cv63_9

Issue no 63

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

July 08

L O N D O N

cityview www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY

Glass half full, glass half empty?

CITY VOTE ‘09

Get on the register

VISITOR STRATEGY

World class visitor welcome

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 O L I C Y

New policy chief

3

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

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

Reversal of fortune C I T Y

V O T E

4

‘ 0 9

Get on the register N I G H T - T I M E

6

E C O N O M Y

Glass half full, glass half empty?

U R B A N

R E G E N E R A T I O N

Fringe benefits S T R E E T

10

S C E N E

Rising to the challenge V I S I T O R

14

F O C U S

From first puff to last gasp N E W S

12

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

Opium for the masses A R T S

11

S T R A T E G Y

World class visitor welcome A R T S

8

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 O L I C Y

New policy chief “With the financial services sector in a state of extreme flux throughout the world, it’s never been more important for the City Corporation to support this industry and the City itself,” believes Stuart Fraser, who has taken up the role of Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee.

The Chairman works with colleagues to set the overall direction of the organisation, working closely with the Lord Mayor, to maintain the City’s position as the world’s leading international financial and business centre. He will also regularly chair the City residents’and City business stakeholder meetings – responding directly to their concerns alongside other key City Corporation representatives. He has already met another newcomer to a top job – Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London.

Stuart Fraser takes over from outgoing Chairman Sir Michael Snyder in the five year position and has a long established background both with the City and City Corporation having represented Coleman Street ward since 1993 and served as Deputy Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee since 2004.

He is a divisional director of Brewin Dolphin Securities, the UK’s largest independent quoted stockbroker, and is Chairman of the Group’s Asset Allocation Committee. He is an Associate of the

cityviewmagazine

liverylivedigest

future

Down to business Book a tour of the City Business

On your travels

Access all areas DisabledGO website

is providing bursaries and

be eligible for free travel pass

22-28 September and

dissertation support grants to

30 September to 5 October.

students in relevant

Now in its 26th year, the Fair is a

postgraduate courses at four

prestigious selling event for

more universities this year –

professional UK-based silversmiths

Oxford, Sheffield, Brunel and

and jewellers working in precious

Exeter. There are now seven

metals.

universities and 20 schools and

020 7606 7010

special needs institutions around

www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk

the UK with which the

Reduce, reuse, recycle City residents recycle nearly 34% of their rubbish in 2007

June Speak up Views heard in Older People’s Forum

May Bridging the Gulf Lord Mayor addresses business leaders on the need for economic reform in Gulf states

The Water Conservators Trust

will be holding its annual fair

Library Find out more on the

The Goldsmiths’ Company

Under 18s in City education may

Into the vortex Dramatic new building approved for Old Bailey

Channel changers UK and French representatives discuss common vision

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/liverylive

Helping shape the Square Mile’s

020 7332 3099 pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

O N L I N E

The City Together

More information

He stresses that “Liaising closely with the UK Government, the Mayor of London and the GLA, City residents, Square Mile businesses and Brussels is essential for the role, and I am fortunate to build on the excellent work of Sir Michael Snyder.”

Sir Michael received his knighthood in June for services to business and the City.

O N L I N E

April

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/cityview

Association of Investment Management and Research and a Fellow of the Securities Institute.

Conservators’ Company is associated. www.waterconservators.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 Philip Hammond, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Reversal of fortune Philip Hammond has found that his role as Conservative spokesman for the City has changed a lot since he became Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in summer last year.

The party has always maintained good relations in the City but, now, he reports a big increase in invitations from financial service companies and City bodies eager to get to know him and his views.The political tide has definitely turned.

Mr Hammond, a 52 year old former businessman and consultant before becoming an MP, also notes a change in the nature of the conversations. A year ago, people racked their brains to think of issues: the perennial question of Crossrail but not much else.

That changed dramatically during the summer and early autumn. It was not just Northern Rock, the credit crunch or the Pre-Budget Report, but the combination of all of them. In Mr Hammond’s view, these events did “enormous damage. I kept being told by people operating outside the UK that we should not underestimate the negative impact on sentiment about London”. It was less the problems of Northern Rock itself, and its rescue, than the pictures on television of people queuing up outside banks.This has proved bad for the image of British business.

