Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Clare James, Paul Martinelli, and Deputy Philip Woodhouse.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 26^th February 2021.

RESOLVED - That the public minutes of the meeting held on 26^th February 2021 be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Sub-Committee took items 4 and 5 together

Opening the discussion, the Chairman, whilst welcoming the focus on our future ways of working, expressed his concerns about the implications of excessive remote working once covid restrictions were lifted. Whilst he accepted that a return to five days in the office was unlikely in the medium term, there needed to be a recognition from all involved about what the organisation and employees could lose with the absence of people working in the same place at the same time. We needed, in short, to consider the objectives or the ends first, and not rush immediately into the mechanics.

Several points were made:

Shrinking the estate – what might that mean for the Corporation’s footprint?

Officers responded that, in the short term, the aim was to to keep staff and Members safe whilst we continue to contend with the pandemic.

In the medium to longer term, the aspiration was that the organisation would move towards having a hybrid working pattern for staff which would complement a smaller and more sustainable property footprint; this would, in turn, align with the objectives in the Corporate Property Asset Strategy and the Corporation’s Climate Strategy. If achieved, this would result in significant savings due to a reduction in demand for energy, catering, cleaning, and repairs, and would provide a refreshed working environment fit for the future.

Regarding energy, officers would be looking at the implications for the Corporation’s Climate Strategy of staff members working from home, as their energy usage was likely to be higher, on average, than being based in Guildhall.  

The Chairman noted that the Report referenced the need to consider the provision in Guildhall (and other operational buildings), and the likelihood that these spaces will need to be reconfigured to complement the types of

Report of the Chamberlain.

Please see ITEM 4.

Joint Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive and the Chamberlain.

The Sub-Committee received a Report of the Chamberlain concerning the timetable for 12% reduction Deep Dive Reports to E&P.

RESOLVED – that the Committee noted the Report.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

MOTION - 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.

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 26^th February 2021.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26^th February 2021 be agreed as an accurate record.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.