Wider City of London Interest

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

Keeping Our City Safe

Dealing with terrorism and properly funding the City of London Police is vital for us all in the City.

In the face of a severe threat level and more atrocities committed by terrorists in Europe it is vital that our police are properly resourced.City of London logo

Over the last three months we have lobbied hard on this issue when the City Corporation was debating funding for its police force and we fully support the £1.6m additional annual police funding agreed at Court of Common Council on 3 March.  This money will be used to fund additional specialist firearms officers and continued work on counter terrorism to keep the City of London safe.  This has been afforded by increasing the Business Rates Premium from 4p to 5p in the £.  The first increase for 9 years and one also supported by many of The City’s businesses.

The City Police continually assess Counter Terrorism response and measure reassurance amongst London’s communities via a quarterly survey of residents and businesses. Please do take 5 minutes to complete the short survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/98TT77T

Did you know that you can see the work of our Police first hand?

Our Police are inviting people to be involved in an impartial scrutiny group assessing stop and search processes, and other areas of police engagement and intervention on crime as part of an Independent Advisory Group.  The scrutiny group will involve volunteers meeting once every three months, and giving impartial feedback on areas of police involvement including stop and search.

Also the Community Roadwatch initiative involves members of the community accompanying a uniform officer and using a speed gauge device, identifying speeding vehicles and will give you the opportunity to work with police on road safety.

Please contact Luke Harley directly for more information:

Luke Harley, Temporary Inspector, Uniform Policing Directorate
City of London Police
email: Luke.Harley@city-of-london.pnn.police.uk
telephone: 0207 601 2406 / 0207 601 2222
mobile: 07803 305198
address: 5 Snow Hill London EC1A 2DP

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

On-Site Shredder Vans

Your members are working hard with the City of London Corporation, the UK Environmental Law Association, and the Legal Sustainability Alliance on removing on-site shredder vans.

Parking outside Gresham Street pub on double-yellow and running engine.
Parking outside Gresham Street pub on double-yellow and running engine.

The following exchange took place between Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli and Chris Hayward CC as the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at Common Council on Thursday, 3 December 2015 (from the minutes of Common Council)

Shredding Vans
Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli asked a question of the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee concerning the impact of confidential shredding vans operating within the City. In response, the Chairman noted the concerns that had been raised and reassured Members that the issue was being looked at seriously. He advised that a report was being prepared for the Planning and Transportation Committee to enable a full and measured consideration to take place.

The text of the question was:

On-Site Shredder Vans

May I take this opportunity to ask the Chairman of Planning and Transportation about actions which our Committee might take to minimise the environmental effects of on-site shredder vans?  For members who may be unaware of the issue, these vehicles enter the City under contracts to provide on-site document shredding for businesses and professional firms.  The contracts oblige them to shred on-site, ostensibly for security and confidentiality.  These mini-shredding-factories create noise and air pollution while running their engines to power their shredding machines, and are frequently illegally parking.  By allowing this activity, the City imports particulate pollution factories each day.  How might Planning and Transportation help to reduce or remove this activity?

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

Princess Beatrix Visits Broad Street Ward

Princess Beatrix at the Dutch ChurchPrincess Beatrix of the Netherlands visited the Dutch Church on Friday, 24 April, at the invitation of the Trustees of the Koning Willem Fonds and the Dutch Centre. Three prominent Dutch institutions in the UK mark major milestones in 2015: the Koning Willem Fonds has its 140th anniversary, the successful Dutch Centre is officially opened, and the Dutch Church in Austin Friars will have been a symbol of the flourishing Dutch presence in the City of London for 465 years. These three very different charities together represent the many rich intellectual, cultural, spiritual and compassionate connections between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. We were honoured to have such a senior Member of the Dutch Royal Family and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who is Honorary President of the Koning Willem Fonds.  The funds raised will go in equal measure to the Koning Willem Fonds and the Dutch Centre.

The Worshipful Company of Carpenters were kind enough to host everyone after the event at their hall.  The hall was beautifully decorated and the food and drink royally sumptuous.  The Jubilee was a social highlight for the Anglo‐Dutch community and Broad Street Ward members were delighted to be included.

Princess Beatrix Visit Collage