Mr Hammond also highlights the Pre-Budget Report when Alistair Darling announced changes on the taxation of non-domiciles and on inheritance tax following the Tories’own proposals a week earlier.

There were also loud protests from business over a major overhaul of the capital gains tax regime introduced by Gordon Brown when Chancellor.

The Government proposals were “an appalling mess in business terms. It left the UK looking a bit less like a world class international finance centre than it had been through the previous 10 years. The cost was a risk premium not there before”.

London’s appeal to American business had, he says, been that the UK was a stable and predictable

regulatory environment. But, suddenly, that had been shattered because unpredictability had been introduced.

The Conservative response is to emphasise predictability and certainty. Following a report from Lord Howe of Aberavon, the party will back a programme of tax simplification. This will involve an Office of Tax Simplification, as well as publishing more technical tax changes in draft, to allow for consultation.

The watchword, Mr Hammond emphasises, is no surprises for business, on taxes or regulation.The Conservatives will be sticking to promises they made last October, at their party conference and before the Pre-Budget Report, on clarifying the tax position of non-domiciles and raising the threshold for payment of inheritance tax up to £1m, the one million pound moment which earned Shadow Chancellor George Osborne so much applause and headlines.

On non-doms, Mr Hammond says the Tory aim is to shut down the uncertainty which has lasted since the Government began its review in 2003. “It is vital to

We are committed to Crossrail, want to see it go ahead, and will honour commitments that this Government has made.

C I T Y V I E W 5

autumn when Mervyn King, the Governor, appeared before the Treasury select committee, and was asked who was in charge. His reply was “it depends what you mean by in charge”.

Mr Hammond has welcomed the thrust of the changes announced recently by Mr Darling, notably giving the Bank a proper role since it is vital that it talks to the market and knows the position of individual institutions.

On broader issues, Mr Hammond accepts the need for international co-operation between regulators because of the international nature of capital markets. But he is wary of EU involvement – noting the battles in seeing off the involvement of Brussels over Lloyd’s underwriters. We do not want, he stresses, to go down the road of Sarbanes-Oxley, though he thinks before last autumn there had been a danger of complacency in the Treasury: “a belief that we had got it right, but there is a dose of realism now”.

remove the cloud of uncertainty”. Similarly, the proposed increase in the inheritance tax threshold is being reaffirmed, though it will be less costly thanks to the Government’s own changes.

Mr Hammond has broadly welcomed the Government’s recent proposals on regulation and the protection of depositors, many of which the Tories have themselves been urging. For instance, Mr Hammond had always been sceptical of the Treasury’s original, now dropped, plan for pre-funding by banks and lenders of a revamped deposit insurance scheme. His worry, now accepted, has been that it would be wrong to take money out of the system at this point in the cycle when capital is scarce. He is also concerned about possible confusion among depositors about the nature of guarantees between individual brands and banks.

Consumers do not necessarily know who owns what.

Mr Hammond notes that the existing arrangements have not come through the first real test since the changes to the Bank of England’s responsibilities and the creation of the Financial Services Authority.

The reformed structure has failed to work because no one knew who was in charge: recalling an occasion last

Mr Hammond recognises that one of the main complaints of the City and financial services is about infrastructure. “We are committed to Crossrail, want to see it go ahead, and will honour commitments that this Government has made. It is hugely important this project does not run over-budget and ensuring that it is properly managed will be crucial”. He recognises that there are business partners involved, for whom the financial climate has changed sharply recently. “This means that it will be even more important to ensure costs are properly controlled”.

We talked, of course, in the aftermath of the Conservatives’ biggest electoral success since 1992 with Boris Johnson becoming Mayor of London.

Ken Livingstone was, he concedes, not hostile to the City, but the election of Mr Johnson and the success of the Tories in the assembly elections allows the party to put into practice some of the things it has been talking about. Mr Hammond sees the role of the London Mayor in speaking for the city wide region as complementary to the Lord Mayor in speaking for the City on City interests. Both want to champion London as a global financial centre.

