Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Gareth Moore, William Campbell Taylor, Mark Wheatley, Deputy Elizabeth Rogula and Laura Jorgensen.

Deputy Henry Jones declared an interest in item 17 – the conversion of up to nine podium level shop unites for residential use on the Middlesex Street estate – as he was a leaseholder.

To agree the minutes of the previous Committee meeting.

Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

In response to a query regarding the use of suicide prevention signs along bridges, Members were informed that planning agreement was being sought from the local authorities to allow the City to erect the signs along other London bridges.

The Committee are invited to appoint four Members to serve on the Education Charity Sub Committee. The Terms of Reference have been sent to Members via email.

The Committee were invited to appoint four Members to serve on the Education Charity Sub Committee.

Resolved – that the following Members be appointed:

·       Ann Holmes

·       Philip Woodhouse

·       John Fletcher

·       Bill Fraser

The Committee received a presentation regarding the City of London Registration Service. Members were informed that during 2015/16 421 death registrations, 171 marriages & civil partnerships were registered with the Islington service. 96% of deaths were registered within 5 days. Next day appointments were available for deaths and statutory notices of marriage & civil partnership. 75% of customers booked appointments online and Members noted that ceremonies were marketed through the ‘Say I Do’ website.

In response to a query, Members noted that an on-call service was provided on weekends to ensure that deaths which took place over the weekend could be registered to allow religious customs to be carried out in line with the religious beliefs of the family.

Resolved – that the presentation be received.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members noted the progress made during Quarter 1 (Q1 – April to June 2016) against the refreshed 2015–17 Community and Children’s Services Business Plan. Members noted that the five departmental strategic aims were:

· Safeguarding and early help

· Health and wellbeing

· Education and employability

· Homes and communities

· Efficiency and effectiveness.

At the end of the reporting period, 14 performance indicators were achieved or exceeded and two were within the tolerance of -10% of the set target. Three indicators were below the tolerance of -10% of the set target. Five indicators will not be available until Quarter 2 as they are linked to education performance and an annual housing satisfaction survey.

In response to a query regarding Mais House, Officers agreed to send the Member update reports which had been considered by the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee.

Members considered the City’s contract with Fusion and noted that although their income at the Golden Lane Estate had not been as expected, the City held a fixed payment with the company which was not dependent on their income. The City was however party to a shared profit agreement which would be affected if the company did not perform very well. Members agreed that Fusion was a nationwide chain who would not be severely impacted by a fall in profits at a relatively small facility.

Resolved – that the update be received.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members noted that this item was withdrawn from the agenda, as the Committee had considered it at their meeting in July 2016.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The City of London Corporation had a duty to secure temporary accommodation for

people who apply to it as homeless. Due to increasing numbers of applicants and

greater difficulties in securing accommodation within Greater London, most London

local authorities have sought accommodation outside their boundaries and many

have accommodated applicants some distance outside the capital.

The Supreme Court had urged each local authority to adopt a policy, approved by

Members, for procuring sufficient units of temporary accommodation and for

allocating them to homeless applicants.

Resolved – that Members approved the Temporary Accommodation Allocation Policy.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Commissioning Team had produced a prospectus which set out the City of

London Corporation’s vision and commitment for commissioning services for children and young people. Through this document, the Department of Community and Children’s Services would strengthen the commissioning arrangements for children and young people.

The Department of Community and Children’s Services had a combination of inhouse, spot-purchased and commissioned services. The prospectus set out to the

market the pragmatic approach to commissioning that was taken to ensure that the

processes best fit the scale of service required and do not discourage potential

providers from wanting to work in partnership with the City.

The commissioning prospectus aimed to inform residents, colleagues, Members and

our current and potential service providers of the City of London Corporation’s

commissioning approach and position, and the opportunities that this provides.

It was proposed that versions of the prospectus were also produced for Adults Social Care and Housing and Neighbourhoods.

Resolved – that the update be received.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Gateway 3/4 report concerning the replacement of the heating and hot water

equipment at Golden Lane Estate was approved by the Community and Children’s

Services Committee on 10 July 2015 and by the Projects Sub Committee on 21 July

2015. Due to the listed status of Crescent House and Cullum Welch House, and the

complexities around the planning arrangements, Officers sought approval to separate these two buildings into a separate project, so that we can progress the work to the remaining properties on the estate.

The current situation, with the requirement for more detailed flue design proposals at Crescent House and Cullum Welch House, was delaying the specification and tendering processes for the remaining properties on the Golden Lane Estate, and poses a further risk of additional costs associated with reactive replacements of any boilers that fail in the interim. If viable options were not agreed for Crescent House and Cullum Welch House, it may result in having to submit a formal planning application, which could further impact project timescales.

To proceed with the specification and tendering process for all of the remaining

properties on the estate, and to treat Crescent House and Cullum Welch House as a

separate project while we explore solutions around the flue designs that will comply with planning and legislative requirements.

Resolved – That following decisions were taken by Committee Members:

1. That approval is given to separate Crescent House and Cullum Welch House into a separate project, for which a separate Gateway 5 report will be submitted at a future date.

2. To note that the tendering and specification process for the remaining properties will proceed as planned and that a separate Gateway 5 report will be submitted

accordingly.

3. That approval is given to split the approved Resources Required to Reach

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The City of London Corporation had identified the reduction of social isolation and

loneliness as a strategic priority. Research from Goldsmiths University has provided

valuable insights into social isolation within the City of London and has also

suggested areas where extra investigation could prove beneficial.

It was proposed that a Social Wellbeing Commission should be established to

investigate these areas further, hearing evidence from a range of expert witnesses

including residents, academics, other local authorities and the voluntary sector. The

evidence heard will be used to refine the City Corporation’s Social Wellbeing

Strategy and to produce guidance which can be shared with other commissioning

authorities as well as informing the national policy debate.

Discussions ensued regarding the usefulness of the exercise, with Members agreeing that although they knew a large number of their residents it was not always possible to speak to all of their residents about any issues they were facing. Members agreed that in principle the consultation would be useful however the Committee felt that there was a need to clearly identify the scope, cost and methodology of the consultation. Officers agreed to submit a paper reviewing the scope and title of the group to the October Committee meeting.

Resolved – that Members approved the establishment of a Social Wellbeing Commission.

In response to a query, Members were informed that two Syrian refugee families had been accommodated in the City. Specialist organisations were working to provide the necessary guidance to both families.

A Member queried whether additional locations in the City could be made available as wedding venues. The Director informed Members that this was currently being investigated.

The Committee were informed about a number of community events that had recently been held in the Portsoken ward. Members noted that the events had been very well attended and enjoyed by the community.

There was no urgent business.

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 Paragraph 3 of 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 of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous Committee meeting.

Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Report of Director of Children’s and Community Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

There were no questions.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

There was no urgent business.