Agenda item

Report of the Acting Director of Community and Children’s Services

This report updated Members on the issues raised by the Residents’ Consultation Committee and the Barbican Residential Committee at their meetings in November/ December 2012.

 

Baggage and Bicycle Stores

 

A resident suggested that, as Andrewes Car Park had a lot of vacant spaces, it might be a suitable venue for baggage stores.  Members were advised that officers had looked at waiting lists and demand before submitting a proposal to the City’s Corporate Projects Board.  This had subsequently been approved and would be presented to the Projects Sub Committee on 12 February 2013.  Members noted that, whilst Andrewes Car Park had not been included this time, demand and waiting lists would be reviewed after a year. The RCC would receive an update on baggage storage at their next meeting, following the Projects Sub Committee on 12 February.  The Chairman welcomed this as it would be helpful for residents to understand why particular locations had been chosen.

 

In respect of bicycle lockers, Members noted that as the payback for this project would be more than 5 years, it fell outside the City’s criteria.  Therefore, alternative funding streams and methods of bicycle storage were being investigated.  Members noted that Transport for London had recently agreed to fund security hoops, which would be installed shortly. 

 

Insurance Meeting with Chamberlain’s Department

 

Dates in February have been proposed, subject to confirmation.

 

Street lighting near Breton House

 

Residents felt this was extremely bright and asked if it could be dimmed as it flooded some bedrooms.  The Estate Office Manager advised that his team met regularly with officers from the Built Environment and Highways and would investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

Seating – Ben Jonson and Gilbert House

 

Some residents felt that the light coloured timber on the street furniture on Ben Jonson walkway had been a poor choice.  The residents of Gilbert House had stressed throughout the consultation process that they did not want additional seating.   Representatives from Gilbert House Group had valued a productive meeting with the Assistant Director for the Built Environment the previous week (25 February 2013) and raised these and other concerns, which would also be followed up by the Manager of the Barbican Estate Office.

 

Beech Street Tunnel

 

Members asked for an early meeting with the Assistant Director for the Built Environment in respect of the options for enhancements to Beech Street tunnel and the impact on Defoe House and Shakespeare Tower.

 

Concrete Works

 

The Housing Services Director had received a number of letters from leaseholders in low rise blocks, asking if works could be deferred until the wider concrete issues had been resolved.   Members noted that they would receive a response later this week.  Furthermore, the BA has raised a number of questions, which would also be responded to and, further to this; the Chairmen of the Barbican Association (BA), Residents Consultation Committee (RCC) and Barbican Residential Committee (BRC) would meet.   The outcome of this meeting would inform a final report to the BRC in June 2013.  

 

The Chairman suggested that Estate Office communicated with House Group representatives regarding the specification and works before tenders were sought, as this approach had worked very well with the recent redecorations.  

 

In respect of those residents who might be experiencing hardship, deferred payment terms were available and residents would be reminded of this concession when the estimates were sent out.

 

There was some concern expressed about the appearance of rust on some of the earlier repairs to the tower blocks.  The Director assured residents that there had been some discolouration but it was not rust.  Members noted that officers would be meeting with English Heritage on 8^th February.  Members also asked if an update could be circulated.  In concluding, the Chairman asked officers to be mindful of wear and tear on the longer-term aesthetics of the buildings.  

 

Sunday Parking at St Giles’ Terrace

 

Residents were concerned that there had been 22 parked cars outside the Girls’ School last Sunday and asked if drivers were aware that this parking was unauthorised.  The Chairman of the RCC and the BA agreed to raise this directly with the Girls’ School and the Manager of the Estate Office offered to follow it up with the Barbican Occupiers Users Group.

 

City Surveyor Reports

 

The City Surveyor’s representative attended the meeting to take questions in respect of the lifts and escalators.  It was noted that there were many issues causing inconvenience to residents. Residents asked if future reports could consider their concerns and their impact more fully and set out the works in place to minimise them.

 

City Surveyors presence at the RCC meetings was considered helpful. In this context, residents highlighted the continuing escalator problems and the long term nature of the associated disruptions.  They also expressed a preference for an on-site operative responding to emergency calls from the lifts, as opposed to a remote call centre.  The City Surveyor explained the nature and causes of the recent lift and escalator problems and residents asked to see a copy of the SLA covering response times, which the City Surveyor agreed to supply. 

 

In respect of Crossrail, there was a perception that their legislated powers made them appear inflexible and dogmatic.  The Chairman of the Barbican Association advised that Crossrail holds six-monthly liaison meetings and the next one was due in March.  The City Surveyor agreed to brief the officers who attend the Crossrail meeting and highlight all the concerns raised by the RCC.

 

Barbican Cinema

 

The BA had asked for the sound measurements to be re-done, as the readings taken on average decibel basis were not adequate to form a baseline set of data.  Residents were disappointed generally at quality of consultation and felt that their concerns over the longer-term risk of deterioration in the acoustic insulation might have been overlooked. 

 

General

 

A resident had written to the City Surveyor about the repairs following removal of the cinema hoardings.  The City Surveyor had only just received this communication and would respond shortly.

 

 

Frobisher Crescent

 

The City Surveyor had met with Frobisher residents last week and the heating issues were being resolved.  Residents would be updated again later this week. 

 

Former YMCA site

 

It was proposed by Robert Barker, seconded by Gordon Griffiths and agreed to recommend the following resolution of the Barbican Association to the BRC on 11 February 2013

 

The Barbican Association’s General Council has carefully considered the range of options for the future use of the former YMCA building.

 

It is in favour of the conversion of the building to residential use, following the Frobisher Crescent model, retaining the existing Grade II Listed façade, and preferably with the building being managed by the Barbican Estate Office.

 

It is against the future use of this building as a hostel/hotel, as past experience unfortunately indicates that such use does not offer sufficient protection of the residential amenity of both the Barbican and Golden Lane estates.

 

We note that a report commissioned by the City on hotels states that hotels should not be located in residential areas (Cushman and Wakefield. City of London Hotel Study: Market Strategy and Policy Advice for New Hotel Development in the City of London. June 2009).

 

Mr John Tomlinson abstained from the vote by virtue of his position as a Common Councilman.

 

Local Plan

 

Members noted that this was currently out for consultation and the Town Clerk would forward the link to the City of London’s planning pages. 

 

RECEIVED