House Group AGM - 13th Jan at 19:00 via Zoom

From the house Group:
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Ben Jonson House Group AGM 2021

When? Wednesday 13 January 2021 at 7 pm

How? Via Zoom. Please register your wish to attend by emailing ben.jonson.hg@gmail.com

You will then be sent an email nearer the time with details of the agenda and how to join the meeting.

Reasons to become a member of the Ben Jonson House Group:

• It’s a great way to hear and influence what’s going on
• It’s an opportunity for your voice to be heard and to get things done in the place where you live
• Membership is free to residents in the block

We are recruiting new members now

If you have any questions about what is involved please email us at the address above.

We look forward to welcoming you to the AGM next month.

Good Neighbour Guide

From the BEO:

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Good Neighbour Guide

Compliance with a few basic rules and conditions will help to make life in the Barbican more enjoyable given the very high density living. Your attention is also drawn to the terms of your long lease or tenancy (as appropriate).

Do not make noise inside your flat and on balconies that could cause nuisance to your neighbours. This includes making/taking telephone calls on your balcony at unsociable hours and also closing doors quietly.

Please click here for further details. The Good Neighbour Guide is in the Resident Information Pack in Communal Living.

Christmas rubbish collection times

From the BEO:
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Christmas Period Rubbish Collection

Please find the dates of the rubbish collection over the Christmas period below.

Date	Service Provided
Thursday 24 December	Rubbish collection in all blocks – no other cleaning in the blocks
Christmas Day - Friday 25 December	No cleaning service
Boxing Day - Saturday 26 December	Rubbish collection for those blocks that have it
Sunday 27 December	Rubbish collection for those blocks that have it
Bank Holiday - Monday 28 December	Rubbish collection in all blocks - no other cleaning in the blocks
Tuesday 29 December	Normal Cleaning Service
Wednesday 30 December	Normal Cleaning Service
Thursday 31 December	Normal Cleaning Service
Friday 1 January 2021	No Cleaning Service
Saturday 2 January	Rubbish collection for those blocks that have it
Sunday 3 January	Rubbish collection for those blocks that have it
Monday 4 January	Normal Cleaning Service

BEO – Christmas Office Hours

From the BEO:

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Barbican Estate Office – Christmas / New Year Closing Times

The reduced opening hours at the Barbican Estate Office remain in place: 11am - 2pm Monday to Friday. However, we continue to work remotely, so please contact us by telephone or email in the usual way. The office will be closed for Christmas and New Year as below:

Christmas: Thursday 24 December to Monday 28 December inclusive.

New Year: Friday 1 January 2021 (New Year’s Day).

The Staff at the Barbican Estate Office wish you a happy Christmas and healthy and prosperous New Year.

Noisy Emergency Works by sc64 (the Waitrose end door)

From the BEO

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Dear Residents

Barbican Centre drainage works at street level 

Whitecross Street staircase 64 Ben Jonson House

We have been advised by the Barbican Centre that they have had to arrange some urgent drainage clearance works (jetting) in the sprinkler plant room accessed from Whitecross Street. This room is located at street level at staircase 64 Ben Jonson House adjacent to the resident’s entrance into the block. The contractor will be using a generator and jetting tools both of which will create noise whilst the works are done.

It may be necessary for the contractors to close one end of the walkway (this is the walkway below the ramp, just past the Cote restaurant) whilst keeping one route open to the Ben Jonson s/c 64 street level door allowing residents to still come and go, they will  have signage to direct residents to the other way in/out if necessary.

The contractor will be on site on Friday 4 December morning carrying out the works to clear the drains, they hope that can have the drains completed and the works completed in one day.

If you have any further queries, please do contact me.

Yours Sincerely

Rebecca Bello
House Officer

City of London Barbican Estate Office, 3 Lauderdale Place, London. EC2Y 8EN

Switchboard 020 7029 3902

email barbican.estate@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/beo

Meter Readings - how to

From the BEO:

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Meter Readings

Most residents are aware that some electricity meters are not accessible to them, and a meter reading has to be requested via the Property Services Desk (corridor blocks). Unfortunately, during lock down this was one of the non-essential jobs that the Property Services team had not been carrying out.

Given the lifting of some restrictions by the Government and recognising that usage has changed for most, we will now resume meter readings in a restricted manner.

All requested readings will be carried out on one day per month for the whole estate, and then emailed to the resident concerned. This will be the second Wednesday of every month.

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to read your meter more than once a quarter. Please make this request via the Property Services Desk in the normal way.

If your energy provider requires more regular meter readings, the Estate Office would be happy for them to take the readings themselves.

Please have them contact reception.

See the RCC on YouTube

The Residents' Consultation Committee (RCC) is an information gathering body which supports the decision making body, the Barbican Residential Committee (BRC).

The RCC members are appointed by residential groups such as house groups.  The BRC members are elected councilors.

