cityviewIssue no 61 N E W S A N D K E Y I S S U E S F O R T H E C I T Y O F L O N D O N Dec 07/Jan 08

Ticket to ride£16bn TRANSPORT SCHEME APPROVED

CITY POLICE

Putting safety firstLORD MAYOR’S SHOW

City celebration

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

C I T Y V I E W2

cityviewmagazineWelcome to cityviewmagazine

C O N T E N T S

C I T Y P E R F O R M A N C E

The City – all together now 3

T H E I N T E R V I E W

Emissary of Whitehall, voice of the City 4L O R D M A Y O R ’ S S H O W

Putting the Show on the road 6C I T Y I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

Crossrail is go! 8H E A L T H

Healthcare – it’s your choice 10C I T Y P O L I C E

Tackling concerns on safety 12A R T S F O C U S

Bitter aftertaste 14A R T S F O C U S

Christmas cracker 15N E W S I N B R I E F

...and finally 16

cityview is the magazine of the City of LondonCorporation, provider of local government,policing and other services for the Square Mile.

Unless otherwise stated in individual features,more information on both the magazine andonline articles is available from the PublicRelations Office address below.

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C I T Y V I E W 3

C I T Y P E R F O R M A N C E

The City – all together now

November Capital contribution

Report on London's place in the

economy

Winners take it all Dragon Award winners

announced

OctoberSchool’s out

City firms tap school talent

Be safeYoungsters join ‘responsible

citizen’ scheme

Green houseEco-friendly centre opens at

Burnham Beeches

SeptemberRoute canal

New canal-side office

available to SMEs

Helping handCity Police launch initiative to

tackle rough sleeping

Capital gainMuseum of London

gets cash boost

AugustAll abroad

Immigration boosts London

economy

Team effortLicensing team hits the streets

Be safeYoung City Safe Scheme

launched

The Goldsmiths’ Company

has collected the speeches of

the Queen's Remembrancer,

Master Turner, in a handsome new

brochure 'Within the permitted

variation'. 020 7606 7010

The.clerk@thegoldsmiths.co.uk

This year’s City Business Lecture

hosted by The Marketors Company

was delivered by one of Britain's

most successful entrepreneurs, Sir

Robin Saxby on 'From start-ups to

global stand and beyond.' 01727

824446 clerk@marketors.org

O N L I N E

cityviewmagazineO N L I N E

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The views of City residents and workers are beingsought by The City Together (TCT), the City ofLondon’s Local Strategic Partnership, to help shapethe renewal of its strategy for the future of theSquare Mile.

TCT Chairman Michael Snyder believes “This strategy will build on the City of London’s role as theworld’s leading international financial and businesscentre. It will also help to define how the TCT partnerswill provide high quality, accessible and responsiveservices that benefit our communities, neighbours,London and the nation.”

TCT, which includes the City Corporation andrepresentatives from the public, private, voluntary andcommunity sectors, has used the strategy developed in2004 and looked at current and future challenges, theneeds of City people and how things can be improved byworking together to draft a revised Community Strategy.

As a result the draft Strategy identifies five key themesthat TCT considers will help further advance the City ofLondon as ‘A World Class City which� is competitive and promotes opportunities� supports our communities� protects, promotes and enhances our environment� is vibrant and culturally rich� is safer and stronger.’

Each theme will guide the delivery of actions for anenhanced City and will also affect the work of the City

Corporation and its partners beyond the Square Mile.

Michael Snyder stated that the revised strategy ”will helpshape how we work over the next seven years.We havecreated a consultation draft which should certainly helpto get people thinking. But this is a community strategy,so we would really value everyone’s views – particularlythe business community.The City Together partners havealready been engaging with City stakeholders about theemerging challenges we need to address and thisincluded the successful annual TCT stakeholder eventheld during September (pictured).”

What do you think? Please give your views duringJanuary by going to the new TCT website below.

More information

020 7332 1411

community.strategy@cityoflondon.gov.uk

www.thecitytogether.org

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C I T Y V I E W4

Kitty Ussher sees herself as both the emissary ofWhitehall to the City and the voice of the City inWhitehall – “hearing views on problems andbeing an advocate”.

In her first four months as Economic Secretary to theTreasury, her first ministerial post, she met roughly 40 CEOs and chairmen of top City firms – all the topnames among retail and investment banks, theleading insurers and the main representative bodies.She spends at least half a day a week on average in theCity or Canary Wharf, as well as visiting other centressuch as Manchester.

