Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the questions submitted in advance.

During the discussion and supplementary questions, the following points were raised:

·         In respect of Frobisher Crescent, a response had been received late that afternoon and would be forwarded to the House Group.  The Officer agreed to chase an outstanding query about the proposals for maintenance following sign off.

·         The London Film School (LFS) development had been delayed due to fundraising.  The development would be subject to planning permission and full consultation with residents.  The School were keen to foster good relationships with residents and expected their offer to enhance the amenity of the estate.  The Chairman of the Barbican Association advised that LFS had met with the residents last year the meeting had been well attended.  Breton House had been in consultation with the School about the enabling works to the Art Centre; Professor Mounsey offered to contact them again and feed back to the RCC.  Members noted that the development would be for about 30 students and any licensing facilities would be inclusive and low key.

·         Further to queries raised at the last meeting about tiling, Karen Tarbox advised that there were 4 different types of tiling in use on the Estate but a 98 mm tile had never been manufactured.   For  Beech Gardens, it was intended to use smooth tiles, if they were of a suitable non-slip quality but design would not be compromised.

·         Karen Tarbox agreed to investigate and feed back on the plinth tiles; the availability of white tiles; the ramp at Alban Gate (which could be extremely slippery in winter); the Upper Podium area (above the Art Centre) and the broken tiles at Defoe House.  Members noted that Ms Tarbox had been working with the City Surveyors on an Asset Management Strategy, which would ensure a standard approach for dealing with the above issues, and thanked her for her valued input.  

·         The Chairman asked for nominees to fill a vacancy on the Asset  Maintenance Working Party and Fiona Lean (Ben Jonson House) volunteered.

·         The Deputy Chairman (Mr Anderson) had received a response from VFM (in the last hour) about the TV upgrade.  Mr Anderson would forward this to the Working Party and arrange a meeting in the next week or so.  The Chairman thanked Mr Anderson for his intervention in keeping this project on track.

·         The Meeting on Beech Gardens had been postponed, pending a decision of the Court of Common Council.  Ms Tarbox agreed to investigate why a work platform had been left behind, following the removal of the scaffolding.

·         Two Lift Reports would be presented to the Barbican Residential Committee on 16th September (one on the maintenance contract and the other on performance generally).  Both reports would be in the public domain on Friday 6th September.

·         Karen Tarbox was on the Planning Delivery Board for the YMCA and would provide an update on the progress of the planning permission and consultation with residents.