Peter Riddell is Chief Political Commentator of The Times

6 C I T Y V I E W

C I T Y

V O T E

‘ 0 9

Get on the register development). Crossrail was given the go-ahead last year, after many years of the City Corporation championing its cause, and will drastically improve the already creaking transport infrastructure serving the Square Mile and build in much needed capacity for the future.

2009 is a big year for the City Corporation.

It marks the City’s first full elections for four years which means that elections will be held in all 25 wards.

While residents will be familiar with the City’s voting process, businesses and other City organisations – who uniquely to the City also have a vote – have only had two full elections since the City’s voting franchise was modernised in 2002, and for many people it will be a new event.

Firms already have the opportunity to have their say on key issues affecting them through the City Corporation’s regular stakeholder meetings. There are also the usual by-elections and aldermanic elections that crop up most years. But these are full City-wide elections that allow residents, businesses and their staff to have their say by voting for people who they believe would best represent their interests on the Court of Common Council – the City Corporation’s main decision-making body.

Both of these are examples of how people’s views have been translated into action. In terms of current issues people feel strongly about, transport remains a priority but more recently policing has come to the fore especially in relation to the City’s newly booming night-time economy. Street cleaning, open spaces, road works or other improvements may be important to voters. What about sustainability, cultural offerings, planning consents or community issues? There may be factors that specifically concern those who work in the Square Mile or there may be ones that concern everyone.

It is feedback from voters and stakeholders alike that shapes the policies the City Corporation adopts and the services it provides. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number and diversity of shops in the Square Mile (and more are planned for the future, particularly on Cheapside through the One New Change

The City's resident community of 9,000 is concentrated primarily in four wards representing their interests while the 340,000 business people working in the Square Mile are shared geographically, mainly between the remaining 21 wards. Each ward elects one Alderman (the senior member of the ward) and two or more Common

AUGUST

2008 Registration for ms sent to residents and busin esses

SEPTEMBER

1

Qualifying date

NOVEMBER

28

Deadline fo r return of forms with na mes of vote rs

Tour guide

ew to ur firm is n If you or yo would Mile or if it the Square r ening you l in broad be helpfu dge of n’s knowle organisatio rporation e City Co the City, th

could arrange a tour of an area of the Square Mile for you and your colleagues, led by an experienced City Guide. Please send an e-mail to Electoral Services if you are interested.

DECEMBER

1

produced Provisional ward lists pection ins and available for

C I T Y V I E W 7

Councilmen (or Members), depending on the size of the ward, to represent the ward on the Court.

With all this in mind, look out during August for registration forms coming your way. Filling them in should be second nature by now for residents but for businesses and other organisations, a leaflet will be included spelling out the voting system in detail and especially highlighting how many voters they are entitled to appoint, depending on the number of people they employ.

Many companies see the registration process as both a social obligation and a way of demonstrating their commitment to, and involvement in, their local community beyond the basic voting right it confers. It forms part of their broader work within this area, including such aspects as corporate social responsibility, which these days is now being looked for by potential employees as a selling point in recruitment.

However, for many companies, completing the registration form can take time and will be just one in a series of official forms they are required to fill in every day. As recognition of the effort this takes, last year the City Corporation introduced a scheme to thank those firms taking the trouble and individuals within those firms who act as the main point of contact.

M DECE

BER

16

s or claim e for n li lists d e Dea to th tions c je b o

For these contacts there is an invitation to an exclusive reception at Mansion House; colleagues registered to vote will have their name put into a draw to win one pair of 1,000 tickets to the Barbican Cinema; and the firm’s name goes into a draw for free use of one of the City’s most prestigious venues – Guildhall’s Great Hall, Tower Bridge or Guildhall Art Gallery.

More information 0800 587 5537 electoralservices@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/voting

Timescale

It is essential that the City Corporation has an accurate register of voters given the large amount of property redevelopment ongoing at present, meaning tenants moving to new premises or new occupiers coming into the Square Mile. Returning the form early also means the City Occupiers Database team won’t have to contact you again to see if you have received it or intend to return it. The City Corporation will again be asking organisations to use their full voting entitlement, wherever possible, to ensure that its elections are as representative of the full Square Mile as possible.