Of course, she has a hard act to follow in Ed Balls.He held the post of City minister for less than 14 months but was seen both as very influential,because of his closeness to Gordon Brown, and as veryactive. Ms Ussher lacks his obvious clout and personalhigh profile, but clearly has both energy and a firmgrasp on City issues – many of which she is familiarwith from her time as chief economist for Britain inEurope and as special adviser to Patricia Hewitt at theold Department for Trade and Industry.

It has not been a quiet time. Working with AlistairDarling, she has been involved in the aftermath of theNorthern Rock affair. Obviously, this has been a“testing-time”, and many lessons have been learnt,but she does not believe there will be “long-termreputation effects on the competitive position”of theCity. “Over the last few years it has been tacitlyrecognised that London has been overtaking NewYork as the dominant financial centre. We wouldclearly not do anything that put its competitiveposition in any danger”. So there will be neither “aknee-jerk reaction of a Sarbanes-Oxley law”nor “therigidity of pan-European regulations”.

Stressing that no one lost any money as a result ofNorthern Rock’s problems, she notes that there arenot only questions about supervision by the FinancialServices Authority, but also about the distinctionbetween the position of retail and wholesaledepositors.

The Treasury has already issued a discussion paper ona revised protection scheme, but,“at this stage, has nopreferred options”. After the consultative period, theGovernment will hold further discussions aboutdetailed proposals in the New Year, with the intentionof bringing in legislation after Easter.The FSA hasalready extended protection to 100 per cent ofdeposits up to £35,000.The discussion now is abouthow much higher the protection limit should go, howthe cost should be spread among banks and deposittaking institutions and whether, as in the USA,depositors should have immediate access to theirfunds while ownership issues are resolved.

This is apart from international discussions abouthow to strengthen the regulatory framework. MsUssher notes, but does not endorse, the complaintmade by Mervyn King about a Brussels directivestopping him quietly coming to the aid of NorthernRock.This point would, she said, be considered inthe review of the lessons.

Ms Ussher sees a particular role on EU issues since

T H E I N T E R V I E W

Peter Riddell of The Times talks to Kitty Ussher, Economic Secretary to the Treasury

Emissary of Whitehall, voice of the City

C I T Y V I E W 5

”Only the Government can represent the City acrossthe EU and to Commission on behalf of the privatesector. Only the Government can be present whencrucial decisions are taken on financial services at Ecofinand other EU bodies”. Her immediate focus is on theimplementation of the Markets in FinancialInstruments Directive (MiFID) which came into effecton November 1. She is pressing to ensure that it is fullyimplemented across the EU since a few member stateshave not taken the necessary actions. She believes thatthe directive, intended to make it much easier to tradesecurities, should result in an increased share for UKcompanies. However, she acknowledges that financialservices currently have to deal with the “transitionalcosts of compliance”.

But she insists that the British Government is notadding to the regulatory burden. Referring back to herown time in the DTI, she does not believe there aremany examples of gold plating. She offers thechallenge: “show me where there is a case of goldplating and we will correct it. I promise to act on all complaints”.

Ms Ussher also defends the controversial tax proposalsin the October Pre-Budget Report. She does notbelieve the proposed change in capital gains tax willhave an adverse effect. She sees no signs of people or companies intending to leave London or notcoming here.

Similarly, she claims there is a good consensus behindthe proposals for taxing resident non-domiciles. “Sincethe payments only kick in after seven years they shouldnot affect middle manager ex-pats with young families– such as Americans working in banking”.

Ms Ussher is also seeking to encourage thedevelopment of London as the centre for carbon

emissions trading in Europe.The current scheme runsout in 2012 and talks are well advanced on the nextgeneration. She is also an enthusiast for Islamic finance,which has been growing very rapidly in recent years.Given London’s expertise in this area and strong ties toAsia and the Middle East, she wants more bond issuesto be made and traded here, with increasing liquidity inUK markets.

Ms Ussher also believes her envoy role involves raisingnon-financial concerns, notably transport. Her firstpublic comments in her new job were about theshortcomings of Heathrow.This is more than a generalmoan, not least because of the length of time requiredto produce solutions, but she wants to hear morespecific worries from business to see what can be donein the short-term.

Many of these issues – transport, Islamic finance,carbon trading and Europe – were highlighted, andtaken forward, at the meeting of the High-Level Groupon City Competitiveness, consisting of financial sectorrepresentatives, including the City Corporation, at 11 Downing Street on November 14.

