27 September 2011
New City Department to provide improved service for
developers
Measures reorganising the departmental structure of the City of
London Corporation - in order to provide a better level of service
for City residents, businesses and visitors alike - will come into
effect as of Saturday 1 October, 2011.
As one of a series of wide-ranging changes being implemented on
Saturday, the City Planning and Transportation Department and the
District Surveyors, along with the Highways and Cleansing Divisions
of the former Department of Environmental Services, will all be
integrated into a new Department of the Built Environment.
The City Property Advisory Team (CPAT) will also assist the new
Department and continue to provide close links with City
developers, current occupiers looking to consolidate or expand
their City-based operations and other firms interested in moving to
the City.
The new Director of the Department of the Built Environment,
Philip Everett, commented:
“By integrating planning, building control and transportation
and highways, the City of London Corporation has taken steps to
improve the services we provide to developers operating in the
Square Mile whilst also allowing for better co-ordination and
streamlining of the project management of both street works and
construction sites throughout the City."
“In addition to these improved services, and at a time when the
budgets of all local authorities are coming under increased
pressure, the City is also expecting that the changes to its
departmental structure will result in £500,000 of efficiency
savings per annum over the next 5 years.”
The City Planning Officer, Peter Rees, added:
“The structural changes that come into effect today will greatly
enhance the ability of the City to coordinate the many projects
taking place in the Square Mile at any one time, bringing huge
benefits to developers."
“My role as the City Planning Officer will be unaffected by
these changes, as will the world-class planning service currently
offered by the City of London Corporation whilst the Planning and
Transportation Committee will retain its current responsibilities
and continue to operate as before.”
Ends
Notes to
Editors
Visit the www.minutes.org.uk webpages for
access to the full Committee Report detailing the departmental
changes in full.
The main features of the new structure are as follows:
- The creation of a new Department of the Built Environment.
Philip Everett transfers as Director together with some elements of
the current Environmental Services Department. The City Planning
Officer (Peter Rees) is also be part of this department and remains
the professional head of the planning service.
- Port Health and Public Protection services are unified under
the post of Director of Port Health and Public Protection within a
new Department of Markets & Consumer Protection. The current
Markets Director, David Smith, is the Director of the
department.
- Management of the Cemetery & Crematorium transfers to the
Director of Open Spaces who will manage the operation in
conjunction with West Ham Park, City Gardens and Epping
Forest.
- Management of visitor services will be unified under the
current Director of Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery
with the Business Support Manager transferring with the visitor
elements of the current Department of Environmental Services as the
new Head of Service. This mirrors the responsibilities of the new
Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee and it is proposed that
the department and its director change title to align with the
Committee.
- The changes will produce extra savings of approximately £550K
p.a. by the end of the implementation period without any reduction
in the services delivered.
- Current Committee responsibilities will not be affected by
these changes
About the City of London
The City of London Corporation supports and promotes the Square
Mile as the world’s leading international financial and business
centre and provides local government and police services for
workers, residents and visitors. It also provides valued services
to London and the nation as a whole including management of
Guildhall Art Gallery, the Barbican Centre, the Central Criminal
Court at Old Bailey, 10,700 acres/4,240 hectares of open space
(including West Ham Park, the City Gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping
Forest), three wholesale food markets and acts as London’s Port
Health Authority.
For further information, please contact
James Abbott
Tel 020 7332 1754
Mob 07831 543188
Email
james.abbott@cityoflondon.gov.uk