Later this year a campaign to encourage people to turn out and vote in their respective ward elections will begin but for the next few months the focus will be on getting residents and organisations to return their registration forms and return them early.

*Wardmote: a meeting to which all electors are entitled to attend to raise issues of concern in the ward or to meet the election candidates

As ever – it’s your City so have your say.

FEBRUARY

2009

Deadline for close r those of nominations (fo idates) nd ca standing as

MARCH

13 Wardmote*

if in a contested ward

MARCH

16 Elections

8 C I T Y V I E W

N I G H T - T I M E

E C O N O M Y

Glass half full, glass half empty?

To maintain its status as a world class City the Square Mile can never stand still. Although the essential character of the City may remain the same, those living and working in the Square Mile will notice subtle changes over time that help keep its lead in business and other areas.

One example has been the increase in retail outlets – from the luxury goods of Royal Exchange to the new high street chains on Cheapside.This has been in direct response to feedback received from City Corporation stakeholders on how the City could be improved.

More recently another example has been the boom in bars, restaurants and cafes available which has made the City more vibrant in the evenings and at weekends which has obvious benefits for workers and residents.

Having somewhere to socialise during or after work can be one reason companies choose to locate in the City.This social aspect forms part of the City Corporation’s wider cultural provision. And the City remains a safe place in which to live, work and visit, enjoying low levels of crime in general.

But this boom has created side effects. Over the past 18 months, there has also been an influx of people from surrounding areas and more often from farther afield, coming to the City’s bars and clubs, particularly for promoted events.This means that a single club can attract up to 1,200 people (and potentially to 10,000 people across all of the City’s clubs).

This situation is reflected across the country and is related to the extended hours now available to these establishments and, while good news for the owners of these premises, has created issues for residents, businesses and the City Police.

In the past the quiet nature of the Square Mile in the evenings and weekends meant a peaceful environment for those living here – in contrast to other city centres. Now, with some clubs operating until 4am in the morning, issues such as noise, antisocial behaviour, binge drinking and other associated problems have emerged.

At recent resident meetings concerns have been raised over excessive noise in the early morning, illegal

parking, litter and urination and vomit in the street. In response the City Police have had to deploy an increasing number of officers in response to drinkrelated incidents. At the same time businesses have been pointing to the clean up operations needed at the start of the working week following the weekend’s activities.

“The City Corporation completely understands the strength of feelings expressed,” stressed Stuart Fraser, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Policy & Resources Committee. “While backing well-managed premises, Members are fully behind a more joined-up approach to tackling alcohol-related incidents.

The message is that well-managed premises are welcome but unlawful and unruly behaviour will not be tolerated.”

In response, the City Corporation has formed a cross-department team (Town Clerk’s, Planning, Environmental Services, and Community and Children’s Services) to work with the City Police, licensees and others to tackle the issues and a number of actions are being undertaken to better manage the night-time economy.

This includes the creation of a dedicated licensing team who will manage this economy and take a more proactive approach to the issue in general.

This response has used the existing strong links between these organisations via their work together as part of the Safer City Partnership.This partnership already co-ordinates much activity between City Police, City Corporation and London Fire Brigade, as well as other key organisations.The licensing system itself is being examined especially when dealing with problem premises. At present there are around 60 premises with late night licences and between 10 and 20 are considered to be creating a particular nuisance.

Some of the work will build on existing initiatives.

The taxi marshalling system at Liverpool Street, co-ordinated by the Safer City Partnership, has already proved to be popular in dispersing people safely once drinking is over and may be extended.

Liaison with the licensing community itself will continue, following on from Safety Thirst, another Safer City Partnership initiative and the Safer

C I T Y V I E W 9

Issues and feedback Under Government legislation, the City Corporation can only take action on an

Nightlife document. Both of these were aimed at educating establishments on how customers, employees and residents could enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

existing establishment if a concern is raised about that establishment specifically.

Excessive noise from within an establishment?

