The Housing Management and Almshouses Sub (Community and Children's Services) Committee convened to discuss several key housing-related issues, including the election of a deputy chair, approval of minutes, housing estate appointments, a development proposal, and a housing matters update. The committee was also scheduled to discuss tenant satisfaction measures, handbook revisions, and updates on the Golden Lane Estate, estate services, major works, income recovery and housing complaints.

Baltic Street West Development Proposal

The committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding a development proposal for Baltic Street West, which is part of the Golden Lane Estate. An applicant has made multiple attempts over the last decade to develop this site and is registered under the Self Build & Custom Housebuilding Act 2015. The Executive Director of Community & Children's Services was expected to recommend formal rejection of the application to declare the land surplus for housing purposes.

The report outlined several reasons for the recommendation, including the site's proximity to Hatfield House, its location adjacent to the car park ramp, and the need to remove two trees, which would contravene the council's local plan. The report also stated that the City of London Corporation must obtain the best value for any Housing Revenue Account disposal, and a marketing exercise would be needed.

Housing Matters Update

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report updating members on key issues being dealt with by the Housing Team. This included new and revised policies and practices, such as a draft Aids and Adaptations Policy, a draft Tenancy Management Policy, a draft Vulnerability Policy, a revised Parking Sheds and Garages Policy, a revised Repairs and Maintenance Policy, and a revised Compensation Policy. The report also included background information on policy observations, decoration allowance survey results, and a Brewers Revitalise leaflet.

The report also included updates for information and discussion on the 2024/25 performance dashboard, a London Fire Brigade Notice of Deficiency Update for the City of London Almshouses in Lambeth, mobilisation and demobilisation of repairs and maintenance contracts, local authority lead members recruitment, a Senior Management Team update, and the Department of Community and Children's Services corporate and departmental risks for June 2025.

Policy Approvals

The committee was scheduled to consider approving several policies:

• Draft Aids and Adaptations Policy: This policy aims to provide aids and adaptations to enable residents and their families to live independently in their homes. It aligns with legal and regulatory frameworks, including The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 and The Disabled Facilities Grants (Maximum Amounts and Additional Purposes) (England) Order 2008.
• Draft Tenancy Management Policy: This policy outlines a clear approach to managing tenancies, supporting tenants in sustaining their tenancies and minimising breaches. It ensures compliance with the Regulator for Social Housing's Tenancy Standard and addresses matters such as discretionary succession rights.
• Draft Vulnerability Policy: This policy outlines the council's commitment to delivering fair outcomes for all residents, particularly those who are vulnerable. It aligns with legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and complies with the Regulator of Social Housing's standards.

The committee was also scheduled to consider approving the revision and extension of several policies:

• Estate Parking & Storage Sheds Policy: The revised policy includes updated safety measures and provisions for periodic audits of shed and parking facilities. It also addresses the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters.
• Repairs & Maintenance Policy: The revised policy introduces new response priorities, including emergency repairs (completed within 24 hours) and non-emergency repairs (completed within 20 working days).
• Compensation Policy: The revised policy includes specific provisions for compensation related to lift failures and covers a wide range of issues beyond lift failures.

Decorations

The committee was scheduled to note a move from a decoration allowance to decoration packs. The report stated that this change was driven by feedback from staff and residents, who expressed dissatisfaction with the existing decoration allowance procedure. The report stated that the decoration packs provide a standardised and convenient solution by including all necessary materials and tools, ensuring a higher-quality finish and removing the need for tenants to source supplies independently. The report also stated that the move to decoration packs offers significant cost savings.

Golden Lane Estate Update Briefing

The committee was scheduled to receive an update briefing on the Golden Lane Estate. The report stated that proposals approved by members in March 2023 around window and roof replacement on the Golden Lane Estate gave an incomplete picture of the work and resources required. The report also stated that it emerged late in 2024 that all required residential blocks on the Golden Lane Estate had not been registered as required with the Building Safety Regulator¹. The report stated that this has since been rectified.

The report stated that to execute the works, two options have been assessed (10 and 20 years), and the option preferred by members is the 10-year programme commencing in 2025. As a result, the report stated that the committee has been asked to focus on working up the high-level costs needed to develop a 10-year programme to inform decision-making. The report also stated that continued steps have been taken to support and communicate more effectively with affected residents and that the council is in discussion with the Golden Lane Estate Residents Association in the first instance on a number of issues arising from the further delay of this project.

