Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from George Abrahams, Caroline Haines, Graeme Harrower, Deputy the Revd. Stephen Haines, Laura Jorgensen, William Pimlott, Jason Pritchard, James de Sausmarez and Deputy Philip Woodhouse.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and non public summary of the meeting held on 7^th November 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 7^th November 2019 be approved.

Members are asked to note the Committee’s Outstanding Actions List.

Members noted the Committee’s Outstanding Actions list and those items which either appeared on today’s agenda or had been scheduled for future meetings. 

-       City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board – Annual Report 2018/19 – re transitions from child to adult safeguarding and assessing outcomes – to be covered in the next Annual Report to the Committee (expected Autumn 2020)

-       Sufficiency Strategy – a message had been posted on the website in respect of promoting fostering opportunities to City residents.

-       Playground Equipment – external gym equipment had been included in the brief for consultation.

-       Right to Light Claims, Golden Lane – the Director advised that an apology had been received from the Consultant, acknowledging that residents should have been advised on the implication on leases in respect of the slither of land.  The original offers would therefore stand and larger claims were progressing.

Town Clerk to be heard.

Members were asked to appoint to 2 vacancies on its Safeguarding Sub Committee.

RESOLVED, that – being the only Members willing to serve, Jason Pritchard and Munsur Ali be appointed to the Safeguarding Sub Committee for 2019-20.

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Performance.

 Members received a report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Performance in respect of developing a strategy for sport and physical activity in the City of London.  Members noted that the report had been presented to various City Corporation Committee and the Town Clerk had circulated Members’ comments ahead of today’s Committee. It was expected that a proposed final version of the Strategy would be presented to the Policy and Resources Committee in February 2020.

RESOLVED, that – the report and comments to date be noted. 

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

 Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which provided an update on commissioning activity, since the last report in May 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

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

 Member considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of a pilot to provide free school meals to all pupils at Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School.  Members noted that the budgetary provision was in place.

RESOLVED, that – the impact of the pilot project be noted and funding for meals for all children attending Sir John Cass Primary School, in years 3, 4 5 and 6 continue, sourced from the Education and Early Years’ Service Budget, and subject to annual review. 

Chief Grants Officer (CGO) and Director of City Bridge Trust.

Members received the revised eligibility criteria for the City of London Combined Education Charity and the City Educational Trust Fund. 

RESOVED, that – the amended eligibility criteria for the City of London Combined Education Charity (no 312836) and the City Educational Trust Fund (290840), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be recommended to the Education Board.

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of sales and lettings policies for new housing developments.  Members noted that the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee had considered this report in some detail at their last meeting, on 20^th November 2019, and the questions raised and their responses had been circulated ahead of today’s meeting. 

Whilst noting that detail on equity was still to be finalised, Members agreed to amend the recommendation as set out in (2) below.  In response to a question about eligibility to vote in a residents’ ballot, Members noted that the eligibility criteria was captured by the GLA’s funding conditions. These provide that; “any resident whose principal home is on the estate and who has been on the local authority’s housing register for at least one year prior to the date the Landlord Offer is published, irrespective of their current tenure, is eligible to vote in the ballot”. 

RESOLVED, that –

In respect of Leaseholders:

1.    Long leaseholders who occupy their flat as their only or principal home and who wish to remain on the estate will, if their existing flat is subject to demolition, be offered a new flat on a shared-equity basis.  NB If, however, they are able and wish to purchase 100% of the equity, then they will be able to do so.

2.    Any long leaseholder taking up a shared-equity offer will be expected to invest funds from the purchase of their old property and a proportion of any Home Loss payment (plus a potential voluntary contribution from savings). Any value gap will be met by the City Corporation retaining an equity share in the property. Any value gap will be met either directly by the City or indirectly through a

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which sought approval for contracting out of Section 202 - Housing Act Reviews (of the Housing Act 1996) to a third-party organisation.  Members noted that the local authority in question must authorise the contracting out. 

RESOLVED, That:

1.      Authority be granted (retrospectively if necessary) for a period not exceeding 10 years (from 01/01/2019) to the exercising of the statutory homelessness review function (under Section 202 of the Housing Act 1996) by persons or employees of those persons whose details have been notified to this Committee (by or on behalf of the Director of Community and Children’s Services) as having entered into agreements to provide the exercising of the statutory homelessness review function on behalf of the Common Council of the City of London.

2.      The Director of Community and Children’s Services be authorised to enter into agreements (in accordance with the above authorisation) with persons to provide for the exercising of the statutory homelessness review function on behalf of the Common Council of the City of London by those persons and/or employees of those persons.

3.      Housing Reviews Ltd be noted as having entered into an agreement to provide the exercising of the Statutory Homeless Review Function up to 31 December 2019.

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

 Members considered an outcome report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect the refurbishment of the Golden Lane Community Centre, including lessons learnt.

RESOLVED, that - the contents of the report be noted and the project be closed.

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the Fire Door Replacement Programme.  In response to questions, Members noted that Spitalfields was not part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and would need to be submitted as a separate capital bid. The Assistant Director advised that the issue of multiple/single contractors was under consideration by Procurement officers and had been discussed with the Chairman of the Projects Sub Committee. 

RESOLVED, that:

1.       A budget of £150,000 be approved for internal staff costs and professional fees to reach the next project gateway.

2.       The project budget of £150,000 (excluding risk) be noted.

3.       The total estimated cost of the project at £9,100,000 (excluding risk) be noted. 

In response to a question about the status of the Community and Children’s Services Department’s Internal Audit reports, the Director advised this might be a timing issue and agreed to investigate further.  Members noted that the Director met regularly with officers in Internal Audit and Risk Management in respect of internal audit report recommendations and progress on action plans and their implementation.

The Chairman agreed to admit an item of urgent business in respect of an urgent decision taken by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, since the last meeting of the Committee   The Town Clerk had circulated the decision notice to Members ahead of this meeting.

RESOLVED, that – the action taken under urgency provision in respect of an updated Deed of Variation to the Section 75 Agreement, to take into account the Better Care Fund for 2019-20, be noted. 

Member noted that the meeting scheduled for 10^th January 2020 at 11,30 am would be cancelled and the next meeting of the Committee would be on 7^th February 2020 at either 11 or 11.30 am (exact time to be confirmed, depending on the size of the agenda).

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED, that – under Section 100A (4) of the  Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 (Schedule 12A) of the Local Government Act.

Item nos                           para no

18-27                                       3

28                                            Confidential item (paras 1,2,3 & 4)

To approve the non-public minutes of meeting held on 7^th November 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7^th November 2019 be approved.

Report of the Chamberlain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the Director of Public Health.