energy efficient system.

The Officer stated that there would be brighter light to the dome and the upper parts of the building and this would support distant views across London. There would be softer, dimmed light to the base of the building which would contribute to the ambience of its local setting in the City. There would be an appearance of light radiating out from the main body of the cathedral to create a sense of a living building.

Members were informed that lighting tests would be carried out in in the near future and the proposed lighting would be demonstrated to key stakeholders, decision makers from the City, St Paul’s Cathedral, external statutory bodies and sponsors. The Officer stated that a budget of £350,000 was requested to carry out these trials, progress the design details and prepare the next gateway report which was due to be submitted in Quarter 3 of 2024. It was anticipated that the Gateway 5 report would be submitted in Quarter 1 of 2025.

The Officer stated that the report also requested approval to formalise the end of the lighting system to St Paul’s Cathedral. Members were informed that the Cathedral had agreed to take on the future maintenance, running costs and management of the lighting system. It was anticipated that the new system would deliver annual savings of approximately 60% of both running costs and maintenance. It would also reduce light pollution and the carbon footprint in line with the City’s Lighting Strategy, the Lighting Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and the Climate Action Plan.

The Officer stated that project funding had now

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment, outlining the project aims to deliver an enhanced public space through increased greening, improved seating, and accessibility improvements plus additional design objectives to maximise the delivery of climate resilience measures.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee

1.         Approve design option 2 to be taken forward to the next gateway;

2.         Approve an additional budget of £37,600 from the 39-53 Cannon Street S106 to reach the next Gateway, thus increasing the available project budget to £177,607;

3.         Note the revised total estimated cost of the project at £650,000-£780,00 excluding risk;

4.         Delegate the approval of a Costed Risk Provision to the Interim Executive Director, Environment should one be sought at Gateway 5;

5.         Delegate approval to undertake the statutory consultation that may be required in relation to the reviewed position of the Doctor’s parking bay and disabled bays, to the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the installation of a physical barrier on Widegate Street.

In response to a Member’s questions about how the bollards would be removed when the street was open, an Officer stated that there would be a legal agreement between the City and the operator, Marugame Udon, a restaurant located in Widegate Street, and they would be required to remove the bollards when the street was open.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee

1.         Note the proposals as detailed in the Officer report; and

2.         Authorise the Comptroller to enter into the S278 agreement under the Highways Act 1980, with Marugame Udon, to fund the proposals as detailed in this report, operate the removable bollards, pay for maintenance when required and the removal of the measures should they no longer be needed.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning approval for a further allocation of ring-fenced S106 funds, consistent with previous Member approvals and corporate priorities.

An Officer stated that the money was ring-fenced as all of the Section 106 funds were either geographically restricted or restricted in purpose and had therefore been allocated, or had an allocation proposed, based on these factors.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee approve the allocation of £8,953,294 in S106 deposits to programmes and projects, as outlined in the Officer report.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which was a gateway 1 and 2 report for 23 separate Section 278 projects.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee

1.         Approve project budgets for each project to reach the next gateways as set out in the tables in Section 2 of the Officer report; and

2.         Authorise officers to instruct the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s department to negotiate and enter into Section 278 agreements for the individual projects.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the Commemorative Benches and Trees Policy which aimed to formalise the existing offer for benches and trees in City Gardens and Public Realm.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee approve the adoption of the draft Commemorative Benches and Trees Policy as set out in Appendix 1 of the Officer report.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the proposal to deliver new and improved public realm in Bishopsgate, Crosby Square, Great St Helen’s and Undershaft under the Section 278 and Section 106 agreements associated with the development at 22 Bishopsgate.

Following a Member’s comment about wind levels when exiting from Horizon 22, and asking about possible mitigation, Officers stated they would raise this with Planning Officers and report back to Members.

In response to a Member’s concern that trees had been planted but one was not looking healthy, and others having been removed and not replaced, an Officer stated that under planning conditions, the trees would be replaced. He would enquire as to the species being proposed and report back to the Member. The Officer stated that the trees that had previously been planted, had been planted by the developer with TfL approval but against Officer recommendations. He further stated that the trees planted by the City in the public realm had a very high success rate.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee

1.         Note the delay to the completion of the S278 works associated with 22 Bishopsgate;

2.         Note the 6-8 Bishopsgate S278 contribution of £105,000 towards the increased cost of the 22 Bishopsgate public realm project;

3.         Approve an increase to the 22 Bishopsgate public realm project budget of £105,000 to complete the project implementation in Undershaft and note the revised total estimated project cost at £1,400,500; and

4.        Approve the budget adjustment related to staff and works costs to be actioned as outlined in Table 2 Appendix 4 of the Officer report.