Estate Services Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on estate services. The report stated that the Housing's Estate Services team is responsible for cleaning, caretaking and gardening on the City Corporation's social housing estates. The report stated that the team complete regular inspections of communal areas to monitor cleaning standards, identify hazards and conduct compliance checks on components such as fire doors. The report summarised how the team operates and updates Members on the inspections and standards regime currently in use across the Corporation's Housing Revenue Account estates.

Housing Major Works Programme - Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a progress report on the Housing Major Works Programme. The report stated that the purpose of this report is to present the portfolio of projects which make up the Housing Major Works Programme and to advise Members on issues affecting progress on individual schemes. The report stated that the City of London Corporation has committed to investing circa £110 million on a Major Works Programme for the maintenance, refurbishment, and improvement of its social housing portfolio. The report stated that the works, in the main, comprise:

• Window repairs / replacements
• Re-roofing (including repair / replacement of rainwater goods)
• Decent Homes (new kitchens and bathrooms)
• Electrical rewiring and upgrades (communal landlord supply and domestic)
• Heating replacements and upgrades (communal and domestic)
• Concrete and external fabric repairs
• Fire safety improvement works (fire door replacement, compartmentation works, fire-stopping, fire alarm upgrades, sprinkler installation)
• Energy efficiency works (co-funded through Climate Action Strategy funding)
• Estate Improvement works (minor landscaping / security / fencing / waste storage / external drainage)

Income Recovery Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on income recovery. The report stated that tenants sometimes have problems managing their tenancies, particularly where paying rent is concerned. The report stated that the council's Income Team works with tenants within the City and in the host boroughs to provide the necessary support or signposting to tenants so that they do not risk losing their homes. The report stated that eviction is always a last resort and that the report explains the council's approach to ensuring tenants can manage their rent accounts.

Tenant Satisfaction Measures 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on the Tenant Satisfaction Measures for 2024-25. The report stated that as part of the revised regulatory regime for social housing which came into effect on 1 April 2023, social landlords which own or manage over 1,000 homes are required to submit annual returns against a set of Tenant Satisfaction Measures. The report stated that this includes an obligation to survey tenants on a set of twelve satisfaction measures, with a further ten measures being reported from landlord data on areas such as compliance, complaints and antisocial behaviour. The report stated that the Housing team completed its first tenant perception survey and regulatory return for the 2023/24 financial year, details of which were previously reported to this Sub Committee. The report stated that the tenant perception survey for 2024/25 was completed in late 2024 and that the report outlines the results of that exercise, with some additional information on the London context for landlord performance.

Tenant Handbook Revision

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on the revision of the Tenant Handbook. The report stated that Housing has undertaken a comprehensive update of the Tenant Handbook to better meet the needs of its diverse tenant base. The report stated that this update follows consultation with both residents and staff to ensure that the revised document is clear, accessible, and aligned with the way tenants prefer to receive information. The report stated that the updated handbook includes new policies, procedures, and guidelines that reflect current best practice and regulatory requirements.

Appointment of Members to Various Housing Estates

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the allocation of members to the City Corporation's various housing estates. An Allocated Members Scheme has been in place since 2000, which aims to ensure that Members are aware of the issues on each estate and nominations are required. At the meeting of the Community & Children's Services Committee in April, Members agreed to refer the appointment of Member allocations to the various housing estates in the first instance to the Housing Management & Almshouses Sub-Committee.

The report stated that the scheme is particularly valuable for estates outside the City of London, given that they do not have direct elected Member representation within the City Corporation in the same way as Golden Lane and Middlesex Street Estates.

The report stated that the scheme is intended to:

• give residents and staff a named Member to 'champion' their estate
• allow Members to take an interest in the estate, its residents, and staff
• develop a group of Members with housing knowledge and experience to contribute to the Community and Children's Services Committee.

The report stated that following the appointment of Members to the Sub-Committee at the Community & Children's Services Committee in April, new Members are now in place. This therefore requires the allocation of Members to the various Housing Estates to be filled.

The report recommended that Members be appointed to the allocation of the various housing estates, including:

• Southwark
• Islington
• Hackney
• Tower Hamlets
• Lewisham
• Lambeth
• City of London Golden Lane Estate
• Middlesex Street Estate