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 an update on the current contract for redecoration works, to internal and external areas of the residential blocks of the Barbican Estate, between 2020-25.

Members noted that officers were working to resolve the quality issues; a new Clerk of Works had been appointed, and the works would be signed off by 23^rd October.    The RCC had asked for a more comprehensive cost report and the Assistant Director advised that this would be circulated with the Draft RCC minutes.  In response to a question about Bunyan Court’s internal works, the Assistant Director agreed to investigate and feed back to Members.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services.

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

The committee discussed the data within the report and discussed how and when redecorations were logged as completed. It was noted that Gilbert House and Willoughby House had logged formal complaints with the City of London Corporation regarding the quality and poor management of the works and it was understood that another House had made an application to the First-tier Tribunal. The committee discussed the delay between works being completed and inspections being undertaken. The committee considered that the report, as written, had presented a more positive overview of the programme than it warranted and asked officers to be more candid in future.

In response to questions, officers agreed to share a breakdown of the costs per block of the programme following the meeting. The committee discussed the need for a cyclical works programme to ensure the estate remained well maintained. In response to questions, officers confirmed that in remedying the works the priority for the Corporation would be for the contractor to remedy works at their own costs and that a report on the possibilities for payment for said works could be brought to the next meeting of the committee. It was clarified by officers that where issues were identified with the quality of works that the costs of corrections would not be borne by residents.

RESOLVED: To note the report.