Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Ruby Sayed (Chair) and the Deputy took the Chair, Rehana Ameer, Matthew Bell, Peter Bennett, Nicholas Bensted- Smith, Christopher Hayward, Natasha Lloyd Owen, Elizabeth Rogula, Sir Michael Snyder, Dawn Wright and Mark Wheatley.

The following Members had submitted apologies but joined the meeting remotely:

• Ruby Sayed (Chair)
• Deputy Elizabeth Rogula
• Sir Michael Snyder
• Mark Wheatley
• Dawn Wright

Susan Pearson declared an interest in respect of items 10 and 17, as she lives on the Golden Lane Estate. Ms Pearson advised that she has a general dispensation to speak but not vote on housing matters.

Presentation

The Committee received a presentation from the First Love Foundation.  During questions, the following points were noted:

1.       First Love agreed to follow up on a Member’s feedback about attempts to provide fresh goods to the food bank.

2.       First Love has observed that some residents are more comfortable dealing with non-statutory organisations.  In response First Love will be developing their community based outreach work and one-to-one meetings with clients, in order to carry out  needs assessments and signposting to other service providers.

3.       In Tower Hamlets, First Love has been successful in securing discretionary housing payment support for those in need and is keen to replicate that approach in the City. 

4.       Areas of successful work in the City include ensuring that residents are in receipt of their full benefit entitlements and reclaiming unpaid monies.  Assistance with employability is also provided, and First Love work with a wide network of corporate supporters; providing paid internships and apprenticeships, and workshops which offer help with CVs, interview skills and mentoring.

5.       First Love often discover increasing levels of complexities in families that can lead to appealing benefits decisions.  The  DWP process for appeals can take up to 20 weeks, which has a severe impact on families with low incomes.  Whilst this delay is outside of their control, First Love continue to work with families by providing access to food and other support via signposting and referral, until the case is resolved.

6.       Members asked if First Love could deliver across all the authorities in which the City has housing stock. The Director reminded Members of the work ongoing with adjacent Boroughs, where the City has housing stock, to put people in touch with local services that are networked with council services in that area.

7.       In response to comments about the

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 24^th September 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 24th September 2021 be approved.

Matters arising

1.         A bid had been submitted for the first round of the Housing Net Zero Action Plan in respect of the window replacement scheme at Southwark and the William Blake Estate, and the outcome was expected by the end of 2021.

2.         The report on the water charges refund was due to be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee on 18th November and a public announcement would  be made based on any final decisions.  The Chair of Policy and Resources (also a Member of this Committee) advised that the Policy and Resources Committee were considering this report, as it had wider reaching reputational issues, but would give due regard to the decisions of the Housing Sub and Community and Children’s Services Committees. 

To note the Committee’s outstanding actions list.

The Committee received the Outstanding Action list and noted the following:

1.       The Head of Barbican and Community Libraries had reviewed the Strategy  in terms of children and young people and confirmed that it includes a commitment to the ‘Children’s promise’.

2.       The Policy and Resources Committee had supported signing-up to the Homelessness Link Pledge.

3.       There had been some issues with the pop up vaccination centre. Despite extensive promotion, take-up was not as high as expected but 20  people had received vaccinations.

4.       In respect of Right to Light, the Assistant Director advised that the City anticipates transferring funds to the resident’s solicitors in December, who will arrange for the payments to residents.

To note an action in respect of the Major Works Progamme.

The Assistant Director explained the difficulties in reflecting the net zero carbon action plan within the Housing Delivery Plan.  Many projects are some way off being identified and funding for net zero carbon is a 10-year programme.  Currently, the only funding certainty is for the current Major Works Programme, which has been extended from 5 to 6/7 years, and the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee receives regular updates. The work identified as part of the recent Savills stock condition survey (Phase 2 of the Major Works Programme) does not currently have available funding.  

The Chamberlain confirmed that work was underway with the Assistant Director and his team to refresh all existing projects and their funding.  Members would receive an initial report in December, covering HRA revenue costs and budget estimates.  The Assistant Director reminded Members that the reports on the current programme are regularly presented to the Housing Sub Committee, including Phase 2 of the Major Works Programme.

Town Clerk to be heard,

Members noted that provision for  the appointment of a Member from the wider Court would be included in the Sub Committee’s Terms of Reference, in the event of the Grand Committee not being able to fill the vacancies from within its Membership. 

