News

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.

For the first time in its history, the City of London Corporation’s main decision-making body – the Court of Common Council – convened virtually earlier this week. Elected Members debated a number of key issues, including the City Corporation’s response to COVID-19, at the first meeting held remotely instead of the usual location of Guildhall. I took the opportunity to urge the Policy Chair, our Council leader, to re-establish full democratic oversight as we are facing important decisions to support residents and businesses, and shape the recovery and future of our great City.

Following the Government’s announcement of an outline roadmap for the next period, Transport for London has set out its initial plan to support this and help Londoners who need to travel do so safely and sustainably. The plan will require significant changes to the way in which people travel in the City and across London until CV19 restrictions can be lifted. I also call upon the City of London to accelerate our plans to transform and reimagine transportation in the Square Mile. As an immediate step I’ve asked we look at options to support higher levels of walking and cycling around Cheapside to enable shops and restaurants to reopen when it is safe to do so.

This is an update on the City of London’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic from your local Ward of Cheap team: Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney, Common Councillors Alastair Moss, Nick Bensted-Smith and Tijs Broeke.