Agenda item

Joint Report of the Directors of Community and Children’s Services and Assistant Town Clerk (Culture Mile Director).

Members considered a joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s and Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director in respect of the final Business Plan for 2018/19 for the above two departments.

During the discussion on the report the following points were noted:

• The Town’s Clerk’s section of the Business Plan was more relevant to this Committee than Community and Children’s Services’ which contained only a brief reference to the libraries. The wording of the Corporate Plan outcomes had changed since this report was written and the final report to the Policy and Resources Committee later this month will be amended accordingly.

• The Director of Open Spaces is working to align his Department’s Business Plan to the Corporate Plan and their report will be presented to the Open Spaces Grand Committee in April and Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee in May.

• The Director of the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) advised that a number of possibilities were being explored in respect of the relocation project and he was meeting regularly with the City Surveyor.  Members noted that any project would require ‘Gateway’ approval by City of London Corporation’s Resource Allocation and Projects Sub Committees and Members would receive a further report after the Summer 2018 recess.  

• In response to a question, the Head of Barbican and Community Libraries advised that, as libraries were very much at the hub of the local community and enjoyed very good relationships with the various community groups which used their services, their work was relevant to the majority of Community and Children’s Services’ objectives.  Furthermore, the Head of Service felt that the Library Service was flourishing under its new position within the Community and Children’s Services Department and was happy to discuss this further with Members, should they have any questions outside of the meeting.

• The Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director advised Members that the City Corporation’s potential involvement in the Mayflower 400^th Anniversary commemorations was noted in the Business Plan and, if the City Corporation was part of an event, credit would be sought. 

• Officers had met last week to consider delivery of the Cultural Strategy, which would include the work of the Culture Mile Working Party.

RESOLVED, that – the Final High-level Business Plans for 2018/19 for the Department of Community and Children’s Services and the Town Clerk’s Department (Cultural Services) be approved.