News - April 2010 update

Walbrook Wharf visit

The Environmental Services Department kindly showed me around their premises at Walbrook Wharf in March. The site used to be part of Dowgate Ward but was "lost" in the 2005 boundary change. The visit arose out of my role as Chairman of the Sustainability Working Party. The Wharf takes its name from the River Walbrook that flowed into the River Thames at this point and has been the site of the waste disposal in the City for centuries. Ancient archives show that the Ward was frequently being fined for the smell and detritus that gathered here as the rubbish (then just thrown into the Thames) was collecting and not washing away. The Walbrook River was covered over in 1440 and so channelled and controlled to what is now a small trickle. The Wharf is of similar antiquity and the Roman ships sailed up the Walbrook to the site of the Temple of Mithras that is now under the Bucklersbury House site on Cannon Street. The present Wharf was designed by Sir Hugh Casson and was opened in 1963. The site was further upgraded in 1995 when the open barges and waste were converted to containerised barges and the waste compacted. It changed from a wet to a dry dock facility. The current throughput of waste is 47,000 tonnes of which 25,000 tonnes come from the City. This figure has declined from previous years as recycling has become more prevalent and is a saving as the alternative of landfill is very costly to the City. The Wharf operates 24/7 and 364 days of the year. The work carried out goes beyond straight forward collection of rubbish to street cleaning and the follow up to events such as the Lord Mayor's Show and the London Marathon.

Earth Hour

The City Corporation participated in the Earth Hour project on March 27. WWF had encouraged organisations and individuals to turn off their lights on Saturday between the hours of 8.30 and 9.30pm. This was to highlight (sorry about the pun) the need to tackle climate change. The City turned off the lights on St Paul's, the five City bridges and the Monument. The photograph show the effect - if that is not an impossibility!

Picture courtesy of Capital Radio

Dowgate Ward Mote March 12 at Tallow Chandlers' Hall

The Ward Mote had a representative, if small attendance. There were presentations by the Ward Policing team of John Zuber and John Caidou and the Waste Services Manager, Steve Presland as well as by David Hiddleston of Laing O'Rourke about the Cannon Place development. The Ward Mote elected Peter Webster as the Dowgate Beadle again and, as Alderman, I nominated Robin Sherlock to be my Deputy. Questions were raised in respect of rough sleepers and potentially sham charity collectors. In respect of the waste, the Ward Mote was appreciative of the collection of the waste in a timely manner and the enhanced ability to deter those dropping cigarette ends - but a blitz on this at the rush hours might be a useful ploy to deter repeat offenders. An explanation was given about the way that the collection lorries circulate the City and that these are being made more efficient so that less journeys are made. As to the works at Cannon Place, the demolition was nearly complete and the height of the structure was now complete.

Ratepayers' Consultation Meeting

Each year the City contacts the businesses and calls a consultation meeting before the rates and Council Tax are set for the next year. This year it took place on 1 February in Guildhall and the minutes have now been circulated. The Chairman of Policy and Resources (Stuart Fraser) the Town Clerk and Chief Executive (Chris Duffield) together with the Chairman of Finance (Philip Willoughby) all presented the position with regard to the budget and services. The Commissioner of the City of London Police (Mike Bowron) also outlined the key priorities for the City Police. The City have for the 4 years charged 0.4pm in the pound as a business premium which contributes to the additional policing in the City. A show of hands at the meeting indicated that those present were in favour of it continuing for a further year. This has now been set. Council Tax is not being increased this year and so the City will be the third lowest in London for the year 2010 - 2011.