cv61_final

Issue no 61

N E W S

A N D

K E Y

I S S U E S

F O R

T H E

C I T Y

O F

L O N D O N

Dec 07/Jan 08

cityview www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Ticket to ride £16bn TRANSPORT SCHEME APPROVED

CITY POLICE

LORD MAYOR’S SHOW

Putting safety first

City celebration

2 C I T Y V I E W

cityviewmagazine Welcome to cityviewmagazine

C O N T E N T S C I T Y

P E R F O R M A N C E

The City – all together now T H E

3

cityview is the magazine of the City of London Corporation, provider of local government, policing and other services for the Square Mile.

I N T E R V I E W

Emissary of Whitehall, voice of the City L O R D

M A Y O R ’ S

4

S H O W

Putting the Show on the road C I T Y

6

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

Crossrail is go!

8

H E A L T H

Healthcare – it’s your choice C I T Y

P O L I C E

Tackling concerns on safety A R T S

14

The magazine is available to download from www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/cityview. If you would like a summary of this publication in your language or in an alternative format such as large print, Braille or audio tape, please contact us at

F O C U S

Christmas cracker N E W S

12

F O C U S

Bitter aftertaste A R T S

10

Unless otherwise stated in individual features, more information on both the magazine and online articles is available from the Public Relations Office address below.

I N

15

B R I E F

...and finally

16

The Public Relations Office City of London PO Box 270 Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ 020 7332 3099 pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk We welcome, and value, feedback but regret that correspondence cannot be individually acknowledged.

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C I T Y V I E W 3 C I T Y

P E R F O R M A N C E

The City – all together now The views of City residents and workers are being sought by The City Together (TCT), the City of London’s Local Strategic Partnership, to help shape the renewal of its strategy for the future of the Square Mile.

TCT Chairman Michael Snyder believes “This strategy will build on the City of London’s role as the world’s leading international financial and business centre. It will also help to define how the TCT partners will provide high quality, accessible and responsive services that benefit our communities, neighbours, London and the nation.”

TCT, which includes the City Corporation and representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors, has used the strategy developed in 2004 and looked at current and future challenges, the needs of City people and how things can be improved by working together to draft a revised Community Strategy.

Corporation and its partners beyond the Square Mile.

Michael Snyder stated that the revised strategy ”will help shape how we work over the next seven years. We have created a consultation draft which should certainly help to get people thinking. But this is a community strategy, so we would really value everyone’s views – particularly the business community.The City Together partners have already been engaging with City stakeholders about the emerging challenges we need to address and this included the successful annual TCT stakeholder event held during September (pictured).”

What do you think? Please give your views during January by going to the new TCT website below.

More information 020 7332 1411 community.strategy@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.thecitytogether.org

As a result the draft Strategy identifies five key themes that TCT considers will help further advance the City of London as ‘A World Class City which is competitive and promotes opportunities supports our communities protects, promotes and enhances our environment is vibrant and culturally rich is safer and stronger.’

Each theme will guide the delivery of actions for an enhanced City and will also affect the work of the City O N L I N E

O N L I N E

cityviewmagazine

liverylivedigest

Capital contribution

The Goldsmiths’ Company

Green house

Report on London's place in the

Eco-friendly centre opens at

economy

Burnham Beeches

Winners take it all Dragon Award winners announced

School’s out City firms tap school talent

Be safe Youngsters join ‘responsible citizen’ scheme

All abroad Immigration boosts London economy

September Route canal New canal-side office

October

August

available to SMEs

Helping hand City Police launch initiative to tackle rough sleeping

Capital gain Museum of London gets cash boost

Team effort Licensing team hits the streets

Be safe Young City Safe Scheme launched

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/liverylive

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/cityview

November

has collected the speeches of the Queen's Remembrancer, Master Turner, in a handsome new brochure 'Within the permitted variation'. 020 7606 7010 The.clerk@thegoldsmiths.co.uk This year’s City Business Lecture hosted by The Marketors Company was delivered by one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs, Sir Robin Saxby on 'From start-ups to global stand and beyond.' 01727 824446 clerk@marketors.org

4 C I T Y V I E W

T H E I N T E R V I E W

Peter Riddell of The Times talks to Kitty Ussher, Economic Secretary to the Treasury

Emissary of Whitehall, voice of the City Kitty Ussher sees herself as both the emissary of Whitehall to the City and the voice of the City in Whitehall – “hearing views on problems and being an advocate”.

