Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting

Contact: Emma Cunnington
tel. no.: 020 7332 1413  Email: emma.cunnington@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Karina Dostalova.

 

The Policy Chair took the opportunity to ask the Sub-Committee whether they would be content to reduce the frequency of these meetings, whilst making sure they were still in line with the governance review timetable. Members were in agreement of this approach.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 138 KB

To agree the public minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 September 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Capital Funding Update pdf icon PDF 216 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a paper of the Chamberlain proposing the release of £5.42m for five schemes, which had previously received ‘in principle’ approval via the 2020/21 annual capital bids or was agreed for progression outside of the fundamental review.

 

RESOLVED, that:-

·         The five schemes listed in Table 1 of the report be reviewed in the context of the current crisis and confirmed that they should receive continued essential priority for release of funding at this time.

·         An increase of £250k in the central funding be agreed and allocated to the Frobisher Crescent fire safety works to be offset by a compensating reduction in the car park fire safety funding allocation.

·         The release of up to £5.42m be agreed for the five schemes from the reserves of City Fund and City’s Cash as set out in Table 1, subject to the approval of the relevant gateway reports.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Capital Funding - Prioritisation of 2021/22 Annual Capital Bids - Initial Review pdf icon PDF 309 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the prioritisation of 2021/22 Annual Capital Bids.

 

The Deputy Chamberlain outlined the extent of the submissions in the report, which totalled £105m, which was an increase since last year. Members heard how affordability, in the present context, was more challenging and how there had been some concerns about how the ranking of schemes had been undertaken at officer level.

 

A Member observed that, despite the recent approval of the Climate Action Strategy, there were some environmentally friendly bids which did not have a green RAG rating. The Deputy Chamberlain explained that these projects would be assessed by the Climate Action Strategy team.

 

The Policy Chair then conveyed the concerns that the Chair of Audit and Risk Committee had emailed about concerning the health and safety risks of the glass canopy at Smithfield Market and to request emergency provision of funding to support this work. Members felt strongly that this needed to be progressed urgently to allow the panels to be replaced. The City Surveyor explained the extent of the works required included removing the concrete canopies and gutters (funded through existing budgets) and the need to install new glass panels at a cost in the region of £150k + VAT. Members then discussed the interim health and safety measures while waiting for the glass panels to be replaced and whether that section of the market should be closed to prevent any further threat of injury or death to the general public. The Chair and Deputy Chairman indicated they would be very willing to consider a request under urgency provisions if emergency funding was required.

 

RESOLVED, that:-

·         It be noted that the total value of bids amounting to £146m of which £27.5m were to be funded from existing local resources and £13.5m

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Questions on matters relating to the Work of the Sub-Committee

Minutes:

A question was asked as follows:-

 

2021/22 budget process

A question was raised requesting confirmation that, as part of the 2020/21 budget process, the City Corporation would look at the level and value for money of all the grants the City Corporation provided, including those which might not directly or nominally fall under departmental budgets. In particular there was reference to the grants given within the educational model. The Policy Chair confirmed that this was being looked into.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

There was no other urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Exclusion of the Public

MOTION – 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 the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

 

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

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 No.

Paragraph No.

9, 10, 12

3

15

3, 4

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 September 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Note of the Informal Meeting

To receive the note of the informal meeting held on 7 October 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

The note of the informal meeting on 7 October 2020 was received.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Department of Community and Children's Services Commercial Tenants and Covid 19 - Proposal for Additional Support in the September Quarter

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

This item was withdrawn.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Report of Action Taken

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Town Clerk advising of decisions taken under delegated authority or urgency powers since the last meeting.

 

RESOLVED, that:-

·         The actions taken since the last meeting of the Sub-Committee be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Sub-Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent and which the Sub-Committee agree should be Considered Whilst the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There was no other urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Confidential Note of the Informal Meeting

To receive the confidential note of the informal meeting held on 7 October 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The confidential note of the informal meeting held on 7 October 2020 be received.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.