Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Anthony Eskenzi, Martin Farr, Alderman David Graves, Michael Henderson-Begg, Oliver Lodge, Deputy Wendy Mead, Robert Merrett, Deputy Janet Owen, Henrika Priest, Deputy Michael Welbank.

Ann Pembroke declared an interest in relation to Item 8 on the agenda, Prince Henry's Room.

To approve the public minutes and summary of of the meeting held on 2 July 2012.

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 2 July 2012 were approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising: -     

Cultural Strategy Group

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries informed the Committee that the Policy and Resources Committee felt the Cultural Strategy Group should continue as an informal working party and that its next meeting would take place within the next few weeks.

City of London Tartan

The Chairman informed the Committee that the Tartan was going ahead despite the concerns raised by the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee at its previous meeting.

Banners at the Guildhall Art Gallery

The Committee were informed that the new banners had now been installed.

City Visitor Trail

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries informed the Committee that whilst it was possible to take the idea of naming the visitor trail after the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to the project group, it was felt that ‘City Visitor Trail’ would be a more appropriate name given that it was hoped to be a premier attraction in the City.

To receive the public minutes and summary of the Benefices Sub Committee meeting held on 2 July 2012.

Minutes of the Benefices Sub Committee

The public minutes and summary of the meeting of the Benefices Sub Committee held on 2 July 2012 were received.

RECEIVED.

To receive the minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting held on 18 September 2012.

Minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee

The minutes and summary of the meeting of the Keats House Consultative Committee held on 18 September 2012 were received.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Report of Action Taken Between Meetings

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out action taken under urgency and delegated authority procedures since the last meeting.    

RECEIVED.

Presentation by the Head of City Business Library

The Committee received a presentation of the Head of the City Business Library which included statistics and facts on its usage and work with the wider business community, in particular their core users – business start-ups, entrepreneurs, SMEs and sole traders.

The Committee were also informed of the success the Library had made of a Job Seekers Club in getting people who had been affected by job losses back into work. The head of the City Business Library added that on the strength of this success, the Job Centre Plus was funding the Library for a project to continue its work in helping graduates in the east London boroughs find employment.

The Chairman thanked the Head of the City Business Library and all of her staff for the excellent service and invigorating environment they provided, and would continue to provide into the future.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries seeking approval for Prince Henry’s Room to be returned to the Property Investment Board to be managed by the City Surveyor on a commercial basis.

A member expressed serious concern about the recommendation in the report; in particular, the Member felt that if the site was handed back to the Property Investment Board for commercial use, this would contradict the City Corporation’s Cultural Strategy with regards to ‘animating history’.

The Chairman outlined that whilst the Committee would like to hold on to Prince Henry’s Room, there were larger projects such as the Heritage Gallery and Magna Carta that were greater priorities.

It was the wish of the Committee for the City Surveyor to explore options to allow public access on certain days throughout the year.

RESOLVED: That:-

i)              the Room be declared surplus and that it is returned to the Property Investment Board to be managed by the City Surveyor on a commercial basis with effect from 24 December 2012; and

ii)             the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries be instructed to bring a report to a future meeting on the of the artefacts previously stored in Prince Henry’s Room.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries informing Members of progress made in Quarter 1 against the objectives and key performance indicators set out in the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Department Business Plan 2012-2013.

The Chairman took the opportunity to congratulate Tower Bridge and City of London Street Guides for their efforts over the Jubilee and Olympic period.

RECEIVED.

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

The Committee received the year-end report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries on the departmental business plan for 2011-12, including financial data and key performance indicators.

A Member queried whether a date had been set for the Barbican Library Christmas Fair and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries undertook to confirm this with all Members of the Committee via email.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries evaluating the activities undertaken by the Visitor Development Team as part of the City Corporation's contribution to the 2012 Games.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries regarding the restoration of the Great Parchment Book, an iconic item in the archive of The Honourable The Irish Society lodged at London Metropolitan Archives. 

RECEIVED.

Joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of Community & Children's Services and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in relation to the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre.

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries advised that the Centre would open in December with an official opening taking place on 24 January 2013. He added that all Members of the Committee would be invited.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture Heritage and Libraries on the City of London Festival’s 50^th Anniversary programme. The Festival was made up of 265 events whose overall attendance figures exceeded box office targets by 20%.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

Retirement of Dr Deborah Jenkins

The Committee wished to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr Deborah Jenkins, Heritage Services Director, for her dedicated service over the past 27 years.

Billingsgate Bathhouse

The Committee were advised that a visit had been organised to view the excellent Roman Bathhouse at 101 Lower Thames Street and the Chairman advised that Members would report back to the Committee at the next meeting.

City Corporation Christmas Card

The Chairman informed the Committee that the City Corporation Christmas Card design for 2012 had now been chosen and handed an example around the table. He added that the card would be available for sale in the usual ways and hoped Members would promote this with colleagues around the organisation.

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 2 July 2012.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2012 were approved.

To receive the non public minutes of the Benefices Sub Committee meeting held on 2 July 2012.

The non-public minutes of the Benefices Sub Committee meeting held on 2 July were received.

RECEIVED.   

Report of the City Surveyor.

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

RECEIVED.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

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

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There was one item of urgent business.