Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Chairman Virginia Rounding, Revd Dr Martin Dudley, Alderman David Graves, Elizabeth Rogula and Angela Starling.

Mr Gareth Moore declared an interest in housing matters, as a tenant of Golden Lane Estate, and Deputy Henry Jones declared an interest in matters relating to the Middlesex Street Estate as he was a residential and business lease holder.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the meeting on 11 July 2013 (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 11 July 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services. Officers advised that despite a negligible number of assaults in the past, a significant rise last year led to measures being taken to ensure staff safety and subsequently incident levels for 2013 had dropped. Members noted that a Lone Working Policy had also been drafted to improve safety for housing officers and social workers.

In response to Members’ questions it was established that no common cause had been identified regarding the assaults, though there was an anecdotal increase in people with mental health issues and financial pressures could heighten agitation.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding Landlords’ responsibilities for gas safety, as requested at the previous meeting by the Deputy Chairman. With regard to flats not managed by the Corporation, Members discussed the potential for accident as leaseholders had no obligation to ensure gas safety regulations were observed. Officers advised that negotiated boiler servicing rate was offered to leaseholders on a regular basis and, though take up was positive, it was thought that numbers totalled less than 50%.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the housing estate updates from Allocated Members. The Chairman praised the report and undertook to visit Lammas Green in addition to Mais House. Members discussed the issues of Japanese knotweed and damp at the almshouses, and it was noted that some of the properties affected housed particularly vulnerable people and significant work would be needed to support them and fix the problems.

Members discussed the success of the apprenticeship scheme, and the Chairman requested that a report summarising apprenticeships schemes throughout the Corporation be brought to Establishment Committee for their information. In response to a Member’s question, officers advised that Spitalfields Market was not suitable for social housing and units were sold whenever they became available. It was agreed that an update on numbers would be reported to the next meeting. With regards to the concern over condition of windows at Holloway and York Way estates, the Director for Community and Children’s Services advised that approval had been given to accelerate the window replacement programme, and that Holloway would be a priority for improvement work. 

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

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 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item                                                                      Paragraph

10 – 11                                                                        3

12                                                                                1

13 – 16                                                                        3

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2013 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 11 July 2013 were approved.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.