Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed the Interim Director of Community and Children’s Services to their first meeting of the Committee following which the Interim Director introduced themselves to the Committee.

Apologies were received from Mathew Bell, Aaron D'Souza, Alderman Christopher Makin, Naresh Sonpar, Deputy Phillip Woodhouse and Florence Keelson-Anfu.

There were no declarations made.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22^nd September 2022.

The Chairman read a statement prepared regarding Members conduct and behaviour. The Committee agreed a zero tolerance policy on bad behaviour and disrespect toward Members and Officers.

The Committee considered the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22nd September 2022.

The Deputy Chairman informed the Committee that funding had now been allocated and a company instructed to progress the housing specific winter measures.

Resolved- That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22nd September 2022 be approved as an accurate record.

Members are asked to note the outstanding actions list.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk on the outstanding actions from the previous meeting of the Committee.

Following a query from a Member the Chair confirmed that the action points from the Committee’s away day would be recorded separately however it was confirmed that a report on the housing more generally was due to be finalised for Member consideration in 2023.

Resolved- That the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk on the Annual Review of the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Resolved- That the terms of reference of the Committee (set out at Appendix 1) be

approved, for submission to the Court in April 2023.

The Chairs of the various Sub Committees and Portfolio Holders to be heard.

The Committee heard the Chairs of the various Sub Committees and Portfolio Holders in relation to their sub-committees and portfolios.

The Chair of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee updated the Committee on the progress of the assessment centre for rough sleepers and informed of Member visit to the hostel due to be held in the proceeding week. The Chairman thanked Officers for their work on the assessment centre.

The Committee noted that the upcoming census data would provide a key insight into the number of carers in the City of London. In addition, the Committee was informed of the concerns of carers in the City of London. Officers undertook to report back on suitable options for event to celebrate carers day.

Resolved- That the update be noted.

Town Clerk to be heard.

The Committee considered the appointment of a Community and Children’s Services Committee Member representatives on the Education Board and Member on the Safeguarding Sub-Committee.

The Committee considered the appointment of a Member to the Education Board noting that this position usually was held by the Chairman of the Committee however, as the current Chairman was as member of the board in her own right, the position was open to all Members of the Committee. Following expressions of interest John Griffin was agreed as the Member representative on the Education Board.

Expressions of interest were sought for the vacancy on the Safeguarding Sub-Committee. The Committee agreed that John Fletcher be appointed to the Safeguarding Sub-Committee noting that, as the Sub-Committee membership was under the purview of the Committee, further appointments could be made if there were more Members interested.

Resolved- That-

John Griffin be appointed as the Community and Children’s Services Committee representative on the Education Board

John Fletcher be appointed to the Safeguarding Sub-Committee.

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

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the on the City and Hackney Health and Care Place Based Partnership Terms of Reference.

A Member highlighted the issue of the provision of NHS dental care in the City of London was highlighted. It was observed that this provision was primarily in relation to the national contract but confirmed that every action needed to be considered in mitigation of this at a local level.

In response to a Member’s query on the outcomes to be achieved the Place Based Partnership Plan was highlighted as helpful summary of areas which the board was keen to see progress in.

Replying to a Member’s query on the membership of the North East London Integrated Care Board it was confirmed that the Mayor of Hackney was the local authority representative on the Board adding that Mayor’s would be requested to provide a outline of the proposed policy toward the Board. The Deputy Chairman added that there was a coordinated agenda planning process across all of North East London local authority representatives to provide feedback to the Mayor prior to meetings of the Board.

Further to an Members  query on the extend to which career development was taken into consideration it was confirmed that this was being considered at both a North East London and City and Hackney level particularly highlighting the work force enabler group.

Resolved- That the Terms of Reference for the Health and Care Board and the Section  75 Board be approved.

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

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director of Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services on the Local Lettings Policies CoLPAI and Isleden  House.

Following a Member’s query it the definition of overcrowding with regard to the age and gender was confirmed.

Following a Member’s question on the numbers of flats suitable for a wheelchair user it was confirmed that there were seven wheelchair accessible flats within the block and the remaining properties were convertible, if this need arose.

Following a Member’s query it was confirmed that there would be disabled parking at the properties however the onsite parking was manged by Islington.  

A Member questioned why the division of housing at all sizes of property was not fifty percent between both the City of London tenants and Islington. This reflects the landownership and financial contribution of Islington. It was added that studio properties were the biggest demand and, therefore, the allocation of one bedroom properties would assist with the demands to alleviate overcrowding.

Following a Member’s query it was explained that the lack of vacancy properties limited the possibilities for moving tenants who needed a larger property. A Member commented that there was evidently a need for further social housing in the City of London and in London more generally. The Chairman noted that the housing report in the new year would address these issues however it was clear that there would be no quick fix in this regard. A Member requested that a visual map regarding overcrowding of social housing be provided.

A Member requested that the data on the demand for social housing be considered at part of the discussions on the City of London Local Plan. It was agreed that a possible resolution regarding this matter would be discussed at the meeting later in

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

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services the Children and Young People’s Plan 2022-25.

In response to a Member’s concern regarding the consultation and access to information Officers confirmed that this was due to be a key component of the action plan going forward as a vital element of work. It was confirmed that communication policy in reference to the Plan In addition it was confirmed that the provision of the sporting facilities  would be addressed outside of the meeting.

The Chairman requested that there was an ongoing consultation with relevant groups to ensure appropriate engagement.

Officers confirmed, in response to a Member’s query, that the survey results were anonymised so the any specific response could not be attributed to any specific persons or institution.

A Member expressed concern regarding the number of people responding in their ward. The Chairman added that, despite the consultation being advertised on the Corporation’s networks, some Members were not aware and requested that this be considered in future consultation.

Officers replied on the provision of sporting facilities confirming the current offering in this area and added that there would be the report brought to the Committee on options for further provision of these facilities.

Answering a Member’s query Officers outlined the reasoning behind the outcomes presented in the Plan with the Chairman adding that if there were any further points that needed to be incorporated in the action plan these could be added that the next stage of the process.

Resolved- That the Children and Young People’s Plan 2022–25 be approved.

Answering a Member’s question it was confirmed that free school meals were offered to all students at the Aldgate School. Officers added that the Education Board would need to consider whether to extend the free school meal offering at the schools under its purview. The Member requested that the Committee consider what could be done to support the Feed the Future campaign for an extension for school meals. A Member observed that there was a discussion at the Policy and Resources Committee previously regarding the provision of free school meals and suggest that this be raised at a future meeting of that  Committee.

The Committee agreed to suspend Standing Order forty and take the meeting beyond two hours.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the late paper on the Middlesex Street Car Park had been withdrawn as it was not complete and, therefore, would need to be considered at a urgent meeting of the Committee. Following discussion the Committee agreed that this meeting needed to be a formal public meeting of the Committee.   

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)

14-19                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3

16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd September 2022.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22nd September 2022.

Resolved- That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22nd September 2022 be approved as an accurate record.

Members are asked to note the non-public outstanding actions list.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk on the outstanding actions from the previous meeting of the Committee.

Resolved- That the report be noted.

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

The Committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor regarding Tudor Rose Court.

Resolved- That the report be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk regarding action taken outside of the Committee.

Resolved- That the report be noted

There were no questions in the non-public session.

There was no urgent business considered in the non-public session.