Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Joanna Abeyie, Caroline Addy, Aaron D’Souza, Steve Goodman, Alderman Gregory Jones, Alderman Alastair King, Alderman Ian Luder, Alderman Bronek Masojada, Benjamin Murphy (joined via Teams) and Ceri Wilkins (joined via Teams)

Sophie Fernandes was expected to joint the meeting later and would be declaring a non-pecuniary interest by virtue of her position as a Governor of Guildhall School (agenda item xx)

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 25^th April 2022.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 25 April 2022 be approved, subject to correcting ‘Ceri Wilkins’ name and recording Philip Woodhouse as having submitted apologies and joined remotely.

The Committee received the outstanding actions list and noted that, in accordance with the recommendations in the Lisvane Governance Review, reports ‘for information only’ had been circulated in a separate pack. 

The Chairs of the Safeguarding, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping and Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee to be heard.

The Chairman of the various Sub Committees highlighted key points from the recent meetings. The full sets of minutes from these sub committees are available at the link below.  

Committee structure - Modern Council (cityoflondon.gov.uk)

Members  noted that these updates would continue on a regular basis.  The Chair advised that the Committee would receive a presentation on the Safer City Partnership following its restructure.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk in respect of governance arrangements for the Committee’s various Sub Committees and remaining appointments.  Members noted the expressions of interest after the last meeting and, in the interests of democracy, they had been opened up again for nominations.  

In respect of the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee, there had been three expressions of interest for one remaining place.  The Committee agreed to expand the Membership to allow ten Members, rather than eight, in addition to the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Grand Committee.  

Members noted that the Integrated Care Partnership Board was in transition from the former Integrated Commissioning Board, as part of an NHS restructure. The Deputy Chairman advised that the new arrangements would see a continuation of the neighbourhood/place based focus and senior posts were being recruited to.  The current Clinical Commission Group (CCG) would cease, and Members would receive an update on new arrangements and leadership once there was more certainty. 

In terms of the composition and governance arrangements of the Sub Committees, the Chair suggested and Members agreed, that this matter should be considered at a Members’ ‘Away Day’, noting that the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee was subject to the recommendations of the Lisvane Governance Review, and might become a Grand Committee in its own right.

RESOLVED, that – the remaining appointments to the Sub Committees be agreed as follows:

1. Henrika Priest, Jamel Banda and Susan Pearson be appointed to the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee.

2. Benjamin Murphy be appointed to the Safeguarding Sub Committee.

3. Ceri Wilkins be appointed to the Integrated Commissioning Sub Committee

Naresh Sonpar be appointed as the Community and Children’s Services Committee’s representative on the Education Board.

Town Clerk and Head of Education and Early Years to be heard.

Information on the role of Local Authority Governors and a job description are attached.

Members noted that there had been one expression of interest, from Jason Pritchard.   Mr Pritchard had submitted a statement in support of his nomination before the meeting. 

Being the only Member expressing a willingness to service, it was RESOLVED, that – Jason Pritchard be appointed as the Local Authority Governor to the Aldgate School. 

Mr Munsur Ali  was thanked for his contribution over the past 4 years as the LA Governor of the Aldgate School.  Members noted that Mr Ali had stood down to focus on the School’s cultural offer in the City and Members wished him well in this venture. 

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 affordable food provision in the City of London and a food pantry model, which is being explored.

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

1.         Supermarkets in the City tend to cater more for officer workers than family household budgets.

2.         Some ethnic groups have specific dietary requirements and are being adversely affected by the increase in cooking oil prices. 

3.         Foodbanks are running out of supplies as people cannot afford to donate. London Plus have been working with foodbanks in London and might be able to offer advice.

4.         In terms of communications,  Members noted that Sylheti is more widely spoken in the UK than Bengali. Whilst Ward Members are very happy to assist residents with  language/reading obstacles, they would like them to feel more empowered.

