Agenda item

Joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding the progress of Phase 2 of the Middlesex Street Area works to enhance Petticoat Lane Market and the central section of Middlesex Street between Sandys Row and St Botolph Street.

The Director of Transportation and Public Realm advised that the consultants’ recommendations for additional public toilets would be fed into the next Committee report which would present options for Members’ consideration. In response to Members’ concerns regarding public urination caused by a perceived lack of toilets, the Chairman advised that it usually occurred late at night when coin-operated public conveniences, Urilifts, and Community Toilet Scheme toilets were all available to members of the public.

Members suggested that an educational campaign was required to discourage public urination by highlighting the costs to the local authority. In response to a Member’s question, the Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations advised that the local authority was responsible for cleaning if public urination occurred in the public realm but property and land owners were responsible if it occurred on private land. However, if it became a regular problem on private land then land owners could report it to the Cleansing Team who would in turn inform the City of London Police about the problem area.

The Committee noted that the relevant Members would continue to be consulted as part of the project’s Working Group.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)     the progress of Phase 2 of the Middlesex Street Area Enhancement be noted; and

b)    The funding of £50,000 required to reach Gateway 3 , to be funded from Section 106 contributions relating to the 5 Broadgate Development (Section 106 Agreement dated 29 July 2011), be approved.