Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Revd Dr Martin Dudley, Dhruv Patel, Deputy Elizabeth Rogula, and Mark Wheatley.

Mr Gareth Moore declared an interest in housing matters, as a tenant of Golden Lane Estate, and Deputy Henry Jones declared an interest in matters relating to the Middlesex Street Estate, as he was a residential and business lease holder.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting on 18 January 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 18 January 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Members noted that the work on Great Arthur House was progressing well, and officers were impressed with the contractors so far. With regard to the comparison data requested for the Satisfaction Survey, Members noted this would be coming to a future meeting.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services which provided an update on the City of London Almshouses. Members noted that officers and residents were continuing to work with Southwark Mediation Centre and, during non-public session later in the meeting, queried the rent arrears.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services which provided an update on events and activities on the City of London Corporation’s social housing estates. Members congratulated the three estates that won grants from the Groundwork and Tesco’s grant-giving initiative “Bags of Help”, and praised the skills exchange held for residents at Isleden House.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services providing the six-monthly update on Housing Service performance. Members congratulated officers on the performance on responsive repairs, rent collection, and benefit claims, which had exceeded targets. Members discussed gas servicing, the Corporation’s policy objective to deliver 3700 new homes over the next 10 years, and the impact the introduction of Universal Credit would have on rent collection and arrears.

Members queried the suspension of the waiting list for sheltered housing, and officers undertook to provide further detail at the next meeting. Members noted that priority was being given to residents displaced from Mais House, but agreed this was not a reason to suspend the waiting list altogether. Members also noted the incidents of anti-social behaviour, and requested Police figures regarding crime on City estates.

RESOLVED – That further information regarding the sheltered housing waiting list and Police figures regarding crime on City estates be provided at a future meeting; and the report be noted. 

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services proposing the adoption of a Decant Policy, and an initial budget for the decant of residents of Mais House. Members considered the policy and the report, receiving clarification that all Mais House residents would be eligible to receive the Home Loss payment. Members sought, and were given assurance that no residents would be financially disadvantaged in the longer term.  Officers also stated that any further measures needed would be brought back to Members for approval at a later date. 

RESOLVED – That the decant policy be approved, and an initial budget of £450,000 be created for home loss and disturbance payments for residents of Mais House over the life of the decant programme.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a joint report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services and Chamberlain which provided information of how the City of London Corporation was investigating and tackling Social Housing Tenancy Fraud. It also provided an analysis of the cases investigated by the Anti-Fraud & Investigation Team during the 2015/16 financial year.

Members noted that two fraud preventative measures had been introduced, and 15 illegally sub-let CoL social housing properties had been recovered. In response to Members’ questions, officers advised that the Corporation supported the victim of the illegal sub-let, providing them with advice and information about organisations that could help them (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureaux).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the City of London’s City Home Purchase Grant scheme. This scheme used funds from the Government’s Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund to offer Right to Buy eligible tenants up to £30k to purchase a home on the open market. Members noted that there had been a lower level of take-up than was anticipated, but a total of five grants had been agreed and, for the successful applicants, it had been a life-changing experience.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Corporation’s approach to installing CCTV systems in City Housing Estates.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the refurbishment required on the City of London Almshouses in Brixton. Members discussed the report, and agreed that the two-year timescale was preferable to ensure the least amount of disruption for residents.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    a two-year refurbishment programme for the City of London Almshouses be approved in principle, at an estimated cost of £898,000; and

b)    the Assistant Director, Barbican & Property be requested to commence the procurement and Gateway processes with a view to appointing a single contractor to deliver the programme.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

NB: This report will also be considered by the Barbican Estate Residents Consultation Committee on 6 June 2016, the Barbican Residential Committee on 13 June 2016, and Projects Sub Committee on 29 June 2016.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding water safety works.

RESOLVED – That

a)    Option 2, to complete a planned programme of works using the results of the risk assessments to prioritise the works, be approved;

b)    the estimated budget of £562,000 for HRA Housing Estates and £900,000 for Barbican Estate be noted; and

c)    the additional budget now requested to reach Gateway 5 (£25,000 for HRA Housing Estates and £40,000 for Barbican Estate) be approved.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

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 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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item                                                                                         Paragraph

16 & 17                                                                                    3

18 & 19                                                                                    -

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2016.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

NB: This report will also be considered by the Projects Sub Committee on 1 May 2016.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.