Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy the Revd. Stephen Haines, Deputy Henry Jones, and Deputy Catherine McGuinness.

Mr Gareth Moore declared an interest in housing matters, as a tenant of Golden

Lane Estate.

To elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order 29.

Members proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. A list of Members eligible to serve was read out and Virginia Rounding, being the only Member indicating her willingness to serve, was declared to have been elected for the ensuing year.

To elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order 30.

Members proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. A list of Members eligible to serve was read out and Ann Holmes, being the only Member indicating her willingness to serve, was declared to have been elected for the ensuing year.

The Chairman welcomed new Members to the Sub Committee, Deputy John Barker and Deputy Billy Dove, and thanked the outgoing Members the Revd. Dr Martin Dudley and Alderman David Graves.

To receive the Terms of Reference, as agreed at the 13 May 2016 meeting of the Community & Children’s Services Committee, and for the Chairman to appoint the Allocated Members.

Members received the Terms of Reference, as agreed by the Community & Children’s Services Committee at their meeting on 13 May 2016, and the Allocated Member guidelines and list for 2015/16, which was confirmed for another year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting on 25 April 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 25 April 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Members noted that the waiting list for sheltered housing was not suspended, but that anyone wishing to join it was advised of the very long wait. In practice only those with exceptional circumstances were being added to the list.

Presentation of Southwark Mediation Service.

Members noted this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services which provided an update on the Mais House Decant Programme. In response to a Member’s query, officers advised all but one resident, who was currently abroad, had completed a housing application.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the impact of the reforms to the welfare benefits system, the work taking place to help residents with the introduction of universal credit, and the Financial Inclusion Programme. In response to Members’ queries, officers confirmed that payments were not borough-based and therefore the City of London Corporation paid for all residents of its estates, within and without the Square Mile.

Members discussed the report, and noted that Government funding to support local authorities through the impact of welfare benefit reform was reducing, which would severely limit the Corporation’s ability to support vulnerable households. Members also noted that the grant of £37,000 awarded to the City Corporation by the Department for Work and Pensions to help pay for the cost of extra support for residents affected by the changes was only paid at the end of the financial year, resulting in it appearing as an underspend in the budget, and risking it being lost to central resources. The intention is that these funds be used to appoint a case worker on a fixed term basis to provide specific support to households affected by the change to Universal Credit. If the funds are subsumed into central CoLC resources, this will not be possible. Therefore, the Sub Committee agreed unanimously to pass a resolution to the Grand Committee to ask for their support in urging the carry forward of these funds into next year’s budget, so that they can be used for the purpose for which they were granted by the DWP.

RESOLVED – That the Community & Children’s Services Committee be asked for their support in urging that the DWP grant allocated for Universal Credit Personal Support in 2015-16 but only received in March 2016 be carried forward into

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the review of Housing Services, which had identified a need to tailor services to meet the requirements of leaseholders and freeholders in different ways. Members noted that one of the proposals included was to appoint a Home Ownership Manager to work solely on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and provide a single point of contact for leaseholder queries.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Housing and Planning Act. Members discussed the report, noting that the Act required the sale of ‘higher value’ council homes to fund the Right to Buy for Housing Association tenants, increased social housing rents for tenants earning over £40k, replaced lifetime tenancies with fixed-term tenancies, and introduced a new type of affordable housing: Starter Homes. Members also noted that the details as to what this would mean on a practical basis (for instance, off-site provision for starter homes, or the definition of ‘higher value’) were yet to be specified, but it was likely that a substantial amount of the City Corporation’s housing stock would be subject to the levy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

NB: This report was considered by the Projects Sub Committee on 11 May 2016.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding internal and external refurbishment works programme at the Middlesex Street Estate. In response to a Member’s question, officers confirmed that a communication strategy was being prepared for this project and the Lift Refurbishment project (item 13). This would come to the Sub Committee meeting in September for consideration.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    it be noted that there will be separate Gateway 3/4 reports submitted for each project;

b)    it be noted that the options appraisal for each project may vary slightly to the original options appraisals outlined in the Gateway 1/2 report, as the original options may no longer be relevant; and

c)    revised budgets totalling £51,740, an increase of £40,470, be approved.

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

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the refurbishment of lifts at the Middlesex Street Estate.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    Option 1 is approved for proceeding to Procurement and Gateway 5;

b)    the estimated budget of £1,012,500 is noted; and

c)    a budget of £8,000 is approved to reach the next Gateway.

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

The Sub Committee considered the risk register for The City of London Almshouses Trust charity.

RESOLVED – That the Risk Register satisfactorily sets out the risks faced by The City of London Almshouses Trust charity, and appropriate measures are in place to mitigate those risks.

There were no questions.

There was no other 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.

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

18-21                                                                                                   3

22-23                                                                                                   -

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2016.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2016 be approved as a correct record.

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

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

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

NB: This report was considered by the Projects Sub Committee on 11 May 2016.

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

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

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

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other business.