Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received the current list of outstanding actions.

Impact of Brexit

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency were engaging more with the City of London Corporation and whilst there were still a number of unknowns with regard to Brexit, the Corporation had a consultant in place to help with negotiations and lobbying. An update report would be provided to the next meeting of the Committee.

Electric Vehicle Charging

The Director of Transportation and Public Realm advised that a contract had been awarded for the installation of a charging point at Noble Street and it was anticipated this would be operational in November 2018.

A hub of eight to ten charging points was planned for installation at Baynard House, however the technical details were still being worked on and TfL would need to complete their cost benefit appraisal before making a final decision.  The Director of Transportation and Public Realm advised that the points were likely to be operational next summer.

In response to a Member’s comments that there were a number of charging points in place on the Islington side of Smithfield Market, the Chairman explained these were not 45 kW rapid charging points and noted that the City of London Corporation would continue to look at opportunities to install charging points.

Gumdrop

The Assistant Director of Cleansing advised that gum receptacles were not a viable option for the City. In response Members raised the following points:

·         a new kind of chewing gum had been invented which does not stain the ground, could the City Corporation’s links with government compel companies to sell this;

·         would it be possible to treat the paving stones to make it harder for chewing gum to stain the ground;

In response, the Assistant Director of Cleansing explained that the pavements within the City were coated; there were 900 cigarette butt and gum bins within the City, and enforcement activities could be stepped up. It was added that the Chartered Institute of Waste Management and Keep Britain Tidy both lobby government, but it was not known whether any influence could be used to compel companies to sell non-stick gum.

This item would now be discharged from the Outstanding Actions report.

Section 101 Agreements

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that the Section 101 Agreement with Tower Hamlets was in draft form with the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s Department. An officer with enforcement powers on the bridges would start work on 1 November 2018. Furthermore, enforcement work had commenced on Millennium Bridge with two carts seized and the traders had not returned since.

Mosquitoes

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection advise that the steps taken with regards to the mosquitoes had been communicated back to residents via the relevant Member and there had been no further complaints. In response, a Member noted there may be mosquitoes within the Barbican area.

This item would now be discharged from the Outstanding Actions report.