Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mark Boleat, Deputy the Revd. Stephen Haines, Brian Harris, Jeremy Mayhew and Emma Price.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2014.

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 January 2014 were approved.

Pocketbook Working Party

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Working Party had held its first meeting and invited Aldermen to attend.

City of London Festival

The Chairman advised the Committee that the City of London Festival budget, approved by the Committee on 27 January, had now been approved by the Finance Committee. 

To receive the minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting held on 6 February 2014.

The Committee received the minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting held on 6 February 2014.

In response to a Member’s question, the Chairman confirmed that the City had been advised by London Borough of Camden that to hold a licence for marriages and withdraw the ability to hold ceremonies for a period of time was not permitted under the legislation governing marriage licences.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk seeking approval to the revised delegations relating to the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

In Response to a Member’s question, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries confirmed that the Scheme of Delegations applied only to operational decisions. The Town Clerk added that substantive matters were always delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen after which a report of action taken would be brought before all members the committee.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the delegations relating to the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries as set out in the appendix to the report be approved, subject to the approval of the Policy and Resources Committee of the overall Scheme of Delegation; and

b)    the proposed amendment to Standing orders relating to the declaration of operation property assets which are surplus to requirements.

Presentation by the Principal Librarian, Community Libraries.

The Committee received a presentation by the Principal Librarian, Community Libraries.

The presentation covered the following areas:-

·         Partnership working;

·         High usage of the library when compared to five other London Boroughs;

·         98.5% satisfaction rating from library users

·         Skills for Life, employability, study space and education outreach for Schools and city workers;

·         Future opportunities; and

·         Poor signage as a limitation.

The Chairman thanked the Principal and his staff for the library’s work with residents, workers and people from neighbouring boroughs.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries reported that current weekend opening hours reflected lower demand levels on the weekends and the need to maximise resources available.

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 3 against the objectives and key performance indicators) set out in the Culture Heritage & Libraries Department’s Business Plan 2013-2015. 

In response to a Member’s question concerning water ingress in the Guildhall Library, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries advised Members that the matter was being investigated together with the City Surveyor’s Department and officers would resolve the matter at the earliest opportunity.

In response to another question, the Director referred to a previous discussion on the Roman Baths at the Committee and reiterated the works were intended to take the site off English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register. He added there remained no plans to open the site to the public.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries containing the recommendation of the City Arts Initiative relative to two projects within the City.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries advised that there was a likely economic benefit to the City from hosting the Wallace and Gromit Children’s Charity Trail with any funds raised through ticketing and merchandise going to Bristol and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospitals respectively. 

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity Trail application be approved, subject to the applicant securing planning permission and other appropriate licenses; and

b)    the relocation of the “Go-Between” ornamental gates be rejected.

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

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries providing Members with the Trustees of Keats House Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2013.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries agreed to present a report at the next meeting of the Committee detailing the Lord Mayor’s Gifts that had been received into the Gifts collection in recent years.

Plenty and Progress

A Member highlighted that the Guildhall Art Gallery’s latest acquisition, Plenty and Progress by Mark Titchner, had received good publicity within Art Quarterly, the Art Fund’s magazine.

Public Art Years 3-4: Progress report

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment updating Members on year 3 of the Sculpture in the City project and seeking approval to the funding of  years 4 and 5 (2014 and 2015 respectively).

The Director of the Built Environment gave a presentation highlighting the growing success of Sculpture in the City with regard to art in the City and partnership working with City businesses. He added that going forward his team would be looking to provide exposure for more up and coming artists.

In response to Member’s questions, the Director of the Built Environment advised that as part of the City Visitor Trail, there were tours that take in all the sculptures across the City and his team would be examining options for QR codes and apps to maximise use of the public’s smart devices (smart phones, tablets etc.).

In response to another question, the Director responded that after some difficulties experienced with graffiti in 2013, his team would look to curate works that were relatively easily repaired.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the contents of this update report and agree the shortlist of artworks considered for Year 4 (attached in Appendix C), be noted.

b)    the additional contribution of £40k (total City contribution £90k) for the implementation of this Year’s project, funded from the interest accrued on the S106 obligation connected to the Pinnacle development, be approved;

c)    an increase of £4,000 on the budget of Year 3, to cover additional staff costs incurred in the delivery of last year’s project, be approved;

d)    the appointment of

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 100A(4) 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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2014.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2014 were approved.

Report of the City Surveyor.

This item was withdrawn.

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

There were no questions.  

There were three urgent items.