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Invitation to Attend Barbican Residents' Consultation Committee
Monday 30 November 5.30pm

Dear Residents

Please click here for the agenda and link to the next Barbican Residents' Consultation Committee meeting on Monday 30 November at 5.30pm.

This meeting will be broadcast via YouTube.

Fire Exits - Keep them clear

Another reminder from the BEO:

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Keep Communal Areas & Fire Escapes Free

Common parts, which include lift lobbies, balconies, corridors and staircases, should be kept clear at all times and they should not be used for storage.

Access: All access routes including stairs, hallways, walkways and balconies in communal areas must be kept clear at all times. The design of some properties incorporates an emergency exit route, for example across the balconies or through a wooden panel. Where these emergency exit routes are shared between properties, residents must ensure these routes are kept free from obstruction and security measures such as locks must not be added onto them.

Items in Communal Areas

The City reserves the right to remove any items left or disposed of in the communal areas without limitation should they be causing a fire risk or block access/exit routes.

Mobility Scooters, Prams, Buggies and Bicycles: All equipment must be stored within the resident’s home or car park wherever possible. If they must be stored within the communal area, they are not allowed to be stored in the escape routes from the premises or block access through the communal access routes. 

Please speak to your House Officer if you have any questions.

If you have any questions, please ask your House Officer

House Group contacts & numbers

From the Ben Jonson House Group Committee: 

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BEN JONSON HOUSE GROUP 
Useful Contacts for BJH Residents

House Group

To contact us directly ben.jonson.hg@gmail.com

To find information concerning BJH http://bjhg-blog.blogspot.co.uk/

House Officer (BEO)

Sheila Delaney Sheila.Delaney@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Security concerns/ unacceptable podium activities
i.e. Bikers, Skateboarders, Free runners doing potential damage

Barry Ashton (BEO Security) 0207 029 3920

Barry.Ashton@cityoflondon.gov.uk

For a more urgent response use Barbican Arts Centre 24/7 security number

0207 382 7308

City of London Police 020 7601 2222‬

City Residents Meeting - 2nd Dec - via Zoom!

From the City via the BEO:

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City Resident Meeting - Virtual
2 December



This special online meeting is for all City residents to join. The session will offer you the chance to hear from senior Officers at the City of London Police and the City of London Corporation.
Topics will include:

• the City Corporation’s response to COVID-19
• the City Corporation's work on equality and diversity
• Climate Action

There will be an opportunity to post questions to the panelists during the session

WHEN - Wednesday 2 December 2020, 6-7.30pm
WHERE - The session will be run online – to sign up please register using the link: City-wide residents meeting Zoom link

When registering, you will be asked to submit any issues or questions you would like to see addressed at the meeting. Residents who submit issues which are not discussed at the meeting will receive an individual response soon after the meeting.

After registering, you will be sent a unique link to join the meeting.

If you have any issues related to accessing the online session or prefer to view this invitation in a different format, please email: residents@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Minutes of the meeting will be available online six weeks after the session.

Window Cleaning: how it works

From the BEO

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Window Cleaning

The window cleaning for the flats is completed every 6 weeks, with the abseil clean carried out every three months. The window cleaners will clean the following areas:

• External glazing for flats for windows and doors
• Both faces of glazing for privacy screens
• Balcony screens and both faces of glazing in communal areas

The window cleaning schedule for 2020 is on the website, and on the notice boards. If you spot any shortcomings in standards regarding window cleaning, or you believe the contractors have missed your windows, please ensure you report this to your House Officer within 5 working days of your scheduled clean.

Please don’t wait until AGMs and House Group Meetings to raise issues. This will give the contractor the opportunity to return and rectify the issue.

Reporting issues promptly enables us to address deficiencies in line with our Service Level Agreement.

Please ensure that you leave your balcony glass and privacy screens accessible for the window cleaners. This will enable them to clean your windows without moving your personal property. If this is not done, we cannot guarantee that your windows will be cleaned.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Need a new key? Don't use local locksmith!

From the BEO:

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Barbican Keys

If you need replacement ASSA keys, please do order them from reception.

Cut keys from local locksmiths won’t be genuine ASSA keys and often get stuck in locks and cause problems.

Please click here for further details and click on the keys tab.

The Barbican Volunteer Group - Community Christmas

From the Volunteer Group via the BEO:

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Barbican Community Christmas 2020
from the Volunteer Group

Hi Everyone,

Our volunteer group is still going strong and responding to requests for help from the community. We noticed recently that some of the practical requests have decreased, and that there's more need for emotional support and connections across the community.

Several of us spoke about organising some low maintenance activities across the Barbican Estate over the Christmas period as a way of strengthening our connections to each other during what may be a very unique winter.

Ideas include:

• Organising socially distanced walks around the estate for those who want some fresh air as part of a small group
• Designated 'talking benches' in the gardens where you can chat with neighbours
• A Barbican Balcony Bell Ring on Christmas Day to spread some cheer, make some music and see each other
• Supporting the Square Mile Food Bank with food for the festive season

If you'd like to be involved as part of a small group to help make it happen, particularly if you have some other ideas to add, let us know on Barbicanvolunteers@gmail.com.