RESOLVED, that – Alderman Prem Goyal be appointed to the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor in respect of the renovation construction works to 75 and 77 Middlesex Street to provide a demise available to the successful Service Provider, Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology T/A Tavistock Relationships ( Tavistock) to deliver a mental health centre service in the Square Mile offering low cost medium and long-term treatments. NB. The project has been agreed for progression outside of the Fundamental Review.

RESOLVED, that – the project be closed, and lessons learnt.

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

The Committee received a report of the independent Chair of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board, which had been scrutinised by the City Corporation’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Safer City Partnership Board and the Safeguarding Sub Committee.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services (TO FOLLOW)

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the repair, installation of secondary glazing or replacement of existing single-glazed windows with double-glazed units, and redecoration of internal and external common parts at the Golden Lane Estate.

RESOLVED, that:

1.         The additional budget of £95,000 be approved for the change of scope to include replacement roof design work to reach the next Gateway.

2.         The revised project budget of £1,026,150 (excluding risk) be noted.

3.         The total estimated cost of the project at £10,893,696 (excluding risk) be noted.

4.         Option 3 be approved to restructure the project into separate work streams (to progress through the remainder of the Gateway process independently) and to revise the project scope to include roof renewals.

5.         Approval be granted to rename the project ‘Windows Programme, Common Parts Redecorations & Roofing Renewals – Golden Lane Estate’ in light of the requested scope change.

The Deputy Director of Public Health’s regular update included the following points.

Cases

•      London estimated R value  is 1 to 1.2.

•      The number of  COVID-19 cases reported in the City of London has been increasing relatively consistently each week since the end of September.

•      In the latest week of complete data (ending 2 November), 26 cases of COVID-19 were recorded among residents of the City of London, translating to an incidence rate of 267 cases per 100,000 population. This is 24% higher than the incidence rate recorded in the previous week. (Incidence rate for England 402.1/100,000 and London 259/100,000).

•      During the same week last year (ending 3 November 2020), 15 COVID-19 cases were recorded among residents of the City of London (73% fewer).

•      The highest number of cases have been recorded among younger working ages over the last two months of available data: 46 cases were recorded among 20 to 29-year-olds and 39 cases were recorded among 30- to 39-year-olds. Less than 30 cases were recorded among all other ages.

Education and early years settings

•      Since the beginning of this academic year, there have been 29 reports of COVID-19 cases made by education and early year settings in the City of London, averaging at four reports each week. This is in comparison to 11 reports made during the same period last year.

•      The highest number of reports were made by The City of London School (14 reports) and Charterhouse Square School (five reports). Less than five reports were made at all other settings.

•      Between 7 September and 5 November 2021 an average of 27 students and 1 staff member were registered as contacts of COVID-19 cases each week in the City of London’s education and early year settings. During the same period

1.      The Assistant Director advised that the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee received regular updates on fire safety works.  There had been some very recent updates, which had not been available when the agenda for the Housing Sub (scheduled for 15^th November) had been published, but they would be included in the report to the next meeting on 20^th January 2022 and the Community and Children’s Services Committee on 26^th January 2022.  The Assistant Director also confirmed that the City Corporation had, in some instances, gone over and above the legal requirements including, the installation of fire doors with 60-minutes fire resistance (as opposed to 30-minutes) and, the installation of sprinklers in the social housing high rise blocks, which were approved in   previous reports to the various Committee(s) including C&CS.  The update in January would also provide additional information in respect of the Waking Watch provision that was provided at Great Arthur House.  

2.       Resourcing issues had delayed the Golden Lane lighting project but there had recently been a successful recruitment of a Project Manager and a second was, hopefully, imminent.   The team had, therefore, prioritised fire safety and health and safety works but, this project is expected to gain pace in the new year.

3.       Housing Sub and CCS receive regular KPI reports on repairs performance and, when targets are not being met, Members do intervene and seek the appropriate assurances.    A report on the Repairs and Maintenance Service is due to be presented to the Housing Sub Committee on 15^th November.  

4.       The Deputy Director had been in discussion with the CCG about the catchment area for Goodmans Field Surgery, but the initial proposal would have included a further 1500 to 2000 residents which is too large a catchment area. A

There were no items.

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

Agenda item (s)                                             Para no (2)

16-19                                                               3

20                                                                    1&2

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 24^th September 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 24^th September 2020 be approved. 

Report of the Chamberlain.

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.

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

Joint 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 City Surveyor.  (TO FOLLOW)

The Committee considered and approved a report of the City Surveyor.

Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Director of Community and Children’s Services was heard.

There were no questions whilst the public were excluded.

There were no items.