Agenda and minutes

Venue: Livery Hall - Guildhall

Contact: Gemma Stokley  Email: gemma.stokley@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Introductions

The Town Clerk opened the meeting by introducing herself.

 

The Town Clerk highlighted that the meeting was being recorded as well as live streamed and would be made available on the City Corporation’s YouTube page for a period of time after the meeting had concluded. It was confirmed that all personal data would be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The Town Clerk highlighted that, for further information on this, viewers could contact the City Corporation using the details provided on the public webpages.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Brian Mooney, Judith Pleasance, Alethea Silk and Alderman Sir David Wootton.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' Declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

Deputy Alastair Moss declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda Item 8 and indicated that he intended to withdraw from the meeting whilst this matter was debated and voted upon.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

ORDER OF THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To receive the order of the Court of Common Council appointing the Committee dated 21 April 2022.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

The Committee received the separately circulated Order of the Court of Common Council of 21 April 2021 appointing the Committee and setting out its terms of reference for the ensuing year.

 

RECEIVED.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. 

 

A list of Members who had expressed an interest in and were eligible to stand was read by the Town Clerk and Deputy Marianne Fredericks and Deputy Shravan Joshi both expressed a willingness to serve. 

 

A ballot was therefore necessary.

 

A ballot having been taken, votes were cast as follows:-

 

Deputy Marianne Fredericks                                  -           8 votes

Deputy Shravan Joshi                                            -           18 votes

 

RESOLVED – That Deputy Shravan Joshi be elected Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29 for the year ensuing.

 

On being elected, the Chairman thanked the Committee for its support.

 

The Chairman went on to pay tribute to those Members who had now left the Committee, beginning with Oliver Sells QC who had served as Deputy Chairman for the past two years and who was thanked for his hard work, leadership and guidance during his term, also Douglas Barrow, Peter Bennett, Deputy Mark Bostock, Thomas Clementi, Deputy Peter Dunphy, Tracey Graham, Graeme Harrower, Deputy Christopher Hayward, Christopher Hill, Tom Hoffman, Jamie Ingham Clark, Alderwoman Susan Langley, James de Sausmarez and Barbara Newman who had served on this Committee for twenty years and was also a former Chair.

 

The Chair also welcomed new Members of the Committee – Brendan Barns, Alex Barr, Emily Benn, Ian Bishop-Laggett, Deputy Michael Cassidy, Antony Fitzpatrick, Martha Grekos, Jaspreet Hodgson, Alderman Ian Luder, Anthony Manchester, Deborah Oliver, Alethea Silk, Luis Tilleria, Shailendra Umradia and William Upton who was re-joining the Committee after a short pause in service.

 

Finally, the Chairman read a short statement in response to the Motion that had been passed at last week’s Court of Common Council meeting on traffic orders and Bank Junction. He also stated that this statement would be circulated to all Common Councillors

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

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

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. 

 

A list of Members who had expressed an interest in and were eligible to stand was read by the Town Clerk and Deputy Alastair Moss, being the only Member expressing a willingness to serve, was therefore duly elected as Deputy Chairman.

 

VOTE OF THANKS

 

Proposed by Deputy Henry Pollard;

Seconded unanimously;

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

 

THAT, at the conclusion of his term of office as their Chair, the Members of this Committee wish to extend to

 

Deputy Alastair Moss

 

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the extremely able and competent manner in which he has presided over their deliberations and the detailed interest and commitment he has shown in all aspects of the work of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

 

ALASTAIR’S Chairmanship has been extraordinary in many ways, not least because of the impact of the pandemic and its consequences upon all aspects of life in the City. Residents, businesses, workers and visitors were all profoundly affected. However, he was keen to ensure that it was business as usual from the onset of the first lockdown, even if that meant informal meetings at the outset and the many technological challenges that this presented. The role of this Committee, under his leadership, has been vital in responding to the crisis and leading the recovery with energy and vision, setting out our route to future prosperity. He has ensured that the challenges faced were met with determination and focus and has been committed to a fair balance between all stakeholders and collaborative decision making.


HIS experience and understanding of planning and transportation matters have been a driving force behind the record number of planning applications which have been considered in the past three years, with many others

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

APPOINTMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk relative to the appointment of its Sub Committees and Working Party, their constitution and terms of reference.

 

Streets and Walkways Sub Committee

The Town Clerk announced that, with eight Members expressing an interest in standing for the seven available spaces from the Planning and Transportation Committee, a ballot would be required.

 

Following discussion, the Committee were of the view that the membership of the Sub Committee should be expanded to incorporate eight as opposed to seven Members from the Planning and Transportation Committee for the ensuing year only, thereby negating the need for a ballot.