In the meantime, remember that the volunteer network is still thriving and available for anyone who needs it. The helpline number is 07376 068137.

St. Giles Advent & Christmas Flyer

The annual St. Giles Cripplegate Advent & Christmas flyer:

 

Click to read the flyer

Security: keeping out the bad people

From time to time the BEO remind us that we should be very careful about letting non-residents into the building.  You can bet that these reminders come on the heels of an incident somewhere on the estate ... so best to pay attention.

From the BEO
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Tailgating & Security Reminder
for both Residential Blocks & Private Garden Areas

We are taking this opportunity to remind residents to be vigilant about tailgating. This is one of the biggest security threats to the Estate and possibly the easiest to solve.

It seems prudent to remind residents not to hold the door/garden gates open for anyone without a residents estate key, but also to be mindful that the doors/garden gates close properly behind you.

If you are not comfortable closing the door on someone and there is someone behaving in a suspicious manner, then please wait until you are in a safe place and call either 101 (the Police non-emergency crime reporting number) or your nearest Concierge or Lobby Porter.

Click here for the list of numbers for the Concierge & Lobby Porters.

We urge residents to be respectful of your surroundings and your neighbours and keep noise to a minimum. If noise is occurring after 11pm (11pm to 7am is designated night-time by Environmental Health), please contact your Estate Concierges/ Car Park Attendants or alternatively, approach the out of hours noise team on 020 7606 3030.

Please also remember not to 'buzz in' strangers to the block

Maintenance you must pay for

The BEO manages the maintenance of the estate.  This is mostly funded through the service charge, but some things are directly charged back to the long leaseholders (flat 'owner's).

From the BEO

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Rechargeable Costs to Residents


This is to clarify the procedures and reasoning for recharging for certain aspects of work carried out by contractors working on behalf of the Barbican Estate Office.

...

Rechargeable costs to residents. 

The following information is to clarify the procedure and reasoning for recharging for certain aspects of work carried out by contractors working on behalf of the Barbican Estate Office. 

Water penetration 

When water penetration (i.e. water ingress to a flat) is reported, the Call Centre will raise an order for an investigation. This is usually the same day and involves our contractor making safe and isolating the water supply. It is only when the inspection has been carried out by the contractor, that the Call Centre will be advised on whether their investigation is rechargeable to the resident. If the leak is from plumbing which the leaseholder is responsible to maintain, e.g. shower, washing machine, dishwasher etc, it will be recharged. 

Both this resident and the resident who has suffered water ingress will be notified by way of a letter from the Call Centre. The former resident will be advised in the letter that the investigation is rechargeable to them. The resident will also be asked to carry out any necessary repair work. If repair work is not carried out within a reasonable timeframe the estate office will review requesting access to carry out the work and recharging the cost to the resident. 

If a leak affects City of London tenants’ flats, and if it is from one of their appliances e.g. washing machine it will be the tenants’ responsibility and they will be recharged for the contractor’s visit. They will also be asked to fix the appliance. If the leak is from their bath or sink, i.e. any of the fixtures inside a tenanted flat, the Barbican Estate Office will arrange for our contractor to fix this and there is no recharge made to the tenant. 

Broken windows 

Broken windows should be reported to the Call Centre and the officer will ask how the damage was caused, and if the crack is internal or external. If the crack is internal and accidental, the resident may be able to reclaim the cost on the building insurance. If the damage is external the Barbican Estate Office will arrange the work as a service charge item. Most damage to windows is accidental. and this can also include damage to privacy screens which can get broken during periods of high winds. 

Residents should be encouraged to report broken windows/privacy screens as soon as possible, to avoid accidents to themselves and contractors. 

Blocked sinks 

Both City of London tenants and leaseholders are charged for these blockages. The exception is if there is a blockage in the communal stack and this goes against the service charges for the block. It should be evident if there is a blockage in the stack as usually more than one resident is affected. If there is a blockage in the stack, the estate office contractors will be asked to attend and deal with it. 

Lock changes 

Both City of London tenants and the leaseholders will be recharged for lock changes if they lose their keys. The estate office will not arrange for the lock changes for Chubb and other security locks which always remains the responsibility of residents.

Highwalk Lighting - fault reporting

The City has a team dedicated to looking after the lighting on the highwalks.  Report any issues you see to:

dbebarbicanlighting@cityoflondon.gov.uk 

From the BEO:

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Reminder: Reporting Podium Lights on the Estate

As some of you may be aware, all Podium light issues are the responsibility of our colleagues in the Highways Department of the Built Environment.

In order to improve upon the present working methods, a new dedicated email address has been created to report these lighting issues on the Barbican Estate.

May we ask residents to please help us with reporting and use the email address dbebarbicanlighting@cityoflondon.gov.uk to contact the team directly, if any light concerns are seen on the Podium.