Report of the Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the proposal to deliver an enhanced package of Section 278 highway and public realm improvements around the new development at 35 Vine Street, including the introduction of pedestrian priority measures in part of Vine Street, new cycle parking and ten street trees.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee

1.         Agree to retain £14,987 as a commuted maintenance sum for City Gardens to maintain the ten street trees;

2.         Approve the budget adjustment set out in Appendix 3, Table 2 of the Officer report;

3.         Approve the content of the outcome report and agree for the project to be closed;

 4.        Authorise the return of unspent funds to the developer.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the proposal to deliver public realm enhancements to the area surrounding the new development at Creed Court as outlined in the Sections 106 and 278 agreements, to accommodate the projected increase in pedestrian traffic and servicing needs of the hotel.

A Member commented that when the street was partially closed, many pedestrians were unaware the street was partially open and therefore businesses that relied on passing trade, had lost business. He advised that once Officers were informed of this, they responded quickly, putting signage on Ludgate Hill advising that the businesses were still open. He stated that this was a learning point for the future.

RESOLVED - That the Sub-Committee

1.         Approve the contents of this report and agree to close this project;

2.         Approve the budget adjustment related to staff costs to be actioned as outlined in Appendix 3 of the Officer report;

3.         Authorise return of unused funds to the developer, including any accrued interest as per the Section 278 agreement.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the list of Outstanding References.

RESOLVED – That the Beech Street Transport and Public Realm Improvements item be removed from the list of Outstanding References.

There were no questions.

There were two items of business to be considered under 18a and 18b.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which provided an update on recent activity and the next steps for Area B (the Western side of Moor Lane). The Officer stated that Area A (the Eastern side of Moor Lane) had already been agreed in July 2022 and work would start on Area A in October 2023.

An Officer stated that the report followed concerns raised by local resident representatives regarding design. The design which had been approved in May 2023 had an outstanding element relating to the greening aspects for the Rain Gardens, planters and the Clean Air Garden. The Officer advised that the recent representations were outside of the elements delegated in that approval and that the issues raised were contained within the Officer report. She stated that Officers had proposed to pause delivery and undertake a review of the design for the Western pavement and look at whether a change of traffic management in the Healthy Streets Neighbourhood Plan would offer a greater opportunity for additional greening and planting. It was also proposed that independent advice would be sought to review the proposals and feed into an overall design review. The Officer stated that the aim of the review was to establish if there were any other options that would allow taller trees or greater planting that would be deliverable, sustainable and maintainable in the longer term. This information would then be presented back to interested stakeholders at a stakeholder progress meeting and there would then be a report back to the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee in early 2024.

In response to a Member’s question, the Officer stated that the constraints of the street still remained, particularly regarding London Underground and the requirement for access to the car park and 21 Moorfields.

The Chairman

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the action taken since the last meeting.

In response to a Member’s question as to why the continuation of the traffic and timing mix review at Bank would cost £650,000, an Officer stated that if there was a robust reason to change the traffic order, traffic modelling would be required. Much of the money was to pay for consultants’ time as well as TfL’s time for the auditing of a large modelled area and £150,000 was for costed risk so was only included in the eventually that it became an issue. Therefore, £500,000 had been set aside to progress to the conclusion if there was a change to the traffic order. An Officer stated that approximately £100,000 had been committed to studies underway on taxi availability.

A Member commented that the Court of Common Council approved the need for a review, not necessarily for a change, and that wording should reflect the words of the motion.

A Member asked for a full breakdown of the costs of revisiting the mix of traffic at Bank and raised concern that the motion was not debated in Court. She also raised concern about the amount of Officers’ time and resources spent on this. She raised further concern that the mix and timings of traffic might not be approved by TfL and stated that she would like the junction closed to traffic 7am-7pm and also at weekends. She stated that the closure had calmed the whole area and suggested that the Sub-Committee should undertake a review so lessons could be learnt going forward. The Member also raised concern that the decision was taken under urgency which meant the Sub-Committee could not discuss it.

An Officer stated that an update report would be submitted