Author: mrmainelli

Posted on Broad Street Ward Interest, Wider City of London Interest

The Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund

The Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations require that 15% of CIL receipts should help facilitate neighbourhood priorities. In the City of London, regarded as a single neighbourhood, the City Corporation holds this fund and is required to seek the community’s views on how this Fund should be used.

The scope of the Neighbourhood Fund is deliberately wide and flexible, and includes the provision, improvement, replacement, or maintenance of infrastructure. This includes a broad range of facilities such as play areas, open spaces, parks and green spaces, cultural and sports facilities. It also includes anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area. Importantly, local neighbourhoods have the opportunity to choose where the money is spent according to their own needs.

From 1 September 2018 you can apply for funding easily.

How to apply:

If you have an applicable project in Broad Street Ward that fits the bill, then please apply via the City Corporation website here: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us/working-with-community/community-infrastructure-levy-neighbourhood-fund

If you wish the members to help, then please do send us the application too.

The minimum value for applications for funding is £1,000, and those under £50,000 will be processed by a panel of officers. Applications for over £50,000 will be considered by the City Corporation’s Resource Allocation Sub-Committee.

Applications should not normally exceed 15% of the total value of the available CIL Neighbourhood Fund at the time of application: updated information on can be found on the webpage.  There are however exceptional circumstances, as outlined on the webpage.

Larger projects of over £50,000 and up to 15% of the total value of the Neighbourhood Fund should meet the priorities identified in the City Corporation’s Regulation 123 List and should demonstrate how the project will deliver value for money, including through the identification of any contributory or match funding, including contributions in time or expertise.

Posted on Broad Street Ward Interest, Wider City of London Interest

First ‘Virtual’ Common Council In Millennia

The Common Council of the City of London Corporation meets for the first time ‘virtually’ today, 21 May 2020, at 13:00.  The Council members will be using ‘Teams’ while the event is being live-streamed on YouTube.  Pull up a chair and join us.

This follows Captain Tom Moore receiving the Freedom of the City during City of London’s first ‘virtual’ ceremony on 12 May.

Some wags have pointed out that the Council has never been all there, but we might contend “it’s never been more real since virtual became more common” (parse that?).

Posted on Broad Street Ward Interest, Wider City of London Interest

Support For Residents & Businesses

The many actions taken over the past three months have been consolidated into two very informative documents that should help anyone needing assistance in the City of London during the covid-19 crisis:

As ever, please do feel free to contact your members if we can assist you.

Posted on Broad Street Ward Interest, General Interest, Wider City of London Interest

City Business Library Support During Covid-19

City Business Library (CBL) staff have been working hard behind the scenes to find ways in which we can continue to support our business customers during lockdown with their market research, business start-up questions and online learning. We understand that being at home can be frustrating, but we want to help you continue the business plans you had set for 2020.
Visit Covid-19 business support pages on website to find out more »

Free 121 Bitesize Business Advice Sessions

Regular business advice sessions have been condensed to 30 minute online consultations. These are being offered as a complimentary service to anyone thinking of starting a business while City Business Library is closed. Yes, that’s right – business advice for FREE!  Once you register your allocated business advisor will be in touch to arrange a suitable time to talk.
Register for bitesize business advice 121 >>

Covid-19 Global Data

You can now subscribe to MarketLine to receive their regular Coronavirus Executive Briefing, helping you to understand how the outbreak may impact your business.  CBL Remote Access Membership.  You can still become a City Business Library member to access some of our databases which are available remotely. With the Access membership you can get free access to the Cobra (Complete Business Reference Adviser) database that has a factsheet ‘Coronavirus – Government Support for Business’ which contains advice on sources of information for businesses and employers.
Find more information about CBL membership »

Online Courses

Why not take this time to learn or develop your skills. All online courses have been discounted so you can make the most of your time at home.
Shop the sale »

Posted on Broad Street Ward Interest, Wider City of London Interest

Broad Street Ward Sheriffs Agree To Continue Till September 2021

As reported in the FT, and the formal press release follows, Alderman & Sheriff Professor Michael Mainelli and Chris Hayward CC of Broad Street Ward were invited, and agreed, to extend their Shrieval year by 12 months till September 2021 in order to “ensure continuity of leadership” during and hopefully after the covid-19 crisis. Continue reading →

Posted on Broad Street Ward Interest, Wider City of London Interest

Corona Virus – City Of London Information Sources

The City of London is doing what it can to ease the economic pain of complying with corona vius strictures.  For information on local support for businesses, up to date, please go directly to – https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/support-promotion-and-advice/Pages/covid-19-advice-for-smes.aspx – but a quick summary includes:

Business rates relief and grants for small businesses. The government has announced retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England will not need to pay business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. We will be applying this automatically to businesses in the City of London, you do not need to apply.

A grant scheme has also been announced by central government to assist Small Businesses with a rateable value of up to £51,000. The two schemes are detailed below:

  • A £25,000 grant will be provided to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.
  • A £10,000 grant will be provided to businesses currently eligible for Small business rate relief (SBBR) to help meet their ongoing business costs.

The City Revenues Team will issue payments directly to those businesses that qualify and no application will be required. Further information is available on our Business Rates page.​

Rental relief for City of London businesses. The City of London Corporation has agreed to make rental payments more manageable for its smaller business tenants as they deal with the financial strain of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The City Corporation’s Property Investment Board has agreed to change rental payments for the March to June quarter to monthly billing for directly managed premises. This replaces the current quarterly billing scheme and makes rental obligations more manageable for City Corporation tenants.

Please be sure to check the COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses from the Government for the latest updates. Businesses should check for daily updates and subscribe to receive email alerts to ensure they are acting on the most up to date information.