Please can we ask that you also copy in your House Officer, so that they may track and follow up on the repairs on your behalf.

This inbox will be monitored on a daily basis via the electrical group which in turn will allow them to address problems as soon as possible, whilst also providing direct feedback.

We hope this newer way of working will allow us to manage things a bit more proactively.

Parcels - collect them promptly

We are reaching that critical time of year again for our CPA elves.

From the BEO:
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Reminder: Parcel Collection & Perishable Items





To help with the ever-increasing demands on our parcel rooms, especially with Christmas around the corner, would you please wherever possible, collect your parcel on the day of delivery.

Food deliveries should not be stored in the Concierge's Parcel Rooms as they do not have facilities to store perishable items.

In addition to this could you please have the following items delivered when you are home to receive them:

• Perishable Items
• Household Furniture
• Large Appliances
• Flat Pack Furniture
• Oversize Boxes
• Large consignments of Beers, Wines and Spirits.

These good neighbourly acts will ensure that all the residents will get a good and fair use of the Parcel acceptance service at the Barbican Estate.

Moving? Prop doors with care

From the BEO:

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Propping Doors Open and Moving In and Out


Please be aware that propping doors open is a security risk and an inconvenience to other residents.

When planning your move to or out of the Barbican Estate it is advisable to contact the Car Park Attendant or Lobby Porter who can give advice on the following essential details:

• Parking for your removal van
• If the van cannot be accommodated in the car park you can apply for special dispensation to park in the street
• Height restrictions in car parks
• The times of day during which you can arrange for removals. Usually this is between 8am and sunset.

For further information please check the website here in the Communal Living Tab in the Resident Information Pack.

House Officer: Sheila Delaney retiring. Hello Elle Ashton.

 From the BEO:

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Changes in the House Officer Team: Sheila Delaney

As some of you may already be aware, Sheila Delaney will be retiring in April 2021. Leading up to April, and as of next week, Sheila will be dropping down to 3 days a week.

Sheila started with the Barbican Estate Office in July 1999 working in the old reception (that many of you will remember!) at the base of Shakespeare Tower, then moving onto the Leasehold Services team. In October 2012, Sheila joined the House Officer team and had has been pivotal in that role ever since, sharing her knowledge and experience with her colleagues.
 

(Sheila with Ray Sibson, taken this time last year)
 

House Officer Arrangements for the following blocks:
 

Shakespeare Tower	Monday to Wednesday  Sheila Delaney  020 7029 3911 Sheila.delaney@cityoflondon.gov.uk	Thursday and Friday    Ella Ashton  020 7029 3911 Ella.ashton@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Ben Jonson House
Breton House
Frobisher Crescent
Bryer Court
Bunyan Court
John Trundle Court

Ella will be assisting us on Thursdays and Fridays and can be reached as above. Ella has already been with us for 3 years and you may have met her whilst she worked on reception.

Legionella Water Monitoring

From the BEO:

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Legionella Water Monitoring


Due to the present heightened restriction being imposed in London, Guardian will revert back to testing all water tanks on a monthly basis, to check temperature and water samples and avoid going into homes if possible.

Please find the schedule below for Guardian's next site visit:

  

Date	Blocks on the Barbican Estate
2 November	Ben Jonson House / Shakespeare Tower / Cromwell Tower / Lauderdale Tower
3 November	Defoe House / Lambert Jones Mews / Seddon House / Thomas More House
4 November	Mountjoy House / 1-2 Wallside / Gilbert House / Frobisher Crescent / Brandon Mews
5 November	Speed House / Andrewes House / Estate Office / The Postern / Willoughby House
6 November	John Trundle Court / Bryer Court / Bunyan Court / Breton House
9 November	Catch up day if Barbican not completed

Those residences which require access due to previous Legionella positive samples being returned, will be contacted directly, so that a planned visit can be made with COVID-19 procedures in place.

Please respond with any details of self-isolation or infections when asked.

Any further questions please contact Steven Murray, the Project Manager, by email or 020 70293915.

Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.

Common Parts - share and enjoy

How to avoid a tragedy of the commons ...

From the BEO
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Good Neighbour Guide: Keep Common Parts Clear

Compliance with a few basic rules and conditions will help to make life in the Barbican more enjoyable given the very high density living. Your attention is also drawn to the terms of your long lease or tenancy (as appropriate).

• Common parts include lift lobbies, corridors and staircases. These areas should be kept clear at all times and they should not be used for storage.
• Bicycles should be stored in the bike cages or designated areas located in the car parks.
• Please do not abandon unwanted items on balconies, lift lobbies or car parks.
• Please do not leave shopping trolleys in communal areas.
• If you do smoke on the balcony, please be mindful of your neighbour's open windows. And don't forget, the ventilation system in the bathrooms and kitchen is a communal system, therefore smells and smoke can travel into other flats.
• It is prohibited under the terms of the lease to hang washing on your balcony.
• Do not make noise inside your flat and on balconies that could cause nuisance to your neighbours. This includes making/taking telephone calls on your balcony at unsociable hours.
• Although balcony drains are on a programme of scheduled maintenance, please can all residents ensure that as far as possible, they keep balcony drains free of soil/leaves etc. Drains can become clogged with debris during periods of heavy rain, and this can cause water penetration into flats below. Having decking and Astro Turf on the balcony paving slabs can contribute to stopping the drain from working to its full capacity and is not allowed.

