Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Andrew Jones (Cabinet Member for the Economy), Councillor Sharon Holder (Cabinet member for Public Realm) and Councillor Liz Collins.

Apologies for lateness were provided by Councillor Ashok Patel.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting and note any outstanding actions.

The Open and Exempt minutes of the Economy, Arts, Sports and Public Realm Policy and Accountability Committee meeting held on 5^th February 2024 were agreed.

This report outlines a review of the current Highways service delivery contract, focusing on contractor performance as well as highlighting future procurement requirements.

Ian Hawthorn, Assistant Director Highways gave a presentation on a review of the current Highways service delivery contract. This focused on contractor performance as well as highlighting future procurement requirements. The presentation drew attention to the following:

• Hammersmith and Fulham Highway Assets
• RBKC Framework and x6 contract areas
• The key principle of the contract
• Contract Performance Management and Service Manager Dashboards
• Risks
• Future Contract 2026
• Key findings on the current highway contract market in London

With reference to the contract performance indicators, Councillor Adam Peter Lang noted that site health and safety inspection was rated as only satisfactory, and he hoped that in the new contact this could be improved upon as a priority. He also noted that respect for the environment only had a satisfactory rating and hoped this could be improved. On a positive note, he highlighted that asphalt resurfacing, pot-hole repairs and winter gritting were rated as good and he commended the respective teams for their work.

In terms of the future, Councillor Adam Peter Lang noted that the Authority had ruled out partnerships with other neighbouring boroughs, such as Westminster and would be bringing grounds maintenance and horticulture back in house. He also commented that the Council needed to be mindful of the length of the contracts it entered into.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang commented that whichever partner the Council entered into a contract with, it was important to enquire about their staffing, as employment rates were critical in all industries at the moment. He noted that ten years was a long time and asked whether the company had sufficient staff to meet the demands of the contract. He explained that he had posed the question of staffing and recruitment to Violia recently and had been assured that they could meet these targets.

In response, Ian Hawthorn confirmed that it was some of the smaller sites and the minor works which was where the issues were. Whereas the planned works where there were schemed works were excellent. Members were reassured to learn that Conway was held to account by the Council when it missed its targets on the smaller sites. In terms of recruitment within the industry, Ian Hawthorn provided details of his specific interest in the area and the importance of encouraging women to join the Highways Industry. In terms of pot-holes, Ian Hawthorn confirmed that Hammersmith and Fulham was second in London with the fewest number of pot-holes and he provided details of the monitoring work that was done to identify defects in road surfaces before they developed into pot-holes. He underlined the importance of the weather, its effect on roads and how a wet July 2023 had meant that pot-holes had begun to develop well before the usual ‘pot hole season’ of December and January. It was noted that the Council provided a 24/7 service from 1 October to the end of April, monitored the weather and despatched gritters as soon as low temperature thresholds were met.

With regards to long term contracts,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This report presents the Council’s place shaping approach to transform key town centres and priority areas. The vision is to create vibrant and connected hubs that celebrate their unique character and foster a keen sense of place. The report also outlines ongoing work to support vibrant secondary high streets which are at the heart of communities.

Nicki Burgess, Head of Business & Enterprise gave a presentation which provided details of the Council’s place shaping approach to transform key town centres and priority areas. It also outlined ongoing work to support vibrant secondary high streets

The presentation covered the following points:

·       The Council's place shaping vision to transform three key regeneration priority areas:

1.    King Street and the opportunities the Civic Campus presents.

2.    Shepherds Bush and its connectivity with the White City Innovation District.

3.    North End Road and the section 106 opportunities Earls Court Development present.

·       Place Shaping ambitions align with the Local Plan, Arts & Cultural Strategy, Hammersmith SPD, Civic Campus Board, White City Public Realm Study, and the overarching aims of the Industrial Strategy.

·       The work also includes supporting secondary highstreets with the formation of the seven High Street Business Associations.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang commended the progress which had been made on the Civic Campus and highlighted that Olympia would be coming on track in the near future. In relation to subways and public safety, he confirmed that he agreed with the points that were raised in the officer presentation. He stated it was important the Council thought creatively and engaged with residents about how it could encourage them and visitors to the borough, to use the range of facilities in Hammersmith and Fulham (the Civic Campus, Olympia, King Street, the Thames Path and surrounding places of interest.). Further points of discussion included the importance of accessibility and provision for young people.

In response, Nicki Burgess, Head of Business & Enterprise confirmed that the Council was looking at joining up with the river as part of its wider vision for the borough. And it was also looking at other stakeholders and assets within the borough such as Olympia and Lyric Theatre to drive more footfall towards Hammersmith as a whole.

Councillor Jackie Borland commented on the decline of Fulham Broadway over the last 5 years in comparison to Hammersmith and the north of the borough and asked what support could be offered to help improve and rejuvenate the area. In response, Nicki Burgess confirmed that there had been a high turnover of businesses in the area. However, there were new businesses coming in, and highlighted that North End Road and Fulham Broadway to Lillie Road were the key town centres. It was noted that officers were working closely with Fulham Bid to encourage further investment into the area. Councillor Jackie Borland commented that it was important for high streets to work independently as well as collectively to provide the best services for the community.

