Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy John Absalom, Tijs Broeke, Thomas Clementi, Tracey Graham, Deputy the Revd Stephen Haines, Vivienne Littlechild, Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson and Jeremy Simons.

There were none.

To approve the public minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 May 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising:

The Chairman referred to the vacancy on the Keats House Consultative Committee and requested that Members contact the Committee Clerk should they have an interest in serving on this Committee.

To receive the draft public minutes of the last meeting of Benefices Sub-Committee on 5 June 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the draft minutes of the meeting of the Benefices Sub-Committee held on 5 June 2019 be received and their contents noted.

The Cultural & Visitor Development Director to be heard.

Members received an oral update of the Culture and Visitor Development Director relative to the impact of Brexit on London’s tourism sector. The Director provided statistics on current tourism trends and projections for possible changes in the future.

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

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects.

Members considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects relative to public art proposals that had been considered at the City Arts Initiative’s meeting on 30 May 2019.

RESOLVED, that – Members ratify the City Arts Initiative’s recommendations in relation to the proposals as follows:

1.    Edward Waites – Bulls Head: decline the application, noting the proposal was unsuitable for the desired locations.

2.    Bureau of Silly Ideas – BFPB: approve the application, subject to final consent from the Highways and City Gardens Teams and implementation of the recommendations.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects.

Members considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects relative to the drawdown of charity pool units for the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund. The Committee was asked to approve the sale of some of the charity’s investment holdings in order to further the objectives of the Trust and support future purchases for larger cross-collection exhibitions for 2019/20.

RESOLVED, that – the Committee, as Trustees of the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund, agree to raise £5,000 for expected contributions in furtherance of the charity’s objectives, by selling approximately 573 Charities Pool Units on the next date on which units can be sold (1 October 2019).

Joint report of the Chamberlain, Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects, Director of Open Spaces, and Director of Community & Children’s Services.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain, Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects, Director of Open Spaces and Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the outturn for the services overseen by the Committee in 2018/19. It was reported that the total net expenditure amounted to £30.286 million, compared to the total agreed budget of £26.751 million, representing an increase in net expenditure of £3.535 million. This increase was largely due to timing differences in cash flows for a capital grant paid to the Museum of London for preparatory costs of relocation to the Smithfield Market site.

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

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces relative to a request to spend from the charitable reserves for 2019-2021 to support projects at Keats House which will take place as part of the Keats200 bicentenary programme. The report was accompanied by a presentation from the Principal Curator regarding Keats200 programming which provided context to the request.

RESOLVED, that – Members approve the use of up to £150,000 of the Keats House charity’s free reserves to support the delivery of special projects required at Keats House and the delivery of the Keats200 programme in the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces relative to the 2018/19 performance by Keats House in delivering the Open Spaces Departmental Business Plan. The report included information on Keats House programming, learning programmes and an increase in visitation. It was further reported that a licensing application is underway and representations from residents and local community groups will be considered at the upcoming hearing.

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

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to planning developments and estimated building costs for an enclosed space in the Barbican Library for library events and private hire by the local community.

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

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the progress made by the Barbican and Community Libraries during April 2018 to March 2019 against the refreshed 2017-22 Department of Community & Children’s Services Business Plan. It was reported that good progress had been made against all departmental objectives.

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

Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive.
N.B. – to be read in conjunction with the non-public appendix at Item 20.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive relative to a decision taken under urgency procedures since the Committee’s last meeting. The urgency related to the Committee approving that a request for funding be brought to the Policy & Resources Committee to fund the Recognition of Women Programme.

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

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

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 13 May 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 May 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the last meeting of the Benefices Sub-Committee on 5 June 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the draft non-public minutes of the previous meeting of the Benefices Subcommittee held on 5 June 2019 be received and their contents noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces relative to the Tower Bridge and Monument Full Year Performance Report from April 2018 to March 2019.

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

To be read in conjunction with the report at Item 13.

Members received the non-public appendix read in conjunction with the report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive at Item 13.

There were no questions.

There was one item of other business.