 

Local Plans Sub Committee

The Town Clerk announced that, with ten Members expressing an interest in standing for the five available spaces from the Planning and Transportation Committee, a ballot was required.

 

Following discussion, the Committee were of the view that the membership of the Sub Committee should be expanded to incorporate ten as opposed to five Members from the Planning and Transportation Committee for the ensuing year only, thereby negating the need for a ballot.

 

RESOLVED -That the appointment, composition and terms of reference of the sub-committees and working parties for the ensuing year are approved as follows:-

 

1)        Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee

The Chair and Deputy Chairman of the Grand Committee along with eight other Members (for the ensuing year only) as follows:

·                     Deputy Randall Anderson

·                     John Edwards

·                     Deputy Marianne Fredericks

·                     Deputy Edward Lord

·                     Deputy Graham Packham

·                     Deputy Susan Pearson

·                     Judith Pleasance

·                     Ian Seaton

 

  • Together with four ex-officio Members representing the Finance, Police and Open Spaces, City Gardens and West Ham Park and Port Health and Environmental Services Committees.

 

Terms of Reference

 

 

The Sub Committee is responsible for:-

 

(a)

traffic engineering and management, maintenance of the City’s streets, and the agreement of schemes

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 192 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 22 February 2022.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 February 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

 

Matters Arising

The Executive Director of Environment advised that further consultation on Beech Street had been deferred until after the 5 May Local Government elections at the request of LB Islington, with whom close co-ordination on the scheme was important. The aim was for this work to be completed by the end of May 2022.

 

In response to a question from a Member, the Executive Director of Environment advised that the report on whole life carbon referenced in the minutes would be brought to the July or June meetings of the Committee. The Member responded that given the significance of this matter, other matters should be deprioritised in order to complete this work, as it fed into all applications. The Chairman added that Members wanted to put pressure on to further the general agenda on this matter.

 

In response to a question from a Member regarding the impending application on London Wall West, the Chief Planning Officer advised that officers were working towards bringing the application to Committee in June.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

15 MINORIES, 57-60 & 62 ALDGATE HIGHSTREET AND 1 LITTLE SOMERSET STREET LONDON EC3 pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At this point, Deputy Alastair Moss (Deputy Chair) withdrew from the meeting.

 

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director regarding 15 Minories, 57-60 & 62 Aldgate High Street And 1 Little Somerset Street London EC3 – specifically, Demolition of existing structures, and erection of a mixed use office building, including ground floor flexible retail/cafe/commercial uses (Class E) and a public house (sui generis) (35,672 sqm GEA).

 

As a point of order, a Member commented that the application included properties located in the ward of Portsoken. However, the officer’s report and online search function listed the application as being located in the ward of Tower only. The Committee noted that this had been corrected in the separately circulated addendum, but that it would not have appeared in an online search for applications in the ward of Portsoken. The Committee was advised that officers were seeking to address this discrepancy.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director drew the Committee’s attention to the tabled addenda, before the Town Clerk outlined the Committee’s usual procedure for the consideration of planning applications.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director then introduced the application to Members and presented the officer’s report, informing the Committee about the details of the scheme and its wider implications and outlining the reasons for the officer’s recommendation. The officer’s recommendation was that the Committee resolve to grant planning permission, in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule.

 

In the absence of any registered objectors, Jan Donovan, on behalf of Rolfe Judd Planning, addressed the Committee in support of the recommendations. The Committee was advised that the conditions and obligations recommended by officers were supported by the applicant, and that the owners of 56-58 Aldgate High Street were in discussions with the applicant

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Planning Advice Note: Preventing suicides in high rise buildings and structures pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Report of the Director of the Environment Department.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment presenting a guidance note advising developers how to minimise the risk of suicide attempts in their proposed high-rise buildings and structures. The Executive Director of Environment introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points. The Chairman thanked officers for this critical work and sought the Committee’s approval.

 

A Member noted the use of both four storeys and ten metres as a measurement of height and suggested that their usage should be made consistent throughout the guidance note if buildings of four storeys or more were always at least ten metres in height.

 

A Member added that the use of this guidance as a standard planning note would be an important aspect going forward. Another Member suggested that links to relevant organisations from whom developers could seek advise on suicide be added to the guidance note, and that further consideration could be given to the use of balustrades.

