Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Tracey Graham, Sylvia Moys, Graham Packham, Deputy Richard Regan and Mark Wheatley.

The Chair declared a non-pecuniary interest with respect to the Beckett Pageant at Item 6.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on 21 Septermber 2020.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 21 September 2020 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 Director of Major Projects.

Members considered a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to the City Arts Initiative’s Recommendations to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

RESOLVED, that – Members ratify the City Arts Initiative’s recommendations in relation to proposal 1-2 in the report as follows:

·         Amulet: An Icon of Future Finance: approve subject to Planning Permission and Scheduled Monument consent being granted, as well as the other recommendations outlined in the main report.

·         Monument to Human Trafficking: decline the application, noting the technical issues outlined in the main report.

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members considered a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to the Inspiring London Through Culture funding stream.

In response to Members’ queries regarding rejecting the Beckett Pageant, the Cultural and Visitor Development Director other avenues for funding from the City Corporation had been identified and the Head of the Central Grants Unit had contacted the Beckett Pageant to discuss these.

RESOLVED, that Members:

1.    note the grants approved by the panel under the Inspiring London through Culture funding stream, a part of the City Corporation’s Central Grants Programme;

2.    approve the panel recommendation to reject the application for the Beckett Pageant which applied for £15,000; and,

3.    note the grants rejected and pending by the panel under the Inspiring

 London through Culture funding stream.

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members received a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to the COVID-19 Supplement to the City’s Visitor Destination Strategy.

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

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members received a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to the City Information Centre Annual Report which outlined the latest position of the City Information Centre (CIC).

Members expressed concern regarding the circumstances of the CIC, which had been heavily impacted by COVID-19. The Director noted factors such as lack of tourists, the Foreign Exchange moving out, decline in leaflet-rack rentals, and no longer being permitted to sell tickets to attractions due to track-and-trace measures. The Director emphasised the importance of the CIC as a resource for tourism and the significant role it may play in recovery, but that the CIC was struggling due to reliance on commercial income.

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

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members received a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to the Culture and Commerce Taskforce.

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

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members received a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to Culture’s Role in Driving Investment and Business.

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

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members received a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to Black History Month and Google Arts & Culture. Progress is underway to develop the City’s Google presence; to develop cultural programming and activities to include communities which have been underrepresented in the City’s cultural output.

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 Barbican and Community Libraries Exemptions for Services During the Second Lockdown. Members were informed that the libraries offered ‘select and collect’ services by phone and email for lending; PCs were available for essential use; and the libraries had been proactive in communicating these services with library members. The libraries had received positive feedback from their members, particularly from those who use the libraries for essential services.

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

Director of the London Metropolitan Archives to be heard.

The Director of the London Metropolitan Archives was heard with respect to the LMA being re-awarded the Archive Service Accreditation, demonstrating that the LMA has met the national standards relating to management and resourcing; the care of its connection and service offering. A detailed report would be brought to the Committee in January 2021.

RESOLVED, that – the update be noted.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Keats House Consultative Committee on 15 October 2020.

RESOLVED, that – the draft minutes of the Keats House Consultative Committee meeting held on 15 October 2020 be received.

Director of Open Spaces to be heard.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces relative to the Mid-Year Update Report for the Keats House Charity for 2020/21. The Director informed Members that content was made available online, but that Keats House impacted by the impact of COVID-19 on visitation. Members who had visited Keats House were impressed with the service and measures in place when the site was open.

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

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

Members considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment relative to the Special Events on the Highway Annual Report. Whilst Members welcomed the programme of events, Members requested that residents and churches are given advance notice of street closures ahead of the events.

RESOLVED, that – Members agree to support the proposed events outlined in this report subject to the appropriate constraints and guidance related to COVID-19.

Report of the Chamberlain.

Members received a report of the Chamberlain relative to the resetting of departmental budgets. The report was presented to a number of Committees to inform Members of changes in the budgets of their service areas in light of the impact of COVID-19. Members were asked to note in particular the recommended budget adjustment of £392,000 for Open Spaces (Monument) as the attraction was closed.

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

Report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection.

Members received a report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection relative to the review of pilot and future Bridge House Estates (BHE) funding for enforcement activity against illegal street trading on and by the bridges. Members were informed that the two-year pilot project had been successful, with a near elimination of illegal street trading, due to the BHE funding which allowed for resources to be deployed on the bridges 7 days per week. Additional work was being done in collaboration with the City of London Police to address other illegal activity (gambling, pickpockets), enhanced enforcement powers which enabled officers to work across boundaries in Southwark and Tower Hamlets, and partnerships with organisations such as the National Food Crime Agency were beneficial in addressing crime on the bridges.

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

Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive relative to a decision taken under urgency since the Committee’s last meeting regarding the membership of the Benefices Sub-Committee.

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

Report of the City Surveyor.

To be read in conjunction with the non-public appendix at agenda item 29.

Members received a Gateway 3 report of the City Surveyor relative to the Tower Bridge HV System Replacement and Increasing Resilience.

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

Report of the City Surveyor.

To be read in conjunction with the non-public appendix at agenda item 30.

Members received a Gateway 4c report of the City Surveyor relative to the Tower Bridge HV System Replacement and Increasing Resilience.

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

There were none.

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 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 21 September 2020.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2020 be agreed as a correct record.

Chief Officers to be heard.

Chief Officers provided verbal updates on their respective service areas.

RESOLVED, that – the updates be received.

Report of the Director of Major Projects.

Members received a report of the Director of Major Projects relative to repurposing of funding from London & Partners domestic tourism consortium to a joint initiative with the City’s BIDs and business partnerships to drive footfall to the City.

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 relative to the Tower Bridge and Monument Performance Report from April to September 2020.

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

To be read in conjunction with the Tower Bridge HV System Replacement and Increasing Resilience Gateway 3 report at Agenda Item 20.

The non-public appendix was received with the report of the City Surveyor at Agenda Item 20.

To be read in conjunction with the Tower Bridge HV System Replacement and Increasing Resilience Gateway 4c report at Agenda Item 21.

The non-public appendix was received with the report of the City Surveyor at Agenda Item 21.

There was one question.

There was none.