Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall. View directions

Contact: Ben Dunleavy
tel. no.: 020 7332 1427  Email: ben.dunleavy@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Michael Mainelli, James Tumbridge, Henrika Priest, Graham Packham, and Mark Wheatley.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' Declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

There were none.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 127 KB

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on Monday, 19 July 2021.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 July 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 108 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee’s forward plan was noted. The Town Clerk undertook to amend the plan so that new or changed items would appear in italics.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Chief Officers' Reopening Update

Chief Officers to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

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

 

Director of Innovation and Growth

The Corporation’s venues had seen a gradual growth in visitor numbers. Guildhall Art Gallery saw its highest visitor numbers on 12 September. The City Information Centre is open for two days a week. The Roman Bath House remained closed after a trial reopening due to negotiations over increased operational costs to ensure it could be run on a cost-neutral basis. Since its launch in June, the Outdoor Arts Programme reported that events and activations in the City had attracted audiences of over 20,000, excluding outdoor exhibitions, and had received funding of £525,000.

 

There have been a variety of marketing initiatives for City of London destinations, focusing on attracting domestic visitors. Further initiatives are planned, focused on attracting City workers back to the workplace.

 

Consultation on a strategic destination review had started, aiming to deliver on a vision for the Square Mile to become the world’s most attractive destination for workers, residents and visitors.

 

A Member commented that they had noticed more visitors in the western side of the City. They expressed concern over empty shops in the New Change Shopping Centre, and asked if the Corporation would be able to use its influence to install cultural exhibits in the empty window space. In reply, the Culture and Visitor Development Director said they were aware of this issue. It is difficult to solve in the short-term, although opportunities are sent out to the owners of properties, while in the long run the strategic destination review would look at how to support situations such as this.

 

Head of Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge had a positive summer, with visitor numbers rising from 4,500 on the week prior to

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

CAI Recommendations to the Committee pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

 

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

1.         Australia High Commission – David Greybeard: approve subject to permission from the landowner and ongoing consultation with Highways and Planning.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Destination City: Strategic Review pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Director of Innovation & Growth in respect of the Destination City: Strategic Review.

 

RESOLVED, that – Members agree the approach to the strategic review and the governance arrangements as laid out in the report, noting that they will be formally submitted to the Court of Common Council for ratification at its October 2021 meeting.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Library Management System pdf icon PDF 148 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

It was noted that capital funding has been made since the report was written and is proceeding through the capital bids process.

 

A Member asked if the decision was dependent on the capital funding bid being approved. In reply, an officer said capital funding is only required if a new provider is selected through the procurement process. The officer confirmed that no contract would be signed until capital funding was approved, if needed. One of the identified risks is that capital funding would not be approved.

 

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Barbican & Community Libraries - Library Strategy pdf icon PDF 98 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Keats200 Bicentenary Programme Update

Principal Curator of Keats House to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

Members received a presentation from the Curator of Keats House.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Report of Action Taken pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Town Clerk relative to decisions taken under urgency.

 

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were none.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Any other business the Chair considers urgent

Minutes:

14.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 

Item

Paragraph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday, 19 July 2021.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Non-public questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were three non-public questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Any other business that the Chair considers urgent and which the Committee agree should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There was one item of non-public business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Confidential questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There was one confidential question.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.