 

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Transportation Committee approve the Preventing Suicides in High Rise Buildings and Structures Planning Advice Note attached at Appendix 1 as a material planning consideration.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Building Control Charges Report 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Report of the District Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment advising the Committee of the findings of the Building Control’s review into their previous fees and charges increases and to recommend revised fees for 2022/23. The Executive Director of Environment introduced the report and outlined the key points for Members. The Chairman commented that he felt general feedback was that the serve was good and represented value for money, adding that the service was also in the process of digitising, which he hoped would be joined-up.

 

In response to a question from Member, the Executive Director of Environment advised that whilst the increase in charges was below inflation, it would be sufficient, and that the fees were correct.

 

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Transportation Committee approve the new “City of London Building Regulations Charges Scheme No 5: 2022”, the “Building Control Miscellaneous Charges No 4: 2022” and amend the charge relating to the Hourly rate from £112 to £115 per hour.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

*PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE LOCAL PLAN SUB-COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 157 KB

To receive the draft public minutes of the meeting of the Local Plan Sub-Committee held on 31 January 2022.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting of the Local Plans Sub Committee held on 31 January 2022 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

*PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE STREETS & WALKWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 241 KB

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting of the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee held on 15 February 2022.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting of the Streets & Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 15 February 2022 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

*OUTSTANDING ITEMS pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED – That the list of outstanding actions be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

*PUBLIC LIFT REPORT pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

The Committee received a public lift report of the City Surveyor for the period 08/02/2022 – 10/04/2022.

 

A Member commented that a number of public lifts were at the end of closed walkways, and that notices should be put up well in advance of the lift in order to notify and divert intended users at an earlier stage, as this would be beneficial for users with limited mobility. The Member added that given the frequency with which some lifts and escalators were out of order, officers should consider reaching out to partner organisations that operated similar numbers of lifts and escalators to discuss availability and maintenance, and if performance was better elsewhere, to discuss what lessons could be learnt. Another Member added that the Committee had previously discussed the online reporting of availability.

 

The City Surveyor apologised for any individual difficulties caused by unavailability, and advised that reporting was currently possible via text and email, and maps showing the nearest available alternative were included with notices attached to lifts and escalators that were not available. The City Surveyor then acknowledged Members’ frustrations over the recent poor performance of the London Wall West escalators.

 

The Chairman asked that additional information on the provision of an online portal for reporting closures be provided with the next public lift report to Committee.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

*Delegated decisions of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director pdf icon PDF 295 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development and advertisement applications determined by the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director or those so authorised under their delegated powers since the report to the last meeting.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

*Valid planning applications received by Department of the Built Environment pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development applications received by the Department of the Built Environment since the report to the last meeting.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

Ludgate Square Construction

A Member asked whether businesses were given prior notice of street closures and relevant advice, particularly where the street closure would not necessitate the closure of those businesses, so that they could advise their clientele of the restrictions on access to them.

 

The Executive Director of Environment advised that in this case, businesses had been consulted one week prior to the start of construction, but accepted the view that this could have been done earlier. However, appropriate signage was installed quickly following notice of the issues for businesses after the closure, and the works would soon be complete.

 

21 Moorfields

A Member advised that it was clear that there had been a serious breach of the conditions applied to 21 Moorfields that affect Moor Lane, with Condition 17 in respect of protection from attacks using road vehicles before the start of construction and no application for the amendment of this Condition. As the breach had not been reported to Committee, the Member asked that officers investigated and reported back on how this had been allowed to happen, and what processes were in place to stop this from happening again.

 

The Chairman advised that in order for officers to provide as full a response as possible, the response would be deferred until the non-public section of the meeting.

 

Reporting

A Member reiterated a point raised by another Member during the consideration of the application in respect of 15 Minories, and asked that a table highlighting expected ratios of provision against the various characteristics of an application be provided for all future major developments. The Member added that a similar point had been raised previously in respect of off-site parking provision, and asked that a draft pro forma be put to the Committee for review. The Chairman added

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

A Member advised that they had constituents that were seeking to meet with him about Planning, particularly an application that had been considered prior to his election as a Member, and asked whether officers were able to support Members in these matters. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director advised that officers should be present at meetings between Members and potential applicants, and that an officer could be made available to accompany the Member. Furthermore, officers would be happy to consult with the Member beforehand in order to ensure they were adequately prepared. The Chairman added that the Planning Protocol specified that officers should be present at meetings between Members and developers or other stakeholders, and asked that this be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

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.

 

Item                             Paragraph

20                                3

21-22                           -

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

*NON-PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE STREETS & WALKWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE

To receive the non-public minutes of the meeting of the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee held on 15 February 2022.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the Streets & Walkways Sub Committee meeting held on 15 February 2022 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Non-Public questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There was one question.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the committee agrees should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There was no other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.