Editorial PreComment :
All the information below is freely available for research and a matter of public record. Yet not one of our orgs or unions have appeared to researched this. They have instead decided to "wait and see" in their normal fashion. End.
The Chair of the Planning and Transport Committee is Chris Hayward, a prominent Freemason who has previously said his role is;
"An honorary position and unpaid".
He is a full time Herts. County Councillor who runs a property investment company and is also listed as a director of a Planning Consultancy company who does business with those affected by the City of London Planning and TFL decisions. He brags about his connection with Cameron and about the new skyscrapers he has given permission for a couple of hundred metres away from Bank Junction which will cause massive transport problems in that area.
When the Shard was built there was a significant increase in Killed Or Seriously Injured (KSIs) because of accidents involving HGVs delivering construction materials.
There will be tens of thousands of HGV deliveries for the 3 skyscrapers that Hayward has given permission for a few hundred meters from Bank Junction, all at the same time.
Has he banned Taxis to make way for construction traffic for the multi billion pound developments that he has given permission for?
He owns a £1m property at Bank Junction , the value of which will increase by banning traffic from his front door.
His register of Interest lists him as a Senior Counsel for JBP Associates and a Director for Indigo Planning.
JBP Associates is a company which helps businesses to gain access to MPs and Peers to help their business interests .
In other words those in power get paid by businesses to influence the policy in their favour.
Perhaps on example could be where 3 multi billion pound skyscraper developments close to Bank Junction which were previously refused permission are all now given permission within a few months of Hayward taking office as Chair of the Planning Committee.
Hayward is listed as a Director for Indigo Planning who consult with TFL on development projects(see further details below)
He has claimed that Taxis have been banned from Bank Junction for safety reasons.
By giving Planning consent for the 3 of the largest Skyscrapers in London he is going to create hundreds and hundreds of construction vehicle movements for HGVs ; the vehicles killing most cyclists and pedestrians that he is claiming to protect.
There will also be another 22k employees working in 2 of the Skyscrapers plus additional visitors just 200m from Bank Junction
Surely City of London should create a safe Transport environment not make it worse?
Hayward is overseeing massive developments in COL which will result in a massive increase in traffic yet is closing Bank Junction?
How can an unpaid councillor be in charge of approving developments for billions of pounds?
These 2 developments result in 22k new workers in an area which they are restricting taxis.
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/city-approves-305-metre-high-skyscraper
Work first involves demolition of the existing Aviva Tower. The new 73-storey building, designed by architect Eric Parry, will provide 130,000 square metres of office accommodation, as well as more than 2,000 square meters of retail space. An estimated 10,000 workers will work in the building upon completion (and 1,600 of them will be able to park their bikes there.)
The 62-storey tower will provide office space for more than 12,000 people and up to 100 companies, along with shops and services such as doctors and drycleaners. The Axa-led consortium plans to rent the 124,000 sq metres (1.33 million sq ft) to financial firms, technology companies and small and medium-sized businesses, including start-ups. Axa has already held informal discussions with potential tenants and will start formal marketing next year.
file:///C:/Users/Authorised%20User/Downloads/city-of-london-academies-trust-members-and-trustees.pdf
Hayward and TFL director both sit on board of City of London Academies
article states Hayward doesn’t get paid for City of London Job and does it for ‘honour’ –only takes 1 lunch meeting a month
Also states that he owns a £1m apartment at Bank Junction
Hayward is overseeing massive developments in COL which will result in a massive increase in traffic yet is closing Bank Junction?
How can an unpaid councillor be in charge of approving developments for hundreds of millions of pounds?
http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=e50f967c-850f-4702-bf33-ddfbe4c60fcb
These 2 developments result in 22k new workers in an area which they are restricting taxis.
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/city-approves-305-metre-high-skyscraper
Work first involves demolition of the existing Aviva Tower. The new 73-storey building, designed by architect Eric Parry, will provide 130,000 square metres of office accommodation, as well as more than 2,000 square meters of retail space. An estimated 10,000 workers will work in the building upon completion (and 1,600 of them will be able to park their bikes there.)
The 62-storey tower will provide office space for more than 12,000 people and up to 100 companies, along with shops and services such as doctors and drycleaners. The Axa-led consortium plans to rent the 124,000 sq metres (1.33 million sq ft) to financial firms, technology companies and small and medium-sized businesses, including start-ups. Axa has already held informal discussions with potential tenants and will start formal marketing next year.
file:///C:/Users/Authorised%20User/Downloads/city-of-london-academies-trust-members-and-trustees.pdf
Hayward and TFL director both sit on board of City of London Academies
article states Hayward doesn’t get paid for City of London Job and does it for ‘honour’ –only takes 1 lunch meeting a month
Also states that he owns a £1m apartment at Bank Junction
The City of London claim that it is to improve pedestrian and cycle safety, yet the Buses (along with HGVs)are responsible for more Killed or Seriously Injured than all other transport.
They also cause more pollution than any other transport.
Banning Taxis from Bank will cause massive congestion in surrounding areas and therefore cause massive pollution.
The decision is improper and does not comply with Public Law on many points.
London Taxis will start daily protests at Bank Junction today.
MPs are writing to the Prime Minister calling for a Public Inquiry into TFL.
The City of London has a conflict of interest by only allowing TFL Buses access to Bank Junction.
TFL have provided significant funding for the consultation and the City of London have requested an additional £900k.
TFL will also be expected to fund some of the £18 million project cost.
