Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

For information

At 8.25 pm, Members agreed to suspend Standing Order to conclude the business on the Agenda.

This report followed the resolution of the Court of Common Council on 19 April 2012, requesting the BRC to consider the question raised by the Ward of Cripplegate Within and Without, that the City, as Landlord, should not charge the cost of the work of the concrete investigation and repairs to the three Barbican towers to the long leaseholders.  The report provided a background as to why work was necessary and evaluated whether the work could be considered to be the making good of a structural defect in the original construction.

The Chairmen of the BA and RCC had written to the Chairman of the BRC seeking an urgent meeting about charging leaseholders and the impact on asset management in the future.  In this letter, the Chairmen had asked the BRC Chairman to consider deferring further consideration of the report until after the meeting had taken place.  Residents were aware of some earlier reports dating back to 1986 and 1991.  The Housing and Technical Services Director assured residents of full transparency and, if relevant, these reports would be provided as appendices when the final report was taken to the RCC and BRC. 

Residents noted that a more recent fault, concerning rust appearing through the temporary repairs to balconies on Cromwell and Shakespeare Towers, had been discussed with the City Surveyor and residents would be advised on the outcome of further investigations. 

RECEIVED