Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Christopher Boden, Mark Boleat, Deputy Michael Cassidy, Dennis Cotgrove, Ibthayhaj Gani, Wendy Hyde, Jeremy Mayhew, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley, Deputy Gerald Pulman, Deputy Richard Regan, and Alderman David Graves.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 29 April 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2013 were approved.

Matters Arising: -

Cultural Strategy Group

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries reported that plans for Exhibition Hall 2 at the Barbican Centre would be considered by the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee later in the month.

Future Reports

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries informed the Committee that reports on LMA digitisation and Sculpture in the City would be brought to the December meeting of the Committee. He added that a report on the City of London Festival would be brought to the October meeting.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk presenting the recommendations of the City Arts Initiative which met on 28 May 2013.

Discussion ensued regarding the suitability of the St Paul's Cathedral site for the Timber Staircase with some Members feeling the installation could obscure once in a lifetime views of the cathedral for some visitors.

The Town Clerk added that the installation was for one week only (plus installation and decommissioning), and was part of the London Design Festival.

Deputy Billy Dove moved that the Committee reject the Timber Staircase application and the Committee voted on the motion. The votes cast were as follows: -

The Town Clerk informed Members that the Change Alley installation approved at the previous meeting was now in place and had been well received.

The Committee were also asked to appoint three Members of the Committee to serve on the City Arts Initiative. The Chairman suggested those three Members should be the Chairman, Deputy Chairman together with one other Member and the committee approved.         

It was therefore,

            RESOLVED: That: -

I)          the Timber Staircase application be approved, subject to the applicant securing planning permission and other appropriate licences;

II)         the approval be subject to the Committees feedback being passed on to the Planning Committee; and

III)        John Scott, Vivienne Littlechild and Barbara Newman be appointed to serve on the City Arts Initiative for the year ensuing.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries giving a comparison of the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Committee in 2012/13 with the final agreed budget for that year.

In response to the Chairman's question, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries advised that a new education officer had been put in place to develop links with schools. He added that the post would be based at Tower Bridge but the officer would also be working with the Monument, Guildhall Art Gallery and Keats House. 

RECEIVED.

Presentation of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a presentation of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries on the City of London Visitor Trail.

The Director informed Members that the trail had undergone a soft launch in April 2013, and that a consultation exercise was being conducted before potential improvements and a full launch in spring 2014.

In response to a Member's question, the Director responded that the primary target audience for the trail were visitors to London, particularly those from overseas. He added that 104,000 leaflets had gone out locally.

The Director responded to Members' questions on sponsorship by undertaking to look at ways of further enhancing the project. He added that the Diocese of London had been significant contributors and that he would be working with retail hubs such as One New Change on incorporating their shopping offers into the Visitor Trail mobile app on a commercial basis to generate income. 

RECEIVED.

Report of the General Manager, City of London Festival.

The Committee noted a report of the General Manager, City of London Festival regarding the City of London Festival Winter Programme 2013.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries updating Members on the Restoration of the Great Parchment Book.

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries read out a note of thanks from Northern Ireland's First Minister to the LMA and UCL for their work in restoring the historic artefact.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the removal of car park ramps at Middlesex Street Estate in order to enhance the environment and access in the area of the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre.

RECEIVED.

Verbal Update of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a verbal update of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in relation to roof refurbishment works at the City Business Library.

The Director advised the Committee that the pyramid structures on the roof of the City Business Library would be replaced leading to the closure of the library for a week at the end of July and reduced services throughout August. He added that Guildhall Library would be assisting library users whilst the works took place.

In response to a Member's question regarding the Keats Festival, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries responded that references were made to Keats in the opening section of the event. He added that the Keats Festival was part of a wider community engagement, designed to inspire a new generation and to do this the Festival must look forward as well as drawing on the literary works of John Keats.

Corporate Wide Area Network Upgrade – Requirement for Wayleave

The Board were asked to consider a request for a Wayleave at a number of sites within the Committee’s remit as part of the Corporate Wide Area Network Upgrade.

RESOLVED: That: -

i)          a Wayleave be granted to Virgin Media Business Limited for the installation and maintenance of communications lines at the sites listed in appendix A; and

ii)         the granting of any further Wayleaves to Virgin Media Business Limited as are necessary to install communications lines to City sites not listed in appendix A be delegated to the Chief Officer with responsibility for those sites.

City of London Pocketbook

The Town Clerk sought approval to circulate a questionnaire to Members on the Pocketbook. He highlighted that much of the information within the pocketbook was now available online and became out of date shortly after the publication of the document.  He added that no changes would be made for this year and that any changes to future editions would not take place without the concurrence of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Town Clerk be instructed to undertake a Pocketbook Questionnaire and it be circulated to all Members of the Court of Common Council.

Committee Thanks to Peter Nelson, Assistant Town Clerk

The Chairman took the opportunity of the Assistant Town Clerk attending the meeting to thank him for his 40 years of service to the City Corporation. The Committee fully endorsed the Chairman’s sentiment and wished him a happy retirement.

MOTION – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item No.                                                          Exemption Paragraph(s)

MOTION – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2013.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2013 were approved.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee approved a report of the Director of the Built Environment.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a verbal update of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

RECEIVED.

Verbal update of the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a verbal update of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were two urgent items.