In her first four months as Economic Secretary to the Treasury, her first ministerial post, she met roughly 40 CEOs and chairmen of top City firms – all the top names among retail and investment banks, the leading insurers and the main representative bodies.

She spends at least half a day a week on average in the City or Canary Wharf, as well as visiting other centres such as Manchester.

Of course, she has a hard act to follow in Ed Balls.

He held the post of City minister for less than 14 months but was seen both as very influential, because of his closeness to Gordon Brown, and as very active. Ms Ussher lacks his obvious clout and personal high profile, but clearly has both energy and a firm grasp on City issues – many of which she is familiar with from her time as chief economist for Britain in Europe and as special adviser to Patricia Hewitt at the old Department for Trade and Industry.

It has not been a quiet time. Working with Alistair Darling, she has been involved in the aftermath of the Northern Rock affair. Obviously, this has been a “testing-time”, and many lessons have been learnt, but she does not believe there will be “long-term reputation effects on the competitive position”of the City. “Over the last few years it has been tacitly recognised that London has been overtaking New York as the dominant financial centre. We would clearly not do anything that put its competitive position in any danger”. So there will be neither “a knee-jerk reaction of a Sarbanes-Oxley law”nor “the rigidity of pan-European regulations”.

Stressing that no one lost any money as a result of Northern Rock’s problems, she notes that there are not only questions about supervision by the Financial Services Authority, but also about the distinction between the position of retail and wholesale depositors.

The Treasury has already issued a discussion paper on a revised protection scheme, but,“at this stage, has no preferred options”. After the consultative period, the Government will hold further discussions about detailed proposals in the New Year, with the intention of bringing in legislation after Easter.The FSA has already extended protection to 100 per cent of deposits up to £35,000.The discussion now is about how much higher the protection limit should go, how the cost should be spread among banks and deposit taking institutions and whether, as in the USA, depositors should have immediate access to their funds while ownership issues are resolved.

This is apart from international discussions about how to strengthen the regulatory framework. Ms Ussher notes, but does not endorse, the complaint made by Mervyn King about a Brussels directive stopping him quietly coming to the aid of Northern Rock. This point would, she said, be considered in the review of the lessons.

Ms Ussher sees a particular role on EU issues since

C I T Y V I E W 5

quote

”Only the Government can represent the City across the EU and to Commission on behalf of the private sector. Only the Government can be present when crucial decisions are taken on financial services at Ecofin and other EU bodies”. Her immediate focus is on the implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) which came into effect on November 1. She is pressing to ensure that it is fully implemented across the EU since a few member states have not taken the necessary actions. She believes that the directive, intended to make it much easier to trade securities, should result in an increased share for UK companies. However, she acknowledges that financial services currently have to deal with the“transitional costs of compliance”.

emissions trading in Europe.The current scheme runs out in 2012 and talks are well advanced on the next generation. She is also an enthusiast for Islamic finance, which has been growing very rapidly in recent years.

Given London’s expertise in this area and strong ties to Asia and the Middle East, she wants more bond issues to be made and traded here, with increasing liquidity in UK markets.

Ms Ussher also believes her envoy role involves raising non-financial concerns, notably transport. Her first public comments in her new job were about the shortcomings of Heathrow.This is more than a general moan, not least because of the length of time required to produce solutions, but she wants to hear more specific worries from business to see what can be done in the short-term.

Many of these issues – transport, Islamic finance, carbon trading and Europe – were highlighted, and taken forward, at the meeting of the High-Level Group on City Competitiveness, consisting of financial sector representatives, including the City Corporation, at 11 Downing Street on November 14.

Obviously, this has been a “testing-time”, and many lessons have been learnt, but she does not believe there will be “long-term reputation effects on the competitive position” of the City.

But she insists that the British Government is not adding to the regulatory burden. Referring back to her own time in the DTI, she does not believe there are many examples of gold plating. She offers the challenge: “show me where there is a case of gold plating and we will correct it. I promise to act on all complaints”.

Ms Ussher also defends the controversial tax proposals in the October Pre-Budget Report. She does not believe the proposed change in capital gains tax will have an adverse effect. She sees no signs of people or companies intending to leave London or not coming here.