Although any balcony adjacent to your flat may form part of your property, you should be considerate to your neighbours.

Balconies must not be obstructed as they serve as fire escape routes and are subject to formal rights of escape in case of emergency as set out in each long lease.

Click here for further information on the website in the Communal Living Tab of the Resident Information Pack.

Highwalk lighting maintenance

From the BEO:
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Reporting Podium Lights on the Estate

As some of you may be aware all Podium light issues are the responsibility of our colleagues in the Highways Department of the Built Environment.

In order to improve upon the present working methods, a new dedicated email address has been created to report these lighting issues on the Barbican Estate.

May we ask residents to please help us with reporting and use the following email address dbebarbicanlighting@cityoflondon.gov.uk for this purpose and contact the team directly, if any light concerns are seen on the Podium.

Please can we ask that you also copy in your House Officer, so that they may track and follow up on the repairs on your behalf. 

This inbox will be monitored on a daily basis via the electrical group which in turn will allow them to address problems as soon as possible, whilst also providing direct feedback. 

We hope this newer way of working will allow us to manage things a bit more proactively.

Pink Cards, no more

From the BEO:
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Reminder: Pink Card System

Please ensure your local car park box or lobby porter has your contact details so they can contact you to collect a perishable item or an uncollected parcel.

This is because the cleaning team are no longer delivering the pink slips to notify you of parcels. The future of this system is on the agenda for the next Service Level Agreement Working Party meeting later this month.

We will keep you updated of the outcome.

BA AGM on Zoom - 4th Nov

From the BA

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Reminder: Notice of the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Barbican Associaion

Wednesday 4 November


Please click here (or see text below) to find the notice of the 2020 AGM - on 4 November at 7pm, on Zoom

Jane Smith
Chair, Barbican Association
chairBA@btinternet.com

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Notice of BA AGM 4 November 2020 

Dear Barbican Association member Please find this Notice of the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Barbican Association Date: 4 November 2020 Time: 7pm Venue: Zoom call 

The invitation to the meeting on Zoom will be sent nearer the time of the meeting to members of the BA on the email we have for you. 

If you are aware of other members who do not receive this email please ask them to contact the membership secretary Jim Davies 101 Mountjoy House membership@barbicanassociation.co.uk and provide a contact email.  Applications to join should also be sent to membership@barbicanassociation.co.uk 

If you are aware of members who do not have access to a device (computer, tablet or smartphone) and would like to attend the AGM please contact the membership secretary to discuss options. 

Agenda 

• Update on the BA’s work during the year 
• Questions from Members 
• Treasurer’s report 
• Election of: Treasurer, 9 General Council members, honorary auditor 
• Motions to amend the constitution 
• Any other business 

Please send details of any issues you would like discussed at the AGM to Jane Smith by 28 October (chairBA@btinternet.com). 

The main decision-making body of the Association is the BA General Council, which consists of nine members and the honorary treasurer, elected at the AGM, along with representatives of affiliated house groups.  At the AGM existing council members stand down, and if there are more than nine candidates for election, a ballot is held at the meeting and the results declared. Both the honorary treasurer and auditor are elected at the AGM. Other officers are appointed by the members of the general council at its first meeting following the AGM. 

Nominations for election to one of the 9 elected positions on the BA General Council should be sent to the honorary secretary Christopher Makin, 21 Speed House (chairspeedhouse@outlook.com), no later than 2 November. The nomination must contain all the following information: -Name and Barbican address, email address and phone number of the candidate and a declaration that they are a member of the BA, signed -Name and Barbican address, and email address of a proposer and seconder and a declaration that they are members of the BA, signed Emailed nominations without signatures will be accepted but they must be sent by the candidate and copied to the proposer and seconder. Notification of representatives of affiliated house groups should reach the honorary secretary by 2 November. 

Underfloor Heating - More heat now, less heat in Jan

From the BEO:
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Updates: Background Underfloor Heating 2020 Survey

Following the recent residents’ survey we have now begun the implementation of the seasonal load shifting trial. We’re aiming to have around 20 more hours heating over the month of October, compensated by 20 hours less heating in January. We’re keen that, as near as possible, this trial will be cost neutral. Then in February we’ll have another 20 hours less heating compensated by 20 hours more in April.

We will start this for October, by telling the temperature sensor that determines when the heating comes on, that it is 1 degree colder than the real temperature. We have modelled this shift on last season’s heating data.

