Agenda item

Members noted that any questions, which had not been answered in advance of the meeting and circulated to Members, would follow shortly and be appended to the draft minutes.  Members were reminded that there had been a very high volume of questions this time and some of these had been of a highly technical nature and received very close to the deadline.  As usual, they would all be included in the ‘You Said, We Did’ update.

Further questions were put as follows:

• Following a recent lift failure at Shakespeare Tower, which could have had a serious impact on elderly and vulnerable residents, officers advised that procedures would be put in place.  However, it was understood that such incidents in the tower blocks were extremely rare

• Members asked if there were there any possible sanctions against flats left empty for a number of years?

• Residents were very disappointed at the design of the new bicycle stores.  The Listed Building Consent officer had advised that, as they were not a permanent structure, they were outside of the Guidelines.  Furthermore, secure bicycle storage was essential to the Barbican Estate  and the ‘pods’ were fit for purpose; did not take up any more room than the existing bicycle stores and the design had been chosen following consultation with Planning and Transport for London officers.    Officers assured Members that there were no access issues but would visit the site again, with an Access Officer and a Defoe House resident.  Members were advised that, if they were dissatisfied with the design and location, given this was a Landlord issue, they should make representations to their elected Ward Members.