Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mark Boleat, Deputy Anthony Eskenzi, Brian Harris, Vivienne Littlechild, Deputy Catherine McGuinness, Sylvia Moys, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley, Ann Pembroke, Emma Price, Deputy Gerald Pulman, Deputy Richard Regan and Alderman William Russell.

John Scott and Jeremy Mayhew declared an interest as Trustees of the City of London Festival.

Judith Pleasance declared an interest as a Member of the Clockmakers Livery.

To approve the public minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2013.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 1 July were approved.

Matters arising:

Exhibition Hall 2

The Chairman reported that a feasibility study would be coming back to the Committee at a future meeting.

Timber Staircase

The Chairman reported that this installation, approved at the last meeting, was placed on the Southbank and not at St Paul's.

Pocketbook Survey

The Chairman informed Members that a report detailing the results of the Pocketbook Survey would be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

Report of the Town Clerk – this report has appendices in the non-public part of the agenda under item 18.

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

Presentation by the Head of Guildhall Library.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries providing Members with details of the 187 events that were part of the City of London Festival 2013.

The Committee extended its thanks to the outgoing Director of the Festival for his 8 years of service to the City.

Verbal update by the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Director of the City of London Festival introduced himself to the Committee for the first time and spoke of his vision for the future of the Festival.

The Director highlighted a change of emphasis he wanted to engineer for the Festival towards pop-up venues, new and informal venues alongside historic formal locations, the introduction of spoken word and other literary elements and the showcasing of the City's great depth of choral talent.

In response to the Chairman's question, the Director responded that the climate for private sponsorship was slowly improving and the Festival was looking to new media partners to enhance awareness within London.

In response to a Member's question, the Director responded that his team were working closely with City Libraries to progress the literary element of the Festival.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries concerning the 2012-13 Business Plan outturn. The report demonstrated the outturn performance achieved against the business plan and highlighted a successful year in all areas across the department.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries seeking approval to the City of London Visitor Strategy 2013-17.

RESOLVED – That the City of London Visitor Strategy 2013-17 be adopted as a Strategic Corporate Document.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries seeking approval to the updated Collections Development Policy at Keats House.

The Principal Curator at Keats House advised that the Policy had been updated to bring it up to date with the latest Arts Council England templates and the Museum Accreditation Standard.

RESOLVED – that the updated Collections Development Strategy Policy be approved.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries asking Members to consider the best route forward with proposals to hold wedding ceremonies at Keats House.

The Director of Visitor Services reported that at a recent Keats House Consultative Committee meeting and at a special residents meeting, there had been strong feeling against the proposals from a small group. He added that the majority of the local population remained neutral.

The Director drew attention to the current budget deficit at Keats House and highlighted the importance of the House generating its own income. He added that some residents had suggested alternative ways of raising money for the House and officers felt these should be explored prior to going ahead with the wedding plans.

In response to a Member's question, the Principal Curator advised that she anticipated less disruption from a wedding ceremony than from some of the existing private events at the House.

RESOLVED, That:

a)    officers be tasked to undertake a feasibility assessment of alternative fundraising plans suggested by local residents and report back to the Committee at the first meeting of the New Year; and

b)    the decision regarding whether to hold wedding ceremonies at Keats House be delayed pending the above mentioned report.

Report of the Director of Public Relations.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Public Relations summarising the results of the latest polling of key City audiences, conducted by TNS between April and June 2013.

The Head of Barbican and Community Libraries noted that she felt the sample data was not particularly useful but added she would continue to analyse it for patterns. She highlighted a decline in satisfaction at some libraries but linked this to a disruption to services at those locations.

She further highlighted that she would be conducting a full survey of library users across the City at a future date.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children's Services regarding the Porksoken Early Intervention Review findings and recommendations.

The Director of Community and Children's Services advised the Committee that the proposals to join up facilities in Portsoken marked a new joined up effort to link the two communities at Mansell Street and Middlesex Street via Artizan Library.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the Portsoken Early Intervention Review, attached as Appendix One to this report, and any comments received by partners, be noted;

b)    the principle of the six priorities for action set out in the review, be endorsed as set out below;

a.    A coordinated approach be taken for the commissioning and delivery of services, bringing the services, providers and facilities in the ward together under a ‘One Portsoken’ umbrella;

b.    better use be made of the assets and facilities in the ward;

c.    the development of a health education strategy targeting those residents and city workers who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, and also young people, who can be difficult to access, be authorised;

d.    investment in the community initiatives that help to maintain a sense of community on both estates in the ward, be continued;

e.    a coordinated service that brings City Advice and Adult Learning together to help residents manage their benefits and budgets be put in place; 

f.     a targeted employment and skills programme to continue to provide access to employment support be put in place;

c)    recommendation 1.1 in the review that the Portsoken Health and Community Centre should be managed by the Centre Manager of the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre from 1^st April 2014 onwards be agreed; and

d)    the Director of Community and Children’s Services decision to waive the City's Procurement Regulations in accordance

There were no questions.

There were three items urgent items of business.

Cart Marking

The Chairman advised the Committee that he had been invited by the Cart Makers to the Cart Marking ceremony and he expected this to continue for future Chairmen.

City Arts Initiative Proposal – Silent Cacophony

The Committee were asked to give approval to a one day installation to mark Remembrance Day.

RESOLVED – That the application for the installation of Silent Cacophony be approved.

Member Visits to Cultural Assets

The Chairman urged Members, new and longstanding to contact the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries should they wish to be guided around any of the City Corporation's cultural assets.

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 1 July 2013.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2013 were approved.

Joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee approved a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee approved a report of the City Surveyor.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee approved a report of the City Surveyor.

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 City Surveyor.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor.

There were no questions.

Report of the Town Clerk (Item 4) – Appendices.

There were no urgent items.