Agenda item

Affordable Housing

Deputy Tom Hoffman asked a question of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the City Corporation’s commitment to the provision of affordable housing through the construction of 3,700 new homes. The Member emphasised the importance of such housing being available for key workers required to maintain vital services.

In response, the Chairman reiterated the details of the City Corporation’s commitment, outlining the planned housing products and confirming that new social rented homes would be let in accordance with the Housing Act 1996. She explained that, although specific job roles would not be targeted, priority would be given those with specific housing needs and those on low incomes.  She also advised that the newly established Housing Delivery Programme Working Party would oversee these developments, working with the Social Investment Board where appropriate.

In response to a supplementary question from Deputy Hoffman regarding collaboration with NHS Foundation Trusts to identify land they might be able to release for affordable housing developments for nurses, the Chairman advised that she would welcome the opportunity to explore collaboration with health partners on developments at suitable sites in due course.

Deputy James Thomson asked a further supplementary question in the context of the nine-month anniversary of the Grenfell Fire, asking if more could be done to accelerate the slow progress to date by asking officers to explore partnerships with the NHS, GLA, Homes England and other London Boroughs. He suggested that a detailed report on the latest position, as well as the potential for the City Corporation to support a housing delivery vehicle, be brought to the next meeting.

Replying, the Chairman agreed that an update report should come to the Court but cautioned that the next meeting would likely be too soon for a sufficiently detailed report to be produced. She added that support for a housing delivery vehicle would likely be considered as one of the many options being pursued by the Housing Delivery Working Party.

Immigration and City Workforce Post-Brexit

Tijs Broeke asked the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee what measures the City of London Corporation was taking to ensure that London was able to retain and attract the talent it required after Britain’s exit from the European Union, stressing the importance of a productive immigration policy.

The Chairman illustrated her agreement with the Member’s comments around attracting talent, referencing the 41% of City workers born outside of the United Kingdom. She noted that the City Corporation’s newly published report “The City as a Place for People” echoed these sentiments and also advised that, being acutely aware of the uncertainty of EU citizens based in the City over their rights since the referendum result, the City Corporation had made consistent calls for clarity from both the UK government and the EU27. The Chairman also reiterated the City Corporation’s three key requests relating to Brexit - a transition agreement, a trade agreement that included financial services, and continued access to the best talent available.

The Chairman outlined the significant body of work being undertaken by the City Corporation and in collaboration with others in this regard, all of which made the case to Government of the importance of attracting international talent, and of the continued recognition of qualifications between the UK and EU27. She concluded that the correct immigration regime was essential, but also that development of the skills and employability of the domestic workforce should remain a vital goal.

Citing a recent speech by the Foreign Secretary which had called for unity around an “outward-looking” vision for the future, Mr Broeke asked a supplementary question highlighting his concerns that current political pressures would mean there was a risk that this could not be achieved.  Given this, he asked if the Chairman agreed that greater clarity was needed from the UK Government over implementation of an immigration system. The Chairman agreed with the Member’s statement and confirmed that she had made this point in meetings with Government Ministers. She added that she would continue to argue this point to Government in the coming period.

Responding to a further supplementary question from Deputy Brian Mooney, which sought her view as to whether the Government was giving sufficient attention to the requirements of the financial services sector, the Chairman confirmed her belief that the UK Government was now giving the sector appropriate consideration. She noted however that there was of course more work to be done in ensuring the sector’s needs continued to be represented to Government.

Drinking Fountains

John Scott asked a question of the Chairman of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee concerning the number of drinking fountains in the City of London and potential participation in a pilot scheme to install new fountains, so as to diminish the use of plastic bottles.

Responding, the Chairman advised that there were currently six working fountains within the City of London. He confirmed that there were plans to introduce ten new public water bottle refill points across the City of London over the next two years, with discussions currently underway with the Greater London Authority around the possibility of obtaining partial funding for the project. He added that encouragement was being given to local businesses, such as bars and cafes, to register as free public refill points.

Alderman Alistair King spoke to advise that he was the Treasurer of the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain & Cattle Trough Association, which was currently engaged in a programme of its own with a similar aim. He explained that there was a “Find-a-Fountain” application available through their website which allowed people to locate water supplies that were free of charge, asking the Chairman if there might be some merit to the Association working with the City Corporation on this matter. The Chairman welcomed the Alderman’s comments and agreed that collaboration should be explored.

Bank Junction

Alderman and Sheriff Tim Hailes asked the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee concerning the success of the Bank Junction Safety Scheme and the impact on the disabled community.

The Chairman provided background information concerning certain recent road closures and the decision to partially re-open Bank Junction in an eastbound direction, primarily due to significant emergency gas works required at Gracechurch Street. The Chairman noted that this was entirely outside of the City Corporation’s control and observed that this had been an effective reaction in view of the unprecedented situation the City Corporation had been presented with. He added that the Scheme had been designed to facilitate significant and unanticipated issues such as this and noted that the emerging increased complexities of these gas works could well lead to works taking longer than anticipated. With regard to the needs of the disabled community, he shared the Member’s concern that any final decision on the Scheme recognised the needs of that community and confirmed that a full Equalities Impact Assessment was being undertaken, so as to enable a fully informed consideration by Members when the future of the Scheme was determined in July.

With reference to the access rights of Hackney Carriages, the Chairman observed that permitting their continued access to Bank Junction was previously found to have a detrimental effect both on safety and on journey times in the surrounding area. However, given the importance of ensuring the correct decision for the future of the Junction, he had requested for officers to model the impact of journey times should access for black cabs be introduced on two or four of the arms of the Junction. The findings would be presented to Members at a series of future briefing sessions and he urged interested Members to attend these in advance of formal proposals coming for consideration, again to ensure that any decision was fully informed.

Alderman and Sheriff Hailes thanked the Chairman for his response and asked that any final proposals around restrictions on feeder and adjacent roads be reviewed by the Court.  He also asked that, in order to ensure equality of access for all, measures be taken to ensure that either London Hackney Carriages were permitted to access as authorised vehicles, or equivalent permissions are granted to achieve the same outcome. Lastly, he requested that officers ensure that timely and flexible adjustments were made to account for road closures when they occurred so as to avoid repeated disruption in the future. The Chairman endorsed all three of the Member’s comments but observed that the final decision would ultimately be one for Members, not for him personally.

Replying to a supplementary question from Deputy Edward Lord concerning the length of a recent journey, the Chairman explained that the negative consequences of closures were regrettable but were an unfortunate and unintentional consequence of necessary works, largely outside of the City Corporation’s control. He added that there were often challenging decisions to be made in respect of managing the flow of traffic through the City’s streets, but making these decisions and keeping the City moving was imperative.

Responding to a further supplementary question from Ruby Sayed, the Chairman noted that pick-up and drop-off rights had not previously been in existence at the Junction for those with Blue Badges, but sympathised with concerns in respect of ensuring access for those with mobility issues. He reiterated the importance of the Equalities Impact Assessment, which would be presented to Members in due course, in informing a final decision.

In response to a final supplementary question from Deputy Brian Mooney, the Chairman observed that there may well have been improvements to air quality, although it was somewhat early to say with any certainty, and early figures also suggested that the number of accidents recorded had also decreased. He added that it would always be a balance to be struck in respect of conflicting requirements and aspirations, whatever the decision in respect of the future of the Junction might be.

Pursuant to Standing Order 13(10), the Lord Mayor directed that the outstanding question, submitted by Andrew McMurtrie, be deferred until the next meeting of the Court.