Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, Judith Pleasance, Keith Bottomley, Deputy Richard Regan, Deputy Dr Giles Shilson and Deputy John Absalom.

Mrs Sylvia Moys and Deputy the Revd Stephen Haines declared non- pecuniary interests in respect of agenda item 11 (City Arts Initiative) by virtue of their positions on the Board of Governors of the City of London School.

Mr Hoffman declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 13 (Special Events in March 2017) by virtue of his position as a Governor of Guys and St Thomas Hospital. 

Mr Wheatley  declared a  non-pecuniary interest  in respect of item 13 (Special Events in March 2018) by virtue of his position as an independent (non-Trustee) Director of ‘Baby Fun Trading’; a company associated with Tommys.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 24 October 2016.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 24^th October 2016 were approved.

Matters arising

The Chairman of the IS Sub Committee, who is also a Member of this Committee, has offered to provide Members with an update on IT performance.  The Chairman had submitted apologies for this meeting but referred Members to the report to be presented to the Court of Common Council on 8 December, which provided a detailed update.

To receive the draft minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee Meeting of 27 October 2016.

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Keats House Consultative Committee, held on 27 October 2016 were received. 

To receive the draft minutes and non-public summary of the Benefices Sub Committee of 20 October 2016.

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Benefices Sub Committee, held on 20 October 2016 were received. 

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, which set out the Business Plan Progress made in Quarter 2 against the key objectives and performance indicators in the Department’s business Plan for 2016-19.

As part of an Autumn/Winter programme of visits for Members to the various sites within the Department of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, some Members had visited the City Information Centre and had been very impressed with the staff and management.  The Chairman advised Members that the staff had been particularly flexible over the Great Fire commemorations (at agenda item 10) by remaining on duty until late in the evening.  Members also noted the Town Clerk’s email in respect of  a recent delegation from Osaka Convention Bureau to the City Information Centre in order to benchmark their operation ahead of preparing for the Rugby World Cup in 3 years. They had been delighted to be shown around the premises, learn about their achievements and discuss the international role of CICs. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain which presented the annual submission of the revenue and capital budgets overseen by the Committee.  Members were pleased to note the LMA roof repairs were considerably under budget but on time. 

RESOLVED, that –

Members are asked to:

·        review the provisional 2017/18 revenue budget to ensure that it reflects the Committee’s objectives and, if so, approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee;

·        review and approve the draft capital budget;

·        authorise the Chamberlain, in consultation with the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, (or his successor), to revise these budgets to allow for any implications arising from departmental reorganisations, in particular the CHL Re-organsation report.  Also any amendments to Corporate Projects and other reviews and changes to the Additional Works Programme.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain in respect of the Trustees Annual report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 March 2016 for Guildhall Library Centenary Fund, presented in the format required by the Charity Commission. 

Members suggested that, given this was such a small fund, they would like to see a set of proposals from officers as to its future management.

RESOLVED, that –

1.     The report be noted.

2.     Members receive a report at the next meeting of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee as to the future management of the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund. 

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain in respect of the Trustees Annual report for Keats House, for the Year ended 31 March 2016, presented in the format required by the Charity Commission. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries and a presentation from Artichoke.

Members can read the full appendix at the following link:  https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/Documents/londons-burning-evaluation-report-the-audience-agency-november-2016.pdf

 The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, together with a presentation from Ms Helen Marriage of Artichoke, which provided monitoring and evaluation information in respect of the Great Fire Commemorations 350 in September 2016. 

During the discussion, the following points were noted:

• 80% of visitors would not have been in London that weekend had it not been for the event.

• Artichoke commended the Planning Department  for  their assistance with road closures.

• Members had visited the structure when it was being built during the summer of 2016 and particularly commended the involvement of young people who had gained valuable skills and work experience.  Ms Marriage agreed to chase for feedback in respect of a careers event which had been held at the Barbican in October and would confirm the number of full time jobs created as a result of the project.  In respect of a question on the economic value of the event, Ms Marriage also agreed to follow this up with the Audience Agency and report back to Members. 

In concluding, Ms Marriage thanked the City of London Corporation for the opportunity of working with them on such an engaging project and would very much like to work together in the future.

RESOLVED, that – the report and presentation be noted. 

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of the recommendations of the recent meeting of the City Arts Initiative. 

