By the Barking Riverside Estates & Community Interest Company’s Resident Directors.
Who looks after Barking Riverside’s shared spaces and why it matters?
If you live in Barking Riverside, you may have seen references to the Barking Riverside Estates & Community Interest Company, often referred to as the “CIC.” Maybe you’ve noticed it mentioned in your Estate Service Charge, or wondered who is responsible for looking after the neighbourhood’s public realm?
This article is the first in a short series to explain what the CIC is, why it exists, how it works, and how residents can play a bigger role in shaping the estate at Barking Riverside. The aim is simple: to be clear, open, and transparent about how decisions are made.
What is a Community Interest Company?
A Community Interest Company, or CIC, is a special type of not-for-profit company set up to benefit a community.
Unlike a private company, a CIC cannot distribute profits to shareholders. Any money it receives must be used to support the purpose it was created for. At Barking Riverside, the CIC has three purposes:
- Once completed, to own shared areas at Barking Riverside.
- To manage and maintain these areas.
- To provide community benefit functions.
In practical terms, the CIC exists to ensure that Barking Riverside remains well-maintained and attractive as the neighbourhood continues to grow. Also, the CIC provides a legacy model once the master developer, Barking Riverside Limited (BRL), has finished its role.
Why does Barking Riverside have a CIC?
Barking Riverside is a large, long-term regeneration project. As with many new neighbourhoods, there are shared spaces that need to be looked after.
These include:
- pavements and cycleways;
- play areas;
- landscaping and green spaces;
- lighting and street furniture;
- public open spaces used by everyone.
These spaces need regular cleaning, maintenance, inspection, repair, and – over time – renewal.
Under the original planning arrangements for Barking Riverside, an estate management structure was obligated by the Council. This was to guarantee that any shared spaces could be maintained for the long-term.
This is why Barking Riverside is managed through a CIC rather than being maintained directly by the Council. Consequently, the CIC provides an opportunity to create a bespoke management and maintenance model for Barking Riverside, accompanied by stronger local oversight.
How is this funded?
At Barking Riverside, the management and maintenance of shared public spaces is funded through the Estate Service Charge, which is paid by residents. Some residents pay this directly, whereas others see this as a line within the billing from their residential managing agent. The Estate Service Charge is different to residential service charges and does not upkeep the communal areas inside the blocks or plots.
The Estate Service Charge cannot be used to make a profit. It is ringfenced by BRL and the CIC to support the upkeep and management of the neighbourhood’s shared spaces and services. This includes:
- landscaping and grounds maintenance;
- cleaning of public realm;
- play area inspections and repairs;
- lighting and safety checks;
- environmental improvements;
- statutory health and safety obligations;
- long-term repairs and renewals.
Put simply: the Estate Service Charge helps pay for the places that everyone uses, but no individual owns.
Who sits on the CIC?
In 2020, a group called “The Learning Forum” was established to work with BRL to shape how the CIC should be governed. Independently chaired and formed in partnership with the community, The Learning Forum made a recommendation that the CIC should be re-constituted with a resident-majority on the Board. This would give residents a stronger voice in decisions about the estate. Although the previous iteration of the CIC remains in place to deal with specific historic matters, the Learning Forum helped to establish an important principle: stronger resident leadership and greater local accountability.
Since 2023, the new CIC Board has been in place. The four Resident Directors bring their lived experience and practical insight to help ensure:
- greater transparency about spending and priorities;
- stronger accountability for service standards;
- better long-term decision-making;
- investment that reflects what matters to the community.
BRL and the Council are also represented on the CIC. Together with the Resident Directors, the Board has delegated authority to oversee estate management at Barking Riverside. This includes:
- reviewing budgets and service standards;
- overseeing the performance of the Estate Managing Agent, Preim;
- helping set priorities for spending;
- supporting long-term planning for shared spaces.
What happens next?
This is the first in a series of articles – all of which aim to demonstrate how the CIC makes sure the shared spaces at Barking Riverside are cared for properly, responsibly, and in a way that reflects residents’ priorities. Coming editions will cover topics like the CIC’s objectives for the future, and how the Estate Service Charge budget is scrutinised by the Board.
Over the coming months, a priority for the CIC will be spending more time with residents. This will enable Resident Directors to better represent the wider community when making decisions on the Board. You might start to see CIC Directors at more community events, with the CIC also looking to host its own event in July. This will be a fantastic opportunity to meet the Board in person.
To ensure you can access information about the CIC easily, a dedicated web page has now been established. This includes a calendar, so you know when and where you can engage directly with the CIC. Please visit barkingriverside.london/cic/ for more information.
Importantly, this summer there will be the opportunity for another Resident Director to join the CIC Board. The new webpage contains much more information about this process, detailing what the role entails and how residents can register their interest. Fundamentally, the CIC is about stewardship: making sure Barking Riverside continues to be a place that people are proud to call home. If this is something you feel passionately about, we encourage you to visit the webpage to find out more.
Related posts
An Update from Matt Carpen