Clearly this is not an exact science as the external temperature profile varies from year to year, but by monitoring the heat load each day we can make sure that we don’t deliver more than 20 hours extra in October. In January we will tell the sensor that it is warmer than the real temperature. Again we will be carefully monitoring the daily heat load to keep within our 20 hours. This should ensure that there is no additional cost to residents, on which the Barbican Association Meeting was agreed.

This is one component of the Underfloor Heating Working Party’s attempts to make the heating system match better the needs of residents.

I understand that these changes cause concern for some residents and the Working Party will be looking at those concerns. Please note that it is a one year carefully monitored trial. We welcome your feedback and comments and in particular any suggestions to improve the heating system.

You can contact me via email on mary.durcan@cityoflondon.gov.uk I look forward to hearing from you.

Mary Durcan
(Chair of the Underfloor Heating Working Party)
Common Councillor
Cripplegate Ward
City of London Corporation

Denizen Crane Removal - Next Mon & Tue (28th & 29th Sept)

From Taylor Wimpey

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Dear Neighbour,

Notice of Works-Tower Crane Dismantle- The Denizen, 43 Golden Lane, EC1Y0RS

The dismantle of the tower crane has been rescheduled to take place on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September.

The method of dismantle has changed and will now only use the existing road closure on Brackley Street. The works will not obstruct traffic on Golden Lane, with both lanes remaining open.

Due to the oversized dimensions of the mobile crane, it will enter Brackley Street before 7am on Monday morning, however works to set up the crane will not start until 8am. The working hours for the crane dismantle will be as the normal site working hours, 8am to 6pm.

A full pedestrian management system will be set in place where all stakeholders/residents will have full access to their properties.

We wish to apologise for the inconvenience & we will make every effort to minimise disruption during this time.

If you have any queries, please contact Site Manager Gary Cullen on 07767161006 (gary.cullen@mcaleer-rushe.co.uk), or Project Manager Eoin Gormley on 07843955249 (eoin.gormley@mcaleer&rushe.co.uk)

Yours sincerely,
Eoin Gormley
On behalf of McAleer and Rushe Contracts UK Ltd

Podium Antics - who to call

From the chair of the Ben Jonson House Group:

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Activities on the Podium

This notice is to provide you with the appropriate contacts if you notice activities which should not be taking place on the podium.

Barry Ashton (in charge of Security for the BEO)
Email: Barry.Ashton@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Telephone 0207 029 3920

Please give him details of your observation.

If you consider an urgent response is required, the Barbican Arts Centre have provided a 24/7 number through which residents may alert their security staff.

Telephone 0207 382 7308

The Ben Jonson House Group is aware of concern among residents concerning some of the activities taking place on the Podium. You probably know that skateboarding and cycling are actually prohibited and you may feel that the presence of groups practising free-running can be alarming.

If we are to address this matter, it is important to collect evidence for the authorities to justify some form of preventative action. Although plans are being developed for a simple method of reporting incidents, until they are in place we are recommended to use the contacts above.

I hope you will find this information helpful.

Chair, Ben Jonson House Group

Window Cleaning - from 21st Sept

From the BEO:

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Window Cleaning by Abseil

The window cleaning abseil on Ben Jonson House, John Trundle Court, Bunyan Court, Bryer Court, Frobisher and Breton House, has been delayed.

This will now start on 21 September. Thank you for your patience.

Let the BEO know if you have COVID-19

From the BEO:

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COVID-19

If you or any member of your family has tested positive for COVID-19, then please ensure you all stay at home, and let the Estate Office know. We also kindly ask you to double bag your rubbish. Please click here for contact details.

Getting Tested

Anyone of any age who has symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested for coronavirus. The test only checks if you have coronavirus at that point, and involves taking a swab of the throat and nose. You can do the swab yourself or someone can do it for you. Please click here for details.

Underfloor Heating Survey - closes 11th Sept

A SurveyMonkey survey from the BEO:
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Survey: Background Underfloor Heating

Seeking Resident Approval for Seasonal Load Shifting

Many residents have repeatedly commented that their flats are too cold in April and October (the shoulder months) and too hot in January and February. This view was confirmed at the Barbican Association Annual General Meeting in April 2019.

The Underfloor Heating Working Party (made up of residents and officers and City members) is asking for your views.

Please click here for further information, the proposal and how to complete the simple survey.

This survey will close 11 September and only one response per residence is required.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Tree Hacking - The Denizen wins again

The tree at the corner of Brackley St and Golden Lane is being chopped up.  It's a 'rebalancing' apparently.  Needed because branches had to be removed for the new Denizen building.

I understand that Open Spaces didn't realize how close the proposed Denizen was to the tree during the planning process but they now see the need to dramatically hack the tree back.

The tree early in the hacking.  Hacking van on street.

