Author: Tijs Broeke

The Ward of Cheap newsletter is out! In this Autumn edition you can find a message from your local Alderman and Common Councillors, an update on major projects in the City, information on how you can register to vote and how you can share your views with the Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce. Click here for more.

For schools, for young Londoners of all backgrounds to enjoy their city the Under 18s’ Zip Card is a lifeline which should not be scrapped. I asked the City of London Corporation at the influential Public Relations and Economic Development Committee to support the call to protect free travel for under 18 year olds in London.

As a member of the City of London Police’s Professional Standards and Integrity Committee I recently asked the Assistant Commissioner about the number of Covid19 relates fines and warnings issued. Young BAME members of the public are more often fined. We need to reflect on this and see how we can work together.

As the City re-emerges from lockdown, the Ward of Cheap team of Alderman and Councillors have been engaging with City workers and businesses in our ward. It is vital that we support people returning to work safely, and that we shape a sustainable future of the Square Mile.

London’s overall attractiveness as a top investment destination has remained undiminished, with the first major poll of global investors since the start of the Covid-19 crisis showing that 99 per cent are still keen to invest in the city, with 79 per cent currently actively doing so. Having recently been re-appointed to the City of London Corporation’s Investment Committee and elected onto its Property Investment Board, I know how important this onfidence is as we are looking to shape our City’s post Covid-19 future. Resilience planning, acceleration of our transport startegy and reimagining of our approach are essential.

This week City Matters reported that London youth hostel which has housed the City’s homeless during lockdown will offer them respite until winter’s end next year in a bid to help get people off the streets permanently. Just eight to 12 people were recently counted sleeping rough in the City and our teams are now engaging with people they haven’t been able to find a breakthrough before. As deputy chair of the City of London’s homelessness and roughsleeping sub-committee I am determined we continue to build on this progress.

London’s largest independent funder has handed a £5 million boost to a coronavirus emergency fund – and is urging businesses to dig deep to help good causes facing a ‘perfect storm’ caused by the pandemic. The cash from City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, brings its total pledge to the London Community Response to £6m.

The City of London Corporation is ramping up its transport recovery plan, designed to ensure the gradual and safe return of people who work, live and visit the Square Mile. At the Policy and Resources Committee last week I joined other members to endorse Phase Two of the recovery plan offering support for City businesses through the introduction of various transportation and public realm changes. We also reiterated the need to accommodate access for disabled people.

The Policy and Resources Committee, the City’s main decision-making Committee, unanimously agreed to set up a working group to look at we are doing to tackle racism in all its forms. The Tackling Racism Working Party will assess whether the City Corporation could take any further action to promote economic, educational and social inclusion. It will also consider how to respond to historical issues, such as statues and monuments.