This autumn brought the long-awaited agreement onthe funding package to allow the Crossrail project to goahead. She pays tribute to the role of the CityCorporation in ensuring that the talks succeeded and inmaking a significant contribution from its own fundsand assisting in delivering additional voluntarycontributions from the largest London businesses.TheGovernment has said it will “offer the City Corporationits support, where necessary, to deliver these additionalcontributions”, but Ms Ussher is not more specificabout what such support might involve in practice.

Ms Ussher is determined to maintain close relationswith the City, saying the City Corporation itself has “anextremely important position with Government,representing its members, and in being a strong,essential, vibrant voice for the community”.

Peter Riddell is Chief Political Commentator

of The Times

Obviously, this has beena “testing-time”, andmany lessons havebeen learnt, but shedoes not believe therewill be “long-termreputation effects onthe competitiveposition” of the City.

quote

As always the military presencewas substantial with a flypast toofficially start the procession andplenty of representation from thethree services as well as theCentral Military Band of theRepublic of Kazakhstan. Thistraditional theme continued withthe involvement of numerouslivery companies, based around

City trades, and the figures of Gogand Magog.

Community floats (many sponsoredby the City of London Corporation)were on hand to demonstrate thecreativity and enthusiasm of youngpeople in the City and on its fringes.Progress, Ekta Project, CopenhagenPlay & Youth Project, SunshineInternational Arts and Icon Theatreall showed the crowds how theirefforts had paid off with displays ofcolour, excitement and vibrancy.

The Lord Mayor’s Welsh rootswere reflected in a number ofentries – the Band of the WelshGuards, Pembrey West WalesAirport, the Welsh AssemblyGovernment and the Welsh LiveryGuild. Further afield the PolishNational Tourist Office and HongKong Economic Trade Office wererepresented, boosting their own

links with the UK and showcasingthe variety of attractions in theircountries.

Both on the outward and returnroutes, the roads were full ofwellwishers, of all ages, withtelevision coverage provided bythe BBC which this year includedfilming of the swearing of the oathof allegiance at the Royal Courts ofJustice – which will be included infootage of next year’s Show.

C I T Y V I E W6

T H E L O R D M A Y O R ’ S S H O W

Putting the Show on the roadIf anyone ever asks what makesthe City unique there is nobetter answer than to watch theLord Mayor’s Show.

Created centuries ago for thenewly elected person in the role to‘show’themselves to the people ithas expanded over time to becomea showcase for all the different

elements that go to make up theSquare Mile.These elements –business, overseas links, heritage,military, community, arts andculture – were all on display in oneform or another in this year’sShow, watched by thousands onthe route, wishing AldermanDavid Lewis well for his year of office.

Although proud of his Welsh roots

he was actually born and raised

in the Far East. He joined City law

firm Norton Rose in 1969 and

since then has risen through the

ranks to Chairman and Senior

Partner and is now a Consultant.

He became Alderman of the

Ward of Broad Street in 2001 and

Sheriff in 2006. He is married to

Theresa and has a son, Tom, and

daughter, Suzannah.

The theme for this year’s Lord

Mayor’s Appeal is to “invest in

healthy lives, healthy vision and

healthy future”. Under this

banner the two main

beneficiaries will be Wellbeing of

Women – the only UK charity

dedicated to solving health

problems that solely affect

women – and Orbis – whose aim

is to reduce avoidable blindness

by working with local partners to

ensure affordable eye care is

available to all.

The Lord Mayor heads the City of

London Corporation. The main

function of the role is as a

dedicated ambassador

promoting the Square Mile as the

world’s leading international

financial and business centre.

Alderman David Lewis Is the 680th Lord Mayor of the City of London

More information including a biography of the Lord Mayor

020 7332 3099, pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lordmayor

7C I T Y V I E W

Mind the gapWho contributes what

The Government has agreed

to contribute £5.6bn.

Transport for London has agreed

to contribute £7.7bn. This figure

will be achieved through a

variety of means including

‘prudential borrowing’, a

supplement of 2p per pound

on properties with a rateable

value above £50,000, developer

contributions (particularly

those who develop in the

vicinity of Crossrail stations) and

the new statutory London

Planning Charge.

Just over £2.5bn will be provided

from other sources including

Network Rail. The City of London

Corporation will make a

significant contribution to this

sum from its own funds, and will

assist in delivering additional

voluntary contributions from the

largest London businesses. The

Government will offer the City

Corporation its support, where

necessary, to deliver these

additional contributions. British

Airports Authority has also

agreed in principle to make a

financial contribution.

The Government is to

publish a White Paper

by 2010 to introduce a power

for local authorities

to raise supplementary

business rates to fund

economic development.

