Agenda item

To consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Town Clerk presenting the high-level Business Plan for The London Archives, including the Culture Team, for 2025/26.

Members noted the factors taken into consideration in compiling the Business Plan.

A Member asked for further information on the timeline for the London Archives proposed relocation. The meeting noted that an operating model is expected to be presented by December 2025 on the accommodation plans with a view to entering the Gateway 3 process in early 2026. In response to a question on new premises, the Committee noted that new premises have not been identified.

A Member asked whether a full-time Head of Profession for Culture appointment would be made. The meeting heard that no commitment has been made to a full-time Head of Profession for Culture appointment, and that the role is now a 0.5FTE role, up from 0.2FTE.

A Member asked where public programmes (historical/cultural information) were considered.  The meeting heard that public realm and wayfinding initiatives sit within the Destination City hub, its implementation being supported by the Culture team subject to the definition of the Culture Strategy.

Members noted that the London Archives sits within the orbit of the CoLC’s cultural realm and commented that the plan did not appear to take into account the City’s other cultural assets and wider responsibilities around Culture and the Cultural Strategy in any meaningful way, commenting also that a separate plan for the entire cultural realm is expected to be developed alongside one for the London Archives.   Members also noted that the current draft plan acts as a bridge to a more overarching plan that would cover the City’s wider cultural realm (noting that Keats House, as a separate charity and with a reporting line to the Environment Department, has a separate business plan expected to be submitted to the Committee in autumn 2025).

Noting the transition phase in the City’s culture framework, Members agreed that a revised Business Plan is to be presented to the Committee at its July meeting taking into account the points made by Members. 

Members commented that a map or organigram of the City’s cultural assets and their accountability lines would be welcome.