The Resource Allocation Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee met to discuss capital funding, Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund (CILNF) grants, and the Climate Action Strategy (CAS). The committee approved the use of Section 106 Carbon Offset funds for a project to optimise sites connected to Citigen, and also approved the minutes of the previous meeting.

Climate Action Strategy (CAS) - Optimisation for Sites Connected to Citigen

The committee approved the use of Section 106 Carbon Offset funds as a replacement for Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) funding, which had been unsuccessful. The project aims to improve the return temperature conditions of heating and cooling circuits within City of London sites connected to the Citigen network¹. The buildings and sites in the scope of this project are:

• Guildhall North Wing and West Wing
• Guildhall Yard East
• Barbican Arts Centre
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) Silk St
• GSMD Milton Court
• GSMD Sundial Court (Student Accommodation)

The total estimated cost of the project is £3,525,838 (excluding risk) or £4,445,332 (including risk). The costed risk budget of £919,449 is to cover potential budget variations attributable to unforeseen variations, enabling works, site disruption, inflation fluctuations and asbestos removal.

The project will be funded by a combination of Section 106 Carbon Offset contributions (50% of the works cost) and the Climate Action Strategy capital budget (remaining 50% of the works, fees and CRP).

The works will be split into packages according to the building/site and either heating, cooling or controls system. The proposed packages are as follows:

• Barbican Arts Centre - Cooling
• GSMD Milton Court - Cooling
• GSMD Sundial Court - Heating
• GSMD Silk Street - Heating
• GSMD Milton Court - Heating
• Barbican Arts Centre - Controls
• Guildhall Main - Heating
• Guildhall GYE – Heating

The report noted that the packages are subject to change as the works progress and lead-in of plant items are known.

The primary procurement route will be via Minor Works Measured Term Contracts (MWMTC), with Sykes delivering the first two cooling sites. Alternative options to manage tight timelines include instructing Facilities Management Contractors for packages that cannot be delivered by Sykes, and procuring a contractor via the South East Consortium (SEC) Framework.

Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund

The committee considered a report regarding applications for Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund (CILNF) funding.

Deputy Chairman Henry Colthurst highlighted concerns raised regarding the application from Ozero Arts, approved under delegated authority. He confirmed that, following conversations with officers, he and Deputy Christopher Hayward, Chairman of the Resource Allocation Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee, were content that the process was now as efficient and robust as it could be.

The committee resolved to:

• Note the current position of the CILNF with respect to funds available.
• Approve the grant recommended at the meeting of the CILNF Officer Panel in May 2025: £246,479 to Volunteer Centre Hackney to deliver two 2-year strategic programmes - Community Befriending for residents experiencing loneliness and isolation and Volunteering Brokerage to increase volunteering opportunities and grow and strengthen the City of London's voluntary community sector.
• Note the grants approved under delegated authority whilst the Sub-Committee was in recess.

Minutes

The public minutes and non-public summary of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 25 June 2025 were approved as a correct record.