This autumn brought the long-awaited agreement on the funding package to allow the Crossrail project to go ahead. She pays tribute to the role of the City Corporation in ensuring that the talks succeeded and in making a significant contribution from its own funds and assisting in delivering additional voluntary contributions from the largest London businesses.The Government has said it will “offer the City Corporation its support, where necessary, to deliver these additional contributions”, but Ms Ussher is not more specific about what such support might involve in practice.

Ms Ussher is determined to maintain close relations with the City, saying the City Corporation itself has “an extremely important position with Government, representing its members, and in being a strong, essential, vibrant voice for the community”.

Similarly, she claims there is a good consensus behind the proposals for taxing resident non-domiciles. “Since the payments only kick in after seven years they should not affect middle manager ex-pats with young families – such as Americans working in banking”.

Ms Ussher is also seeking to encourage the development of London as the centre for carbon

Peter Riddell is Chief Political Commentator of The Times

6 C I T Y V I E W

T H E

L O R D

M A Y O R ’ S

S H O W

Putting the Show on the road If anyone ever asks what makes the City unique there is no better answer than to watch the Lord Mayor’s Show.

Created centuries ago for the newly elected person in the role to ‘show’themselves to the people it has expanded over time to become a showcase for all the different

elements that go to make up the Square Mile.These elements – business, overseas links, heritage, military, community, arts and culture – were all on display in one form or another in this year’s Show, watched by thousands on the route, wishing Alderman David Lewis well for his year of office.

As always the military presence was substantial with a flypast to officially start the procession and plenty of representation from the three services as well as the Central Military Band of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This traditional theme continued with the involvement of numerous livery companies, based around

The Lord Mayor’s Welsh roots were reflected in a number of entries – the Band of the Welsh Guards, Pembrey West Wales Airport, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Livery Guild. Further afield the Polish National Tourist Office and Hong Kong Economic Trade Office were represented, boosting their own

City trades, and the figures of Gog and Magog.

links with the UK and showcasing the variety of attractions in their countries.

Alderman David Lewis Is the 680th Lord Mayor of the City of London Although proud of his Welsh roots

beneficiaries will be Wellbeing of

he was actually born and raised

Women – the only UK charity

in the Far East. He joined City law

dedicated to solving health

firm Norton Rose in 1969 and

problems that solely affect

since then has risen through the

women – and Orbis – whose aim

ranks to Chairman and Senior

is to reduce avoidable blindness

Partner and is now a Consultant.

by working with local partners to

He became Alderman of the

ensure affordable eye care is

Ward of Broad Street in 2001 and

available to all.

Sheriff in 2006. He is married to Theresa and has a son, Tom, and

The Lord Mayor heads the City of

daughter, Suzannah.

London Corporation. The main function of the role is as a

Community floats (many sponsored by the City of London Corporation) were on hand to demonstrate the creativity and enthusiasm of young people in the City and on its fringes.

Progress, Ekta Project, Copenhagen Play & Youth Project, Sunshine International Arts and Icon Theatre all showed the crowds how their efforts had paid off with displays of colour, excitement and vibrancy.

Both on the outward and return routes, the roads were full of wellwishers, of all ages, with television coverage provided by the BBC which this year included filming of the swearing of the oath of allegiance at the Royal Courts of Justice – which will be included in footage of next year’s Show.

The theme for this year’s Lord

dedicated ambassador

Mayor’s Appeal is to “invest in

promoting the Square Mile as the

healthy lives, healthy vision and

world’s leading international

More information including a biography of the Lord Mayor

healthy future”. Under this

financial and business centre.

020 7332 3099, pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

banner the two main

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lordmayor

C I T Y V I E W 7

8 C I T Y V I E W

C I T Y

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

Crossrail is go!

Mind the gap Who contributes what

It may have been a long time arriving but the Crossrail project was finally given the official go ahead with October’s announcement by the Government of a funding package for it to proceed.

The Government has agreed to contribute £5.6bn.

Transport for London has agreed to contribute £7.7bn. This figure will be achieved through a

It marks the end of a campaign by the City Corporation stretching almost 20 years to get the cross-London rail route built and will offer much needed relief to London’s overstretched transport network.

variety of means including ‘prudential borrowing’, a supplement of 2p per pound on properties with a rateable value above £50,000, developer contributions (particularly

Chairman of the City’s Policy & Resources Committee Michael Snyder was one of the key players in getting the project agreed. “There were times when it seemed it would never get the go-ahead despite few being able to dispute its benefits. We have continued to hammer the message home over the years and the cost-benefit ratio increased significantly during that time, bolstering our argument. As always with capital projects of this magnitude, it came down to the issue of money and the contribution expected from different quarters.

those who develop in the vicinity of Crossrail stations) and the new statutory London Planning Charge.

