Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Stephen Haines, Ann Holmes, Wendy Mead, Graham Packham and Henrika Priest.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 29 March 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 29 March 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

To agree the public minutes of the special meeting held on 30 April 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

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

The Committee’s forward plan was noted.

Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive in respect of the appointment, composition and terms of reference of the Benefices Sub-Committee and Keats House Consultative Committee, and the appointment of representatives to the City Arts Initiative.

RESOLVED, that –

1.    the appointment, composition and terms of reference of the Benefices Sub-Committee be agreed and the following Members be appointed to the Sub-Committee, with the Chair and Deputy Chair as ex-officio Members. The membership was extended from 10 Members to 12 Members for the ensuing year.

·         Simon Duckworth

·         Deputy Kevin Everett

·         Caroline Haines

·         Deputy Stephen Haines

·         Ann Holmes

·         Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark

·         Alderman Gregory Jones

·         Deputy Edward Lord

·         Stephen Quilter

·         Deputy Richard Regan

·         James de Sausmarez

·         Ian Seaton

2.    the appointment, composition and terms of reference of the Keats House Consultative Committee be agreed and the following Members be appointed to the Committee, with the Chair and Deputy Chair as ex-officio Members:

·         Dawn Wright

·         Vivienne Littlechild

3.    the following Members be appointed to the City Arts Initiative:

·         Barbara Newman

·         Dawn Wright

Chief Officers to be heard.

Chief Officers were heard in respect of the updates on re-opening City attractions and services. The following updates were noted:

Cultural and Visitor Development Director

The Guildhall Art Gallery reopened on 2 June, which was delayed due to the Fishmonger’s Hall inquest. A temporary display from the Worshipful Company of Joiner Sealers has launched in the gallery. The Noel Coward Art & Style exhibition opened on 14 June. School groups had booked for Amphitheatre tours for June and July, and officers were planning autumn school visits. Family events continued online, and an on-site family event was scheduled for July.

The City Information Centre was operating on Saturday and Sunday only, and in May also opened for both bank holidays.

Outdoor Arts Programme launched on 13 June on Tower Bridge with ‘Inside Out’ which saw thousands of visitors coming to see the photos displayed on the bridge. The Outdoor Arts Programme also has a number of activities that fall under Vibrant Offer recovery plans including an extensive outdoor exhibition programme; Guildhall lunch markets with extended evening markets in summer; and lunchtime music partnerships.

A number of highlights from the summer programme were noted, including co-commissions with Greenwich and Docklands Festival; Guildhall Yard cinema would restart in August; cultural events in the Yard celebrating Latin American culture; and a Mela Bangladeshi New Year celebration located in Aldgate Square.

With respect to marketing and development, the focus was on promoting to the  domestic tourism market, in collaboration with a number of partners including London & Partners, the Central London Alliance, Visit Britain, and England’s Historic Cities, as well as publicity campaigns on bus stops and radio campaigns.

Culture Mile had just completed the pilot Imagine Scheme and Members would receive the links to these films following the meeting.

Head of Tower Bridge & the Monument

Since

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

Members considered a report of the Director of Innovation & Growth in respect of the City Arts Initiative Recommendations to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee. Members were informed that the Asphalt Art had not yet been designed and commissions were in progress, however similar examples would be circulated to Members following the meeting.

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

1.    Asphalt Art: approve a series of artworks to be installed across five sites in the City, subject to approval of designs from the City Arts Initiative and ongoing consultation with Planning and Highways;

2.    The Potter Family - 5 Pemberton Row: approve a Blue Plaque to be installed on 5 Pemberton Row subject to planning permission and Listed Building Consent.

Report of the Chamberlain.

Members received a report of the Chamberlain in respect of the Revenue Outturn for 2020/21.

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

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces in respect of the Keats House summary of achievements in 2020/21 and plans for the future periods. Members were informed that Keats House was working to respond to the various initiatives in the City Corporation, such as the Charities Review and the Target Operating Model, to ensure that it was aligned with these objectives.

With respect to recovery from the impact of the pandemic, it was anticipated that domestic visitor recovery would be seen over the course of the next year, and that international visitor recovery would follow in two or three years. During the pandemic, Keats House had developed ways to engage online with visitors both domestic and international, and the move to virtual engagement allowed for Keats200 programming to have a wider reach.

RESOLVED, that – Members:

1.     note achievements at Keats House as summarised in Appendix 2 and how the service continues to meet the priorities, aims and objectives outlined within the  Corporate Plan 2018/23, the City Corporation’s Cultural Strategy, the Open Spaces Department Business Plan 2021/22 and the objectives of the Keats House Charity; and,

2.     note the future priorities for Keats House in 2021/22 and subsequent years, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

To receive the draft minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting held on 10 May 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting on 10 May 2021 be received.

Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive in respect of the decisions taken under urgency procedures since the committee’s last meeting.

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

There were none.

Deputy Tom Sleigh, who serves on the committee as an ex-officio Member as Chair of the Barbican Centre Board, addressed the allegations of racism at the Barbican Centre. Deputy Sleigh advised the Committee that these allegations were being taken very seriously, and that a sub-committee had been established to address them. The sub-committee’s Terms of Reference were being developed to review various processes, including HR, and to ensure the right people were positioned in the Barbican to address institutional racism. Deputy Sleigh would keep the Committee informed of developments going forward.

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 meeting held on 29 March 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

There were none.

There was none.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

Cultural and Visitor Development Director to be heard.

The Cultural and Visitor Development Director was heard in respect of a confidential matter.

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

Members considered a confidential report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

There were none.

There was none.