The Communications & Corporate Affairs Sub (Policy & Resources) Committee was scheduled to discuss several key areas, including a review of the City of London Corporation's strategic branding and place brand, an update on political party conference engagement, and progress on the Square Mile Sport Strategy. The committee was also set to receive an update on the division's overall communications and engagement activities, as well as a parliamentary update.

Strategic Branding Review and Consideration of Place Brand

The committee was scheduled to consider proposals for a strategic branding review, which included recommendations for adopting a co-branding model with City of London Corporation institutions and rolling out a new descriptive logo featuring the Corporation's full name. Discussions were also planned regarding the 'CityofLdn' place brand, with options presented to align it with the strategic branding review. This review aims to consolidate the 'CityofLdn' brand through partnerships with external organisations and to present options for the visual identity of a merged place-brand website and social media platforms. The report outlined three options for the future of the place brand, with a decision to be made by the end of December 2025.

Political Party Conferences 2024/2025 Review and 2026 Forward Look

A review of the City of London Corporation's engagement at political party conferences in 2025 was scheduled for discussion, alongside proposals for the 2026 conference programme. The report detailed the fringe events and receptions held, highlighting the objective of building understanding of the Corporation's work and its role in delivering economic growth. For 2026, proposals included a specific number of fringe events and additional receptions or dinners at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative, and Labour Party Conferences, as well as attendance at the Reform Conference and monitoring of Co-op and Green Conferences. The report also addressed the expression of interest process for the Member delegation travelling to these conferences.

The Square Mile Sport Strategy (2023-30) - Update and Phase 2 Delivery

The committee was set to receive an update on the progress of the City of London Corporation's Sport Strategy, A Global City of Sport. The report detailed achievements in the first phase of delivery (2023-26) across five key priorities: investing in sport facilities, activating streets and spaces, celebrating the impact of sport, attracting high-quality sport events, and supporting community sport. The outline for delivering Phase 2 of the strategy (2026-30) was also to be presented, including plans for facility development, urban sports, sport diplomacy, and community engagement. Funding of £250,000 from the Transformation Fund for the first year of Phase 2 was noted, with a requirement for an income-generating business case to cover subsequent years.

Corporate Communications & Engagement Update Report

This report provided an overarching update on the activities of the Corporate Communications and Engagement Division, covering various areas including Corporate Affairs, Campaigns and Community Engagement, Media Relations and Social Media, the Digital Estate Review Project, and Internal Communications, Engagement, and the Corporate Website. The Corporate Affairs section detailed work on strategic communications, political engagement, and pan-London and external partner engagement. The Campaigns and Community Engagement section highlighted the progress of the City Belonging Project, resident engagement initiatives, and ward communications. The Media Relations and Social Media section presented an overview of earned media coverage, digital engagement metrics, and sentiment trends, with specific highlights from the Lady Mayor's Show and the launch of the Office for Investment: Financial Services. The Digital Estate Review Project outlined plans for auditing and transforming the City Corporation's digital presence, while the Internal Communications section detailed initiatives supporting employee engagement and organisational priorities.

Parliamentary Update

The report provided an update on previous and planned activity in support of the City of London Corporation's political and parliamentary engagement. It detailed the progress of various key Bills through Parliament, including the Employment Rights Bill, Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill, Crime and Policing Bill, Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Public Office (Accountability) Bill, English Devolution Bill, Pension Schemes Bill, and Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill. The report also noted Acts that had received Royal Assent, such as the Renters Rights Act, and discussed Private Members' Bills and government announcements. Engagement updates included submissions to parliamentary committees, work on All-Party Parliamentary Groups, and ongoing dialogue with government officials.