Telephone 020 7606 3030 Noise/altercations/other issues outside an establishment?

Telephone 020 7601 2222 (Police)

New arrangements may include extra resources devoted by the City Police to ensure a more visible presence at key times of the night and early morning.

City Corporation Environmental Services inspectors who have a thorough knowledge of laws relating to licensing, noise, smoking, highway obstruction and cleansing are now the first point of contact for residents, businesses and workers wishing to report problems.

Ongoing issues with an establishment?

Telephone 020 7332 3406 You can call Environmental Services on this number and ask for the form to apply for a review of an existing licence or download it at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/licensingact

Other actions will include targeted parking enforcement campaigns and the creation of a Strategic Licensing Group which will look at how best to prevent and reduce alcohol-related anti-social behaviour linked with licensed premises.

This department can also offer advice on what is required leading to a public hearing, depending on the evidence.

Stuart Fraser believes that a vibrant night-time economy is a positive thing for the City “But as with any new developments, there are side-effects which need addressing. A modern city is expected to have a vibrant atmosphere after working hours but we need to make sure that the essential nature of the Square Mile remains the same and that residents and business people feel safe at all times.�

More information 020 7332 3406 TradingStandards.Licensing@cityoflondon.gov.uk

10 C I T Y V I E W

U R B A N

R E G E N E R A T I O N

Fringe benefits

The City Corporation has long held the view that in order for the Square Mile it serves to continue to prosper it needs its neighbouring boroughs – the City fringes – to be vibrant and prosperous.

Work to achieve this is coordinated by the Economic Development Office across a range of urban regeneration activities carried out in partnership with these boroughs (some of the UK’s most deprived) for mutual benefit.

This work covers such areas as the City of London Business Traineeship Scheme; the Spitalfields Employment project; SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Workspace; and other initiatives like the Local Procurement Project and the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards that recognise community involvement projects.

This range of activities also includes promoting employment opportunities within the City to residents in the fringes and encouraging City businesses to recruit from these boroughs.This particular area is to receive a boost in the near future with the recruitment of a dedicated Employer Engagement Manager whose job will be focused on these two areas. It follows a successful fixed term placement last year.

The City Corporation actively supports and works in partnership with, among others, two of the most significant organisations in this field – the Brokerage Citylink and the East London Business Alliance. But it

has identified a clear gap in firms not already involved in recruiting locally and a need for greater guidance to those firms wishing to do so.

More information 020 7332 3077 charlotte.factor@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/

The new post will act as focal point for this work, especially in contacting the core untapped market of City businesses who do not yet have an active local recruitment programme. In particular it will liaise with their human resources, corporate responsibility and procurement functions to promote local recruitment internally and encourage greater employment opportunities for fringe residents. Another of the tasks will be to act as an impartial adviser to help City businesses navigate the marketplace for education/business links and judge how well these brokerages meet present needs.

Demand for support staff and other roles in City firms remains high in spite of the reported financial downturn and City employment generally is still expected to reach more than 360,000 (from around 340,000 currently) by 2016. Although that demand may remain high, unemployment rates in the City fringes still compare unfavourably with London and the UK as a whole (9% as opposed to 6.9% and 5.2% respectively).

This is one of the key issues that the City Corporation is looking to address through its wider urban regeneration work. Having a local skills resource for employers to draw on benefits the City fringe but also helps the Square Mile itself to maintain its lead as the world's leading international financial and business centre.

urbanregeneration

C I T Y V I E W 11

S T R E E T

S C E N E

Rising to the Challenge The City Corporation has now resumed work on transforming the area around Bow Lane and St Mary-le-Bow Church following infrastructure work by utilities companies.

The project is being carried out under the Street Scene Challenge initiative and is also part of the ongoing work to rejuvenate Cheapside in terms of its retail and cultural offering.

The overall strategy for Cheapside was launched in July as part of a six week public consultation programme over the summer. This strategy includes the planned cultural programme, traffic changes and environmental improvements (such as the widening of pavements, planting of trees, and the provision of high quality paving to create a boulevard or ‘café culture’ambiance).

