Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from :  Naresh Sonpar, Ruby Sayed, Henrika Priest, Ben Murphy, Tim McNally, Frances Leach, Alderman Alastair King, Alderman Gregory Jones, Jamel Banda, Coraline Addy, John Absalom, Steve Goodman, Sophie Fernandes, Joanne Abeyie, Philip Woodhouse, Matthew Bell, Aaron D’Souza, Munsur Ali, Jamel Banda and James Bromiley-Davis.

John Fletcher declared a general non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 5, as his wife works for the Adult Skills and Community Learning Department.

Susan Pearson declared a general non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 7, as she might be indirectly affected by the proposals for winter measures.

Before commencing the business on the agenda, the Deputy Chair advised that the Chair had asked for updates from the Chairs of the Sub Committees and the various Lead Members to be a standing item on future agendas.   The first of these updates would take place on today’s agenda, before questions and items of urgent business.

To agree the minutes of the previous Committee meeting.

RESOLVED, that – the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th July 2022 be agreed as a correct record, subject to noting that John Griffin was in attendance at this meeting.

During the summer recess, the Chair and Deputy Chair had visited the City of London’s Corporation’s housing estates, both in and out of the City.  

Matters arising

·         The Head of Housing Management was arranging a number of walkabouts and informal meetings to both the City and out-of-City Estates.  Once finalised, the dates would be shared with Members of the Grand and Sub Committees.

·         The Director had met with the Tudor Court’s Residents’ Association, ahead of a legal planning meeting to consider whether Counsel’s advice would be required.   Members would receive a non-public update at the next meeting of the Committee. 

·         The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Review was being led by Chamberlains, who had engaged Saville’s to review its delivery in terms of the  5-year budget forecast.  Members would receive an update at the next Committee.

Members asked if the actions list could include allocated officers and target dates.

In terms of the food poverty actions, the Director reminded Members they had agreed to this be progressed through an overarching approach to poverty , and this appeared later on the agenda (item 6).

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the full Ofsted Inspection of the City of London Corporation’s Adult and Community Learning Service, which had taken place in June 2022.

Members congratulated the team on the outcome.  Officers advised that they were working with the GLA to reduce the number of sub-contractors and to deliver as many in-house services as possible.  Minor issues were being resolved, and Members were invited to help steer the team in their community work.

RESOLVED, that – the overall rating of good be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services, which set out actions and proposed activities in response to cost of living pressures. It also sought approval for an amendment to the Stronger Communities Grant Programme.

Members commended a good report and practical suggestions.  During the discussion and questions, the following pointes were noted:

a)     Officers accepted that ‘warm spaces’ might not work for everyone, but would increase opportunity, and vulnerable residents would continue to be referred to Social Services.

b)     A Member reported difficulty in accessing the Emergency Support Service webpage. The officer agreed to ask the  Benefits Team in Chamberlains to investigate.   Members were informed that the London Borough of Lambeth administers the fund for the City Corporation.

c)     The Housing Support Fund targets residents known to their services and need of support, and those in receipt of welfare benefits

d)     The Multi Officer Steering Group has only just been established and is yet to agree its Terms of Reference.

e)     Some actions are being taken forward by partners. The  Department is not able to identify leads for all actions given limited  resources, but the action plan will help to identify gaps.

f)      It was suggested that there could be conflicting messages in respect of the ‘Warm Winter Welcome’ and ‘Destination City’ communications.  The officer agreed to raise this with the Communications Director. 

g)     It was suggested that warm space opportunities for workers should be promoted , as it may be cheaper to travel into the City than work from home during the winter months.

h)     St Luke’s is a highly valued community facility providing food support and warm space and should be promoted.

i)       It was suggested that public access computers were provided at the Community Centres. 

j)       The availability of warm spaces

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which sought Members views and approval, if appropriate, to a suite of housing specific thermal winter measures to homes on its social housing estates, where residents will have at least one more winter with poorly performing single-glazed windows.

