Agenda item

There were two questions as follows:

Jaspreet Hodgson – Housing Provision working party

Would the Chair of Policy and Resources commit to convening a Working Group,

established by this Committee, comprised of not more than 12 members of the

Court elected by the full Common Council and supported by relevant officers, to review our housing provision and to consider the creation of a Housing Committee with Grand Committee authority?

If so, would he agree to convene the Working Group within six months of this date and request that findings be submitted to the full Court within twelve months of convening.

The Chairman responded and referred to there having been three external reviews of the City Corporation’s housing service, following which action was being taken to improve customer focus, contract and cost management and to implement a new housing strategy and develop an asset management plan.

A report in February 2024 considered whether governance arrangements were sufficient to oversee those improvements in our housing service and concluded that no significant governance changes should be made at that time.  That paper proposed that this should be reviewed again in 2 years, which would take us to February 2026.  At Court of Common Council earlier this year, I had also said to Mark Wheatley that I felt that the time to consider such a change would be over the coming civic year. 

So, in response I do think that there is a plan already to consider this and on that basis I am reluctant to agree to any new processes or working groups in addition to that.

When we do consider the matter, I personally would want to be convinced that a new Grand Committee was the right mechanism, given that we have a Housing Sub-Committee, Barbican Residential Committee and Residential Consultative Committee already.  I would also want to fully understand what residents’ views were on the matter.

The Chair asked the Chair of Community and Children Services to add anything that she felt necessary. The Chair of Community and Children’s Services responded and referred to there having been insufficient investment in previous years.  A Transformation Board had now tackled the issues of services charges at the Barbican Centre.  The Social Housing Estates had procured a new service, with a new complaints procedure and response time.   Residents were being talked to through consultation committees regarding the current arrangements on the estates and whilst they had not been asked the questions directly, there was no indication of an appetite for change at this stage.

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At this point in the meeting, in accordance with Standing Order 39, a decision was taken and approval granted to extend the length of the meeting.

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The Chair added that she would not be supportive of the establishment of a Working Party.  Money was needed to support housing and a new Working Party would not make this go any faster than it was already being worked on.  There was a new Strategic Leadership Team across both Community and Children’s Services and the Barbican and there was a need to let them work through the system.  There was also a Housing Strategy that was continuing to be worked through.   A new Working Party was not needed at this stage.

The Chairman confirmed this as a joint response to the question, adding that the issue had not gone away and that it continued to be worked through.  

James Tumbridge - Ward Notice Boards

Clarity was sought on the change in terminology on Ward Notice Boards from ‘Common Councilmen’, as the legally recognised title to ‘Common Councillors.’  It was questioned how this change came about and with an assurance sought that no further changes would be made to Ward Notice Boards until Members had taken time to consider this further and agree a position.

The Deputy Town Clerk clarified that the terminology changes to Ward Notice Boards aligned to a decision previously taken by Policy and Resources Committee in 2019 when it had been agreed to use gender neutral working.  The Comptroller and City Solicitor clarified that ‘Common Councilmen’ was the correct legal term to include on legal documents and that it would require legislation to change.  It was questioned whether the title appeared on ward notice boards on a legal basis.

Differing views were offered on the terminology that should be used and how it should be determined, with the Deputy Town Clerk stressing a need to understand the legal position before it can be considered any further and a decision taken.

The Chairman concluded the discussion confirming a need to understand the legal position before it can be taken any further.