Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Mrs Barbara Newman and agreed that Alderman Sir Roger Gifford take the Chair. 

Apologies were received from Deputy John Bennett, Deputy Kevin Everett, Deputy Tom Hoffman

• Mr Mark Wheatley declared a general interest in respect agenda item 14 (London Landmarks Half Marathon Presentation – for information) by virtue of his position as an independent (non-Trustee) Director of ‘Baby Fun Trading’; a company associated with Tommy’s, a beneficiary of this event. 
• Mr Wheatley also declared a general interest in respect of agenda item 15 (Mayflower 2020 – for information) as he has been working on this project.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 5 March 2018.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 5 March 2018 were approved.

Members are asked to note the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 19 April 2018.

The Order of the Court of Common Council dated 19 April 2018, appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference was received.

To Elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

Being the only Member willing to serve, Mr Graham Packham was elected as Chairman for 2018/19.

To Elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

Being the only Members willing to serve, Ms Wendy Hyde was elected as Deputy Chairman for 2018/19.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk, which sought to appoint the Benefices Sub and Keats House Consultative Committees. 

The following Members were appointed to the Benefices Sub Committee for 2018/19:

Andrew McMurtrie

Alderman Gregory Jones

Ann Holmes

Tom Hoffman

Jamie Ingham Clark

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Caroline Haines

James de Sausmarez

The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, as ex-officio.   The Benefices Sub Committee elects its own Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Three Members had expressed an interest for 2 places on the Keats House Consultative Committee, whereupon the Committee agreed to extend the appointment to 3 Members, of the Culture Heritage and Libraries Committee, for 2018/19:

Vivienne Littlechild

Jeremy Simons

Graham Harrower

The Chairman and Deputy Chairman as ex-officio

RESOLVED, that – the appointments to the Keats House Consultative and Benefices Sub Committees, as set out above, be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

 Members received a report of the Town Clerk in respect of the Gresham Music Collection Conservation, which had been approved by the Finance Committee on 8^th May 2018. Members welcomed the report and noted that, whilst it was not always possible to do this annually, the conservation status of all items was reviewed periodically.  Members also noted that a lack of funding was previously an issue with this collection, but this decision would enable more frequent inspections.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces in respect of the Department’s Business Plan for 2018/19.

RESOLVED, that – the Open Spaces Department Business Plan for 2018-19 be approved.

Head of Tower Bridge and Momument to be heard.

The Head of Tower Bridge and Monument was heard in respect of the Monument Visitor Centre, which would include a substantial retail offer, an education facility, including the story of the Monument and a space for hire.  The Culture Heritage and Libraries and Projects Sub Committees would receive a ‘Gateway 4’ report in July, covering alternative design options, with indicative project costs, timescales  and risks associated with the project.

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director.

Members considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director in respect of some minor proposed amendments to the criteria and processes of the ‘Inspiring London through Culture’ Grant.    Members noted that they would still be able to raise any concerns about specific applications and the efficiencies proposed would enable grants to be processed more quickly.

RESOLVED, that:

1.         The uplift of £30,496 to the Inspiring London through Culture grant pot, for the 2018/19 financial year, be noted. 

2.         Amendments to the Inspiring London through Culture eligibility criteria, as tracked in appendix 1, be approved; and

3.         Decisions for grant awards of £10,000, or less, be delegated to the Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director.

Members considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director, which presented the recommendations of the City Arts Initiative (CAI), which had met on 19 April 2018. 

In response to query about the governance of the CAI, which is a Member/Officer Working Party, the Town Clerk agreed to canvass Members for expressions of interest in serving.  Members noted that, currently, membership included the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee and two further Members of the Committee.  Members also noted that, for the next meeting scheduled at the end of May 2018, it would be prudent for the current arrangements to stand.    Mrs Littlechild expressed an interest in remaining on the CAI, by virtue of being Chairman of Sculpture in the City.  The Town Clerk advised that Members receive a report at their next meeting, seeking to formalise the governance arrangements of the City Arts Initiative. 

RESOLVED, that:

1.     The following recommendations of the CAI be approved:

a.     Crossrail Art Foundation: approve the proposed installation, with consideration given to sleeved bollards.

b.    London Festival of Architecture: approve the installation of the proposed temporary artistic interventions, subject to implementation of CAI recommendations on access, security, location and other issues; and agreement with Transport for London (TfL), and the City Corporation’s City Gardens and Highways teams, where appropriate.

c.     Contemporary Art Society: decline, noting the sculpture’s significant scale and thus its unsuitability for siting in the City’s small gardens and churchyards.