C I T Y V I E W8

C I T Y I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

It may have been a long time arriving but the Crossrail project was finally given theofficial go ahead with October’s announcementby the Government of a funding package for it to proceed.

It marks the end of a campaign by the CityCorporation stretching almost 20 years to get the cross-London rail route built and will offermuch needed relief to London’s overstretchedtransport network.

Chairman of the City’s Policy & ResourcesCommittee Michael Snyder was one of the key

players in getting the project agreed. “Therewere times when it seemed it would never

get the go-ahead despite few being able todispute its benefits. We have continued tohammer the message home over the yearsand the cost-benefit ratio increasedsignificantly during that time, bolstering

our argument. As always with capitalprojects of this magnitude, it came down to

the issue of money and the contributionexpected from different quarters.

“The final result is a partnership project in thetruest sense of the word with government,ourselves, the GLA, the business community andcommuters all helping to fund the development.”

Crossrail is go!

It is expected that Crossrail will add a net benefit of £30bn to UK GDP over 60 years andcontribute £12bn in tax revenues but moresignificant for commuters will be the reductions inovercrowding achieved.� All underground lines (except the Northern) will

see a decrease in passengers and 10% reductionaveraged over the network

� The biggest reduction will be on the Central Line (30%)

� Reductions will also occur westbound on the District Line between east and centralLondon; eastbound on the Piccadilly Linebetween west and central London; southboundon the Bakerloo Line between Paddington andOxford Circus; eastbound on theMetropolitan/Hammersmith and City/Circle linesbetween Paddington and Moorgate; and theWaterloo & City line.

Crossrail will also provide relief on overcrowding on the most affected sections of the National Rail network.� Services to Liverpool Street� Services into Fenchurch Street, Charing Cross,

Cannon Street and Waterloo� Relief of Great Eastern and London, Tilbury &

Southend lines into Liverpool Street andFenchurch Street and,

� Relief of North Kent lines into London Bridge,Charing Cross and Cannon Street.

As a result, the project will help address one of thelongstanding criticisms of the capital – its transportinfrastructure. A recent survey showed that 70% of people considered good international airconnections as critical for business travel by staff;and 92% of respondents considered improvementof surface access and fast train links to the City to becritical or very important. Transport delays to theCity of London alone currently equate to around£1m per business day.

Capacity building is a key aim of the project with

employment in London forecast to increase to fivemillion by 2016 which will place particular demandon public transport. Growth on the Undergroundhas already reached 980 million passengers peryear, almost double the 500 million achieved in1983 based almost entirely on the new provision ofthe Jubilee Line Extension and crowding increaseson existing capacity.

The other funded mainline rail capacityenhancement is the Thameslink Project – a north-south railway which will increase capacity on existing rail lines. Crossrail will providecompletely new direct links between the City andHeathrow, Canary Wharf, Abbey Wood andMaidenhead.

The City is highly dependent on rail to bring in itsworkforce with over 88% using rail on a typicalweekday. Existing National Rail and Undergroundlines serving the City are running at capacity withregular peak overcrowding on commuter servicesinto Liverpool Street and on the Central Line inparticular.

But all this is only the first step in a lengthy project.The City Corporation now has to secure theadditional £150m funding from businessesthroughout London – particularly those close to theproposed line and therefore likely to benefit.

Michael Snyder will be approaching these andother organisations in the near future to see howthey can contribute to the monetary target.He is hopeful that the largest London businesseswill support this vital project “considering we have all been pushing for this project for almosttwo decades.”

C I T Y V I E W 9

The next steps

2008Royal Assent

2009Enabling works

2010Construction begins

2017First services commence

Stop us if you’ve heard this one

before… Cityview champions

Crossrail across the years

C I T Y V I E W10

H E A L T H

Healthcare – it’s your choicePrevention is better than cure goes the saying. That’s the City Corporation’s concernwhen it comes to healthcare in the Square Mileand beyond.

While it is not responsibile for primary healthcare, itdoes have specialist areas in the Community andChildren’s Service Department – Social Work, AdultCommunity Learning and Sports Development –that work to promote healthier lifestyles.

Whether it’s encouraging free flu jabs, the Young atHeart initiative or the fight against childhood obesity,teams from these areas are working to ensure thatpeople stay as healthy as possible.

This work includes Education staff going into schoolsto talk to pupils and parents about the need for ahealthier lifestyle. For those unable to prepare hotmeals, the City’s Meals on Wheels service is hopingto provide healthier options while ‘food deserts’(housing with no access to shops that sell healthyfood) are also being addressed. And the City’sHomecare team is focusing more on ‘re-ablement’–getting people to do things for themselves andmaking them self-reliant.