Councillor Ashok Patel asked what the investments sums were for the regeneration projects in Shepherd’s Bush and North End. While he agreed that more should be done to encourage the growth of new businesses, he highlighted the impact of business rates and also the enforcement of business rates. In response, Nicki Burgess confirmed that later items in the agenda would address investment for regeneration and she confirmed that in terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This report provides an update on the council’s work to shape better places through the development of new, affordable housing and community infrastructure such as schools, community spaces, and commercial space.

Matt Rumble, Strategic Head of Area Regeneration gave a presentation which provided an update on the council’s work to shape better places through the development of new, affordable housing and community infrastructure such as schools, community spaces, and commercial space. The presentation drew attention to the following:

·       Background to the Development Programme.

·       Placemaking in the Development Programme.

·       Example Schemes ( White City Central, Ed City, Old Laundry Yard, Avonmore School and Lillie Road).

·       Other housing growth initiatives (Quayside Lodge Acquisition, Refugee Housing Programme and Housing and Corporate Asset Review).

The Chair thanked Matt Rumble for a clear and comprehensive update and for providing many examples of development projects.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang echoed the Chair’s comments on the report. However, he thought there was scope to improve how this progress was communicated to residents. He explained that his case work illustrated that some residents only saw the negatives associated with development rather than the positive outcomes. Making a general point on development, it was his view that Housing Associations had become too large and it was good that the Council was working directly with developers to address housing need. It was also essential that with any form of development, that the Council explained what section 106 monies stemmed from the development and how this would be used to benefit the local community.

Matt Rumble explained in terms of lessons learnt, that having engaged with residents, the more that could be done to demystify the process, the better the engagement process was, and residents were more likely to feel they owned a project. He explained every scheme was different, and the Council had to think creatively about how it could engage the local community. With regards to communicating with residents, Matt Rumble underlined the Council needed to sell what it was doing and ensure it talked to its Tenant Residents Associations (TRAs) forums to illustrate where it had been successful and provide confidence that other projects in the future would be delivered in the same way. He explained it was necessary the Council demonstrated proof of concept first with a few smaller schemes before the Council increased this messaging with larger schemes.

Councillor Jackie Borland commended the level of ambition set out in the report and presentation. She noted that Housing Associations were focusing on maintaining the stocks they already had, but highlighted she regularly received reports from residents that were suffering from leaks, mould and other issues. Very large leaseholder bills  was another issue that was highlighted. She commented that it was important when future homes were designed, leaseholders were not saddled with huge bills they would struggle to pay.

In response, Matt Rumble confirmed that in the very early stages of any development, officers did examine the lifecycle costs of Council assets to ensure they were building premises that were built to last and would not need substantial investment in the future. And in terms of the Council’s housing stock, Matt Rumble confirmed officers were conducting a comprehensive stock  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This report provides information on the Hammersmith Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Matt Paterson, Assistant Director for Spatial Planning provided a joint presentation on the Hammersmith Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and White City Public Realm Strategy. The presentations drew attention to the following:

·       The Hammersmith SPD

·       An Overview of the Vision, Opportunities, Developer Guidance and Delivery of the Town Centre SPD

·       An overview of the White City Public Realm Strategy

·       White City – Shortlisted Projects

·       Details on the Shepherd’s Bush Green project

Councillor Adam Peter Lang commended the plans for development on Shepherd’s Bush Green. Making a general point, he stressed the importance of engaging with the community - businesses and residents - on any new developments.

Councillor Jackie Borland commented that public realm had so many knock-on effects, not just visually and aesthetically, but could also reduce crime, anti-social behaviour, and so, overall, its implementation was a positive influence for the borough. She explained it was positive to hear about the links which were being forged between established estates and newer areas and how spatial planning and public realm could help residents feel more grounded in their communities.

In response, Mike Patterson confirmed that the Council did not have a blank sheet for redevelopment, and what it was trying to do was enhance  existing neighbourhoods and communities and ensure there was a cohesiveness to place.

Councillor Ashok Patel asked what the Council’s vision was for the iconic BBC Television Centre, and if there had been any public consultation about the site. In response, Mike Patterson confirmed that the redevelopment of the BBC Centre had won several awards already and the feedback which had been received was broadly positive. In terms of the public realm for the site, it was extremely popular and was well used. The remaining question was whether it felt as public as it might do, as it still felt a bit private at times. However, the consensus was that residents would like this feel replicated up Wood Lane.

Concluding the item, the Chair confirmed that the Committee would be interested to examine how the King Street SPD developed (having taken on board the comments received during the consultation period). As well as how the six design concepts areas developed over time. The Chair asked what the timescales were for these projects. In response, Mike Patterson confirmed that the consultants had identified 28 interventions (physical improvements) within the White City area. It would be a long-term delivery project, as there was still all of Imperial College’s Southern Campus, other sites still to come forward, as well as some other sites within the White City Innovation District.

The Chair underlined that the Committee were excited about the developments within the public realm and would like to revisit the six concept areas as they developed in due course.

RESOLVED

1.    For the Committee to note and comment on the report.