Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy the Revd Stephen Haines, 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 matter 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 held on 27 November 2013.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 27 November 2013 be approved as a correct record.

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

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services which outlined the boiler replacement programme. In response to Members’ queries officers reported that the costs of the works included repairs and replacements, and that a variety of quotes would be obtained to ensure the contract was value for money. In terms of governance, Members noted that the progress of the project would be monitored by this Sub Committee.

RESOLVED – That Option 1, a structured approach to replacing the boiler units, be approved.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services which sought approval for the City of London Almshouses revenue budget for 2014/15.

The Chamberlain reported that the budget indicated a deficit of £26,000 owing to an increase in repairs and maintenance projects and, in response to a Member’s query, he confirmed that the Almshouses funds were held separately. A Member requested a longer term programme of works be put together for future reports, and officers confirmed that one was being developed alongside the Asset Management Strategy.

RESOLVED – That the 2014/15 revenue budget be approved.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services seeking approval for the draft Tenancy Strategy, which had been developed as required by the Localism Act 2011. Officers reported that, amongst other changes, reforms introduced through the Act had allowed for shorter fixed-term tenancies, although the Strategy before Members proposed that more secure lifetime tenancies remained the predominant offer for new tenants.

In response to a Member’s question it was established that an existing lifetime tenant would retain that lifetime tenancy if they moved house, and Members were advised that fixed term tenancies would not affect a tenant’s Right to Buy. Officers also highlighted the Equality Impact Assessment and the benefits fixed term tenancies could have for tenants from violent or overcrowded households. 

Members discussed the wording of the report, and asked for clarification to be made concerning the intention and some implications of the reforms. Members also discussed the rent levels set by other social housing providers in the area, and that the Localism Act required them to give regard to the City Corporation’s Strategy.

RESOLVED – That:

(1)  subject to agreement by the Community and Children’s Services Committee, the draft Tenancy Strategy be approved for consultation with social housing providers in the City of London; and

(2)  authority be delegated to the Director of Community and Children’s Services in consultation with the Chairman to approve minor changes arising from the consultation, and produce a final version.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services introducing the five-year draft Housing Strategy which had been approved for consultation by the Community and Children’s Services Committee in December 2013 and which would be monitored by this Sub Committee.

Members discussed the strategy in detail, and raised a number of points including:

·         The use of the private rented sector – officers advised that the Strategy was about all types of housing across the City, including high cost private rental properties, which meet the housing needs of high income residents and workers who would not qualify for social rented properties. The Strategy makes reference to ensuring there is an adequate supply of this type of housing to meet the needs, for example, of City workers whose main home is elsewhere.

Officers also reported that the use of the private rented sector (PRS) can be used as an alternative to social rented. This was always an option for people waiting to be housed and would be covered in housing advice. Members noted that the Central Government now allowed (and actively encouraged) Local Authorities to use the PRS to house homeless people. Currently the City Corporation made little use of private rented properties, except as temporary accommodation whilst waiting for one of our own properties to become available. Officers stated that the Strategy envisioned carrying on in this way, building homes with a view to housing people ourselves, though this depended on the amount of homeless applications received in the future. If these increased there might be little choice but to make greater use of the PRS. For this reason the City Corporation was interested in making sure that the PRS is regulated, through schemes like the Real Lettings Scheme, to ensure that private rented accommodation for vulnerable homeless

A Member asked a question regarding emergency access to tower block residences in the event of a fire, and the Director of Community and Children’s Services replied that this was a known issue and a number of meetings had been set up with the Borough Commander to agree a plan of action. It was also noted that as properties became void, additional fire safety measures were being installed to gradually upgrade the entire housing stock.

Another Member asked a question regarding interaction with tenants and local Councillors in other Boroughs, and officers responded that quarterly residents meetings were held on each estate and that Local Councillors were invited to attend Allocated Member visits and an on-going dialogue was being facilitated.

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 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

                        Item                                                     Paragraph

                        11-14                                                               3

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2013.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 November 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Children and Community Services.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the sheltered housing review currently being undertaken.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.