But the City Corporation’s work is only a small part of healthcare in the City. Its objectives and thoseof hospitals and other health service providers flow from the City’s Community Strategy whichbrings together different providers to pool resources,set common targets and focus money and efforts inkey areas.

Funding for primary healthcare in the Square Mile isprovided by City and Hackney Primary Care Trust.It also holds the money for health services in its area and commissions GPs, pharmacists,dentists, optometrists, mental health and hospitalservices.The Trust is responsible for providingservices such as care in the community, healthvisitors and district nurses.

The PCT recognises that residents in the east of theCity do not have a surgery close by but they areserved by practices in Tower Hamlets (eg Spitalfields

Health Centre). In addition Tower Hamlets PCT isworking with the City Corporation to bring anoutreach clinic to the Mansell Street estate to helpmake primary care more accessible.

In the City there are nine dentists, 17 pharmacists,12 optometrists and a commuter walk-in centre atLiverpool Street.This has been set up to deal withnon-urgent and unscheduled care and the PCT is keenfor City people, workers and residents alike, to realisethat no appointments are necessary in the centre(there are also walk-in centres at Homerton and theRoyal London Hospitals).To contact a GP out of hoursanother option is Camidoc.This can be accessed bycalling your GP surgery (which may well be openanyway) which will divert to Camidoc. A GP will givetelephone advice, invite you to the out of hours centrefor a consultation or arrange a home visit for urgentcases.This is in addition to the existing NHS Direct.

All these options link in with the theme of ‘choice’asthe buzzword in healthcare these days – both choice ofthe most appropriate first contact for your problemand choice of hospital for specific treatment later on.When visiting your GP they should offer four placesfor further treatment. It’s then down to the individualto decide where they prefer to go.The Department ofHealth has a website to compare services(www.nhschoices.nhs.uk).This could be based on themost convenient location but it could also becleanliness rates, parking facilities or outcomes – mostof which can be checked by visiting hospital websites.

For minor injuries, Barts has a dedicated unit based inits Outpatients Wing on Giltspur Street.The unit isstaffed by nurse practitioners who treat cuts andgrazes, minor burns and scalds, bites and stings,strains and sprains, minor head injuries, minor eye orear problems. Patients needing more urgent treatmentare assessed and referred to the appropriate specialityservice or to A&E.

Despite the fact that the Accident & Emergencyfacility at Barts closed more than 10 years ago, somepeople still believe that they will be taken there inan emergency. In fact these days there are twonearby A&E options for City people – Homerton or

Homerton Hospital’smany specialistservices includematernity, fertility,obesity surgery,keyhole surgery, foetal scanning,children’s services,sexual health and diabetes.

C I T Y V I E W 11

the Royal London in Whitechapel. Homerton has2,200 staff and a turnover of £150m, which with itsFoundation status means it can keep any surplusand invest it back in the hospital. Its ‘operating’areais Hackney and North London and its manyspecialist services include maternity, fertility, obesitysurgery, keyhole surgery, foetal scanning,children’sservices, sexual health and diabetes.

To get there from the City, the best single bus is the242 from Cheapside but it is also only two stops onthe new London Overground from Stratford.Thehospital is working to convince people that it is moreaccessible than they think and is a genuine alternativeto the Royal London with the speed in which patientsare seen. Homerton is also the nominated hospital forthe 2012 Olympics and it is already involved inpreparation for the Games.

The Royal London is part of Barts and the LondonNHS Trust which also runs Barts and The LondonChest Hospital in Bethnal Green. It provides generalhospital services to the City and east London as wellas more specialist services for local people and thosefrom further afield.The Royal London’s A&Edepartment is part of the capital’s leading trauma andemergency care centre. It includes a helipad forLondon’s air ambulance and comprehensive carewith full consultant cover at night. Barts and theLondon’s other specialist services include flagshipcancer and cardiac services, a leading children’shospital and a fertility clinic.

Barts and the Royal London are currently undergoinga £1bn redevelopment to provide state-of-the-artfacilities for patients. Both hospitals are scheduled forcompletion by 2015 with the new cancer facility at

Barts ready by 2010. Phase 2 of the Bart’sredevelopment will include the full transfer of theservices currently provided at the London ChestHospital, including the Heart Attack Centre, meaningthat heart attack victims in the City will be taken byambulance straight to Bart’s.

While the hospitals are not in competition – there aremore than enough patients to go round – the issue ofpatient choice means that more than ever yourhealthcare choices can be in your own hands.