During the discussion and questions, the following points were noted:

a)       Officers had taken advice since the agenda had been circulated and Members noted that it would be illegal to fund the rent credit via the HRA.  It would also be illegal to offer HRA services to leaseholders.

b)       There was adequate funding within the existing budget but, as the proposals represent a change of  scope, they would need formal approval via the City Corporation’s Project Gateway Process.

c)       The cost will be around £600 per property but not all homes would need them.  The thermal curtains cost £90 per window.

d)       Once the recommendations had been agreed, works would start immediately and October and November generally see milder temperatures.

e)       Officers will work with colleagues in Chamberlains, to make the process as streamlined as possible, and present a timetable to the next Committee.

f)        Officers work closely with the Climate Action Team and would give consideration to the use of Energy Doctors, which have been successful in the London Borough of Islington.  Energy Doctors are also able to carry out ‘fall assessments’, which are a  particular danger to older residents during cold spells.

g)       Some residents are reluctant to let contractors into their properties as they have concerns about disruption and unfinished works. Members sought assurance of open and constructive communications and consultation.

h)       The City Corporation offers services to leaseholders for electrical testing and gas servicing, and encourages them to join schemes, where they will benefit from

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

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the draft Terms of Reference for the bodies that, as a whole, represent the City and Hackney ‘Place Based Partnership’. The report sought a delegated authority, to enable timely decision making, in the event of the next City and Hackney Health and Care Board falling before this Committee’s next meeting.  

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

a)     Officers explained that the Terms of Reference would allow specific parties to agree Section 75 arrangements – which allow pooling of local authority and health funding.

b)     The Terms of Reference need to be refreshed as the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) no longer exists.  The Sub Committee will still be appointed by the Community and Children’s Services Committee and make  decisions with Hackney Members.

c)     Members requested a flow chart/organigram to illustrate the various structures.

d)     In response to a question about community and voluntary sector representation, it was noted that Hackney Council for Voluntary Service (HCVS) works close with City organisations and helps represent their views alongside partners such as City Healthwatch and City Connections. The Director of Public Health advised that HCVS is seeking to expand its City based community and non-profit organisations and is considering rebranding to reflect this.

e)     Strategies such as the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Better Care Fund will continue to provide strategic direction alongside links to the City’s Health and Wellbeing Boards.

RESOLVED, that:

1.               The draft Terms of Reference be noted.

2.               Authority be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to approve the terms of reference for the City and Hackney place based partnership arrangements.

There were no questions.

At 4.20pm, Members agreed to suspend standing orders in order to finish the business on the agenda.

Updates from the Chairs of the Sub Committees and Lead Members.

Further to the discussion earlier on the agenda in respect of the Placed Based Care Partnership, Members noted that the first meeting had taken place and future meetings would be alternated with development sessions.  From January 2023 onwards, the dates would not clash with Court of Common Council days.

Florence Keelson-Anfu had been working with officers in respect of a City Corporation UN Accreditation for Young People and welcomed input from Members in terms of work, study and recreation.   Anne Corbett was thanked for her contributions in respect of carers.  The Lead Member had also been working with fellow Ward Members in Farringdon, in terms of quick wins in play areas, as some places simply required better signage.

Anne Corbett advised that the number of carers had increased, with 600 self-identified in the City, and the Census data was expected at the end of October.  Whilst the Carers’ Group valued City Connections, they welcomed the Tower Hamlets pilot appointment at the end of October.   The Group have ongoing concerns about the cost of living and are pleased that face-to-face meetings have resumed.

The new High Support Hostel was expected to open in November 2022, and the Chair would arrange a visit for Members in due course.  The next meeting of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub Committee was scheduled for 3rd October 2022. There was a report on this non-public agenda about the Assessment Centre and a request for a delegated authority.

The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee had been visiting the City’s Housing Estates during the summer, including those outside the City.  Some quick wins had been achieved and the Chair and Deputy Chair felt that they had made good connections

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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item no(s)                                Para No(s)

13-18                                       3

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous Committee meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^TH July 2022 were approved.

The Committee received the non-public action list.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

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

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the City Surveyor.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

There were no questions whilst the public were excluded.

The Chair agreed to accept an item of urgent business in respect of a capital funding shortfall on the Rough Sleeping Assessment Centre project. The Committee considered an approved a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services 

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Report of the Independent Chair, City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board.

This report has a particularly large appendix, which will be circulated separately and added to the Board’s web page.