The Directors of TFL have significant shareholdings in the Bus companies who will benefit by being the only vehicles allowed access to Bank Junction.
It is therefore a conflict of interest for the City of London to give exclusive access to Bank Junction which benefits TFL Directors while at the same time receiving more than 31 million in funding for consultation and many millions more in project costs.
This is a breach of Public Law.
In addition the Chair of the City of London Committee(who is a prominent Freemason) is also a Director of a Planning Consultancy which works with and seeks permission from TFL for its projects .(see further information below)
TFL grant
Why did TFL contribute £250k ‘unexpectedly’ ? Funds had already been allocated from the City of London budget
http://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s57657/Bank%20Junction%20Final%20version.pdf
A total of approx. £434k has been spent developing the project to-date,
‘’see Table 1. During this time TfL provided an unexpected contribution of £250,909 during the 2014/15 financial year. The TfL funding was utilised in place of some of the S106 money, as shown in Table 2.’’
It states in the report that the Procurement process will be carried out through TFL s Framework of which Indigo Planning are listed. (the company for which Hayward has listed as being a Director of in his Register of Interest)
‘’Procurement Approach 46.As agreed with City Procurement, for the project as a whole, consultancy contracts for continuing design will be let through the TfL Professional Services Framework agreement. For the Interim scheme both the design and construction elements will be handled through the existing highway contract with JB Riney (see appendix 1). The timing of any works will be carefully coordinated with other works affecting the road network to minimise disruption to traffic flows.’’
Maybe this warrants further investigation?
City of London have submitted further applications for funding from TFL. Surely it is a conflict for TFL to provide funding for something which benefits TFL Directors who are also shareholders in the bus companies who are being granted exclusive access to the Bank Junction?
‘’48.A funding application to TfL was submitted in early September 2015 for major schemes funding for £250K in 2016/17 and £300k 2017/18 to progress Gateway 4 and the start of Gateway 5. Whether or not we have been successful, at the time of writing, has not been announced.’’
‘’50.Given that we do not yet have funding confirmation from TfL of our allocation, Officers propose that in order to keep momentum of the project that we use the previously allocated but unspent s106 monies (£250,909) relating to Mondial House ( see table 2 earlier in this report).
Of these available s106 funds it is proposed £150,909 be used to cover costs in relation to the long term project to help move this towards Gateway 4 until the remaining funding is finalised in the Mayor’s transport settlement in December. Officers will then submit an issues report in the New Year with confirmation of funding sources and related funding strategy. The remaining S106‟s to be utilised are detailed in Table 8 in the Options Appraisal Matrix in section 22.’’
Further grants requested from TFL yet to be granted –total £930k
TfL Grant 2016/17 ** 250,000 TfL Grant 2017/18 ** 300,000
TfL Grant 2016/17 ** 380,000
‘’the total project cost is likely to be in the region of £18m.
’’ How much of that will be paid By TFL?
The Chair of the City of London Committee which has banned Taxis from Bank Junction has a conflict of interest ;
Indigo Planning redevelopment project in Kingston involved meetings with GLA/TFL.
So a company that Hayward is director of is seeking Planning consent /assistance from the GLA/TFL for development projects and then Hayward takes a Planning decision on behalf of the City of London which benefits TFL directors who are shareholders in the Bus companies who benefit from that decision?
Is this a conflict of interest?
There should perhaps be an investigation to establish if there was a conflict given the fact that the decision made by Hayward does not seem reasonable or rational as required by Public Law?
https://maps.kingston.gov.uk/PSImageViewer/ImageStore/Images/DC/1516356/Image_19.pdf
Register of Interests lists Hayward as a director of Indigo Planning (although their website does not list him as a Director)
Indigo Planning are Involved with Planning decisions in London!
http://www.indigoplanning.com/news/420-in-london-december-2014.html
Another Indigo director acknowledges working with GLA
http://www.indigoplanning.com/who-we-are/people/directors/434-andrew-pepler-director.html
The Finance Director at Indigo Planning is also closely linked with Hayward who is a member of the Worshipful Company of Pattern Makers and helps Judge the City of London Sustainable City Awards
http://www.indigoplanning.com/who-we-are/people/directors/81-mike-kemsley.html
2.1. This Planning Statement is submitted in support of a full planning application by CNM Estates, relating to the redevelopment of the Tolworth Tower Complex. This application follows an extensive series of meetings with Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames Council (RBK) officers, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL) and a comprehensive community engagement process.
3.44. In addition to meeting with RBK officers, the team has engaged with both the GLA and TfL. Since initial meetings with both these bodies the team has been involved in ongoing discussions with them leading up to the submission of this application.
Indigo Planning are listed as TFL framework winners
Full list: TfL consultants framework winners - latest-news - Vivant ...
www.vivantconsult.co.uk › News
1.
You are here:Home»News» Full list: TfL consultants framework winners ... Indigo Planning, Quod, Peter Brett Associates, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design ...
Indigo Planning awarded TFL contract
http://www.publictenders.net/node/3345979
Contract No: PSF91313 Lot No: 222 - Lot title: Town Planning: Development Planning
V.1)
Date of contract award decision:
V.2)
Information about offers
V.3)
Name and address of economic operator in favour of whom the contract award decision has been taken
Indigo Planning Limited, Quod Ltd, Capita Property & infrastructure Limited, Deloitte LLP, GVA Grimley Ltd, Peter Brett Associates LLP, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd