Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Michael Cassidy, Lucy Frew, Alderman Alison Gowman, Paul Martinelli, Henrika Priest, Judith Pleasance, Deputy Gerald Pulman, John Scott and Deputy John Bennett.

Mr Jeremy Mayhew, Mr Tom Hoffman and Mrs Vivienne Littlechild declared general (non-pecuniary) interests in respect of agenda item 12 (City of London Festival – 2016 Grant) as they are Directors of the City of London Festival Board.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 26^th May 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 26^th May 2015 be approved.

To receive the public minutes and non-public summary of the Benefices Sub Committee held on 11^th  June 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Benefices Sub Committee held on 11 June 2015 be received. 

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the Business Plan’s 2014-15 outturn position.   The Director was pleased to set out the Department’s highlights, as below, which had positive reputational outcomes, as well as financial ones:

·       The success of Tower Bridge and the glass walkways.

·       Opening up of Guildhall Yard and the markets on Court of Common Council day.  It was suggested that Livery Companies be approached for more suggestions.

·       Shoe Lane Market and its value in the local community.  Members noted that another was planned for Christmas and Staff were particularly commended for giving up their own time to support the event. 

·       The variety and content of lectures at the library.  Members noted that these were publicised on the web, by the visitor team and at the libraries but understood that the marketing budget was limited. 

·       Targets for next year would be recalibrated, based on this year’s achievements.

·       Some Members commented about a perceived lack of awareness about on-going events, amongst Guildhall  reception staff.  The Chairman recommended leaving daily schedules at each desk. 

·       The Committee would receive the draft Cultural Strategy later in the year. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted. 

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

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the 2014-15 Revenue Outturn position.

During questions, the following matters were raised/noted:

·       Officers agreed to provide costings for ‘pavement enticers’ at Tower Bridge.  Members noted that their use was balanced against the income generated. 

·       The Director advised that City Surveyor colleagues always consulted him in respect of the Additional Works Programme; the biggest challenges being necessary maintenance rather than planned additional works.  The Chairman reminded Members of the leak in the library, which had forced some of the planned works out of sequence.  Members noted that Chief Officers continued to work together in this area and understood each other’s challenges and requirements.

RESOLVED – That the revenue outturn report for 2014/15 and the proposed carry forward of underspends to 2015/16 be noted. 

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk (on behalf of the Chief Officers’ Group)

Together with resolutions from the Policy and Resource Committee to the Finance Committee and from the Finance Committee to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Deputy Town Clerk (on behalf of the Chief Officers Group), together with resolutions from the Finance and Policy and Resources Committees, which had met in May and June. 

Members noted that this report had been presented to a large number of Committees throughout May and June and would be re-presented to the Policy and Resources Committee and the Court of Common Council early in the autumn. 

In general, Members welcomed the report’s common sense approach to the current, somewhat fragmented processes.  Furthermore, it presented an opportunity to share and consolidate the City Bridge Trust’s good grant giving administration across the City of London Corporation.

RESOLVED – That the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee take on the governance of a formal grants programme, encompassing the range of cultural/arts awards currently made by other Committees, such as the Finance Grants Sub Committee.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund. 

RESOLVED – That, the strategy going forward be one of encouraging donations to build an endowment, on the understanding that a progress report be bought to the Committee in due course to enable this to be kept under review. 

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

Please note this report has a non-public appendix at Agenda item 18.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, which provided a key risk register for each of the two charities administered by the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.  Members noted that this report had an addendum in the non-public part of the meeting.

RESOLVED – That:

1.          The two registers be confirmed as satisfactorily setting out the risks faced by each charity;

2.          Appropriate measures be confirmed as being in place to mitigate those risks; and

3.          The red graded risk in respect of  Keats House be  included on the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee’s own risk register, to ensure regular monitoring and review during the year

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the Gladiator Games returning to the Guildhall Yard this summer.

Members asked whether there were plans to film this year’s Games and, if so, the  possibility of this being looped and screened within the Amphitheatre.  The Officer advised that the 2011 Games were screened in the Museum of London’s galleries. 

Members challenged whether it was necessary to close access to the entire yard, if there were activities taking place?  Furthermore, if events during working hours were likely to generate noise, could there be more co-ordination between Town Clerk’s and Remembrancer’s?  Officers advised that, following noise disturbance at a Committee Meeting the previous week, a meeting was being  held later today.

A Member asked about whether there were plans for further renovation/ restoration of the Roman Bathhouse at Billingsgate and there was a further question as to why the Great Hall was not open during August.  Officers agreed to investigate and respond to the renovation query and explained that the Great Hall was closed for bookings in August to allow for renovation and maintenance works.

RESOLVED – That, the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

 The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the Benefit in Kind to be received by Artichoke for September 2016 events.  Members noted that, under the terms of the agreement, the City of London Corporation would be credited as the Founding Sponsor.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted. 

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the 2016 Grant for the City of London Festival.  During the discussion on this item, the following matters were raised/noted:

This year’s Festival had record sold out performances and the exact figures would be available next week.   Members noted that the cost had been reduced this year but given the event’s profile and need to attract sponsorship,  they accepted that it should not be scaled back too far.  The Director of the City of London Festival was in attendance and reminded Members that grant giving has been cut considerably, particularly by the Arts Council for grants in London.

Members were disappointed that, following technical problems, the Bowler Hat had not been used this year but alternative sites were being considered for next year.  Members suggested that officers hold a workshop over the summer recess, in order to discuss the strategic direction of the 2016 Festival and submit a further report to the September Committee. 

RESOLVED – That a decision to agree the funding for the 2016 Festival (a grant of £355,825 to the City Arts Trust, comprising a core grant of £274,725 plus £81,100 for free events and the winter series) be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee. The decision will be based on confirmation of the robustness of the financial position through the receipt of a satisfactory report on the financial outturn of the 2015 Festival, including full responses to any reasonable queries arising out of that report, and an assessment of the 2016 budget plans.

The Director advised that paintings from Guildhall Art Gallery were loaned to exhibitions and not private individuals.  Members noted that there were items with the City of London Crest all over the world but they might not have belonged to the City of London Corporation in the first instance.

 The Chairman was pleased to announce that ‘Conservation of the Great Parchment Book’ had been shortlisted for The Pilgrim Trust Award for Conservation, 2015.  The award recognised excellence in conserving an individual or collection of cultural heritage objects.

The Lord Mayor’s Autograph Book was on display for Members to view. 

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.

                              16 – 21                                                                  3

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26^th May 2015.

RESOLVED – That

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2015 be approved.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Benefices Sub Committee held on 11^th  June 2015.

RESOLVED – That

The non-public minutes of the Benefices Sub Committee meeting held on 11 June 2015 be received.

A non-public appendix in respect of agenda item 9.

The Committee approved a joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, under agenda item 9 on the agenda and received a further non-public appendix.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a very satisfactory performance report in respect of Tower Bridge and the Monument (2014/15).

There were no questions while the public were excluded.

There were no items of urgent business.