Agenda item

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 12 November 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November, 2013 be approved as a correct record subject to paragraph two of item 7 being amended to the following –

“In response to a query from a Member over the control of transfers of non-staffing budgets to staffing budgets, the Chamberlain explained that these were in place in order to minimise the creation of new long term commitments.”

MATTERS ARISING

Polling –Public Conveniences

The Assistant Cleansing Director informed the Committee that a further detailed survey would take place to further investigate the poor public convenience results. To progress this, a working group had been set up including Members of the PHES Committee and officers. The group along with the survey company had developed a set of questions which, it was hoped, would help inform where specific improvements may be needed in the service. The survey was planned to take place in February with results being shared with the working group and reported back to this Committee thereafter with recommendations to progress forward.

Members were informed that barriers were being installed at the Public Conveniences at Bank and East Cheap. The Bank barrier installation had been delayed due to works being carried out by London Underground and completion was now anticipated to be in early February.  Once the Bank barrier project had been completed works would commence at East Cheap with the expected completion being the end of March 2014.  Furthermore, Members were pleased to learn that the opening hours of these public conveniences and Paternoster Square had been extended in line with Tower Hill i.e. they would open from 7.15am to 9.00pm.

Bishopsgate Bin Trial– The Assistant Cleansing Director informed Members that the ‘Which side of the Fence’ campaign had been successful and consideration was now being given to other areas of the City that might benefit.  The feedback from the campaign in Bishopsgate had demonstrated just how unclean the streets became without being cleaned on a regular basis and in light of this it was likely that any future campaigns would be carried out over a shorter period of time.