The Barbican Estate Residents Consultation Committee met on Monday 29 June 2026 to discuss a range of estate management matters. Key topics scheduled for consideration included updates on major works programmes, the Barbican Estate's lift refurbishment projects, and the ongoing governance review. The committee also received reports from various working parties, including those focused on climate and zero carbon initiatives, gardens, and service level agreements.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to agree the minutes from the previous Barbican Residents' Consultation Committee (RCC) meeting held on 20 April 2026. The report pack indicated that these minutes were for decision.

Reports for Information

Several reports were scheduled to be presented for the committee's information, providing updates on various aspects of estate management and ongoing projects.

Report of Director of Property and Estate Management

This report, from the Executive Director of Community & Children's Services, was intended to inform members about various workstreams of the Barbican Estate Office. It highlighted the successful launch and early adoption of the Barbican App, noting over 1,100 residents had signed up and that the app was being used for communication, issue reporting, and service requests. The report also provided an update on the in-house Repairs and Maintenance Service, with a revised go-live date of 1 September 2026, and detailed progress on the Governance Review being undertaken by Charles Russell Speechlys and Inside the Box. Additionally, it covered the Barbican Estate Car Park Review, the Ambue Heating (and overheating) study, the status of Wet Riser Systems in residential towers, the position on lease breaches regarding wooden flooring, and staffing updates, including the recruitment of senior project managers. Finally, it mentioned the Expert Witness Review, which had expanded in scope and was now anticipated to be completed in July 2026.

Report of the Reporting Committee

This report, also from the Executive Director of Community & Children's Services, provided an overview of the work undertaken by the Reporting Committee. Its primary focus had been on establishing a structured governance framework, including the development of an Annual Agenda Plan and a Policy Framework. The report detailed the work on the Annual Agenda Plan, which outlines a quarterly cycle of reporting, and the Policy Framework, which establishes a programme for policy review and development. It also highlighted performance and governance reporting, including enhanced dashboard reporting arrangements, and committee administration and transparency. A joint meeting with the Service Charge Working Party to review the 2026/27 budget was also mentioned.

Major Works Programme Board

This report, from the Executive Director of Community & Children's Services, provided an overview of the work undertaken by the Major Works Programme Board. The Board's focus had been on developing the Barbican Estate's long-term capital investment strategy, including refining the 30-Year Major Works Programme. The report indicated a projected investment requirement of approximately £261 million over 30 years. It also provided an update on the Tower Lift Refurbishment Project, which was progressing through the procurement phase, and discussed measures to improve lift reliability in terrace blocks through a Lift Electrical Repair Framework.

Request for Delegated Authority - Barbican Estate Lift Electrical Repair Framework

This report, from the Executive Director of Community & Children's Services, sought approval for delegated authority regarding the proposed Lift Electrical Repair Framework. The report highlighted the ongoing issues with lift reliability across the estate due to obsolete electrical components. It outlined the proposed approach of establishing an electrical repair framework for terrace block lifts to stabilise performance in the short to medium term, while a full modernisation programme is developed. The report detailed the scope of works, budget estimates, and requested approval for delegated authority to appoint a lift consultant and contractor upon conclusion of the tender process.

Barbican Estate – Tower Lifts Refurbishment

This report, from the Executive Director of Community & Children's Services, provided an update on the procurement progress for the appointment of a Lift Consultant for the Tower Lift Refurbishment project. It noted that the project had received Gateway 1 and 2 approval in September 2025. The report detailed the ongoing tender exercise, including the evaluation of Stage Two responses and interviews with consultants. A member of the Tower Lift Group was part of the tender review panel. The appointment of the Lift Consultant was anticipated to be brought to the Barbican Residential Committee for approval in July 2026. The report also included an updated Gantt chart outlining the anticipated procurement programme.

Action Tracker

The committee was scheduled to review the Action Tracker, which details outstanding and completed action points from previous meetings. The report pack indicated that several actions were proposed for closure, while others were to be retained or new actions raised.

Working Party Updates

Updates were scheduled to be received from various working parties:

• Climate & Zero Carbon Working Party (CWP): This update, provided by Richard Setchim, Chair of the CWP, detailed the group's focus on providing comment and challenge to the AMBUE study on heating and cooling. It also mentioned discussions on plug-in solar panels and engagement with the Resident Green Champions Network. A key point was the emergence of a new task to develop recommendations for a protocol to replace the discretion currently used by the Barbican Estate Office Director regarding the operation of underfloor heating outside of the core months.
• Gardens Advisory Group (GAG): This report detailed the group's quarterly inspections of the Barbican Gardens in May 2026. It noted that the gardens generally looked well despite a dry spell, with positive comments on the gardeners' work. Concerns were raised about the need for watering during dry periods and the condition of some recently planted trees. The report also mentioned the temporary installation of a greenhouse and large planters, noting resident concerns about consultation.
• Service Level Agreement Working Party (SLAWP): This report, from Jim Durcan, Chair of the SLAWP, covered discussions on the automation of KPI data, repair priorities and response times, the deployment of the extended Civica system, and progress on lift modernisation. It also addressed resident involvement in block inspections, the issue of rough sleepers, the impact of the Barbican App on repair timeliness, and the monitoring of invoices for repairs. The report also reviewed KPI data, including complaints and the timeliness of repairs, and noted the replacement of the TVC EMU system with SafeLine Orion.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

This item was scheduled to allow members to ask questions on matters relating to the committee's work.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent

This item was reserved for any urgent matters that the Chairman deemed necessary to bring to the committee's attention.