Already Cheapside has seen an increase in the number of high street retail outlets and work is well advanced on the creation of One New Change, next to St Paul’s Cathedral, (which will include a large public roof terrace) and Walbrook Square. In all, the retail developments will involve 12 new building schemes, 167 new retail units and 1.5m sq ft of retail space created.

Other projects under the Street Scene

initiative are taking place in the surrounding areas such as Milk Street, Honey Lane and Wood Street – all due for completion later this year - with improvements for Bread Street scheduled for the future. Many bear the names of the goods originally traded on Cheapside when it was London’s first high street.

More than 50 projects have taken place under the Street Scene Challenge, which was started in 2000 by the then Lord Mayor Sir Clive Martin. Each year money is available to fund a wide range of joint initiatives to enhance the street scene, using high quality design and materials.

Whilst every scheme is different, in general Street Scene schemes are funded by a partnership between the City Corporation and an interested party such as a developer, building owner, or Transport for London. The City Corporation’s contribution will vary but is mostly derived from agreements connected to redevelopments – which must by law be spent on highway improvements.

Street Scene Challenge promotes environmental enhancement schemes initiates street scene enhancement projects encourages private/public partnership funding looks for other sources of public funding for street scene enhancement improves the quality of City streets advises on public realm improvement proposals

More information 020 7332 3155/3564 You can view the Area Strategy until 1 September at Guildhall Ambulatory, Gresham Street, EC2

12 C I T Y V I E W

V I S I T O R

S T R A T E G Y

World class visitor welcome Tourism is a major factor in London’s economy.

According to a Visit London survey in May, London remains the number one destination in the world for international travel and last year 16.1m overseas visitors – up 3% on 2006 – came to the capital to enjoy its unique mix of history, tradition, modernism and excitement. It is estimated that tourism is worth £15bn a year to London and sustains 280,000 full time jobs.

The City of London has a very special role to play in providing a great visitor experience. Some of the world’s most famous landmarks are in the City and the opening of the Millennium Bridge means that people who might otherwise not have found their way to the Square Mile are now discovering all that it has to offer.

The City is at the very heart of London, a city within a city with a crucial day job,

making money for the UK. The City brand stands for international finance the world over and most visitors will have a sense of this. Most visitors also probably know that the City is where London began and that it has more history in its one square mile than some entire countries. What visitors may not realise is just what a vibrant and varied seven-day-aweek place the City really is. The City Corporation wants visitors to enjoy it all and discover a place rich in so much more than money.

And the best people to help are the staff in the brand new visitor information centre, situated opposite St Paul’s Cathedral. The City has provided visitor information on this site since 1956, initially in a kiosk built for the Festival of Britain and now in a stunning new building destined to become an attraction in its own right.

The design, by Make Architects, is a folded metallic envelope, triangular in plan which seamlessly wraps the internal accommodation, giving the

C I T Y V I E W 13

On your feet structure a sense of lightness that allows it to sit gently in its context. The building defines a new, enlarged arrival space at the top of Peter’s Hill and continued landscaping work will create a generous green public space, perfect for visitors to linger in the shade of Wren’s magnificent Cathedral.

The information centre is there to ensure people get the very best out of their time in the Square Mile. It is also there to promote the whole of London and the UK. Over three quarters of its visitors are from overseas and want to know anything from where to buy a parachute to where St Paul’s Cathedral is (yes people do ask that). The staff pride themselves on helping with whatever they are asked. They are visitor information experts and will look at what each individual wants to do and help them do it, anticipating what might interest people and giving them information about events and attractions that they would otherwise not have discovered. They speak seven languages between them and will make visitors quickly feel relaxed and welcome.

The centre has now been open for just over six months and is entering the summer, traditionally the busiest time of year. To mark the occasion, visitor and travel trade industry representatives from across London were invited to visit the centre in June and taken by open top bus to a wider celebration of the City’s visitor offering at 30 St Mary Axe (the ‘Gherkin’) to spread the word about the City as a visitor destination. Welcomed by Sir Michael Snyder of the City’s Policy and Resources Committee, guests were invited to Take a closer look at the City of London. They were given a lot of new information about what to do and where to go in

today’s City, as well getting a preview from the City Planning Officer, Peter Rees, of the City’s future, especially in retail development.

