Agenda item

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2023.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes of the meeting of 26 September 2023 be approved as an accurate record of the proceedings subject to the following amendment:

That the public minutes of the meeting of 26 September 2023 be approved as an accurate record of the proceedings subject to Item 4 – 100 Minories: 278 Highway Works (Phase 1), and public realm enhancements (Crescent) (Phase 2)being amended to state that the Officer advised that there had been a letter drop of local occupiers but this had not included the residential blocks as they were not close enough to the Crescent.

Matters Arising

Barbican and Golden Lane Healthy Streets Plan

The Chairman asked when the meeting would take place with Islington Council to discuss the governance of the Barbican and Golden Lane Healthy Streets Plan. An Officer stated that this was being arranged.

100 Minories: 278 Highway Works (Phase 1), and Public Realm Enhancements (Crescent) (Phase 2)

A Member stated that she had asked to see the consultation responses from the Crescent design as well as the letter that was sent out and the premises that were consulted. She stated that there was a residential block closer than some of the business occupiers that were consulted, for example, in the Business Improvement Districts. The Member stated that she was concerned that the residents had not been consulted when they were 24/7 stakeholders. She added, that the letter dated November 2022 had been sent to occupiers of the Crescent  but the buildings were empty. She understood the freeholder had sent in a response but she had not seen this. The Member outlined the responses she had seen. She also commented that the two BIDS had advised her that they would stay neutral on the design and she stated they were not in broad agreement with the proposal as was suggested at the last meeting. The Member commented that although the decision had been taken at the last meeting, residents should be properly consulted, especially on the Sports Strategy, Cultural Strategy and Destination City. The Member added that the padel court in the Crescent had been a temporary feature which had encouraged people into the area.

In response to points made by the Member, the Chairman stated that it was regrettable that nearby residents had not been consulted and there was a need to ensure this did not happen in the future. He added that it had not been stated that residents should not be consulted. In response to points raised, a Member clarified that there were 20 million visitors a year to the City and Destination City aimed to increase the figure by 1-2 million, there were 617,000 workers in the City midweek and in comparison there were 4,000 residents who lived in the City at weekends. He stated that when trying to increase those in the City through Destination City, these relative figures were important.

Moor Lane Environmental Enhancements

The Chairman asked for an update on Moor Lane. An Officer stated that since the last meeting, Officers had met with residents on-site to discuss the Clean Air Garden and concerns and desires for the space. The Officer explained that a landscape architect had been commissioned to look at options. In addition, Officers had been reviewing the City’s own design for the whole length of Moor Lane and had challenged the design assumptions over the course of the project to ensure that opportunities had not been missed. An external design review panel had been set up and would revisit the design. Officers would report back at a progress meeting with residents in early December. A Member stated that as a future phase of the project and linking in with the Healthy Streets programme, the scheme would be looked at as a major improvement of the streetscape which might include changes to the road layout. She requested that these potential concepts should be included at the meeting with residents and stated that the scheme would green the street to a certain extent but would also have further possible potential in the longer term.