Agenda item

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries detailing enhancements to encourage greater public use of Guildhall Yard as part of the Guildhall Area Strategy.

Discussion ensued during which amongst other things, the following points were made:

·         There needed to be one point of reference for booking use of Guildhall Yard.

·         The Culture, Heritage and Libraries Department and City Surveyor’s Department should work together to ensure that events operated smoothly.

·         City of London Corporation’s attractions needed a joined up approach to ensure they were more widely advertised such as the exhibit of the Magna Carter.

·         To investigate whether there was any merit in creating a Cultural Hub Office to advertise attractions within the City of London.

RESOLVED – That Members:

·         Endorse the proposition to animate Guildhall Yard in order to encourage greater public use while observing necessary sensitivities, and avoiding any prejudice to commercial lettings.

·         Approve the proposal for a market to take place in the Yard on Court of Common Council days (usually nine a year), more regularly in August (when Guildhall is unavailable for private hire, subject to maintenance needs) and on special occasions, delegating authority to the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries (CHL) to agree specific dates aligned with the restrictions outlined in this report.

·         Approve the proposal for a bar to serve food and drink in the Yard for three weeks in August (lunchtimes and early evenings), on condition that relevant licensing legislation and the restrictions outlined in items 8 to 14 are observed (with delegated authority granted to the Director of CHL to review continuance in light of any public order or other issues).

·         Delegate authority to the Director of CHL to programme the Yard for three weeks in August aligned with the type of activity outlined in item 20 and the restrictions necessitated by consideration of nearby resident and worker communities, as well as any access or other requirements derived from the August maintenance programmes for Guildhall and Guildhall Yard.

·         Approve the promotion and distribution of the technical specification for the Yard (appendix 1), noting the need to include access and egress to the church of St Lawrence Jewry as discussed in item 8, so that a wider range of potential activities may be identified and the quality of these is enhanced beyond the limited pool of those who approach us currently.

·         Delegate authority to the City Surveyor, Director of the Built Environment, Remembrancer and Director of CHL to identify and agree on an area within the Yard where public art and sculpture installations may be hosted throughout the year.

Note and agree that any proposals for new activities in the Yard will be planned in consultation and with the agreement of the Remembrancer, the City Surveyor and the Chief Commoner as appropriate, to ensure that priority is given to commercial hospitality and other lettings of Guildhall space, and to ceremonial or official City functions, and that the needs of the annual maintenance programme are respected.