Just over £2.5bn will be provided from other sources including Network Rail. The City of London Corporation will make a significant contribution to this sum from its own funds, and will assist in delivering additional voluntary contributions from the largest London businesses. The

“The final result is a partnership project in the truest sense of the word with government, ourselves, the GLA, the business community and commuters all helping to fund the development.”

Government will offer the City Corporation its support, where necessary, to deliver these additional contributions. British Airports Authority has also agreed in principle to make a financial contribution.

The Government is to publish a White Paper by 2010 to introduce a power for local authorities to raise supplementary business rates to fund economic development.

C I T Y V I E W 9

The next steps It is expected that Crossrail will add a net benefit of £30bn to UK GDP over 60 years and contribute £12bn in tax revenues but more significant for commuters will be the reductions in overcrowding achieved.

All underground lines (except the Northern) will see a decrease in passengers and 10% reduction averaged over the network The biggest reduction will be on the Central Line (30%) Reductions will also occur westbound on the District Line between east and central London; eastbound on the Piccadilly Line between west and central London; southbound on the Bakerloo Line between Paddington and Oxford Circus; eastbound on the Metropolitan/Hammersmith and City/Circle lines between Paddington and Moorgate; and the Waterloo & City line.

Crossrail will also provide relief on overcrowding on the most affected sections of the National Rail network.

Services to Liverpool Street Services into Fenchurch Street, Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Waterloo Relief of Great Eastern and London, Tilbury & Southend lines into Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street and, Relief of North Kent lines into London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street.

As a result, the project will help address one of the longstanding criticisms of the capital – its transport infrastructure. A recent survey showed that 70% of people considered good international air connections as critical for business travel by staff; and 92% of respondents considered improvement of surface access and fast train links to the City to be critical or very important. Transport delays to the City of London alone currently equate to around £1m per business day.

Capacity building is a key aim of the project with

employment in London forecast to increase to five million by 2016 which will place particular demand on public transport. Growth on the Underground has already reached 980 million passengers per year, almost double the 500 million achieved in 1983 based almost entirely on the new provision of the Jubilee Line Extension and crowding increases on existing capacity.

2008 Royal Assent

The other funded mainline rail capacity enhancement is the Thameslink Project – a north-south railway which will increase capacity on existing rail lines. Crossrail will provide completely new direct links between the City and Heathrow, Canary Wharf, Abbey Wood and Maidenhead.

2017 First services commence

2009 Enabling works 2010 Construction begins

The City is highly dependent on rail to bring in its workforce with over 88% using rail on a typical weekday. Existing National Rail and Underground lines serving the City are running at capacity with regular peak overcrowding on commuter services into Liverpool Street and on the Central Line in particular.

But all this is only the first step in a lengthy project.

The City Corporation now has to secure the additional £150m funding from businesses throughout London – particularly those close to the proposed line and therefore likely to benefit.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before… Cityview champions

Michael Snyder will be approaching these and other organisations in the near future to see how they can contribute to the monetary target.

He is hopeful that the largest London businesses will support this vital project “considering we have all been pushing for this project for almost two decades.”

Crossrail across the years

10 C I T Y V I E W

H E A L T H

Healthcare – it’s your choice Prevention is better than cure goes the saying. That’s the City Corporation’s concern when it comes to healthcare in the Square Mile and beyond.

Health Centre). In addition Tower Hamlets PCT is working with the City Corporation to bring an outreach clinic to the Mansell Street estate to help make primary care more accessible.

While it is not responsibile for primary healthcare, it does have specialist areas in the Community and Children’s Service Department – Social Work, Adult Community Learning and Sports Development – that work to promote healthier lifestyles.

In the City there are nine dentists, 17 pharmacists, 12 optometrists and a commuter walk-in centre at Liverpool Street.This has been set up to deal with non-urgent and unscheduled care and the PCT is keen for City people, workers and residents alike, to realise that no appointments are necessary in the centre (there are also walk-in centres at Homerton and the Royal London Hospitals).To contact a GP out of hours another option is Camidoc.This can be accessed by calling your GP surgery (which may well be open anyway) which will divert to Camidoc. A GP will give telephone advice, invite you to the out of hours centre for a consultation or arrange a home visit for urgent cases.This is in addition to the existing NHS Direct.