Post hacking

Eyebolt Testing

From the BEO:

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Eyebolt Testing 2020

Ben Jonson House, Shakespeare Tower, Brandon Mews, Willoughby House & Lauderdale Tower


Eyebolt testing for abseiling will start as below, on the following blocks:
week 3

• August 17 Ben Jonson House
• August 18 Ben Jonson House
• August 19 Shakespeare Tower
• August 20 Shakespeare Tower
• August 21 Shakespeare Tower

week 4

• August 24 Brandon Mews
• August 25 Willoughby House
• August 26 Lauderdale Tower
• August 27 Lauderdale Tower
• August 28 Lauderdale Tower

The eyebolts are tested to ensure that they are safe and fit for use for abseil, during the window cleaning process.

Please DO NOT REMOVE any tags on the eyebolts as these denote the test date.

Please download the six month schedule from the website here, in the residents' information pack under the cleaning and recycling tab.

Good Neighbour Guide - Noise

From the BEO:
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Good Neighbour Guide - Noise

Do not make noise inside your flat and on balconies that could cause nuisance to your neighbours. This includes making/taking telephone calls on your balcony at unsociable hours.

It is also requested to be considerate when listening to music in the gardens and communal spaces.The Barbican Estate Office in no way wishes to stop the residents enjoying the private gardens facilities with their friends, but these gardens are not suitable for parties. Social distancing should still be observed at all times.

Please also remember that the flats are very close by to the gardens and communal areas and that children should be supervised at all times.

Please click here for the Good Neighbour Guide.

Keep Communal Areas & Fire Escapes Clear

From the BEO:

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Keep Communal Areas & Fire Escapes Free

Common parts, which include lift lobbies, balconies, corridors and staircases, should be kept clear at all times and they should not be used for storage.

Access: All access routes including stairs, hallways, walkways and balconies in communal areas must be kept clear at all times. The design of some properties incorporates an emergency exit route, for example across the balconies or through a wooden panel. Where these emergency exit routes are shared between properties, residents must ensure these routes are kept free from obstruction and security measures such as locks must not be added onto them.

Items in Communal Areas: The City reserves the right to remove any items left or disposed of in the communal areas without limitation should they be causing a fire risk or block access/exit routes.

Mobility Scooters, Prams, Buggies and Bicycles: All equipment must be stored within the resident’s home or car park wherever possible. If they must be stored within the communal area, they are not allowed to be stored in the escape routes from the premises or block access through the communal access routes. Please speak to your House Officer if you have any questions.

If you have any questions, please ask your House Officer

Prior Weston playground plans

There are new proposals for the Prior Weston playground, including lighting.  See the newsletter for details.

Click to read the newsletter

Legionella checks - 2rd - 5th Aug

From the BEO:

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Reminder: Legionella Risk Assessments
Ben Jonson House 3- 5 August
Brandon Mews 6 August

Please note that the Legionella risk assessments are being carried out across the estate by RPS Consultants. Engineers are working within all communal areas where there are water tank plant rooms, via ladder access on roofs, lift lobbies and balconies.

Please see the schedule of works on the website.

Any further questions please contact Steven Murray on either steven.murray@cityoflondon.gov.uk or 020 70293915

Fire Signage Maintenance - Jan 2021 for BJH

It seems the fire escape signage is going to be checked and refreshed, including on balconies.

In Ben Jonson House we can expect to see activity on our balconies between the 4th to the 11th January 2021, so lots of time to plan (and pick off that faded fire-exit sign if you'd like a fresh new one (joke)).

Here is the BEO notice: 

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Fire Signage Project


Continuing on from last year’s Fire Signage survey, Britannia Fire & Security Ltd, will start on the Barbican Estate from 10 August.

The work will include replacement and installation of fire signage in common areas and escape routes including balconies. Access will not be required to resident’s homes.

Please see the schedule of works below and contact the Major Works Team DCCS-MajorWorksTeam@cityoflondon.gov.uk if any queries.

 

Block	Start Date	Completion Date
Cromwell Tower 13 days	10/08/2020	26/08/2020
Shakespeare Tower 12 days	27/08/2020	11/09/2020
Lauderdale Tower/Lambert Jones 11 days	14/09/2020	28/09/2020
Willoughby House 3 days	29/09/2020	01/10/2020
Speed House 5 days	02/10/2020	08/10/2020
Brandon Mews 1 day	09/10/2020	09/10/2020
Andrewes House 13 days	12/10/2020	29/10/2020
Gilbert House 3 days	29/10/2020	02/11/2020
The Postern 1 day	03/11/2020	03/11/2020
Mountjoy House 2 days	04/11/2020	05/11/2020
Thomas More House 10 days	06/11/2020	19/11/2020
Seddon House 2 days	20/11/2020	23/11/2020
Defoe House 10 days	24/11/2020	07/12/2020
John Trundle Court 5 days	08/12/2020	14/12/2020
Bunyan Court 3 days	15/12/2020	17/12/2020
Bryer Court 2 days	18/12/2020	21/12/2020
Ben Jonson House 6 days	04/01/2021	11/01/2021
Breton House 5 days	12/01/2021	18/01/2021
Frobisher Crescent 6 days	19/01/2021	26/01/2021

Climate Action Strategy - survey

Here is a poster circulated by the BA for the City of London Climate Action Strategy.  On the web site the City are asking for feedback through a survey.  You can contact the Climate Action team at climateaction@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Click to enlarge

Waste Collection - back to every week day

From the BEO in the 17th July bulletin

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Rubbish Collections

As of Monday 20 July, rubbish collection will return to 5 collections per week (Monday to Friday). Please also continue to collapse your boxes.

We are not yet in a position to resume the weekend collections for the few blocks that have them.

Please see further information here in the refuse collections tab of the cleaning and recycling page.

Objective noise measurement - Paris shows the way

The City of London have a Noise Strategy, one which is based on subjective observation such as spot measurement of sound averages.  i.e. pretty much useless when it comes to dealing with real-world noise incidents.

Paris have introduced an objective measure of sound using a device they call The Medusa.  The Paris network of these devices can measure sound levels and source location in real-time.  For example, they can track a noisy motor-cycle as it roars through the city.  Such a system could measure the actual time our "considerate contractors" choose to start their noisy works, or exactly how noisy that street cleaning machine is which trundles around at 07:00 on many days.

The Paris Medusa is described in this BBC video article:

Will the City of London pick up on this idea?  We can hope.

Beech St. Tunnel - Emission fines start 27th July

The Beech Street Tunnel is the UKs first zero emission street.

From July 27th you'll be fined if you drive the full length of the tunnel in a vehicle which is not deemed to be zero emission capable. 

Click to read the whole letter

Balcony Inspections - Wed 15th & Thu 16th

This card came through my door today.  The chap posting them confirmed that it should really say July and not June, so the inspections will be tomorrow and the day after (15th & 16th July).

For 06 read 07

Pesky Pigeons & Gulls

From the BEO:

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Pigeons

Please be advised residents can telephone the Barbican Estate Office at first signs of feral pigeons nesting on their balconies. Effective management controls have kept the Feral Pigeon numbers low which in turn keeps maintenance costs down.

To assist in the control of pigeons and seagulls do not feed the birds on the lawns or in the lakes, and especially not from your balcony.

Contractors visit weekly to control pigeon nesting and use a Harris Hawk to control pigeon numbers.

Please click here for more details in the gardens tab of the Residents Information Pack.

Service Cupboard Asbestos Inspection

As happened last year, the asbestos lining of our service cupboards will be inspected. 

This year the milk-and-eggs section and the refuse section (see the photo) will be inspected.  We are asked to ensure that those two sections are completely cleared out on the day of the inspection:

Thu 2020-07-09 - Flats 201-268 & 301-334

Fri 2020-07-10 - Flats 335-368 & 501-568

Here is the letter:

Click to read the whole letter

... and here is the message from the BEO which appeard in the 2020-07-10 email newsletter:

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Reminder: Annual Asbestos Inspection
Survey 6 July - 14 August

Eton Environmental will be carrying out the annual inspection of the asbestos lining in locker cupboards and in communal areas across the Estate. Residents will be informed of the locker cupboard inspections in advance, as the cupboards would need to be empty on the day of the survey on each floor.

The inspection will take no more than 10 minutes and will be carried out from outside of the property with no need to enter, at no time will the property be left unattended and the external door will be fully locked on completion. If your locker cupboards are permanently fixed closed, please ignore this message.

Please note, procedures will be in place in line with COVID-19 legislation, surveyors will be wearing full protective equipment and maintain social distancing while the survey is carried out.

If you have any queries or concerns whatsoever regarding the inspection, please do not hesitate to contact: steven.murray@cityoflondon.gov.uk or your House Officer.

Working hours are between 9am and 5pm. Please see the schedule of work below.

• Ben Jonson House – 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th & 15th July
• Defoe House – 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th & 20th July
• Speed House – 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st & 22nd July
• Andrewes House – 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th & 27th July
• Bunyan Court – 23rd & 24th July
• Bryer Court – 27th July
• Breton House – 28th & 29th July
• Gilbert House – 28th & 29th July
• John Trundle Court – 29th, 30th & 31st July
• Thomas More House – 30th & 31st July, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 7th August
• Shakespeare Tower – 3rd, 4th & 5th August
• Lauderdale Tower – 6th, 7th & 10th August
• Cromwell Tower – 10th, 11th & 12th August
• Willoughby House – 11th, 12th, 13th & 14th August

Waste Cardboard Boxes

From the BEO:

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Cardboard Boxes



We urge residents to assist us in breaking down cardboard boxes to help the cleaners spend more time and focusing on actual cleaning.

The images above show examples of the number of boxes seen outside flats. If this is multiplied by 2000+ flats, you can well imagine the time needed to collapse them all.

This time saved, can help the cleaners spend more of their time on cleaning.

We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in these difficult times.