5.         The Director reminded Members that the First Love Foundation, which had been appointed to run the food bank, do not have the same communications issues in Tower Hamlets as have been perceived in the City.  The previous report on this matter  set out the issues concerning the lack of data, due to GDPR implications, and how need could be measured.

6.         The Committee received regular updates on poverty levels in the City, and this had been covered in a recent public health ‘for information’ report.

7.         At a recent presentation, the Communication Director had been asked to carry out a City-wide survey and the Resource Allocation Sub Committee had agreed the funding, in principle.  The responses from the survey will be captured in the next iteration of this report, which will link in to other work underway on understanding poverty and need in the City of London. 

8.         Officers would be visiting

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

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the Chamberlain, which compared the 2021/22 revenue outturn for the non-Housing Revenue Account (HRA) services, overseen by the Community and Children’s Services Committee, with the final agreed budget for the year. The report stated that the Director of Community and Children’s Services local risk budget was overspent by 249k, with an overspend on all risks including recharges of £1m. Members noted that,  due to this adverse variance on local risk, there will be no requests for carry forwards this year for purposes of this Committee.

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

1.       The Director meets regularly with the Chamberlain in respect of high cost placements and the pressures on the Director’s Local Risk Budget.   A higher overspend had been forecast but this had been reduced by savings achieved elsewhere.  

2.       The Committee would receive a budget estimate report towards the end of this calendar year.  This Committee is responsible for overspends of the Director’s Local Risk but also needs to be of aware of pressures on the central risk.

3.       The overspend of 632k in the Central Risk Budget relates to the unaccompanied asylum seeker budget.  Numbers in the 18-25 year group are rising, and the Home Office grant doesn’t cover the City Corporation’s obligations to these individuals.  This position has been reported through-out the year to  the City Corporation’s Finance Committee and  will be considered  in the budget setting exercise in the Autumn.

4.       This is a national problem and, despite extensive lobbying, very little progress has been made with central government.  The Chair would be raising this matter at the Resource Allocation Sub Committee on 17^th June. 

5.       The Director explained the challenges facing the small

A Member requested a report in July or September this year, outlining the advantages of  undertaking a voluntary transfer of the whole of the Council’s housing stock to a specially created housing association. Specifically, the Director was asked to consider Bedford Borough Council’s ‘Bedford Pilgrim’s Housing Association’ (BPHA) in terms of how the transfer effected in 1989-90 enabled BPHA to fund comprehensive modernisation programmes.

• The Director suggested that this matter be given further consideration by the new Housing Committee.   Members noted that more local authorities are now coming out of ALMOs than going into them, and HRAs are now allowed to borrow up to prudent levels, which wasn’t the case 30 years ago.
• Members noted that they would receive a report at the July Committee in respect of the 5-Year Plan and a 30-year forecast.  The Director suggested that Members should consider this report first and be mindful of  the reputational risk in moving  social housing to an ALMO without the Barbican Estate.
• Members noted that there had been an all-residents meeting since the last Committee, and the new Chair of Policy and Resources is keen to hold these meetings more frequently.

The Director was asked about action taken to recognise Carers Week; recognising the difficulties carers face and ensuring that they are visible, valued and supported by the City of London Corporation.  An event at the Guildhall was also requested, where unpaid carers can discuss issues and celebrate successes.

·             The Director  welcomed the opportunity to highlighting the valued role of unpaid carers and their needs.   The Director also set out the activities planned for carers’ week.

·             Members noted that Connexions had been commissioned to support unpaid carers, with regular zoom sessions led by the carers.  This Committee had also appointed a lead member for Carers at its last meeting.

The Chairman agreed to accept one item of urgent business.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services, which sought approval of a standard protocol for the City of London Corporation (the City) to ensure compliance with the consultation requirements under S105 of the Housing Act 1985.

RESOLVED, that  - the attached standard protocol for the City, to ensure compliance with the consultation requirements under S105 of the Housing Act 1985, be approved.

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 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25^th April 2022.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25^th April 2022 be approved.

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

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

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

The Committee considered and approved a report of 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.

One item was noted whilst the public were excluded.