Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Henry Pollard.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 14 July 2021.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 14 July 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates (BHE)

The Board received a report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates (BHE) providing an update on key areas of activity across the whole charity since the Board’s last meeting in July 2021 and outlining upcoming activities for the Board to note.

Tower Bridge

The Board noted a recent technical issue with the Bridge’s automated control system, which had been resolved. The Chair commented that it was key that lessons were learned in order to prevent such issues going forward. The Head of Tower Bridge advised that whilst the control system was not at the end of its life, it was intended to upgrade the system in alignment with the ongoing HV System project.

A Member commented that there had been other recent issues at Tower Bridge, which were highly publicised, and the Board sought assurance that sufficient planning and budget were in place for predicted maintenance over the longer-term. The Head of Tower Bridge explained that plans were in place to overhaul the full HV System, with some work having been brought forward. The Board noted that work had been done to assess the funding required for the maintenance of the bridges over the long-term.

The Chair advised that a report on the Risk Register for the charity, which would include risks in respect of the bridges, was expected at the next Board meeting in November.

City Bridge Trust (CBT) Activity Update

The Board received an update on CBT’s response to the impact on London’s Afghan community and refugees of the crisis in Afghanistan. The Managing Director of BHE advised that whilst the scale of the planned resettlement scheme had not been confirmed, as over half of the Afghan community in the UK lived in London, it was likely many would seek resettlement in London. There were several

The Town Clerk to be heard.

The Town Clerk advised that following the previous meeting of the Board, four Members of the Board had confirmed their willingness to serve on the Grants Committee, with the Chair of the Board also intending to attend meetings. The Town Clerk further advised that the Court of Common Council had approved the Board’s proposed protocol for co-option, also approving the Board’s recommendation to appoint Jannat Hossain and William Hoyle, formerly Co-opted Members of the City Bridge Trust Committee, to the Grants Committee to serve as co-opted members of the Committee until the next municipal year.

The Board was then asked to elect a Chair and Deputy Chair of the Grants Committee. Expressions of interest were sought in serving as Chair and Paul Martinelli, being the only Member indicating willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chair of the Grants Committee. Expressions of interest were then sought in serving as Deputy Chair of the Grants Committee, and Dhruv Patel, being the only Member indicating willingness to serve, was duly elected as Deputy Chair of the Grants Committee. The Chair then thanked and congratulated the newly-elected Chair and Deputy Chair.

RESOLVED – That the Bridge House Estates Board:

a)    Appoint Alderman Alison Gowman, Paul Martinelli, Dhruv Patel and Judith Pleasance to the Grants Committee of the BHE Board; and

b)    Appoint Paul Martinelli as Chair of the Grants Committee of the BHE Board, and Dhruv Patel as Deputy Chair of the Grants Committee of the BHE Board.

It was also,

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Members of the Bridge House Estates Board express their sincere thanks and appreciation to:

DHRUV PATEL

for the manner in which he presided over the deliberations of the City Bridge Trust Committee for the last two years and the commitment he has demonstrated towards all aspects of the

Reports of the Managing Director of BHE

RESOLVED – That the BHE Board agree a grant of £840,000 to Trust for London (TFL) to extend the current Moving on Up and the Strengthening Voices Realising Rights projects for an additional two years, subject to confirmation of the TFL match contribution at an equivalent level.

In response to a question from a Member, the Managing Director of BHE advised that CBT had a history of supporting the advice sector, including legal advice. The support provided by CBT was used to complement other forms of support and towards funding pro bono legal work. The Chair confirmed that grants of this nature were within the remit of the Bridging Divides strategy, but could be taken into consideration for the next CBT strategic review.

RESOLVED – That the BHE Board agree a grant of £500,000 over three years (£200,000; £150,000; £150,000) to The Legal Education Foundation – Justice Collaborations (TLEF) to contribute to the second round of grants for specialist immigration advice services in London.

RESOLVED – That the BHE Board agree a grant of £900,000, over five years (£200k, £200k, £200k, £175k, £125k) to the Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology for the continuation of the Catalyst digital network project, release of year two payments will be conditional on funding from the National Lottery Community Fund (or other funder(s) at a similar level of funding) being secured.

Report of the Chamberlain

The BHE Board considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE and the Chamberlain updating Members on the central contingency budgets held by BHE within the original 2021/22 budget, with a request for an uplift to be approved to enable the BHE Board to meet unforeseen and/or exceptional items that may be identified during the year. In response to points raised by Members, the Chair confirmed that the contingency budget would be directly overseen by the Board, and that requests for allocations would need to demonstrate why the costs cannot, or should not, be met from existing budget provisions in the usual way.

