Agenda item

Joint report of the City Surveyor & the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor and the Interim Executive Director, Environment in respect of the Considerate Lighting Charter (‘Charter’), which the City Corporation encouraged those involved in lighting in the City; i.e. - owners, managers and occupiers of existing buildings, to commit to.

A Member asked for the outcome of the discussion on the report which was submitted to the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting in January 2024 and raised concern about the timeline. The Officer stated that the discussion largely focused on the works that were required to the City Corporation's own buildings in order to be able to sign up to the Charter. The Officer advised that the report also went to the Communications and Corporate Affairs Sub-Committee on the 28 February where it received broad support. The Officer stated that in terms of the timeline and next steps, work was being undertaken by the City Surveyors in relation to the nature of the works required to the City of London Corporation's own buildings in order to give assurance to the appropriate committee to be able to sign up to the Charter and be the first signatory on the Charter. Alongside this work, the Planning team were bringing together a round table in April 2024 of building managers, occupiers, and businesses, to understand the appetite for signing up to the Charter and any barriers that might be in place. Information would then be provided to colleagues in the Communications team so they could consider whether there was a role for a communications campaign to promote the Charter.

A Member asked if a pilot could be considered and the Officer confirmed this would be considered as recommendations were made to Communications colleagues. The Officer added that with the round table, consideration would be given to using business owners and building managers to provide expertise and feedback.

A Member commended the thorough work that was being undertaken. Another Member also commended the work. He asked for a timeline and Officers stated that this would be circulated to Members of the Committee.

A Member stated that, particularly with the increase in energy prices, there would be an economic return on being a member of the Charter and the City should work to sign up as soon as possible.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.