Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Caroline Addy, Matthew Bell and Ian Seaton.

Madush Gupta, Andy Mayer, Wendy Mead, Nighat Qureshi, Alpa Raja, Judith Pleasance and Dawn Wright observed the meeting online.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on 16 May 2022.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 16 May 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

Members are asked to note the Committee’s forward plan.

Members noted the Committees forward plan.

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth relative to the Culture Mile.

Members welcomed the report and presentation from the Culture Mile Manager.

A Member said that they felt there was a lack of an overall strategy for culture, and it was important that the City Corporation could demonstrate that it was a leading cultural sector. Officers replied that the key document for strategic planning was the City Plan.

A Member raised the issue of the development on London Wall West. They felt it was a strategically important site and the cultural options for the development could have been explored in greater depth. These comments were supported by several other Members. A Member said that the development was the responsibility of the Property Investment Board, which was why the opportunities for commercial revenue on the site were being maximised.

A Member commented that Business Improvement Districts (BID) were not always the most accountable of bodies, and urged caution on the governance arrangements for these. Officers replied that new BIDs must be convened by the City Corporation and that as the proposal for a Culture Mile BID developed there would be close collaboration between it, existing BIDs and the City Corporation. The City Corporation was also working on wider governance arrangements to supervise BIDs in the Square Mile.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth providing an update on the Beckford & Cass Statues Interpretation Project.

A Member asked if there was scope to connect Culture& and the Partnership for Young London. Officers undertook to connect the two groups.

A Member asked for further information on the timeline for the project. In reply, an Officer said that a detailed plan of the timeline would be made available to the Committee at its next meeting.

A Member asked if it was possible for the Committee to receive regular updates on the project. Officers undertook to provide an update to the Committee at the next meeting.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE and Chief Charities Officer.

Members received a report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates relative to the work of the Central Grants Unit.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

Joint Report of the Chamberlain, Deputy Town Clerk, Director of Innovation and Growth, Executive Director of Environment and the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain, Deputy Town Clerk, Director of Innovation and Growth, Executive Director of Environment and the Director of Community and Children’s Services relative to the Revenue Outturn for 2021/22.

A Member asked for further information on the services overseen by the Committee. An officer replied that this information was available in the appendix to the report, and that when they started working on budget setting for autumn, they could provide greater detail.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

Report of the Director of Natural Environment.

Members received a report of the Executive Director, Environment.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

There were no questions.

Members received an update on the status of the semi-state coaches. Members heard that officers were currently exploring alternative options for the storage of the coaches and other equipment currently being held in the Southern Bridge arches.

The Chair informed Members that this was Carol Boswarthack’s last meeting, and thanked her for all her work with the libraries.

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 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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 May 2022.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth relative to Destination City.

There were no questions in the non-public session.

There was no urgent business in the non-public session.

Joint Report of the CEO of the Barbican Centre, the Chief Operating Officer & Acting Deputy Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a Joint Report of the CEO of the Barbican Centre, the Chief Operating Officer & Acting Deputy Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth relative to a role update for an officer.