Artist’s impressions of

how Barts and the

Royal London will

look after their

redevelopment

More information

www.nhschoices.nhs.uk

www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

www.homerton.nhs.uk

www.chpct.nhs.uk

Your own GP

Or if you don’t have one call

‘find a doc’ on 020 7683 4645

NHS Direct

0845 4647

Camidoc

020 7388 5800

6.30pm – 8am (Mon-Fri);

24 hours (Sat-Sun and bank

holidays)

Commuter Walk-in Centre

Liverpool St

0845 8801242

Exchange Arcade,

Bishopsgate EC2M 3WA

7am to 7pm (Mon-Fri)

Minor Injuries Unit at Barts

020 7601 7407

8am-8pm (Mon-Fri;

closed bank holidays)

A&E

Homerton or

Royal London Hospitals

24 hrs, seven days a week,

walk-in

Som

eth

ing

for e

very

one

C I T Y V I E W12

More than four out of five workers feel safe walking around the Square Mile after dark, according to the results of a recent survey of City workers’ views. That’s notsurprising, because the Square Mile remainsone of the safest places to live and work in the country.

Crime in the City of London has, in fact, fallen fiveyears in a row. Less than 8,000 crimes wererecorded last year - a reduction of around 20% ofcrimes over the period.

Yet, despite the reassuring statistics, it is clear that,in keeping with people living in many other parts ofthe UK, some City residents and workers think thatcrime in the area is going up, not down.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Armstrong managesthe City Police’s response to crime across the City.“I believe that fear of crime is perpetuated byextensive coverage in the media. We live in a worldof 24-hour news so anything that does happen iscomprehensively repeated, which can make thesituation appear worse than it actually is.

“The City is certainly busier than ever – particularly inthe evenings – but we’d say that it’s because it’s safe,that it’s so popular.

“However, the City is changing and we are well awarethat residents in certain parts of the City are not happyabout the growing night-time economy. We arecommitted to doing all we can to make sure thatresidents feel safe and anti-social behaviour isminimised.“

In January, Shadans became the first bar in the City’shistory to have its licence permanently revoked forgross mismanagement – and the Force has pledgedthat other bars will face the same penalty if they don’tfollow the rules.

City Police Inspector Matt Burgess states that as aForce “We work in partnership with licensees acrossthe City to ensure that they are encouraging safedrinking in a safe environment.

“The closure of Shadans clearly shows the robustapproach which we will take with any licensees whodo not manage their premises responsibly and

C I T Y P O L I C E

Tackling concerns on safety

threaten the safety of their patrons as a result.”

The Safety Thirst awards scheme, introduced in2005, gives pubs and clubs across the City theopportunity to demonstrate that they encourage safedrinking in a safe environment, so customers canfeel confident of enjoying a relaxed evening out.Thisincludes initiatives such as having a strict doorpolicy; ensuring staff are well trained; providinglicensed taxi numbers for customers and cuttingback on cheap alcohol promotions that encouragebinge drinking.

Well over 100 pubs and clubs in the Square Mile are currently members of the scheme, organizedjointly by the City Police and the City of LondonCorporation. A list of venues that belong to thescheme can be found on the police website (details below).

Although it may not be physically threatening,low-level crime such as anti-social behaviour canseriously affect quality of life and people’sperception of how safe their area is. Communitypolicing has always been a cornerstone of the City Force’s policing style, but it has recentlygone one step further by introducing the Safer CityWards initiative.

Each of the City’s 25 wards now belongs to one ofsix clusters, which have their own dedicated policeofficers, Police Community Support Officers(PCSOs) and cycle officers operating across the area.

The initiative aims to make it easier for the Force to

understand the community’s needs and issues and,therefore, work in partnership with otherorganisations to solve problems such as graffiti,skateboarding and general nuisance.

Ward policing officer, Acting Sgt Mark Dilliwayexplained: “We’ve always had a good system ofneighbourhood policing in the City, but we nowhave the ability to more readily identify problems -through community meetings, for example - anddeal with them.

“The problems residents complain most aboutinclude anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, graffitiand rough sleepers. If it’s important to thecommunity it’s important to us and we will try towork in partnership with other organisations to deal with it.

“When people see us doing something about theseissues it makes them feel safer and reduces their fearof what’s going on in the community.”

With hundreds of thousands of people passingthrough the City each day and an average of lessthan 22 crimes committed each day, the chances ofbecoming a victim are very slight.

It is, however, well documented that criminals select their targets carefully.Therefore, personalawareness can go a long way towards ensuring thatyou remain safe.