2.     Members approve the Terms of Reference and Composition of the City Arts Initiative Working Party, at its next meeting and annually thereafter, at the first meeting of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee following the Court of Common Council. NB: The existing arrangements in respect of the meeting of the CAI scheduled for the end of May 2018

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director and Chief Grants Officer. 

 Members considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director, which presented the recommendations of the City Arts Initiative (CAI), which had met on 19 April 2018. 

In response to query about the governance of the CAI, which is a Member/Officer Working Party, the Town Clerk agreed to canvass Members for expressions of interest in serving.  Members noted that, currently, membership included the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee and two further Members of the Committee.  Members also noted that, for the next meeting scheduled at the end of May 2018, it would be prudent for the current arrangements to stand.    Mrs Littlechild expressed an interest in remaining on the CAI, by virtue of being Chairman of Sculpture in the City.  The Town Clerk advised that Members receive a report at their next meeting, seeking to formalise the governance arrangements of the City Arts Initiative. 

RESOLVED, that:

1.     The following recommendations of the CAI be approved:

a.     Crossrail Art Foundation: approve the proposed installation, with consideration given to sleeved bollards.

b.    London Festival of Architecture: approve the installation of the proposed temporary artistic interventions, subject to implementation of CAI recommendations on access, security, location and other issues; and agreement with Transport for London (TfL), and the City Corporation’s City Gardens and Highways teams, where appropriate.

c.     Contemporary Art Society: decline, noting the sculpture’s significant scale and thus its unsuitability for siting in the City’s small gardens and churchyards.

2.     Members approve the Terms of Reference and Composition of the City Arts Initiative Working Party, at its next meeting and annually thereafter, at the first meeting of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee following the Court of Common Council. NB: The existing arrangements in respect of the meeting of the CAI scheduled for the end of May 2018

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director.

 Members received a report and presentation of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director in respect of the recent London Landmarks half marathon.  

Members noted that, at the request of the Chairman, the Department of the Built Environment would be liaising with the City’s Churches to minimise disruption in the future.  Members were also pleased to note the success of the event, which would be repeated next year with an additional significant activation located in the City to attract more visitors, and they would be advised of developments in due course.

RESOLVED, that -  the report and presentation be noted. 

Head of Cultural and Visitor Development to be heard.

The Head of Cultural and Visitor Development provided an update on the Mayflower 2020 activities. 

RESOLVED, that - detailed discussion on this item be moved to the non-public part of the agenda (under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972) on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

 Members received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection in respect of funding, from City Bridge Estate, to secure an additional Enforcement Officer post.  Members noted that the report had been approved by the Planning and Transportation and Resource Allocation Sub Committees.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk, advising of the following decision, taken under urgency, since the last meeting of the Committee:

Inspiring London through Culture: City Music Foundation - change of use of a grant approved by the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee on 5th March 2018.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted. 

In response to a question about ensuring representation of the various cultural groups at City events; Members noted the ‘Space 5’ Crowd Funding venture for Aldgate, which would enable the community to decide on the kind of events they would like to see. 

Members also noted and discussed the following:

-           Blood rite (2017) as part of Londinium – which had a particularly diverse audience.

-           Women, Work and Power in 2018 – specifically a community event in Aldgate planned for 20th October 2018.

-           Black British Art 2017 – which had been very successful.

-           Basquiat at the Barbican (2018) - the highest audience numbers ever recorded.

The Assistant Town Clerk also reminded Members that the new Cultural Strategy would facilitate further debate in this area.  There was a further suggestion that ‘best practice in diversity’ could be the subject of a Members’ session, as it was beyond the remit of Culture Heritage and Libraries committee.  Members also noted that free outdoor arts events were generally the most accessible and non-community specific, and there were plans to use former City of London Festival funding for such projects.  The Deputy Chairman of the Education Board, also a Member of this Committee, stressed the importance of widening audiences to those who do not generally attend cultural events.

A Member suggested a 12-month calendar of community events.  Members were introduced to a new officer Laurie Miller-Zutshi, Head of Cultural Programming and Partnerships who agreed to consider this and welcomed further suggestions from members on programming. 

-           A Member had recently enjoyed a Womens’ History themed City Walk and suggested that the Guildhall display a statue of an iconic female.  Alderman Sir Roger Gifford, Anne Fairweather and Vivienne Littlechild (as Chairman of Sculpture in the City) agreed to discuss this further. 

-           Members were also reminded of this evening’s launch of ‘Sublime Symmetry’ in Guildhall Yard at 6.30pm.

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 5 March 2018.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 5 March 2018 were approved.

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

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director