Agenda item

The Director of Communications to be heard.

The Director of Communications updated Members on the growing issue of large-scale filming in the City, particularly taking place over August. In particular, the filming of Men in Black required the closure of Ludgate Hill and as part of the filming for Fast and Furious, a helicopter would land outside St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Director advised that much bigger productions were coming to the City on a much bigger scale and suggested that he work up a strategy to implement by the end of the year.

Members were supportive of this and raised the following points:

·         The income from films in the City was invaluable and should be encouraged;

·         Tours and events can be arranged to embed this;

·         The City Corporation should push to be linked to the success of the film in some way;

·         For the last 15 years, two members of staff have been overseeing filming requests on an ad hoc basis;

·         Members on the Court with expertise in film-making could be consulted as part of the strategy;

·         The Markets Committee have a film policy and it should be co-ordinated so that there is one approach.

RESOLVED, that:

·         The Director of Communications create a strategy on filming in the City to be submitted to the Sub Committee before the end of the year.