Issue - meetings

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

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services in respect of the annual submission of the revenue and capital budgets overseen by the Barbican Residential Committee. 

The Chair addressed the Committee on this and the following item on the agenda jointly, noting the comments from Members at the Special Meeting of the Barbican Residents Consultation Committee (RCC) on 17th January 2024.  Members of the BRC had received their draft minutes ahead of this meeting, together with further information requested in respect of variances to the service charges.   The Chair suggested, and Members agreed, that they should not take a decision on agenda items 7 and 8 in their current format.

The Chair suggested that the decisions be taken under delegated authority by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair, together with the RCC Chair. The Chair also wished to supplement this process with an urgent, informal meeting of the BRC, to discuss proposals further, The Assistant Town Clerk asked the Committee to note the reporting timescales for the City of London Corporation’s obligations in terms of setting its Budget for 2024/25.

Whilst this suggestion was welcomed, concerns were raised about the budget papers being late this year and the Chamberlain explained that this had been due to delays with recharges.   The Chair asked for assurance of better planning in the future.  

Members expressed concerns in that the revised budget appeared to represent an overspend, which would have implications for Leaseholders, and it should have been flagged earlier in the process. Given that the Corporation has charged leaseholders for work outside of the original budget, then Leaseholders need to understand unit costs, in order to have assurance that their service charges are being managed appropriately.   The presentation should also be more transparent

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

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services, which sought approval of the provisional revenue budget for 2024/25, for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.  The report noted that the proposed budget for 2024/25 had been prepared within the resource envelope allocated to the Executive Director, by the City Corporation’s Resource Allocation Sub Committee, including a 3% allowance for inflation.

During the discussion on this item the following points were noted:

1.     Members noted an error in respect of the allocation of staff costs to car parking but this would not affect the bottom line. 

2.     Take up of car parking spaces had declined over recent years.

3.     Over one third of expenditure had been on fire equipment and servicing, sprinklers in the car park, drainage, petrol interceptors and repairs and ventilation fans.

4.     The officer agreed to circulate the breakdown on income for parking and storage  recurrent. 

5.     Two resident engineer flats had been surrendered, contributing to a reduction in income in the Landlord Account and a reduction in expenditure in the service charge account.

6.     Salaries for permanent staff are down, as a few vacancies are being carried. However, salaries for agency staff have increased. 

RESOLVED, that:

The Barbican Residential Committee (BRC) is recommended to :

1.        Review the provisional 2024/25 revenue budget to ensure that it reflects the Committee’s objectives and, if so, approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee.

2.        Review and approve the draft capital budget.

3.        Authorise the Chamberlain to revise these budgets to allow for further implications arising from departmental reorganisations and other reviews including corporate projects.