Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director, which sought the Committee’s approval and comments of the new draft of the City of London Visitor Strategy for 2019-2023.

During the discussion on this item, the following points were noted:

·         Sport was not covered by any City Corporation Committee and there were mixed views as to whether it should fall within the remit of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, as it might divert funding from Culture. Members noted that the hosting of high-profile sporting events such as the 2012 Olympics London Landmarks Half Marathon and Tour de France would continue, and that Visitor Development will continue to play a role in these, delivering the visitor welcome. The Cultural and Visitor Development Director also advised that City workers generally were very interested in sport, but that space restraints in the City can preclude a lot of activity (i.e. the lack of pitch size areas for field events). The Outdoor Arts Programme will continue to seek to deliver sporting activity for workers within these limitations.

·         In specific relation to the Strategy, it was also suggested that fashion be promoted more strongly in the City; i.e. the unique Petticoat Lane and Spitalfields offers.

·         A Member expressed concern regarding the impact of coaches on the City’s efforts to be a Zero Emission Zone. The Director advised that the relevant City departments had been consulted on this matter.

RESOLVED – That the Committee,

a)    approve and provide feedback on the draft City of London Visitor Destination Strategy (2019-2023) as shown in appendix 1; and

b)    note that the Committee will be asked to approve any significant amendments arising from the committee journey detailed in the report, endorsing the Strategy’s submission to the Court of Common Council in the spring of 2019.