Whether it’s encouraging free flu jabs, the Young at Heart initiative or the fight against childhood obesity, teams from these areas are working to ensure that people stay as healthy as possible.

This work includes Education staff going into schools to talk to pupils and parents about the need for a healthier lifestyle. For those unable to prepare hot meals, the City’s Meals on Wheels service is hoping to provide healthier options while ‘food deserts’ (housing with no access to shops that sell healthy food) are also being addressed. And the City’s Homecare team is focusing more on ‘re-ablement’– getting people to do things for themselves and making them self-reliant.

But the City Corporation’s work is only a small part of healthcare in the City. Its objectives and those of hospitals and other health service providers flow from the City’s Community Strategy which brings together different providers to pool resources, set common targets and focus money and efforts in key areas.

Funding for primary healthcare in the Square Mile is provided by City and Hackney Primary Care Trust.

It also holds the money for health services in its area and commissions GPs, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, mental health and hospital services. The Trust is responsible for providing services such as care in the community, health visitors and district nurses.

The PCT recognises that residents in the east of the City do not have a surgery close by but they are served by practices in Tower Hamlets (eg Spitalfields

All these options link in with the theme of ‘choice’as the buzzword in healthcare these days – both choice of the most appropriate first contact for your problem and choice of hospital for specific treatment later on.

When visiting your GP they should offer four places for further treatment. It’s then down to the individual to decide where they prefer to go.The Department of Health has a website to compare services (www.nhschoices.nhs.uk).This could be based on the most convenient location but it could also be cleanliness rates, parking facilities or outcomes – most of which can be checked by visiting hospital websites.

For minor injuries, Barts has a dedicated unit based in its Outpatients Wing on Giltspur Street.The unit is staffed by nurse practitioners who treat cuts and grazes, minor burns and scalds, bites and stings, strains and sprains, minor head injuries, minor eye or ear problems. Patients needing more urgent treatment are assessed and referred to the appropriate speciality service or to A&E. Despite the fact that the Accident & Emergency facility at Barts closed more than 10 years ago, some people still believe that they will be taken there in an emergency. In fact these days there are two nearby A&E options for City people – Homerton or

Homerton Hospital’s many specialist services include maternity, fertility, obesity surgery, keyhole surgery, foetal scanning, children’s services, sexual health and diabetes.

C I T Y V I E W 11

the Royal London in Whitechapel. Homerton has 2,200 staff and a turnover of £150m, which with its Foundation status means it can keep any surplus and invest it back in the hospital. Its ‘operating’area is Hackney and North London and its many specialist services include maternity, fertility, obesity surgery, keyhole surgery, foetal scanning,children’s services, sexual health and diabetes.

The Royal London is part of Barts and the London NHS Trust which also runs Barts and The London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green. It provides general hospital services to the City and east London as well as more specialist services for local people and those from further afield. The Royal London’s A&E department is part of the capital’s leading trauma and emergency care centre. It includes a helipad for London’s air ambulance and comprehensive care with full consultant cover at night. Barts and the London’s other specialist services include flagship cancer and cardiac services, a leading children’s hospital and a fertility clinic.

Barts ready by 2010. Phase 2 of the Bart’s redevelopment will include the full transfer of the services currently provided at the London Chest Hospital, including the Heart Attack Centre, meaning that heart attack victims in the City will be taken by ambulance straight to Bart’s.

While the hospitals are not in competition – there are more than enough patients to go round – the issue of patient choice means that more than ever your healthcare choices can be in your own hands.

Barts and the Royal London are currently undergoing a £1bn redevelopment to provide state-of-the-art facilities for patients. Both hospitals are scheduled for completion by 2015 with the new cancer facility at Artist’s impressions of how Barts and the Royal London will look after their redevelopment

Something for everyone

To get there from the City, the best single bus is the 242 from Cheapside but it is also only two stops on the new London Overground from Stratford. The hospital is working to convince people that it is more accessible than they think and is a genuine alternative to the Royal London with the speed in which patients are seen. Homerton is also the nominated hospital for the 2012 Olympics and it is already involved in preparation for the Games.