The best way to see the City is on foot. Every da y walks start fro m the Information Centre, led by accredited City of London Guide s.

The programme is theme-specific , covering the ar eas of Fleet Stree t, historic Smithfie ld, Wren and the City church es and the hear t of the City (Guildh all, Bank of England, Mansio n House and th e Royal Exchange ).

The event was held in association with the London Development Agency and Carolyn Smith, Director of International Promotion and Visitor Economy praised the new information centre as the latest addition to London’s visitor welcome. She also outlined the work of the LDA in building the welcome London offers its visitors in advance of the 2012 Games, with a focus on the development of world class customer service, and the provision of high quality, impartial visitor information.

More information City Information Centre St Paul’s Church yard, London, EC4M 8BX Currently a face to face service only

The message was clear for guests - they were in the City of London, the heart of one of the world’s most exciting capitals and a great place to be. The myths about it being closed at night, deserted at weekends and really only about finance were roundly dispelled.

This is all about making visitors welcome. But the City has a wide definition of “visitors”. We think our visitors are just as much the 9,000 people who live here, and the 340,000 people that work here, as those who pass through it just once. So wherever you come from, and however long you stay, the City wants to share its history and heritage, its modernity and its vibrancy and, like the guests at 30 St Mary Axe, we warmly invite everyone to take a closer look at the City of London.

More information pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Personal service

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14 C I T Y V I E W

A R T S

F O C U S

Opium for the masses The turbulent relationship

power; sublimating the mind,

migration, colonialism and

Lord Palmerston, twice British

between imperial Britain and

while the body declines; unveiling

historical events. The artist fills the

Prime Minister and widely

China in the 19th century is under

the violence and hiding the

gallery with sculptures of

considered as the initiator of the

the spotlight at the Barbican until

frolic.” The exhibition title is taken

enlarged items associated with

Opium War. The statue, toppled

September.

from the name of a ship built in

opium dens which were

on an opium bed, shows

1844 specifically for the opium

widespread in the 19th Century.

Palmerston smoking an

Huang Yong Ping, one of the

trade in China.

most distinguished contemporary

exaggeratedly large opium pipe.

The central area of the gallery

artists to emerge from China in

“The installation does not just

the past 20 years, is creating

cover the historical aspects of the

is occupied with a statue of

Importing opium from British India to China was a profitable trade

Frolic, a new installation that

story but is a metaphor for trade

for Britain. The Chinese

explores this complex history and

and cultural relations today -

government tried to control the

in particular the Opium Wars.

both positive and negative

supply due to widespread

elements,” believes Curator Lydia

overuse. Despite the

Huang Yong Ping believes the

Yee. “It’s looking at an aspect of

government's efforts to enforce its

opium trade was a “forerunner

Chinese and British history that

drug laws, Britain continued to

for today’s globalization: melting

has been overlooked or glossed

smuggle opium to ever

trade and the expansion of

over and at both the process of

increasing number of users which

opium production and its

led to the Opium Wars (1839 to

consumption.”

1842 and 1856 to 1860 respectively). China's defeat in

The installation examines ideas of

both forced it to tolerate the

national and cultural identity,

trade.

Well known for his large installations and sculptures Frolic is Huang Yong Ping’s first solo exhibition in the UK. During the 1980s he was one of the founders of Xiamen Dada, one of China’s most radical avant-garde collectives. The group were conceptual artists dedicated to creating a new cultural identity and bridging Western Modernism and Chinese traditions of Taoism and Zen. This exhibition is part of CHINA NOW the UK’s largest ever festival of Chinese culture.

Frolic is at The Curve, Barbican Art Gallery until 21 September.

Admission is free.

More information 0845 120 7550 www.barbican.org.uk

C I T Y V I E W 15

A R T S

F O C U S

From first puff to last gasp Smoking cigarettes kills one Londoner every hour; cigarette butts account for 40% of the litter on London’s streets; around two million Londoners still regularly light up.

