Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms, 2nd Floor, West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Emma Cunnington
tel. no.: 020 7332 1413  Email: emma.cunnington@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Alderman Vincent Keaveny and Deputy Tom Sleigh.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda

Minutes:

Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark declared an interest in item 4 by virtue of his position as Church Warden of St Lawrence Jewry and member of Guild Church Council.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To agree the public minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 20 November 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 20 November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Project Funding pdf icon PDF 193 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning capital prioritisation and the 2020/21 round of annual capital bids.

 

A Member asked when the request for drawdown for the Smithfield Market Canopy replacement would come to Members as this was a priority for health & safety reasons. The Chamberlain and the City Surveyor requested delegated authority to agree the drawdown for these works once the figures had been finalised.

 

RESOLVED, that:-

·         The following schemes, in the context of the current financial climate, be confirmed of their continued essential priority at this time:

o   Wanstead Park Ponds – further drawdown of £40k to undertake additional survey to reach next gateway

o   Public Realm Security Programme – release of £225k to prepare for the next stage of security works

o   St Lawrence Jewry Church - £55k top-up to reach the next gateway

o   Lindsey Street Bridge Strengthening - £30k to reach the next gateway

o   Oracle Property Manager (OPN) System Replacement - £545k requested to implement the scheme

o   Personal Device Replacement - £2.25m requested to implement the scheme.

·         The release of up to £3.145m from the reserves of City Fund, City’s Cash and Bridge House Estates as appropriate, subject to the approval of the relevant gateway reports.

·         Delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman of Policy & Resources Committee, to consider the drawdown request for the Smithfield Market Canopy project.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

2020/21 Budget Setting Update pdf icon PDF 194 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Chamberlain updating Members on the 2021/22 budget round, which is to set the City Corporation on the flight path to achieving a sustainable budget over the medium-term.

 

The Policy Chair gave an overview of the recent bilateral meetings with Service Committee Chairmen and Chief Officers, which she had held with the Deputy Chairman of Resource Allocation, and which had secured a shared commitment to closing the budget gap, whilst recognising that there are several departments, which whilst committing to the 12% cost savings, face Covid related income loss, which will have to be taken into account when setting resource caps. She also encouraged the Sub-Committee to prioritise some of our most sensitive front-line services in Community and Children’s Services, and maintain our support for each of our Academy students, at a time when they are facing significant Covid-pressures.

 

The Deputy Chairman added that the Target Operating Model (TOM) will make an increasing contribution to the 12% saving requirement over the medium-term and that the Town Clerk and Chair of Establishment should provide a regular tracker to ensure transparency and avoid the risk of double counting savings.

 

Members, then, discussed the detail of the paper and there was a particular discussion on the cuts to libraries. The Chair of Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee felt that as one of the libraries was funded by Community and Children’s Services, she did not feel that it was right that this was not covered in her bilateral meeting. Many Members agreed that the libraries were a fantastic resource at this time and one Member suggested that the City Corporation should look to work with other boroughs with larger populations to provide this service. Another Member requested for an impact assessment on areas such as the libraries before

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Prioritisation of 2021/22 Annual Capital Bids - Stage 2 Proposals pdf icon PDF 367 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the Stage 2 proposals of the prioritisation of 2021/22 Annual Capital Bids.

 

There was an extensive discussion on the loan facility for the City of London School for Girls of up to £15.6m. Some Members felt quite strongly that at a time when the City Corporation were having to prioritise it would be politically and reputationally difficult to continue with at this time. The Headteacher of the City of London School for Girls responded with the context of the request for a loan, which would be subject to a business case and proper scrutiny. Members were reminded that the City of London School for Girls could not borrow from the bank and could only borrow from the City of London Corporation. A Member also responded to the points made about providing a loan at a time where the City Corporation was facing 12% efficiencies, reminding the Sub-Committee that capital revenue is very different from approving a loan.

 

In conclusion, Members reached the conclusion that they could not approve the £15.6m until a business case was submitted to this Sub-Committee. Deputy Tom Sleigh requested for his dissent of this decision be recorded.

 

RESOLVED, that:-

·         It be noted and agreed that the plans be affordable, sustainable and prudent.

·         The green rated bids amounting to £83.5m detailed in the report’s appendix, which represented the position agreed with Chief Officers and Services Committee Chairs, be agreed.

·         A business case be brought back to this Sub-Committee concerning the the re-ignited bid for load funding of £15.6m for the City of London School for Girls.

·         It be agreed that provisions of £83.5m plus it be agreed in principle that a loan facility of up to £15.6m (indicative at this stage), subject to a full business case, be

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Review and prioritisation of ring-fenced S106 deposits pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning further allocation of ring-fenced S106 funds.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The allocation of £1.48m in ring-fenced S106 funding outlined in this report be authorised.

·         It be noted that a further report is planned in 2021 with information on the remaining unallocated S106 deposits.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Questions on matters relating to the Work of the Sub-Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Exclusion of the Public

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 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

 

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

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 the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

Item No.

Paragraph No.

11-13

3

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 20 November 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

The non-public minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 20 November were agreed as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Non-Public Appendix - 2020/21 Budget Setting

Non-public appendix to be read in conjunction with item 5.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

The non-public appendix was received with a short discussion concerning TheCityUK.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Proposal to assist City of London Operational Tenants for the December Quarter

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor concerning a proposal to assist the City Corporation’s operational tenants for December’s quarter.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Sub-Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent and which the Sub-Committee agree should be Considered Whilst the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There was no other urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.