Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Barbara Newman, Angela Starling, Philip Woodhouse, Randall Anderson, Ann Holmes, Deputy Stanley Ginsburg and Vivienne Littlechild.   

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 9th December 2013

The public minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2013 were approved as a correct record.

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 concrete repairs to the Barbican Estate.  The report provided a background to the required works and responded to a Resolution from the Ward of Cripplegate, Within and Without, to the Court of Common Council in 19 April 2012.

The Chairman invited each member to express their views.  During the discussion and debate the following items were raised/noted:

·      Members noted that 2 items of correspondence had arrived after the despatch of the agenda; they would be circulated to members as soon as possible.

·      Members welcomed a more comprehensive report and commended officers and the Chairman for their commitment to ensuring that members would be able to make a well-informed decision.

·      At the core of this issue was whether the concrete works would repair ‘a defect affecting the structure or a structural defect’.   A view was expressed in that the structure was probably adequate by 1960/70’s building standards.  Had it deteriorated since, it might not necessarily mean it was defective but just in need of running repairs. 

·      Whilst noting that only 11 out of a possible 300 leaseholders had withheld payment, members accepted that there was a high level of dissatisfaction amongst residents. It was also understood that, if the recommendation was agreed today, further challenge and discovery would follow.

·      There were mixed views expressed about the balance of the legal opinion.  Members noted that the Barbican Association’s lawyers had not met with the City Solicitor to date, as Counsel’s opinion had not been provided.  The City Solicitor confirmed that he had responded fully to all queries and been available for meetings.

·      Given there was no ‘sinking fund’, the charge would be particularly unfair on the newer lessees on the Estate.  However,

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

·       Agenda Plan 2014

·       ‘You said; We did’

·       Property Services Update

·       City Surveyors’ Update

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

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Report of the Town Clerk

To receive the draft minutes of :

·       The Annual General Meeting held on 3 February 2014 - attached

·       The Meeting held on 3 March 2014 – to follow

MOTION – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of the 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 item on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1, of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item No                                   Paragraph No

15 – 18                                    3

19                                            -

20                                            3, 5

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

Report of the Town Clerk