Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mark Boleat, Billy Dove, Henry Pollard, Henrika Priest, and Alderman Andrew Parmley.

There were no declarations.

The Chairman took the opportunity to thank Robin Sherlock for his years of service on the Court of Common Council.

He also took the opportunity to welcome Colette Hiller from the organisation Sing London – who would be speaking to an item later on the agenda.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 22 October 2012.

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 22 October 2012 were approved.

Matters Arising: -

Cultural Strategy Group

The Committee were informed that the next meeting of the Cultural Strategy Group would be held on 10 January 2013.

Artefacts from Prince Henry’s Room

The Director advised the Committee that a report outlining options for the future of the artefacts previously housed in Prince Henry’s Room would be brought to the next meeting.

Artizan Street Library

The Director reported that final preparations were being made for the Library to open on Monday 10 December. He further reported that whilst there were some problems with broadband as a result of the new library not yet having a postcode, staff were working with the service provider to resolve this as quickly as possible. Members were reminded that the official opening would be held on 24 January 2013.

Billingsgate Bathhouse Visit

The Director reported that the recent visit to the bathhouse had been useful. He added that a conversation was currently taking place with the Museum of London, looking to improve promotion of Roman heritage sites within the City.

Sanford Award

The Director reported that the City had received the Sanford Award for Heritage Education as recognition for its work in this area.

Report of the Director of Public Relations.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Public Relations updating Members on the activities undertaken by his department during the period October 2011- September 2012.

RECEIVED.

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

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries seeking approval to the provisional revenue budget for 2013/14.

In response to Members’ concerns, the Chamberlain undertook to circulate an explanatory note to the Committee, detailing movements between the two years budgets on the Culture, Heritage & Libraries Directorate and London Metropolitan Archive elements of the Service Analysis in Appendix 1.

RESOLVED: That: -

i)          the provisional 2013/14 revenue budget be approved for submission to the Finance Committee;

ii)         the draft capital budget be approved; and

iii)         the Chamberlain be authorised to revise these budgets to allow for any further implications arising from Corporate Projects, departmental reorganisations and other reviews, changes to the Additional Works Programme, and implications arising from Carbon Trading Allowances.

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 progress made against the objectives and key performance indicators set out in the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Departmental Business Plan 2012-13.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which had recommendations from the City Arts Initiative Group meeting that took place on 8 November.

The Committee heard Collette Hiller from Sing Song, who spoke to the merits of her organisation’s proposal, ‘Talking Statues’.

RESOLVED: That: -

i)          the application ‘Southbank Mosaics’ be approved subject to the receipt of more detailed information from the applicant; 

ii)         the application ‘A New Aldgate’ be approved for an extension in its current location;

iii)         the application ‘Talking Statues’ be approved subject to the receipt of more detailed information from the applicant; and

iv)        the application “Weather – it’s raining or not” be rejected.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries responded that Gresham College fitted more widely within the City’s cultural frame and that he hoped to build upon existing links with the organisation.

The Lord Mayor’s State Coach

The City Surveyor advised that a problem with the coach that occurred at the Lord Mayor’s Show had been caused by wet sand getting into the bearing. He added that a team of officers would be meeting to examine ways of preventing the same problem affecting the coach in future years. 

Guildhall Plumbing Issues

The City Surveyor advised that the recent flooding problems and leakage in certain areas of the Guildhall had been caused by a build-up of lime scale in the piping. He added that measures had been taken to clear the blockages and steps had also been taken to prevent recurrence.

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries reported that the incident highlighted the vulnerability of precious artefacts and manuscripts stored at Guildhall but stressed that the department had taken measures to protect these items from damage in the event of serious incidents.

The Chairman requested a further report on the matter be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

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.

RESOLVED – 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 22 October 2012.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 October were approved.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

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

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

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

RECEICVED.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.