One year on from the smoking ban, The Big Smoke at Museum of London looks at the history of smoking in London and life in the capital since the ban.

The display uses objects

information campaigns, tiny toy

ban and asks the question ‘does

and images from the

cigarettes being made for doll’s

it help smokers break their habit’?

Museum’s collections to

houses and the House of

Also look out for the tube

chart the history of smoking

Commons having its own

containing one week’s worth of

and the changes in attitude

brand of smokes.

cigarette butts collected in the

over the centuries. Pictures

City from one square mile of of glamorous film stars, Victorian

On 1 July 2007 smoking was

stressed-out workers.

gentlemen and smoky singers –

banned in all public places

all with fag in hand - show how

throughout England – hotly

smoking became an integral part

debated, widely publicised and

of everyday life: the government

much opposed. The display also

The Big Smoke runs until

using cigarettes in public

looks at the implications of the

21 September 2008 and is free.

Grand designs Readers may have noticed the

The story of London will also be

new colourful hoardings on

updated; instead of finishing at

London Wall shrouding the

1914 the Museum will address

redevelopment work at the

London’s most recent past

Museum.

bringing it right up to the

that will tell the story of London.

time for the designers to begin

21st century.

This is no easy task as there are

work on the more detailed phase

decisions to be made at every

of design work. Things are

The massive project is now well underway and involves nearly

The decanting of the objects from

step of the way; is it the pink 18th

progressing well and the

every member of staff. The new

the old galleries was an enormous

century fan or the gold one? How

estimated time of completion for

galleries will completely transform

operation that was successfully

many words should be written

the project is spring 2010 so there

the lower part of the Museum

completed in April to schedule.

and what should the type size be?

is still some way to go.

with multimedia exhibits, creative

Curators have spent a

graphics, stunning exhibition

phenomenal amount of time

The overall content and design is

More information

space and even a mini cinema.

selecting objects and writing text

more or less finalised and now it is

www.museumoflondon.org.uk

16 C I T Y V I E W

N E W S

I N

B R I E F

...and finally

Pay it forward Anyone operating a mail

A mail forwarding business

forwarding (or holding) business

makes a postal address

within the City of London now

available to a person for the

needs to be registered with the

receipt of postal packages

City Corporation.

(including letters) that are held for collection or forwarded

This follows legislation

on to them.

introduced last year which requires these businesses to

To register, an application form

register with their local

can be obtained on line at

authority and keep records of all

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/

clients who use their services.

tradingstandards and clicking

This is to deal with people

on ‘advice to businesses’ or from

involved in criminal activities

Nora Walsh, Trading Standards

who use a mail forwarding

Manager, Environmental

business, take advantage of

Services Department, PO Box

their confidentiality and lack of

270, Guildhall EC2P 2EJ and

record keeping by some, to

should be returned with a one

hide their identity and avoid

off registration fee of £150.

detection.

Stamp duty Despite a vigorous campaign by

for people to post mail and the

the City Corporation (and

possibility of self-service mailing

substantial feedback from

facilities. It is now in discussion

residents and workers) the

with various interested parties.

decision has been taken to close the Crown Post Office

The City Corporation will

at Ludgate Circus on New

continue to keep people up

Bridge Street.

to date with developments as they occur.

This is part of a wider programme of branch closures by the Post Office and follows a public consultation exercise.

However, unlike other branches, the Post Office has delayed

Paint job

the closure date at Ludgate Circus to look at other options

Scaffolding is being erected this

be carried out in phases and

Although the budget for this

month on part of Tower Bridge’s

22,000 litres of paint will be used

specialist task is more than £4m,

steelwork stretching from the

that should last 25 years.

it will cost taxpayers nothing as

South Main Tower to the

the five City bridges are

Southwark side as part of

Pedestrians and vehicles will still

provided and maintained by the

preparation work for the

be able to use the bridge

City of London under a trust that

bridge’s repainting.

(40,000 motorists and

dates back 800 years.

pedestrians use the bridge every The three year bridge

day) and the Tower Bridge

More information

refurbishment programme will

Exhibition remains open.

www.towerbridge.org.uk