Here is a summary of the agenda for the Projects and Procurement Sub-Committee meeting on 14 October 2025. The meeting was scheduled to cover a range of topics, including a reset of the procurement improvement programme, an update on the Cool Streets and Greening programme, and several reports on various projects and programmes across the City of London. The Sub-Committee was also scheduled to discuss and approve the public and non-public minutes from previous meetings.

Procurement Improvement and Transformation Programme Reset

The Chamberlain was scheduled to present a report regarding the Procurement Improvement and Transformation Programme. The report noted that the Commercial, Change and Portfolio Delivery division was established in July 2024 with four priority areas of focus:

• Establishing a portfolio management approach
• Driving improvement across the City Corporation's procurement activity, including embedding the new Procurement Act 2023¹
• Developing a more commercial culture across the City Corporation
• Driving corporate transformation

The report stated that the Procurement Improvement Programme had made progress, but the development of a new procurement governance framework had proven challenging due to: lack of capacity in the Commercial Service, the complexity of the Corporation's delivery and funding models, and data integrity.

The report outlined proposed priorities for the end of the current year, including:

• Resetting the Procurement Code
• Developing a contract management model
• Improving transactional procurement
• Establishing credible reporting

The report recommended that the Sub-Committee approve a revised project plan and endorse the allocation of £270,000 from the Finance Committee Project Contingency to resource the improvement programme. It also recommended that the Sub-Committee approve the extension of the increased threshold (£20m) at which contract award approvals are presented to Court of Common Council to May 2026, when the new policy is due to be in effect.

The report included an overview of three options for moving forward with the improvement programme: continuing with the current resource, bolstering capacity within the team, or engaging an external consultancy. The report recommended bolstering capacity within the team, making use of existing knowledge and technical expertise, and supporting internal buy-in and ownership of change.

The report stated that the total funding requested from the Projects Contingency was £270,000 for 2025/26.

Cool Streets and Greening Programme Update

The Executive Director, Environment Department, was scheduled to present a report providing an update on the delivery of the Cool Streets and Greening programme. The programme is structured around five phases:

• Phase One - Pilot projects
• Phase Two - Developed projects
• Phase Three - City greening and biodiversity
• Phase Four - Sustainable drainage projects (SuDS)²
• Phase Five - Green and Blue Links

The report stated that, since the programme's inception in April 2021, 30 projects have been completed to date, and three catalogues have been developed to provide designers with guidance on resilience for materials, planting and measures. A further 22 projects are planned to be implemented over the next 2 years.

The report detailed lessons learned from completed projects, including the success of innovative approaches to drought-resistant planting design, the successful trialling of new plant species, and the importance of stakeholder engagement and partnerships.

The report noted that the Cool Streets and Greening programme included a number of supplementary workstreams, including a Natural Flood Management (NFM) pilot, a Climate Resilient Measures Catalogue Version 2, and a Climate Resilient Planting Catalogue Version 2.

The report stated that the programme is funded from the On-Street Parking Reserve (£6.8m), and a further £1m has been approved by the Square Mile Programme Board to come from existing CAS funds.

The report stated that several projects within the programme combine funding from other sources including S106s³, S278s⁴ and external contributions.

The report recommended that completed project underspends be reallocated to other projects within the Cool Streets and Greening programme, and that an additional £110,000 be allocated to the Fann Street project, and £70,000 to the St Peter Westcheap project, funded from the programme underspend. It also recommended that a budget of £100,000 be released to develop the designs for Phase Five projects to reach the next gateway, funded from the programme underspend.

The report included a summary of project progress for Phases 1-4, and details of proposed Phase Five projects, including the Creechurch Place Green-link, America Square Green-link, Coleman Street Blue-link, St Dunstan's Hill Blue-link, and Gough Square Blue-link.

Aldgate to Blackfriars Cycleway

The Executive Director Environment was scheduled to present a report regarding the Aldgate to Blackfriars Cycleway. The report included several appendices, including a scheme layout plan, an accessibility review, and a project coversheet.

Pedestrian Priority Streets Programme

The Executive Director Environment was scheduled to present a report regarding the Pedestrian Priority Streets Programme, specifically focusing on Threadneedle Street & Old Broad Street. The report included several appendices, including a project coversheet, a scheme design, financial information, a risk register, and an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA).

The Executive Director Environment was also scheduled to present a report on the Pedestrian Priority Streets Programme at Old Jewry.

Other Items

The agenda included several other items for information, including:

• GW2: Barbican Estate Roof and Balcony Renewal Programme
• GW2: Barbican Estate Window Repairs Programme
• GW2: Combined Section 278 Project Initiation Report
• GW3: Smithfield Area Public Realm and Transportation Programme (Phase 1B)
• GW3/4: Dauntsey House, Frederick's Place - Public Realm Improvements (S278)
• GW3/4/5: Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Replacement
• GW6: Mansion House Stations Environs - Little Trinity Lane (Phase 1)
• GW6: 150 Aldersgate Street Section 278
• GW6: 16 Old Bailey - Section 278 Highway Works
• City of London Enterprise Portfolio Reporting (September 2025)
• GW4: Baldwins and Birch Hall Ponds
• GW6: Moorgate Crossrail Station Links: Finsbury Circus Western Arm
• GW6: Oracle Property Manager (OPN) Replacement (MRI Horizon Implementation, Phases 1 and 2)

The Sub-Committee was also scheduled to discuss the exclusion of the public, non-public minutes, and any non-public questions relating to the work of the sub-committee.