RESOLVED – That the BHE Board, in discharge of functions for the City Corporation as Trustee of Bridge House Estates (charity reg. no. 1035628) and solely in the charity’s best interests:

a)    Note the central contingency budgets currently held by BHE for 2021/22 which include a central contingency budget of £50,000, as well as provisions of £175,000 for apprentice costs and £40,000 for contribution pay (paras 1-3);

b)    Approve that £50,000 be held as a contingency for consideration for joint projects undertaken with the City Corporation acting in its other capacities;

c)    Approve that £40,000 originally held as contingency for contribution pay be transferred to a central contingency fund;

d)    Recommend an uplift in central contingency budgets of £810,000 for onward approval by the Court of Common Council, which shall be held with the central contingency sums approved under recommendations b) and c) above to create a total contingency budget of £900,000 for 2021/22; and

e)    Subject to approval of recommendation d) and Item 8 on your Agenda to recommend the use of currently held contingency budgets of £108,000 as stated in this report for onward approval by the Court of Common Council.

Report of the Chamberlain

The Board considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE requesting approval of a 2021/22 budget uplift of £77,800 to fund 3 roles until 31^st March 2022.

RESOLVED – That the BHE Board, in discharge of functions for the City Corporation asTrustee of Bridge House Estates (charity reg. no. 1035628) and solely in the charity’sbest interests, and subject to the Court of Common Council’s approval to an uplift in the contingency budget to be held within the control of the BHE Board, approve a budget uplift of £77,800 for the 2021/22 operational budget held by BHE to fund the extension of 2 roles linked to the implementation of the BHE Strategic Governance Review and 1 additional role for BHE operational support.

a)    Implementation: To approve a 2 day a week extension of the existing BHE Review Programme Director role and a full-time 4-month extension to the existing BHE Transformation Project Accountant position until March 2022.

b)    Operational: To approve a 2.5 day a week BHE Project Officer role until March 2022.

Report of the Chamberlain

The Board considered a report of the Chamberlain on capital prioritisation and the 2020/21 and 2021/22 rounds of annual capital bids. Members commented that it was important that parallel procedures and appropriate officer delegations be set up to avoid the need for decisions in respect of relatively minor sums to be submitted to full Board meetings, and asked officers to look for efficiencies in this regard.

RESOLVED – That the BHE Board agree the release of an initial £3,000 contribution towards the costs of progressing the Wide Area Network upgrade project to the next gateway, to be met from the Unrestricted Income Fund with funding previously approved within the 2021/22 budget.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE and the Chamberlain

The BHE Board were provided a financial update of BHE activities from the start of the current financial year to 31 July 2021 to enable the Board to have an overview of the charity’s financial position and performance, alongside updating on forecast changes made.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

The Board gave thanks to Ciaran Rafferty, CBT Funding Director, on his last meeting after twenty years at City Bridge Trust. The Board thanked Ciaran for his long and valuable service to the charity and wished him luck in his next role. In response, Ciaran Rafferty thanked the Board for their tribute, remarking that it had been an honour and privilege working for the charity, and wished the Board luck with their important work going forward.

MOTION – With the Court of Common Council for the City Corporation as Trustee

of Bridge House Estates (Charity No. 1035628) having decided to treat these meetings as though Part VA and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 applied to them, it now be moved that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that their consideration will in each case disclose exempt information of the description in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of any person (including the City Corporation as Trustee of the charity) which it would not be in the charity’s best interests to disclose.

RESOLVED – That with the Court of Common Council for the City Corporation

as Trustee of Bridge House Estates (Charity No. 1035628) having decided to

treat these meetings as though Part VA and Schedule 12A of the Local

Government Act 1972 applied to them, the public be excluded from the meeting

for the following items of business on the grounds that their consideration will in

each case disclose exempt information of the description in paragraph 3 of

Schedule 12A, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of

any person (including the City Corporation as Trustee of the charity) which it

would not be in the charity’s best interests to disclose.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2021.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

To be considered in conjunction with the report at Item 7.

The Board received a non-public appendix in respect of Item 7.

To consider a resolution of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 16 July 2021.

The Board received a resolution of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk & Chief Executive

The Board considered a report of the Deputy Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

The Board considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Commissioner of the City of London Police.

Report of the Chamberlain

The Board considered a report of the Chamberlain.

Report of the Chamberlain

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain.

Report of the City Surveyor

The Board considered a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the City Surveyor

The Board received a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the City Surveyor

The Board received a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the Chamberlain

The Board considered a report of the Chamberlain.

Report of the City Surveyor

The Board considered a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the Town Clerk

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk.

There was one question.

There was no other business.

The Chair then thanked Members and officers for their attendance and contributions before moving the Board into confidential session.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Board considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE.