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.

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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.