Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Innovation & Growth (to follow).

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

Members requested for further information on the decision-making process behind the Golden Key event, and the costs and achievements of the event. Officers replied that they would be providing the Committee with a full report providing this information. The event had only taken place in October, and the information requested would not be available within one month.

A Member expressed her concerns that small businesses around the City had not been notified of the event, and she had noticed that some small businesses in her ward had been shut and thus potentially missed out on the benefits of the event. Officers replied that they were engaging in an intense business and stakeholder outreach programme, and that they would be working with the City’s BIDs to further engage the small businesses. A Member commented the relationship with BIDs was important, but that SME and micro-businesses often did not feel involved in these. They also warned that BIDs may not be a useful way of engaging with larger companies. They suggested that officers should investigate creating a network of heads of internal communications in larger companies to help communicate with City workers. The Executive Director of Innovation and Growth replied that they were aware that while BIDs were a useful channel of communication up to a certain point, they were also using other channels. They would also be reaching out to residents, and welcomed feedback from Members on if this had been useful.

Members asked how officers were considering outlying assets such as the Keats House Museum. The Executive Director of Innovation and Growth replied that they needed to consider ways of encouraging visitors to move between all the City Corporation’s assets.

A Member, who also sat on the Police Authority Board, requested that officers continue to consider the cost implications for the City of London Police when arranging events. The Executive Director of Innovation and Growth replied that they always worked with the City of London Police when scheduling events.

The Chair thanked all the officers involved in the Destination City programme and the Golden Key event.

RESOLVED, that -

-        members approve the key strategic priorities Implementation Plan, In Appendix 1.