Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Anthony Eskenzi, Kevin Everett, Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, Barbara Newman, Emma Price and Henrika Priest,

Mr Jeremy Mayhew, Mr Tom Hoffman and Mrs Vivienne Littlechild declared general (non-pecuniary) interests in respect of agenda item 10 (City of London Festival – 2016 Grant) as they are Directors of the City of London Festival Board.

Mr Mark Boleat declared a general (non-pecuniary) interest in respect of Agenda Item 7 (Request for a Budget Uplift to Finance the City’s Platinum Membership of London and Partners) as he is a member of London and Partners, by virtue of his position as the Chairman of Policy and Resources of the City of London Corporation. 

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 13^th July 2015.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13^th July 2015 were approved. 

Report of the Director, Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, which provided progress against Quarter 1 of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Business Plan for 2015-18. 

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

The Committee received the Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015.  Members noted a drafting error in the report in that Financial Statements would be submitted by 31 January 2016 (not 2015).

RESOLVED, that – the Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015, for Keats House be noted.

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

The Committee received the Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015.  Members noted a drafting error in the report in that Financial Statements would be submitted by 31 January 2016 (not 2015).  Furthermore, a donation of £500 from Messrs Lloyd Rehman and Co was from the estate of Mr Michael Denville. 

In respect of the bottom line figure of £23,378, Members were reminded that their Committee has agreed to build this as an endowment fund and not use it for any other purpose, for the time being. 

The Director offered to investigate whether there were plans to display a Sword to commemorate the Battle of Agincourt, which was being stored in Mansion House Faults. 

RESOLVED, that – the Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015, for the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund be noted.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.   

Members considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, requesting a budget uplift to finance the City’s Platinum Membership  of London and Partners.  Members noted that the report would also be considered by the the Policy and Resources Committee on 19^th October.

RESOLVED, that -  a permanent budget uplift of £20,000 from 2016/17, for Culture, Heritage and Libraries, Cultural and Visitor Development, for the specific purpose of retaining the City of London’s Platinum Membership of London and Partners.

Head of Cultural and Visitor Development to be heard.

The Head of Cultural and Visitor Services provided a verbal update on progress in the Great Fire Commemorations in 2016. 

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

Members received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the City of London Festival.  Members were reminded that, following further discussions over the Summer, the delegated authority agreed by the Committee on 13^th July 2015 had been exercised; i.e. allocation of £355,835 to the City Arts Trust for delivery of the 2016 Festival. 

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 City Arts Initiative recommendations to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee. 

RESOLVED, that:

·       Southbank Mosaics CIC be approved subject to further clarifications

·       Sokari Douglas Camp be rejected due to another similarly themed public art installation and unsuitable location

·       Royal Mail be approved subject to a suitable alternative location being identified

·       Christ’s Hospital School be approved following the unanimous selection of a preferred artist to be recommended to the applicant

·       The Rothschild Foundation be approved subject to further clarifications

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, which provided an update on progress with the introduction of e-Books and e-Audiobooks in our lending libraries, which is relevant to the ongoing wider debates about libraries and digital futures. 

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk in respect of action taken under urgency and delegated authority, since the last meeting of the Committee, as follows:

1.     City of London Festival Grant (delegated decision)

2.     City Arts Initiative: Lonely Planet Sand Sculptures (urgent decision)

RESOLVED –that, the report be noted

There were no questions.

There were no items.

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.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries seeking to review the admission charges for Keats House.

Members are asked to note a Resolution from the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Committee received a resolution from the Policy and Resources Committee from 16^th July 2015.

There were no questions.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Chairman agreed to the submission of an urgent item of business, as follows:

Service Based Review: Departmental Monitoring - Department of Culture, Heritage and Libraries

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, which had been presented to the Efficiency and Performance Sub Committee in July 2015.