Your own GP Or if you don’t have one call ‘find a doc’ on 020 7683 4645 NHS Direct 0845 4647 Camidoc 020 7388 5800 6.30pm – 8am (Mon-Fri); 24 hours (Sat-Sun and bank holidays) Commuter Walk-in Centre Liverpool St 0845 8801242 Exchange Arcade, Bishopsgate EC2M 3WA 7am to 7pm (Mon-Fri) Minor Injuries Unit at Barts 020 7601 7407 8am-8pm (Mon-Fri; closed bank holidays)

More information

A&E

www.nhschoices.nhs.uk

Homerton or

www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

Royal London Hospitals

www.homerton.nhs.uk

24 hrs, seven days a week,

www.chpct.nhs.uk

walk-in

12 C I T Y V I E W

C I T Y

P O L I C E

Tackling concerns on safety More than four out of five workers feel safe walking around the Square Mile after dark, according to the results of a recent survey of City workers’ views. That’s not surprising, because the Square Mile remains one of the safest places to live and work in the country.

Crime in the City of London has, in fact, fallen five years in a row. Less than 8,000 crimes were recorded last year - a reduction of around 20% of crimes over the period.

Yet, despite the reassuring statistics, it is clear that, in keeping with people living in many other parts of the UK, some City residents and workers think that crime in the area is going up, not down.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Armstrong manages the City Police’s response to crime across the City.

“I believe that fear of crime is perpetuated by extensive coverage in the media. We live in a world of 24-hour news so anything that does happen is comprehensively repeated, which can make the situation appear worse than it actually is.

“The City is certainly busier than ever – particularly in the evenings – but we’d say that it’s because it’s safe, that it’s so popular.

“However, the City is changing and we are well aware that residents in certain parts of the City are not happy about the growing night-time economy. We are committed to doing all we can to make sure that residents feel safe and anti-social behaviour is minimised.“ In January, Shadans became the first bar in the City’s history to have its licence permanently revoked for gross mismanagement – and the Force has pledged that other bars will face the same penalty if they don’t follow the rules.

City Police Inspector Matt Burgess states that as a Force “We work in partnership with licensees across the City to ensure that they are encouraging safe drinking in a safe environment.

“The closure of Shadans clearly shows the robust approach which we will take with any licensees who do not manage their premises responsibly and

C I T Y V I E W 13

Tips to ensure you stay safe,

threaten the safety of their patrons as a result.”

wherever you are.

You will be safest in bright, well lit and busy areas.

Try to look and act confident look like you know where you are going and walk tall.

Spread your valuables around your body (eg keep your phone in your bag and your money in your jacket).

The Safety Thirst awards scheme, introduced in 2005, gives pubs and clubs across the City the opportunity to demonstrate that they encourage safe drinking in a safe environment, so customers can feel confident of enjoying a relaxed evening out. This includes initiatives such as having a strict door policy; ensuring staff are well trained; providing licensed taxi numbers for customers and cutting back on cheap alcohol promotions that encourage binge drinking.

If someone tries to take something from you, it may be better to let them take it rather than risk injury.

You can use reasonable force in self-defence.

Shout 'fire' rather than 'help' - it

Well over 100 pubs and clubs in the Square Mile are currently members of the scheme, organized jointly by the City Police and the City of London Corporation. A list of venues that belong to the scheme can be found on the police website (details below).

can get more results.

If you use a wheelchair, keep your things beside you rather than at the back of the chair.

Talking on your mobile phone or carrying a laptop show thieves that you are worth robbing.

When out walking or jogging,

Although it may not be physically threatening, low-level crime such as anti-social behaviour can seriously affect quality of life and people’s perception of how safe their area is. Community policing has always been a cornerstone of the City Force’s policing style, but it has recently gone one step further by introducing the Safer City Wards initiative.

do not listen to a personal stereo through headphones, so you can stay more alert to your surroundings.

Each of the City’s 25 wards now belongs to one of six clusters, which have their own dedicated police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and cycle officers operating across the area.

understand the community’s needs and issues and, therefore, work in partnership with other organisations to solve problems such as graffiti, skateboarding and general nuisance.

Ward policing officer, Acting Sgt Mark Dilliway explained: “We’ve always had a good system of neighbourhood policing in the City, but we now have the ability to more readily identify problems through community meetings, for example - and deal with them.

