Agenda item

Report of the Clerk.

Members received a cultural calendar that would henceforth be updated 3-4 times a year.

Addressing action points 1,3 and 9, Members heard the following update on the Destination City (DC) review being undertaken by Paul Martin:

-          Any and every Member wishing to input to the review is to have the opportunity to do so;

-          Significant consultation among Members and non-Members has taken place across the past few months (over 140 consultation meetings have taken place), with strong interest both within and beyond this Committee and the Corporation’s Policy & Resources Committee, alongside a wide range of resident engagement initiatives and online surveys (230 responses from City workers, residents and businesses);

-          Given the significant interest in the DC review the timetable has been extended so that consultation can continue through February 2024, those findings to be integrated into the review;

-          Consultation is to continue, and an Industry engagement breakfast event is scheduled for 20 Feb. Invites have been sent to large City businesses and SMEs, including property & construction, retail, financial & professional service sectors;

-          Details of the extended timetable will be communicated as soon as possible, noting that the agreement together with the Town Clerk & Chief Executive to extend the timetable was reached at the end of the previous week.

A Member sought confirmation on how industry participants, particularly SMEs, had been involved in the process. The meeting heard that a range of sources had been taken into account, and that a list of stakeholders, including SMEs, would be circulated.

Members expressed disappointment at the timetable extension, and asked for an update on the timetable and whether there was merit in exploring the potential for a hybrid approach of consulting alongside the sharing of emerging findings, and whether the meeting scheduled to take place on 09 February 2024 would still be taking place.

The meeting heard that an assessment would be made shortly on whether the 09 February meeting would take place, and that plans are evolving.

The Committee viewed a presentation on the Cultural Planning Framework (CPF) that presented a high-level overview of the cultural infrastructure of the City of London and how culture can support the City’s civic life, the 9 identified cultural character areas, cultural contributions from developers, impact assessments, and an outline of the opportunities in the cultural arena.

A Member commented on the risk of ‘culture-washing’, noting that a cultural offering might not materialise after the planning approval stage. Members noted that developers could not be obliged to enter into a contract with an identified cultural occupant within a s106 agreement, though requirements around cultural implementation plans could be toughened.

A Member asked to what extent any CPF would shape the City of London Corporation in its decision-making process, noting the importance of retaining existing assets (including places of worship).

The meeting heard that heritage was the starting point of the CPF outline, noting its role as guidance rather than strategy.   

Members commented on an apparent absence of any cultural vision and strategy as set by the City of London, noting that BIDs are advancing BID cultural strategies and visions.

A Member asked for clarification on the relationship between the CPF and Destination City (DC).  The meeting heard that (particularly given the current review of DC) there was merit in the various entities, including DC, focussing on integrating the City’s culture into an overarching vision.