More information

www.cityoflondon.police.uk

Tips to ensure you stay safe,

wherever you are.

� You will be safest in bright, well

lit and busy areas.

� Try to look and act confident -

look like you know where you

are going and walk tall.

� Spread your valuables around

your body (eg keep your

phone in your bag and your

money in your jacket).

� If someone tries to take

something from you, it may be

better to let them take it rather

than risk injury.

� You can use reasonable force

in self-defence.

� Shout 'fire' rather than 'help' - it

can get more results.

� If you use a wheelchair, keep

your things beside you rather

than at the back of the chair.

� Talking on your mobile

phone or carrying a laptop

show thieves that you are

worth robbing.

� When out walking or jogging,

do not listen to a personal

stereo through headphones,

so you can stay more alert to

your surroundings.

C I T Y V I E W 13

C I T Y V I E W14

A R T S F O C U S

Bitter aftertaste

The Museum of London

meanwhile continues to stay up

late on the first Thursday of every

month and shows no sign of

getting tired. When darkness

descends, after-hours art and

culture begins.

It is the perfect chance to relax

at the end of a long day, meet

friends and family and enjoy the

museum’s cultural offerings. The

Museum has played host to a

range of nights; from an evening

of medieval merriment complete

with gallery tours and a hog

roast, to having a laugh in odd

places as comedians stood

amongst the exhibits to make

people giggle. Jonty Stern, star

Big Brother 8, also made a return

trip to his former employer to give

his own Big Tour of the Museum.

Log on to the Museum website to

watch a Big Tour he recorded.

Put the next late date in your

diary and head to the Museum

of London after work – avoid the

commuter crush and have a

great night out!

More information

www.museumindocklands.org.uk/slavery

More information on late nights

www.museumoflondon.org.uk,

and www.firstthursdays.co.uk and www.lates.org

The new permanent gallery at

the Museum in Docklands,

co-funded by the City of London

Corporation, may leave a sweet

and sour taste in the mouth as it

reveals the City’s untold history

and involvement in the

transatlantic slave trade.

London, Sugar & Slavery shows

how London merchants were

at the heart of the British

colonisation of the West Indies,

where they introduced the

cultivation of sugar for export.

By the 1790s a quarter of

Britain’s income came from

imports from the West Indies and

most of it landed in London.

An incalculable amount of

London’s wealth, business and

buildings was founded on the

profits from slavery. From

Jamaica Road to the Bank of

England, from the merchant

houses of Blackheath to

the National Gallery, profits

from this lucrative trade shaped

the metropolis.

Not all Londoners profited from,

or supported, the transatlantic

slave trade. Alongside the work

of the Quakers, Thomas Clarkson

and William Wilberforce, was the

work of ‘The Clapham Sect’, so

called because most of them

lived around Clapham Common.

By the 1790s this group became

the leading abolition activists.

James Stephen was a skilled

lawyer and active member who

went on to draft the 1807

Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

The campaign was the first in

which women played a leading

role, and they radicalised the

movement. When they

advocated the boycott of

West India-grown sugar, sales

dropped by a third. Everyday

objects were used to

encourage alternatives to

West Indian sugar and some

sympathisers gave up

completely. Both are early

examples of consumer power.

London’s involvement in slavery

and the slave trade had

important consequences for the

capital and the nation. The

gallery challenges what people

think they know about slavery

and dispels the myth that

London was a minor player.Sugar bowl, circa 1825

An example ofan abolition

purse

December means that it’s time for

the Barbican’s pantomime once

again.

“Oh no it isn’t!”

That, and other long established

routines, may well be recycled but

as all regular panto goers know,

it’s not the story, it’s how it’s told.

In this case, the Barbican, owned

and run by the City of London

Corporation, is presenting the

tale of Jack and the Beanstalk

featuring a cast of favourite

characters including the hero

himself, his mother Dame Dolly

Deluxe, Fairy Liquid, King

Norman, his beautiful daughter

Princess Melody and of course

the dreaded giant!

Find out what happens

when Jack swaps his

family’s last possession, Daisy

the cow, for a handful of

magic beans. Whatever

happens there will be songs,

laughs, groans,

romance, danger,

excitement and, of

course, everything will

end happily ever after.

A R T S F O C U S

Nicholas Kenyon has now

taken up his post as the new

Managing Director of the City

of London’s Barbican Centre.

He was formerly Controller,

BBC Proms, Live Events and TV

Classical Music at the BBC,

and succeeds Sir John Tusa

who retired in August after 12

years at the helm.