“The problems residents complain most about include anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, graffiti and rough sleepers. If it’s important to the community it’s important to us and we will try to work in partnership with other organisations to deal with it.

“When people see us doing something about these issues it makes them feel safer and reduces their fear of what’s going on in the community.”

With hundreds of thousands of people passing through the City each day and an average of less than 22 crimes committed each day, the chances of becoming a victim are very slight.

It is, however, well documented that criminals select their targets carefully. Therefore, personal awareness can go a long way towards ensuring that you remain safe.

More information

The initiative aims to make it easier for the Force to

www.cityoflondon.police.uk

14 C I T Y V I E W

A R T S

F O C U S

Bitter aftertaste The new permanent gallery at the Museum in Docklands,

An example of an abolition purse

co-funded by the City of London Corporation, may leave a sweet and sour taste in the mouth as it reveals the City’s untold history and involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

London, Sugar & Slavery shows how London merchants were at the heart of the British colonisation of the West Indies, where they introduced the cultivation of sugar for export.

By the 1790s a quarter of

of the Quakers, Thomas Clarkson

Britain’s income came from

and William Wilberforce, was the

imports from the West Indies and

work of ‘The Clapham Sect’, so

most of it landed in London.

called because most of them

An incalculable amount of

lived around Clapham Common.

London’s wealth, business and

By the 1790s this group became

buildings was founded on the

the leading abolition activists.

profits from slavery. From

James Stephen was a skilled

Jamaica Road to the Bank of

lawyer and active member who

The Museum of London

roast, to having a laugh in odd

England, from the merchant

went on to draft the 1807

meanwhile continues to stay up

places as comedians stood

houses of Blackheath to

Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

late on the first Thursday of every

amongst the exhibits to make

month and shows no sign of

people giggle. Jonty Stern, star

the National Gallery, profits from this lucrative trade shaped

The campaign was the first in

getting tired. When darkness

Big Brother 8, also made a return

the metropolis.

which women played a leading

descends, after-hours art and

trip to his former employer to give

role, and they radicalised the

culture begins.

his own Big Tour of the Museum.

Not all Londoners profited from,

movement. When they

Log on to the Museum website to

or supported, the transatlantic

advocated the boycott of

It is the perfect chance to relax

slave trade. Alongside the work

West India-grown sugar, sales

at the end of a long day, meet

dropped by a third. Everyday

watch a Big Tour he recorded.

friends and family and enjoy the

Put the next late date in your

objects were used to

museum’s cultural offerings. The

diary and head to the Museum

encourage alternatives to

Museum has played host to a

of London after work – avoid the

West Indian sugar and some

range of nights; from an evening

commuter crush and have a

sympathisers gave up

of medieval merriment complete

great night out!

completely. Both are early

with gallery tours and a hog

examples of consumer power.

London’s involvement in slavery and the slave trade had important consequences for the

More information

capital and the nation. The

www.museumindocklands.org.uk/slavery

gallery challenges what people

Sugar bowl, circa 1825

think they know about slavery

More information on late nights

and dispels the myth that

www.museumoflondon.org.uk,

London was a minor player.

and www.firstthursdays.co.uk and www.lates.org

A R T S

F O C U S

Christmas cracker December means that it’s time for

Deluxe, Fairy Liquid, King

the Barbican’s pantomime once

Norman, his beautiful daughter

again.

Princess Melody and of course

“Oh no it isn’t!”

the dreaded giant!

That, and other long established routines, may well be recycled but

Find out what happens

as all regular panto goers know,

when Jack swaps his

More information

it’s not the story, it’s how it’s told.

family’s last possession, Daisy

0845 120 7550, 9am – 8pm daily

the cow, for a handful of

www.barbican.org

In this case, the Barbican, owned

magic beans. Whatever

and run by the City of London

happens there will be songs,

Corporation, is presenting the

laughs, groans,

tale of Jack and the Beanstalk

romance, danger,

Produced by

To complement Jack and the

featuring a cast of favourite

excitement and, of

barbicanbite07,

Beanstalk, Barbican Education

characters including the hero

course, everything will

this is the

has created an extensive

himself, his mother Dame Dolly

end happily ever after.

Barbican’s

programme which includes

second

online classroom resources,

pantomime

hands-on family workshops and a

following the

tour of 16 schools with a specially

success of last

commissioned improvisation

year’s Dick

project.

