Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Matthew Bell, Peter Bennett, Deputy David Bradshaw, Mary Durcan, Tracey Graham, Alderman David Graves, Vivienne Littlechild and Henrika Priest.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on 22 September 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 21 September be agreed as a correct record.

To receive the draft minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee held on 1 October 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the draft minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting held on 1 October be received.

To receive the draft minutes of the Benefices Sub-Committee meeting held on 25 October 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Benefices Sub-Committee meeting held on 25 October be received.

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

The Committee’s forward plan was noted.

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

Members received 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 above as follows:

·             Sculpture in the City – Aldgate Square Commissions: approve subject to ongoing consultation and permissions from Highways and Planning.

·             Whizz Kids – Morph’s Epic Adventure in London: approve in principle subject to ongoing consultation with Environment, suitable locations being identified, and access guidance being incorporated.

The Head of Guildhall Art Gallery to be heard.

Members received a presentation of the Head of Guildhall Art Gallery in respect of the Guildhall Statues.

Members felt that the focus on youth panels in the consultation phase of the interpretation was too narrow and asked that a formal report considering intergenerational groups be submitted  in order that they may endorse proposals to the Policy & Resources Committee.

RESOLVED, that – a report on the Guildhall Statues be brought to the Committee meeting on 31 January 2022.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Director of the Town Clerk’s Office and Police Authority, the Director of Innovation and Growth, the Director of Environment and the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk in respect of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Revenue and Capital Budgets.

The Head of Tower Bridge and the Monument, and the Group Accountant, informed the Committee that the recommendation for the joint report was for the Committee to agree the Budget with the exception of the Monument for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The Monument was in a deficit position and would be unable to meet its pre-pandemic income targets.

Members felt that the Monument’s budget position should be further analysed in order to explore possibilities to ease the pressure on the budget, and agreed that authority to agree the next steps should be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman.

RESOLVED, that – authority to proceed be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Town Clerk’s Office and Police Authority.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk in respect of the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements.

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

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Environment.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk in respect of the Keats House Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements.

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

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Executive Director of Environment in respect of the Keats House Mid-Year Performance Update.

Members noted that the report incorrectly stated that the pre-pandemic opening hours of the Keats Community Library, and that this would be corrected to state that the Library had operated for 42 hours a week prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth in respect of the City Information Centre’s Annual Report.

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

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth in respect of the Culture and Commerce Taskforce.

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

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth in respect of Resident Engagement Opportunities for Promoting Outdoor Arts in the City.

Members commented that, while the report focused on general communication with residents, the concerns expressed by Members at the July meeting had been on the issue of communication with Members representing residential wards. A Member added that it was also important to communicate to Members who represented wards not designated as residential wards, but which contained substantial numbers of residents.

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 in respect of the Bumping Spaces Project at Barbican & Community Libraries.

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

There were no questions.

There was no urgent 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 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 22 September 2021.

Members heard from the Cultural and Visitor Development Director.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting on 21 September be agreed as a correct record.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Benefices Sub-Committee meeting held on 25 October 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the draft non-public minutes of the meeting on 25 October 2021 be received.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the Potential Redevelopment of Hill House.

RESOLVED, that – the recommendations in the report be approved.

There were no questions.

There was no non-public urgent business.