Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from David Graves; Gordon Griffiths (represented by Derek Penney); John Tomlinson; Mary Hickman; Fiona Lean; Patric Morley; Frances Pugh; Phillip Sharples (represented by Malcolm Crisp); Robin Gough (represented by Matt Collins) and Janet Wells .

There was a standing declaration as all members are residents of the Barbican Estate.

The Chairman presented this report and set out the position to date.  The Barbican Residents Consultation Committee of 12 March had received a report recommending the installation of a fibre-optic system to replace the existing five wire integrated reception system (IRS). 

The Barbican Residential Committee of 26 March 2012 resolved, that:

1.    The Comptroller and City Solicitor be instructed to commence negotiations with Vision Holdings and draft a set of Contract Terms and Conditions.

2.    That the Terms and Conditions be approved by the Residents’ Consultation Committee.

3.    That, subject to (2) above, the final details of the contracts be delegated to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Barbican Residential Committee, in consultation with the Town Clerk, Comptroller and City Solicitor and the Director of Community and Children’s Services. 

The Chairman advised that the issues raised at the last meeting in respect of the Term Sheet, had been largely resolved.  Since that meeting, the Working Party had been looking at the Core Service KPI’s.  As several members of the Group have a very high level of technical expertise, the Chairman suggested and Members agreed, that it should continue in order to oversee the KPI’s. (Names of the Working Group Members can be seen at Appendix 1 to these Minutes)

A resident from Defoe House Group tabled a set of proposed approval conditions, appended at Appendix 2 to these Minutes.  Residents were asked to note specifically the requirement for  ‘an agreement of 66% of the Working Group that the KPIs are reasonable and protect the interests of the resident adequately; RCC decision required if a Working Group consensus cannot be achieved.’

The Chairman agreed that this reflected an acceptable commercial consensus and, from recent conversations, was confident that the conditions would be acceptable.  The residents agreed that they

The Housing Service Director provided residents with a verbal update on the Beech Gardens Podium Works.

Residents noted that, during the course of a thorough investigation of the podium, the original estimate had increased by £1m.  The project had therefore been referred back to the Projects Board and a site visit had taken place on 5 July 2012.  Members had been through the specification and were very supportive of the proposals.

On referring the contract back to the lowest tenderer for the soil and vegetation removal, it transpired that the licensing fee for soil removal had increased by £30,000.  The project had therefore gone back to full tender, with an anticipated commencement date of September 2012 and completion in November 2012 and completion of the main works by January 2014. The Chairman commented on the lack of communication in recent months and the Director apologised for the delay and inconvenience.

Residents noted that much of the podium was subject to leaks.  The immediate problem was being addressed as it had seriously affected a commercial resident. 

In response to questions, the Director advised that, once the full specification was available and details had emerged in respect of planting, tiling etc. they would be communicated to residents via proposed ‘drop-in’ sessions.  A more accurate assessment would be possible once the soil had been removed.  Residents asked for a newsletter, with an update, by the end of July.

During questions, the following matters were raised:

·         The cost will be borne by the Landlord, not residents.

·         During the course of the works, the exit from Lauderdale should be considerate to wheelchair users.

·         The works proposed include a resin based double lined waterproofing – guaranteed for 25 years. 

·         A resident suggested the Kew Garden Advisory Service on re-planting and the use of drip feed irrigation.