Agenda item

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(George Marr Flemington Gillon, Chief Commoner)

 

(A) 150th Anniversary of the London Underground

2013 marks the 150th Anniversary of the creation of the London Underground transport system.

 

The City of London Corporation played an important part in the origin of the underground network.  It was Charles Pearson, a Common Councilman and later City Solicitor, who, with the support of the City Corporation, advocated the creation of an underground railway.  Pearson foresaw that the underground would improve the social conditions of City workers by enabling them to commute into London at affordable rates from cheaper, better quality, housing outside the City.  In 1854, as a result of Pearson’s efforts, a Private Bill for the Metropolitan Railway between Paddington and Farringdon was passed.  Pearson continued to promote the project and helped to raise the £1 million of capital needed.  The City Corporation also contributed by buying £200,000 worth of stock and sold the required land around the new Farringdon Road to the railway company at a reduced cost.

 

In light of the City’s connection with the origins of the network, and the importance of the continued improvement of the system to the future success of the City, it is proposed that the City of London Corporation joins with Transport for London (TfL) and the London Transport Museum to mark the 150th anniversary by hosting a panel discussion chaired by the Lord Mayor, with anticipated speakers including a Government Minister, a representative of the Mayor’s Office, a representative of TfL and a transport historian, to be followed by an early evening reception.

 

It is hoped that a variety of London Underground related exhibits will be displayed around Guildhall for guests to view following the conclusion of the panel discussion.  These exhibits would be provided by the LMA and London Transport Museum. It is anticipated that the guest list for the reception would include politicians from local authorities who have the London Underground network within their constituencies, MPs and Peers, civil servants, transport and passenger associations, executives from the Crossrail project, City practitioners, diplomats and other TfL stakeholders.

 

We recommend that a number of guests, as mentioned above, be invited to attend the discussion and reception on 17 October 2013 and that the arrangements be left in the hands of the Policy and Resources Committee with the cost being met from within the approved cost parameters.

 

(This would be a Committee event)

 

 (B) Milton Court – Opening

 

On 26th September 2013, the City Corporation will mark the opening of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s (GSMD) new premises at Milton Court. 

 

The GSMD is one of the world’s leading conservatoires and drama schools.  It attracts over 800 full-time students from 60 countries and counts Sir George Martin, Sir James Galway and Daniel Craig among its alumni.  Construction of the new Milton Court premises began in 2010, with the cost of development being met by private donors, Heron International and the City of London Corporation.  Milton Court will provide state-of-the-art performance and teaching spaces, including a 608-seater concert hall, 227-seat theatre, three major rehearsal studios and a TV studio suite. 

 

To mark the opening of the building it is proposed that the City of London Corporation hosts a reception at Milton Court immediately following a concert featuring students and alumni of the School. This will provide guests with an opportunity to tour both front and back of house facilities.

 

Guests at the reception will include a senior member of the Royal Family; the Lord Mayor, major donors; patrons and trustees; the Board of Governors; senior representatives of London’s creative and academic sectors; the press; and international GSMD contacts.  The occasion is also timely given the current Lord Mayor’s commitment to the City as a global centre for the arts and in the light of concerns regarding the impact of funding cuts on the arts sector.

 

We recommend that hospitality be granted and that arrangements be left in the hands of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; the cost to be met from City’s Cash, within the approved cost parameters.

 

(This will be a full Court event.)

 

 

Minutes:

 

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE (George Marr Flemington Gillon, Chief Commoner)