Produced by

barbicanbite07,

this is the

Barbican’s

second

pantomime

following the

success of last

year’s Dick

Whittington & his

Cat. The cast

features Helen Baker,

Ashley Campbell,

Jack Chissick, Steve

Furst, Mel Giedroyc,

Andy Gray, Tony

Jawawardena,

Suzanne Shaw

and Shelley

Williams.

The production is written by

Jonathan Harvey, an award-

winning writer for theatre,

television and film currently

working on a film, produced by

Simon Cowell, about contestants

in a TV singing competition. Giles

Havergal is an accomplished,

Olivier award-winning theatre

and opera director. George Stiles

and Anthony Drew have co-

written five musicals, most

recently the new songs,

additional music and lyrics, vocal

and dance arrangements for

Mary Poppins.

To complement Jack and the

Beanstalk, Barbican Education

has created an extensive

programme which includes

online classroom resources,

hands-on family workshops and a

tour of 16 schools with a specially

commissioned improvisation

project.

Jack and the Beanstalk plays

until Saturday 12 January 2008

and London’s family pantomime

promises to be the stalk of the

town [groan]!

Christmas cracker

More information

0845 120 7550, 9am – 8pm daily

www.barbican.org

C I T Y V I E W16

N E W S I N B R I E F

As promised this time last year,

development is well underway

on new retail outlets along or

close to Cheapside. Between

now and 2012 this retail area will

increase to around 1.5m square

feet (44% of which will be new

space). Millions of pounds are

being invested in Cheapside

and surrounding streets on 12

new building schemes creating

167 new retail units.

This is as a result of the City

Corporation's planning policies

and its City Property Advisory

Team (CPAT) has been working

to attract new retailers to the

City while liaising with

developers to minimise

disruption to the public.

One Wood Street scheme is due

for completion at the end of

2007. Jaeger is already open

and Ted Baker has signed up for

a 4000 sq ft scheme in addition

to River Island, with its first City

store, taking 5000 sq ft. The

20,000 sq ft of retail at Bow Bells

house is also scheduled for

completion this month.

Spring 2007 will see the

completion of further retail

development schemes in

Cheapside including 1 Old

Jewry (11,000 sq ft), 150

Cheapside (26, 000 sq ft) and

107 Cheapside (30,000 sq ft).

One New Change scheme

(above), adjacent to St Paul’s

Cathedral, will house 220,000 sq

ft of retail on three levels and

is scheduled for delivery in

autumn 2010.

Retail rejuvenation

throughout the Square Mile, will

reduce the amount of water

mains bursts across the City’s

network and allow quicker

recovery, reducing interruptions

to supplies. It will also improve

Thames Water’s ability to move

water to where there is the most

demand and reduce leakage

levels by around 20%.

Occupiers of buildings likely to be

affected have been contacted

to ensure that necessary booster

pumps are in place. Thames

Water will contribute half the cost

of design and installation to

building owners who need to

install pumps. It can also offer an

interest free loan for the

remaining 50% for a period of five

years or will undertake and fund

the design, purchase and

installation of pumps on the

owner's behalf (on the basis that

the owner pay 50% of the costs,

free of interest, after five years).

More information

0845 9200 800 or

network-improvement@

thameswater.co.uk

Under pressure

Thames Water is undertaking a

Network Improvement

Programme which will gradually

stabilise water pressure

throughout the City from

December 2007 to March 2008.

The programme, one of several

projects to improve and sustain

the water supply infrastructure

Fair enough

...and finally

The City of London has

become a Fairtrade Zone,

campaigning for a better

deal for producers in the

developing world by

promoting and supporting

Fairtrade products.

The City of London’s bid for

Fairtrade status focused on its

position as a business hub, with

many of the major workplaces

in the Square Mile including

The Gherkin, Barbican Centre,

Linklaters, Lloyd’s of London,

Aviva, KPMG and the Bank of

England, becoming a part of

the Fairtrade Zone and using

Fairtrade products. Working

with Matrix Knowledge Group,

the Fairtrade steering group is

setting up a web portal and

questionnaire through which

businesses in the area can

pledge their commitment

to Fairtrade.

The City’s application was

approved by the Fairtrade

Foundation, after businesses,

community organisations,

schools and faith groups were

brought together to meet the

criteria for Fairtrade status.

To be recognized the City had

to make a substantial

commitment to the promotion

and use of Fairtrade products,

both at local service provider

level and in shops, businesses

and community centres.

More information

fairtrade@cityoflondon.gov.uk

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/

fairtrade