The Community & Children's Services Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 22 April 2026, was set to discuss a range of departmental updates and strategic plans. Key topics included a departmental risk update, the outcome of a Regulator of Social Housing inspection, and an update on the Golden Lane Leisure Centre.

Departmental Risk Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Department of Community and Children's Services (DCCS) Risk Register. This report, authored by Rumina Sultana, Business Support Manager, was intended to highlight changes since the previous report, including the addition of new risks, the closure of risks where mitigation measures are now embedded, and updates to existing risk entries. The report indicated that all changes to the Risk Register had been reviewed and approved by the Departmental Leadership Team (DLT). Enhancements to risk governance and assurance were noted, including defined escalation routes, stronger quality assurance of risk descriptions and controls, and alignment with the City of London Corporation's Risk Management Framework.

The report detailed newly identified risks, primarily driven by external market and demand pressures, such as Provider cost inflation DCCS 003, Demand pressure PE 004, and Provider failure (targeted provision) CP 001 and Provider failure (universal provision) CP 002. Several risks were noted as closed, including Falling school rolls (ED 003), and the risk concerning the failure of community equipment provision. The New Homes programme risk (HS 006) was re-added as Failure to deliver New Homes to programme (HS 0013) due to ongoing construction at York Way. The Fire Safety Fire Risk Assessment risk (HS 002) was closed and merged into Failure to maintain effective fire safety management across the housing portfolio (HS 0012).

Updates to existing risks included Children's Centre Services Delivery Change (ED 004), which remained stable. The Safeguarding (PE 003) risk score was unchanged, with a recommendation to revert to a single combined safeguarding risk. Significant work had focused on improving Fire Safety (HS 0012) reporting and action management. Statutory Compliance (HS 009) saw improved data accuracy and reporting, with a review by Pennington to determine if current processes provide sufficient assurance. Repairs & Maintenance (HS 008) had refreshed mitigating actions due to contractor performance challenges. Major Works (HS 005) saw a decrease in risk scoring due to secured funding. Housing Finance (HS 004) was reworded to better reflect the current state of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

In response to member feedback, details on risk age, creation date, and ownership were to be provided in Appendix 1, DCCS Detailed Report – Latest Summary [https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s231695/Appendix%201%20-%20DCCS%20Detailed%20Report.pdf]. Further guidance on the risk-scoring methodology was available in Appendix 2, Understanding Risk: RAG Ratings [https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s231696/Appendix%202%20-%20Understanding%20Risk%20RAG%20Ratings.pdf]. Continuous improvement in risk management was planned through annual workshops, integration into induction programmes, structured feedback loops, and the development of the corporate risk universe.

Regulator of Social Housing Inspection - Outcome, Benchmarking and Improvement Response

The committee was scheduled to discuss the outcome of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) inspection, its benchmarking against other London local authority landlords, and the Corporation's response. The report, authored by Zoe Gayle, Service Improvement Manager, and Peta Caine, Director of Housing, indicated that the City of London Corporation had received a C3 Consumer Standards grading, signifying serious failings requiring improvement. This outcome was acknowledged as reflecting historic under-investment in the housing stock. The Court of Common Council had committed to a £211 million investment programme over the next 10 years to address safety, quality, and Decent Homes compliance. The Corporation accepted the C3 grading and aimed to achieve full regulatory compliance (C1) within three years. The RSH had recognised the Corporation's self-awareness and its work at pace to address issues.

Benchmarking against published Regulatory Judgements and Notices as of February 2026 showed that the City of London Corporation's C3 grading was not an outlier among London local authority landlords, with 7 out of 17 graded landlords receiving a C3. Common challenges across London included historic under-investment, incomplete stock condition information, overdue safety actions, and weaknesses in repairs performance and governance. Early improvements noted included 79% of homes having an up-to-date stock condition survey, rapid improvement in electrical safety performance from 33% overdue in July 2025 to 91% compliant by March 2026, and the implementation of a new digital platform for managing fire risk actions. The Corporation would be subject to monthly engagement with the RSH, focusing on the delivery of an improvement plan, likely using the Housing Strategy Action Plan [https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s231698/CCS%20-%20Housing%20Strategy%20Years%2023%20Action%20Plan%20draft.pdf]. Progress would be overseen by the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee and the independently chaired Housing Improvement Board. Residents were to be kept informed through letters, newsletters, and regular updates.

Golden Lane Leisure Centre - Update from the Chairman

The Chairman was scheduled to provide a verbal update to the committee on the Golden Lane Leisure Centre.

Updates from Sub Committees, Allocated Members and Portfolio Holders

This agenda item was for information, with no specific details provided in the public reports pack.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

This item was scheduled for members to ask questions concerning the committee's remit.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent

This item allowed for the discussion of any urgent matters that the Chairman deemed necessary to bring before the committee.

Exclusion of the Public

A motion was scheduled to be considered for the exclusion of the public from the meeting for specific items of business, on the grounds that they were likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

Non-Public Reports

The agenda indicated that following the exclusion of the public, the committee would discuss non-public minutes, non-public outstanding actions, a report from the Health and Fire Safety Team, a report on the Golden Lane Leisure Centre Refurbishment - Gateway 2 Issue, and a Waiver Report. These items were not detailed in the public reports pack.