Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Thomas Clementi, Alderman Sir Roger Gifford, Andrew Mayer, Sylvia Moys and Richard Regan. 

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 14^th May 2018.

he public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 14th May 2018 were approved as a correct record, subject to an amendment recording Caroline Haines as being present and Jeremy Simons as submitting apologies. 

Matters arising

Following the discussion at the last meeting in respect of displaying iconic female statues in Guildhall, and a subsequent Motion to the Court of Common Council, Members noted that the following statues would be displayed in Guildhall receptions until November this year, during ‘Women, Work and Power’.

•           Florence Nightingale (an Honorary Freeman of the City) - in the North Wing.

•           Lord Nelson (Sculpted by Ann Seymour Damer) - in the West Wing

A Member asked whether there were any pictures or sculptures of Mary Seacole in the Guildhall Art Gallery collection and, following the meeting, officers advised there were none.

To receive the draft minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee on 15^th May 2018.

The public minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee held on 15 May 2018 were received.

Matters arising

The Principal Curator advised that the premises license application was progressing and would be concluded during the Summer 2018.  Members noted the arrangements in hand for ‘Keats 200’, which would be progressed between September and December 2018.

In response to a query about installing a defibrillator at Keats House, the Director advised that staff at the House, many of whom were volunteers, were not obligated to undergo training to use them.  However, Members also noted that more sophisticated versions were available, which required no training and were designed to be used during calls to the emergency service.  The Chairman suggested that, if such a device was installed at Keats House, it would be a useful pilot for further installations across the City of London Corporation.

RESOLVED, that - the Director of Open Spaces arrange, as soon as practicable, for the acquisition and installation of a defibrillator at Keats House, of a kind that gives its user instructions on how to operate it, and to confirm the installation to the next meeting of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

Members received a presentation from the Head of Tower Bridge on developing the visitor experience and education offer at Tower Bridge.

During the discussion the following points were noted.

•           The lift runs fairly slowly in order to manage visitor numbers and dwell time and, following a recent overhaul, the lift at the South Tower was working. 

•           Capacity is further managed by the series of corridors at the Bridge and the ability to purchase tickets while queueing.  A system for timed ticketing was being introduced, likely for implementation when visitor figures reach above 1.2M.

•           The Tower Subway is used for access on special occasions but is not open to the public. This is not a City owned facility and therefore access is not within the corporation’s gift.

•           There had been some 700 resident visitors and, in common with similar attractions, they were required to show ID, with an address to obtain the residents’ discount.

•           Ongoing work on the ticket office and security will include queue management and disabled access.  Queues were fully staffed and provided an opportunity to engage with the visitors.  Furthermore, a visible queue is an effective promotion of the venue. 

•           Commemorations to mark the 125 Year Anniversary of the Bridge were underway. 

•           Members commended a very good project. 

Joint report of the Chamberlain, Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director,

Director of Open Spaces and Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain, Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director, Directors of Open Spaces and Community and Children’s Services, in respect of the 2017/18 Revenue Outturn. Members noted that all bids for carry forwards had been agreed.

RESOLVED, that – the Revenue Outturn Report for 2017/18 and the proposed carry forwards of underspends to 2018/19 be noted.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of progress made by Barbican and Community Libraries during 2017/18, against the refreshed 2017-22 Department of Community and Children’s Services Business Plan. 

During the discussion, the following points were noted:

• Members were pleased to note the 19% increase in visits to Shoe Lane Library and particularly the success of the Dragon Café, which promoted wellbeing for City residents and workers.  The Committee would receive a report and evaluation on this project at the first meeting of the Committee after the recess. 

• E-books were an issue due to complexities and affordability of digital licences.  Members noted that Librarians were challenging this and the Head of Barbican and Library Services recently attended a meeting with the DCMS to consider public lending rights.  Members noted that the publishers’ association had been very engaged and the Head of Service was happy to share her report with Members.  Members noted that audio books were not affected in the same way.

• Staff had been reminded to send out satisfaction surveys promptly.  However, Members noted that surveys were conducted very widely and officers were sensitive to excessive use. 

• Members noted that the Barbican and Community Libraries budget covered all libraries, the only difference being Artizan Street, which was originally a joint budget of Community and Children’s Services and the former Culture, Heritage and Libraries Department.  The Head of Service and Chamberlain agreed to make this clearer in future reports.

RESOLVED, that – the Quarter 4 2017/18 update and progress be noted.

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director and to elect Members to serve on the CAI from September 2018.

Members received a report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director in respect of the recommendations of the City Arts Initiative (CAI).  The report also sought to appoint one or two Members to serve of the CAI for 2018/19. Two Members of the Committee had expressed a willingness to serve. 

In respect of the application for ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’, an installation to raise awareness of human trafficking, Members asked for this to be progressed under delegated authority once the concerns of the Director of Communications have been addressed. 

RESOLVED, that:

1.         The following recommendations of the City Arts Initiative be approved:

Fantastic Beasts / Shine a Light: to be located between Millennium Bridge and Queen Victoria Street.

Tusk Rhino Trail: encouraging the use of suitable locations along the St Paul’s to Museum of London axis, to support the desire for increased activation along this route.

2.         Untitled / The Deep Sleep: the theatrical intervention be declined, noting that the work was not considered strong enough as a standalone piece and that there is no connection between it and other events and programmes in the City to which it may have been a suitable complement.

3.         Hidden in Plain Sight: Authority be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, once the concerns of the Director of Communications have been addressed

4.         The revised Terms of Reference for the City Arts Initiative be noted and the Member representation on the CAI be increased to include The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee plus two serving Members; Mrs Barbara Newman and Mr Jeremy Simons, appointed for 2018/19, as well as the Chairman of the Sculpture in the City Partnership Board.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk in respect of the future of the City of London Corporation Pocket Book, following the recent survey of all Members of the Court.  Members noted that of 125 Members, 73 had voted and the results were 38 in favour of keeping the Pocket Book and 35 for abolishing it. 

RESOLVED, that - the printed and electronic versions of the City of London Corporation Pocket Book continue to be produced, with a further review following the 2021 Court of Common Council Elections.

The Chairman had received positive feedback on the recent Committee dinner and invited further comments. Generally, Members liked entertainment at Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee dinners but not for too long a duration.  Opinions were split as to round v long tables and generally, circular tables were preferred if not too large.  The timing of the dinner in spring was felt to have worked well.

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.

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14th May 2018 were approved.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces

Members received a presentation in respect of the Monument Visitor Centre.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered and approved  a Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Report of the City Surveyor.

Members received a report of the City Surveyor.