Issue - meetings

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

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services which provided information on residential service charge expenditure for 2022/23. It also compared the outturn with the 2022/23 estimate and the 2021/22 actual expenditure.

Members noted that the presentation of the Service Charges had been raised at the City Corporation’s Finance Committee.  The Officer explained that this would be looked at with the Chamberlain and reminded Members of the challenges in respect of the revised energy bills, noting that the estimates had also been affected by last year’s pay award to staff. The Chair asked if the next meeting of the Committee could be sighted on the information sent to residents; redacted for data protection.  The Executive Director advised that the Service Charge Working Party already receives this information.  The Chair suggested an

an informal session with officers in respect of service charges, before the December meeting, by way of a training session for Members.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

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

The committee received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services.

In response to questions, officers agreed that future reports could be presented in the format used for service charge reports and that the report in question could be shared with the committee outside following the meeting in this style. Officers agreed to share a table of variances following the meeting.

The committee noted that an independent audit was to be commissioned of service charges, paid for by the City of London Corporation, and that two residents had been nominated to be involved in the commissioning and ongoing reporting of the audit.

Residents reported that their own surveying of other residents within Ben Jonson House suggested that there were approximately 70% of dwellings which had reported water ingress issues with a number of these issues continuing. Officers agreed to meet with residents of Ben Jonson House to discuss the matter further.

It was further noted that balcony repairs were a significant element of the repairs spend and it was confirmed that a survey was being commissioned to determine the extent of the problem with a view to undertaking such work on a programmatic basis to achieve economies of scale and other associated benefits.

RESOLVED: To note the report.