Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Matthew Bell, John Bennett, Alderman David Graves, Graeme Harrower, Ann Holmes, Alderman Michael Mainelli, Jeremy Mayhew and John Petrie.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 13 December 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public of the meeting held on 13 December 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the special meeting held on 12 January 2022.

RESOLVED, that – the minutes of the special meeting held on 12 January 2022 be agreed as a correct record, subject to one amendment.

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 relative to the CAI’s recommendations to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

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

• The World Reimagined – City of London Trail: approve subject to feasible locations being identified, as well as ongoing engagement and permissions from Highways and Planning.
• Asphalt Arts – updated artworks for new locations in the City: approve subject to agreement from land and/or building owners and the City of London Access Group (COLAG), as well as Planning.

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth relative to the William Beckford and John Cass statues.

Members expressed concerns about the proposals in the report. A Member who had served on the Statues Working Party (SWP) said that their experience of SWP had been that the focus of the project should be on explaining the historical context of the statues rather than on an artistic response, which might be either a work of art or a poetry commission. Other Members of the Committee agreed with the view that the historical explanation should be at the centre of the project. A Member said that they hoped the Committee would have sight of the finished explanation. The Chair, who had also served on SWP, said that there had always been an intention to involve artwork in the project. In reply, Officers said that the historical context would be at the front and centre of the project and on the plaques. The artwork would support the explanation of the historical context and be accessible through QR codes included on the plaques. These codes would lead to a website which would provide further explanation of the historical context and the artistic responses. Significant but separate work on the educational side would be run by the Education Services in the Community and Children’s Services Department and would be included in the paper to go to the Court of Common Council.

Members also expressed their concern that the report recommended that the advisory panels be split by age group. An Officer replied that the proposal to split the consultation panels by age was on the recommendation of the heritage industry. However, Members felt that an integrated intergenerational panel would be beneficial, as it would allow the different age groups the opportunity

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

Members received a report of the Director of Environment relative to the fees and charges for Keats House in 2022/23.

RESOLVED, that – Members agree the proposed feeds and charges for 2022-23 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk relative to the London Metropolitan Archives Business Plan for 2022/23.

RESOLVED, that – Members:

• Note the factors taken into consideration in compiling the London Metropolitan Archives, Guildhall Library and Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre Business Plan 2022/23 under the heading what’s changed since last year; and
• Approve, subject to the incorporation of any changes sought by this Committee, the departmental Business Plan for London Metropolitan Archives, Guildhall Library and Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre 2022/23.

The Cultural and Visitor Development Director to be heard.

Members received a presentation from the Cultural and Visitor Development Director providing a review of the ‘Borealis’ production in Guildhall Yard.

The Chair congratulated the Cultural and Visitor Development Director and his team for organising an extremely successful event. This was seconded by Members of the Committee.

A Member asked if the event had particularly appealed to families, and officers undertook to circulate further information on audiences.

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

Report of the Director of Environment.

Members received a report of the Director of Environment relative to the major special events planned for 2022.

RESOLVED, that – Members:

• Agree to support the regular core events programme listed in paragraph 7 and detailed in Appendix 1; and
• Agree to support the additional one-off events outlined in paragraphs 16-26, subject to final assessment regarding safety, licencing, traffic orders (where required) and impact on local stakeholders.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk relative to action taken under delegated authority.

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

There were none.

The Chair said that this was the last Committee meeting for the Deputy Chairman, Jeremy Simons. She thanked him for his service to the Committee, and for his longer and distinguished service to the City of London Corporation.

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 13 December 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estate & Chief Charities Officer.

Members received a report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates relative to the Guildhall Library Centenary Fund.

The Cultural and Visitor Development Director to be heard.

Members received a presentation from the Cultural and Visitor Development Director relative to the City Lights festival.

There were none.

There was none.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021 were approved as a correct record.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2022.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held 12 January 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Innovation and Growth.

Members received a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth relative to a Growth Bid for the implementation of Destination City.

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

Members received a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth relative to the draft Innovation and Growth Cultural Service’s Business Plan for 2022/23.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk relative to the proposals for the Organisational Design of the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA).

Report of the Town Clerk.

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