Whittington & his Cat. The cast

Jack and the Beanstalk plays

features Helen Baker,

until Saturday 12 January 2008

Ashley Campbell,

and London’s family pantomime

Jack Chissick, Steve

promises to be the stalk of the

Furst, Mel Giedroyc,

town [groan]!

Andy Gray, Tony Jawawardena, Suzanne Shaw and Shelley Williams.

The production is written by Jonathan Harvey, an awardwinning writer for theatre, television and film currently working on a film, produced by Simon Cowell, about contestants in a TV singing competition. Giles

Nicholas Kenyon has now

Havergal is an accomplished,

taken up his post as the new

Olivier award-winning theatre

Managing Director of the City

and opera director. George Stiles

of London’s Barbican Centre.

and Anthony Drew have co-

He was formerly Controller,

written five musicals, most

BBC Proms, Live Events and TV

recently the new songs,

Classical Music at the BBC,

additional music and lyrics, vocal

and succeeds Sir John Tusa

and dance arrangements for

who retired in August after 12

Mary Poppins.

years at the helm.

16 C I T Y V I E W

N E W S

I N

B R I E F

...and finally Retail rejuvenation

Fair enough

As promised this time last year,

The City of London has

development is well underway

become a Fairtrade Zone,

on new retail outlets along or

campaigning for a better

close to Cheapside. Between

deal for producers in the

now and 2012 this retail area will

developing world by

increase to around 1.5m square

promoting and supporting

feet (44% of which will be new

Fairtrade products.

space). Millions of pounds are being invested in Cheapside

The City of London’s bid for

and surrounding streets on 12

One Wood Street scheme is due

completion of further retail

Fairtrade status focused on its

new building schemes creating

for completion at the end of

development schemes in

position as a business hub, with

167 new retail units.

2007. Jaeger is already open

Cheapside including 1 Old

many of the major workplaces

and Ted Baker has signed up for

Jewry (11,000 sq ft), 150

in the Square Mile including

This is as a result of the City

a 4000 sq ft scheme in addition

Cheapside (26, 000 sq ft) and

The Gherkin, Barbican Centre,

Corporation's planning policies

to River Island, with its first City

107 Cheapside (30,000 sq ft).

Linklaters, Lloyd’s of London,

and its City Property Advisory

store, taking 5000 sq ft. The

One New Change scheme

Aviva, KPMG and the Bank of

Team (CPAT) has been working

20,000 sq ft of retail at Bow Bells

(above), adjacent to St Paul’s

England, becoming a part of

to attract new retailers to the

house is also scheduled for

Cathedral, will house 220,000 sq

the Fairtrade Zone and using

City while liaising with

completion this month.

ft of retail on three levels and

Fairtrade products. Working

is scheduled for delivery in

with Matrix Knowledge Group,

autumn 2010.

the Fairtrade steering group is

developers to minimise disruption to the public.

Spring 2007 will see the

setting up a web portal and questionnaire through which

Under pressure

businesses in the area can pledge their commitment

Thames Water is undertaking a

throughout the Square Mile, will

Occupiers of buildings likely to be

Network Improvement

reduce the amount of water

affected have been contacted

to Fairtrade.

Programme which will gradually

mains bursts across the City’s

to ensure that necessary booster

The City’s application was

stabilise water pressure

network and allow quicker

pumps are in place. Thames

approved by the Fairtrade

throughout the City from

recovery, reducing interruptions

Water will contribute half the cost

Foundation, after businesses,

December 2007 to March 2008.

to supplies. It will also improve

of design and installation to

community organisations,

Thames Water’s ability to move

building owners who need to

schools and faith groups were

The programme, one of several

water to where there is the most

install pumps. It can also offer an

brought together to meet the

projects to improve and sustain

demand and reduce leakage

interest free loan for the

criteria for Fairtrade status.

the water supply infrastructure

levels by around 20%.

remaining 50% for a period of five

To be recognized the City had

years or will undertake and fund

to make a substantial

the design, purchase and

commitment to the promotion

installation of pumps on the

and use of Fairtrade products,

owner's behalf (on the basis that

both at local service provider

the owner pay 50% of the costs,

level and in shops, businesses

free of interest, after five years).

and community centres.

More information

More information

0845 9200 800 or

fairtrade@cityoflondon.gov.uk

network-improvement@

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/

thameswater.co.uk

fairtrade