The Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee of the City of London Council met on Monday 19 January 2026 to discuss departmental budget estimates for the upcoming financial year, review the financial outturn forecast, and consider proposals for the City Arts Initiative and the redesign of the City of London Blue Plaques scheme.

Departmental Budget Estimates 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to consider the departmental budget estimates for the 2026-27 financial year. The proposed budget indicated a net expenditure of £27.163 million, representing a 9.3% increase compared to the 2025-26 budget. This rise was primarily attributed to inflation, an increase in the Cyclical Works Programme, and an uplift in the grant for the London Museum. The report outlined budget proposals across various departments, including those overseen by the Deputy Town Clerk, the Executive Director of Community and Children's Services, the Executive Director for Environment, and the City Surveyor. Members were asked to review these allocations to ensure they aligned with the committee's objectives and to approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee.

Culture, Heritage and Libraries Revenue Outturn Forecast as at Quarter 3 2025/26

A report was presented detailing the estimated revenue outturn for the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee as at the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The forecast indicated a projected overspend of £143,000 within the local risk budget, attributed to unidentified savings and lower-than-targeted income. Additionally, the central risk budget was projected to overspend by £110,000, primarily due to increased rents and rates at The London Archives.

City Arts Initiative - Governance Proposal & Terms of Reference Update

The committee was scheduled to consider a report proposing updates to the governance framework and Terms of Reference for the City Arts Initiative, which was recommended to be renamed the City Public Art Panel. Key proposed changes included delegating authority for temporary public art proposals (defined as lasting up to one year) directly to the Head of Profession for Culture, reducing the number of elected Culture, Heritage and Libraries (CHL) Committee members on the panel from four to three, and amending the panel's name. These changes aimed to streamline the process for temporary public art applications and enhance the panel's focus on public art expertise.

City Arts Initiative - Recommendations to the Committee

This item was scheduled to present recommendations from the City Arts Initiative (CAI) panel, which had met on 4 December 2025. Specifically, the committee was to consider a recommendation for the approval of a blue plaque for Feltmakers' Hall, located at the City of London School, Queen Victoria Street, EC4. This plaque would commemorate the original Feltmakers Hall, which dated from 1618 and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The application had been reviewed by The London Archives and confirmed as accurate.

City of London Blue Plaques Scheme Redesign

A comprehensive proposal for the redesign of the City of London Blue Plaques Scheme was presented for decision. The report outlined plans to establish a dedicated Blue Plaques Panel, enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion measures, introduce annual themes, and implement an efficient and sustainable funding model combining self-funding with internal funding. The proposed changes aimed to modernise the scheme's management, encourage greater inclusion, and ensure financial stability, leading to clearer decision-making processes, faster applications, and more diverse commemorations. The committee was asked to approve the proposal to restructure the scheme and endorse the establishment of the new Blue Plaques Panel and its associated Terms of Reference. This would involve a transfer of responsibility from the City Arts Initiative to the new panel. The report also included an analysis of the current scheme, benchmarking against other similar initiatives, and detailed proposed costs and terms and conditions for applicants.

Culture Strategy - Verbal Update

A verbal update on the Culture Strategy was scheduled to be provided to the committee.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Members of the committee were scheduled to have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the work of the committee.

Any Other Business the Chair Considers Urgent

Any urgent matters that the Chair deemed necessary to bring before the committee were to be discussed.

The meeting also included a part of the agenda where the public would be excluded to discuss non-public matters, including non-public minutes and a review of the future showcasing of the Lord Mayor's State Coach.