Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Clare James, Alderman Gregory Jones, Deputy Alastair Moss and Graham Packham.

Alderman Gowman declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 as her employer would shortly be relocating to 160 Aldersgate.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 February 2018.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 February 2018 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

RESOLVED – That the list of outstanding references be noted an updated as appropriate.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing an update on the monitoring and performance of the Bank on Safety scheme.

Officers reported that data was now available in relation to the first six to eight months of the scheme for the various monitoring criteria, and to date each of the agreed success criteria had either been met or exceeded.

Other related monitoring to assess impacts of the changes in the surrounding areas was also being undertaken, although it was important to note that not all could be directly attributed to the closure of Bank Junction.

In response to a question concerning data from the London Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), officers advised that this would require validation before it could be included in the final decision-making report.

RESOLVED – That performance to date against each of the agreed success criteria be noted.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment detailing the consultation results of the Bank on Safety consultations.

Members were advised that of the consultation survey, 45% of respondents supported the experiment as implemented, a further 29% generally supported the scheme but wanted to see changes, and a total 75% of respondents supported or generally supported the experiment.

Members noted that the majority of business and representative group respondents were supportive, including the City Property Association, which represented150 businesses within the City.

Overall, the most frequent request of a variation in the consultation survey was to allow black cabs through the junction.  This was suggested by 12% of the total respondents. 

Members commented that the consultation response had been excellent and the data entirely conclusive.

RESOLVED – That the outcomes of the Bank on Safety Consultation exercise be noted.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment

consolidating the Gateway 7 outcome reports for three City Transportation projects managed by the Major Projects team:

·         10 Trinity Square S278

·         160 Aldersgate S278

·         9-13 Aldgate S278

Members noted that the projects had delivered a number of enhancements across the City, including an improved pedestrian environment, improved public spaces, cycle contra-flows on one-way streets, and changes to waiting and loading restrictions to mitigate local traffic problems

RSOLVED – To receive the outcome information and approve the recommendations on individual project.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection concerning the LEN proposals for 2018/19 to deliver, in partnership with FCOG and the City Gardens team, two air quality greening projects on City streets or walkways.

In response to a question concerning the wider issues at Beech Street, officers advised that the LEN team had been working with the City Gardens team to develop proposals for the installation of planters and green climbing plants and a report in relation to this would be considered by the Port Health Committee.

Members welcomed the proposals and asked if more modelling could be undertaken to identify further locations for greening projects, possibly on an even larger scale. Officers advised that a comprehensive review of all projects was currently being undertaken and would be reported to the Sub-Committee, and it might be possible to combine the projects together.

RESOLVED – To approve the proposals for the delivery and installation of green infrastructure at locations that are either on or adjacent to the Public Highway or City Walkway in the LEN area. The two locations are:

1)            The columns supporting Barbican High Walk Platform outside 45 Beech Street, also known as Central Point (on or adjacent to the public highway);

2)            The footbridge above Aldersgate that connect Barbican station with the Barbican Estate (City Walkway);

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Built Environment in relation to the highway changes and public realm improvements at Aldgate.

Officers advised that although the approved budget for the pavilion was currently £4.4M, there was a further risk exposure of £0.5M given unresolved early warning notices and compensation event requests made by the contractor. These claims were currently being negotiated by the City Surveyor.

RESOLVED - To

1)    Note the overall project update, and be advised that the City Surveyor’s Department will be submitting a report associated with the Pavilion;

2)    Approve that any remaining funding shortfall, which is not expected to exceed £3M, be met from the OSPR, off set from the provision set aside for the All Change Bank project;

3)    Approve the increase of annual departmental base budgets for Highways (£75k) and Open Spaces (£40k), from the OSPR, to provide for the revenue implication of the Aldgate project;

4)    Note that a joint Lessons Learnt report will follow in Summer 2018 and the Gateway seven report will be provided a year later, as communications and monitoring conclude; and

5)    Agree that the gates, provided in the enclosure around the extended church garden area, would be closed at night time using the City’s powers under S.115B of the Highways Act 1980.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment relating to the agreed Culture Mile programme of activity, which had recently been approved by Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chairman expressed concern that the Sub-Committee was being asked to provide general funding without knowing the specifics, and it was suggested that  these be reported back to future meetings.

RESOLVED – To approve the budget for 2018/19 for the Culture Mile Pop Ups programme of £750,000, subject to the specifics of the spend being ratified by the Chairman, to be funded by the £5m capital allocation for the implementation of the Look and Feel Strategy.

TfL Active Health Consultation

In response to a question concerning whether or not the Corporation would be submitting a response to this, officers advised that it would be and an update would be provided to the Sub-Committee.

ATTRO

In response to a question concerning the undertaking that a full report back to the Sub-Committee on the ATTRO would be provided, officers agreed to do this.

Public Lifts at London Wall

A member reported that the lifts at London Wall were crucial to users yet often out of service and asked what could be done to ensure they were maintained.

The Chairman advised that a regular report on the public lift service was presented to the Planning & Transportation Committee by the City Surveyor, and he asked the City Surveyor should respond directly to the member.

CHOGM Event – Communication with Residents

A member reported that local residents had received no information from the police regarding the security and access restrictions which would be in place around the City during the CHOGM event and it was agreed that officers should flag this up with the Commissioner.

Gas Main Replacement – Gracechurch Street

The Chairman reported that both he and the Deputy Chairman had joined officers in a meeting with Cadent to discuss the gas main replacement works at Gracechurch Street which were due to start the following Monday and would continue until December.

The Chairman advised that the traffic implications of this would be very serious, and officers were currently working with TfL to try and proactively manage this.

22 Bishopsgate Public Realm Project

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the public realm project at 22 Bishopsgate.

RESOLVED - To

1)            Note that the project will be delivered in two phases in order to align with the programme for the development, but that the design will be developed in a unified way;

2)            Approve Option 1 for Great St Helen’s;

3)            Approve a budget of £150,000 to progress Phase 2 of the project to Gateway 5, subject to receipt of funds; and

4)            Agree to delegate Gateway 5 approval to the Chief Officer.

MOTION – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the local government Act.

There were no non-public questions.

None