We wrote to electors in the ward recently to invite you to meet your Alderman and Common Councillors at the annual ward meeting (Wardmote). The meeting was due to take place on Wednesday 18th March 2020 at noon at the Dutch Church in Austin Friars.
Due to heightened concern regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we have decided to reschedule this event. A new date has not been scheduled at this time.
We have every intention of holding this event for voters, residents, and workers later in the year. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience.
Businesses in the Square Mile are being urged to take advantage of measures announced in the Budget to support them through the COVID-19 pandemic, with the City of London Corporation pledging to support firms struggling as a result of the current outbreak.
The Chancellor announced a number of changes in the Budget on Wednesday designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in particular, including some that directly impact on business rates.
The City Corporation is awaiting confirmation from central Government on exactly how the reliefs will be applied. However, the following additional assistance has been announced:
An increase to the planned rates discount for pubs from £1,000 to £5,000 for 2020
A 100% reduction in 2020/21 for businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors where they have a rateable value below £51,000
Cash grants of £3,000 to very small businesses with rateable values below £15,000
As a result of these exceptional measures some qualifying businesses or organisations may receive a bill that will require an update for the 2020/21 financial year.
The City Corporation will contact all those likely to be affected by these changes once the exact details of how the reliefs are to be applied is known. Any businesses affected or with queries about their rates should contact businessrates@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, said:
“We recognise that businesses based in the Square Mile are facing difficult trading conditions as a result of the current outbreak. The Chancellor rightly set out steps to support households and businesses, particularly SMEs, in the Budget earlier this week. We will contact those businesses covered by these changes and urge those facing genuine hardship to get in touch.”
Jeremy Mayhew, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Finance Committee, said:
“In these testing times, it is vital that those businesses facing real difficulties are supported. The measures announced in the Budget were a positive step, particularly for SMEs. We will continue to work with businesses based in the Square Mile to offer as much support as possible.”
The City of London was home to 23,890 businesses in 2019, with 99% of these firms classified as SMEs. There were also around 1,000 new start-ups in the Square Mile last year.
Notes to editors
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
We are proposing to install some highway improvement on Old Broad Street near Pinner’s Passage. The proposal includes:
Introduce a pedestrian refuge outside near Pinner’s Passage.
A provision of new loading bay
However, to accommodate these improvements the southwest bound bus stop will need to be moved.
The public consultation letter and drawing is being sent to affected frontages seeking their views on the proposal. We anticipate the improvements will be implemented by August 2020. If you have any comments on this proposal or require any additional information, please let Isaac Taylor know by 26 March 2020.
Please be advised that the Annual Wardmote in the Ward of Broad Street will take place at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 18 March, in the Dutch Church, 7 Austin Friars, London EC2N 2HA.
It is open to one and all, no need to book. If you would like to raise a topic in advance, please feel free to send an email to Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli – michael.mainelli@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Oesewalum and the Vikings
(ours are much more peaceful than the Saxon-Viking ones)
Starting on Saturday 16th November 2019 for four consecutive weekends, the City of London will be undertaking pedestrian improvement work at the junction of Bartholomew Lane and Threadneedle Street. During these weekends a short diversion allowing access to all nearby properties will be in place that will allow the junction to be closed to allow for work to proceed.
Potentially noisy works are due to take place from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and from 9am to 2pm on Sunday and, to confirm, the junction will remain open on weekdays during construction. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with Reach Active’s utility work in the area to minimise the disruption caused to local businesses and residents.
This work, the design of which is overleaf, forms part of pedestrian improvements around Bank Junction and will include construction of a new footpath buildout and raised section of road. These improvements are designed to make crossing Bartholomew Lane at this location safer and more comfortable for pedestrians.
Should you have any questions, queries or concerns, please contact Daniel Laybourn at daniel.laybourn@cityoflondon.gov.uk or on 0207 332 3041 to discuss.
Advice and resources on how your business can prepare for the UK leaving the EU
Brexit checklist for businesses
The British Chambers of Commerce has put together a Business Brexit Checklist, to help businesses plan for Brexit.
The CBI has also published a report to advise businesses on No Deal planning.
Government advice on preparing for Brexit
The Government has also published advice on what businesses should do to Get ready for Brexit.
Employer Toolkit for businesses which employ EU nationals
The Home Office has published an Employer Toolkit which covers the key details of the EU Settlement Scheme, information and materials with which to support affected staff and their families.
Brexit Business Resource Hub
The London Growth Hub and the Mayor of London have launched the Brexit Business Resource Hub to bring together resources to help firms plan, and map areas of their business affected by Brexit.
As part of their #LondonIsOpen campaign, City Hall has created a EU Londoners Hub detailing what there is to know about Brexit and how to prepare for it.
London has always been a city of commerce and a city of food. The City of London Corporation’s wholesale markets, Billingsgate, Smithfield and New Spitalfields, have been at its heart for centuries and have adapted to the City’s changing needs for generations. The City Corporation now has an opportunity to bring all three markets together for the first time at Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham to ensure that they can continue to serve future generations.
We welcome your comments at this important moment for the markets to ensure the proposals reflect the needs of customers and stakeholders. Give your opinion here.
Further Background
On 25 April, a decision was taken for the City Corporation to move ahead with a proposal to consolidate the three wholesale markets, to a new site at Dagenham Dock.
Following the decision, an initial public consultation to seek the views of a wider range of stakeholders on the principle of consolidating the markets, the City Corporation’s vision and the preferred option in Dagenham will launch today and will close on Tuesday 6 August 2019. A consultation portal dedicated to the consolidation of the markets is now live at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/wholesalemarkets and stakeholders can submit a consultation response online.
In early July, The Museum of London will launch its public consultation on the latest new museum plans for West Smithfield ahead of submitting a planning application at the end of the year. The consultation will consist of two displays, one on site at London Wall and one on site in Catering Meats/Unit 307 at West Smithfield, showing the latest architectural visuals and the most recent plans for the museum.
If you are interested in finding out more about this project, you would be particularly welcome at a senior stakeholder drop-in session being held from 6.00pm to 9.00pm on 4 July in Smiths of Smithfield. The plans will be on show and it is an opportunity to meet the project and design teams.
We were so delighted to see the Dutch Church and Dutch Centre celebrating King’s Day with a Friday, 26 April, evening event and a street market from 14:00 on Saturday, 27 April – https://www.dutchchurch.org.uk/dutch-centre-nieuws/#uk
King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima
There were opportunities to have stalls and displays. And let’s not forget that King Willem-Alexander celebrated his 52nd birthday, giving us an excuse to post a royal photo (learnt that from the Daily Mail!).
The day itself was fantastic. 1,200 people turned up. There was a great selection of food, beer, and genever. Children had a great time completing a series of games. And of course now there are plans for next year – an instant City of London tradition begins.