Members welcomed the recommendation in respect of Blackfriars Bridge Foreshore  and its value in engaging with pupils from the City of London School.  Members would also be willing to support similar initiatives which could involve all City of London Schools and Academies.

The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries advised Members of a late submission from Marie Curie for a ‘garden of light’; i.e. a garden of artificial daffodils close by St Pauls, in a similar display to the ‘Poppies at the Tower’  in 2014.   Members noted that the display would be part of an awareness campaign for cancer research, to last for 8 days in March 2017.  Given that the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee would not meet again until 6 February 2017, the application would need to be processed between meetings in order to meet the timescales for the project. Members noted that the application had been circulated to all Members of the CAI and all of them had supported the proposal.

RESOLVED, that:

1. Blackfriars Bridge Foreshore – hoarding commission Air Map be approved subject to credits appearing in pavement sections only; consultation being undertaken and acknowledgement of the City of London School being clearly shown.

2. Marie Curie - the ‘Garden of Light’ - authority be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee to progress this application.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment and fully endorsed ‘Sculpture in the City’ which showcased a lot of high quality work and commended the artists who had been working with young people. 

RESOLVED, that –

      i.         Note the contents of this update report.

     ii.         Agree to retain the project in-house for the next three years

    iii.         Agree that any underspend from previous years is transferred to future years of the project

   iv.         Approve the appointment and/or procurement of all services associated with the delivery of the project for years 2017-19 in accordance with Section 5 of this report.

     v.         Delegate authority to the Director of Transportation and Public Realm and Head of Finance to adjust the project budget between staff costs, fees and works (and between Years 7-9), providing the overall budget is not exceeded.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment in respect of two applications for new half marathons to be run in March 2018.  The report before Members sought their views as to whether either (or both) events should be supported. Members also noted that the final decision would lie with TfL and the Director of the Built Environment’s delegated authority to close roads for special events.

Some Members raised concerns about the volume of such events in the City and the disruption to residents.    In responding to the  above concerns, the Director of the Built Environment advised Members that the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee, which would also be considering this report, regularly received a matrix document which managed the frequency of these events.  Members also noted that, currently, the number of events expected in 2018 was relatively low and they would receive a report reviewing the events of 2016 at their next meeting in February 2017.

In concluding, Members supported option 2(a) in the report, with a clear preference to support Tommy’s proposal, in accordance with the significant additional cultural benefit to the City.

RESOLVED, That:

1.      Support be given to the London Landmarks Half Marathon (Tommy’s) event to take place in the City (subject to detailed traffic management design, communications planning & safety assessment);

2.      the City’s concerns regarding the addition of further events to the event calendar in general, beyond the London Landmarks Half Marathon, be reiterated to TfL;

3.      The City make it clear to TfL that should only one event be thought appropriate for this time of year, the City's clear preference would be to support the Tommy’s proposal, in accordance with the significant additional benefit to the City as illustrated in the assessment matrix

A Member who had recently visited Artizan Street Library and Community Centre was concerned at the lack of signage for those travelling from Bishopsgate.  Members noted that signage in the City of London Corporation was being addressed as part of a wider project by the Department of the Built Environment.

The Member had also noticed an unpleasant odour from the lavatories and was concerned about the possibility of unresolved ventilation issues.  The Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries advised that there had been a history of problems since the building opened in 2012, which he had endeavoured to remedy and  final works were carried out over the Summer this year.  Members noted that the latest update from the City Surveyor advised that the works been completed on 18^th October and any residual  heating/ventilation defects would be reported to the Contractor, via the City Surveyor’s Department.  As the Member had visited the Library on 7^th November, Members found this unsatisfactory and were concerned about the possibility of sanitation issues and the risk to the City of London Corporation's reputation, should the problem continue.  As the Committee would not meet again until February 2017, Members asked for remedial action to be taken without further delay.

RESOLVED, that –  the City Surveyor be asked to note the concerns of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee about ongoing ventilation and sanitation issues at the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre and submit a proposal for urgent remedial action, to be approved under delegated authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

There were no items.

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 100A(4) 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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held 24^th October were approved.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Benefices Sub Committee held on 20 October 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 20^th October were received.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

This report was approved by the Projects Sub Committee on 23^rd November 2016.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of future accommodation planning at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), which had been approved by the Projects Sub Committee on 23^rd November 2016.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries in respect of Tower Bridge and Monument Performance between April and September 2016.

There were no questions.

There were no items.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered and approved a confidential report of the Town Clerk.