The Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee were scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including building project updates for the Barbican and community libraries, business plans for culture and the London Archives, updates and conservation plans for The Monument, and recommendations from the City Arts Initiative. The committee was also scheduled to receive updates on the development of the Cultural Strategy and the revenue outturn for 2024/25.

The Monument

The committee was scheduled to discuss two reports relating to The Monument to the Great Fire of London.

The first was an update on achievements at The Monument between April 2024 and March 2025. During this period, The Monument was advertised as open to the public daily, but was unable to open on 38 days due to staffing issues. Despite this, 102,966 people visited, generating £367,000 in income. The report noted that The Monument is not currently able to meet its net resource base budget, and that its ability to meet its strategic outcomes is contingent on resolving its future governance, operations and resource base.

The second report asked the committee to endorse the new Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for The Monument. The CMP is intended to provide guidance to aid long-term decision making about the conservation and management of The Monument, and assesses issues, opportunities and policies under twelve key headings, including repairs and new works, maintenance, management and staffing, access and visitor experience, and sustainability. The CMP lists 48 policies, including several that recommend the further investigation of proposals to enhance appearance and visitor experience.

City Arts Initiative

The committee was scheduled to consider recommendations from the City Arts Initiative (CAI) regarding several proposals.

The CAI recommended that the committee does not support Butterfly for Tea, a proposal for a bronze sculpture of a gentleman drinking tea to be placed at Paternoster Square or Festival Gardens. The CAI panel noted that the aesthetic and narrative of the piece is not contextually appropriate for the City of London, and that the proposed locations are already significant and popular locations that host artworks and activations. The panel also noted potential negative connotations of the tea element and possible connections to the City of London's colonial history and the tea trade.

The CAI recommended that the committee support the designs for Chronos at St Magnus House, subject to clarification of some matters raised by the panel. Chronos is a permanent artwork to be installed at St Magnus House as part of a public art planning condition. The artwork fuses historic architectural references with a contemporary aesthetic, using marble, metal inlays and engravings. The CAI requested more information about what will be happening at ground level and to review the heights of the mirror balls to ensure there would be no obstruction to the public. The panel also noted that there could be an opportunity to engage with the Royal Society for Blind Children which is situated close by, due to the tactile and interactive nature of the piece.

The committee was also scheduled to be informed about initial plans for a statue of Peggy Jones, a 19th-century mudlarker, and the designs for wayfinding sculptures commissioned by City of London Corporation and the Eastern Cluster Bid as part of the City Views Project.

Barbican and Community Libraries

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on building projects at the Barbican Library and community libraries.

Work on the Barbican Library Community Meeting Room (The Bostock Room) was due to start in August, with completion expected by October or November. The new design does not require an additional out of hours door and corridor to be constructed in the library entrance. Instead, a mesh security curtain will be installed, allowing access to the front of the library through the existing front doors without access to the rest of the library.

The Barbican Library Refresh Project aims to create a space that is more flexible and welcoming. The design is expected to be finalised in July, with refurbishment work beginning in spring 2026 and completion by December 2026.

Shoe Lane Library is set to temporarily move to One New Change in November, with reopening expected in January 2026. This move is to allow for the redevelopment of Hill House, where Shoe Lane Library is currently located. As part of the redevelopment, Landsec will construct, fit out and furnish the new library at the Hill House site in accordance with an approved inventory and specification. The planning team also negotiated the addition of a Changing Places toilet¹, an Apprentice Hub/Affordable Workspace, and access to the rooftop community space for library and other community events.

Cultural Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the development of the Cultural Strategy, focusing on activity between April and May 2025. The report includes a detailed Consultations Findings Report, summarising the results of public creative consultation, a public Cultural Strategy Survey, themed focus groups, and one-to-one conversations with cultural sector professionals.

The consultation found that people in the City place a high value on culture, but that there are gaps in provision and barriers to access. The consultation also highlighted the need for a more inclusive narrative, a celebration of what already exists, and a shift from passive cultural experiences to ones where people have been active in shaping them.

Business Plans

The committee was scheduled to receive the business plans for Culture and for The London Archives for 2025-26.

The Culture team's business plan states that delivering the new Cultural Strategy will be a major directional project which will define how existing and new strands sit together and are to be delivered by the Culture team. The plan outlines strategic objectives including digital marketing, events promotion, visitor services, cultural engagement, and partnership programmes.

The London Archives' business plan states that their statutory duties to preserve and make accessible for research public records will be underpinned by review and development of collections management work and research services. The plan outlines strategic objectives including building and spaces, audiences, services, collections, and colleagues. The London Archives Accommodation Project will be a major development programme this year as they progress towards a major decision point on the future location of the service.

Revenue Outturn

The committee was scheduled to receive a report comparing the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the committee in 2024-25 with the final budget for the year.

Overall total net expenditure during the year was £23.611m, whereas the budget was £23.362m, representing an overspend of £0.249m. The local risk overspend was £0.047m. The main variations were an overspend by the Executive Director of Community & Children's Services, an underspend by the Deputy Town Clerk, and an overspend by the Executive Director of Environment. The report also details carry forward requests of local risk budgets of £0.057m to 2025/26 relating to Destination City² within the Deputy Town Clerk.