Midsummer Bulletin from the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor
24 June 2020. Read the full bulletin (PDF) here.
An abridged version is below:
Fellow Liverymen
Ordinarily at this time of Midsummer the Livery would be assembling in Common Hall to choose “two fit and able persons to be Sheriffs of this City for the year ensuing”, as the Serjeant-at-Arms and Common Cryer traditionally proclaims at the opening of proceedings. The COVID19 emergency has denied us the opportunity to gather in our usual way, but I am delighted that our two excellent Sheriffs, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli and Chris Hayward, will continue in office for a further year. They have been hugely energetic and supportive colleagues and I look forward to working alongside them for this additional period.The recent death of George Floyd in the United States has shocked and saddened all of us. The response it has provoked in the US, in the UK and around the world, and the momentum that has been generated behind the Black Lives Matter movement, demonstrates a real determination for change.
You may have seen that the City of London Corporation has issued a public statement condemning racism in which we re-iterate our solidarity with BAME communities everywhere and our commitment to fulfilling our responsibility to create a fair and inclusive society.The Corporation has also established a Tackling Racism Working Party to consider what we are doing to address racism in all its forms and across all aspects of our work. The Working Party will assess whether the Corporation could take any further action to promote economic, educational and social
inclusion, as well as respond to historical issues, such as statues and monuments. The Working Party will build on the activity we are already undertaking to improve diversity and to drive inclusion. More information on these commitments can be found here.The Corporation continues to work on supporting its communities during the Coronavirus crisis and on understanding the needs of City businesses. With our Policy Chair, Catherine McGuinness, I have been undertaking a Virtual Engagement Programme with chief executives of major employers and investors, including key partners overseas. My Virtual Visits have allowed me to “travel” to Beijing, Mumbai and Melbourne and yet be back in my office by lunchtime!
As we begin to see the lockdown restrictions being relaxed, we are especially focussed on the return to work. The overwhelming majority of firms of all sizes in the City, including the resident Livery companies, have been able to work from home during the lockdown. This trend is likely to persist, as companies have been satisfied with how they have been able to conduct business remotely.
We are particularly keen to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the City’s SMEs, who do so much to drive London’s economic vibrancy and reputation for innovation. We have put in place measures to support smaller businesses, including applying business rates relief.
There will also be some changes to the City’s streetscape, to provide more space for walking and cycling. This will likely include closing some streets to vehicle traffic and reallocating carriageways for pedestrians and queueing. We hope that these changes will help to keep the Square Mile open for business
and prepared for the repositioned normality of life after the immediate crisis has passed.I continue to be grateful for the feedback and input I have been receiving from the Livery at this time. The Livery is a critical component of the City’s communities and I have been pleased to be able to discuss these issues with masters and clerks in my series of virtual coffee mornings.
Some key messages from those conversations include:
• 72 Livery Companies have signed up to the London Funders COVID19 statement and I would urge those who have not yet done so to add their names.
• Please continue to let us know about your charitable and voluntary initiatives via email to LMProgOffice@cityoflondon.gov.uk
• Our planning continues for a Lord Mayor’s Show in November and we look forward to sharing with you in due course more details of what will be a Lord Mayor’s Show like no other.As we reflect this Midsummer on what the year has brought us so far, I thank the Livery in advance for the part I know that you will play in supporting me, the Sheriffs and the City of London during the second half of 2020.
With renewed good wishes from me and the Lady Mayoress.
Alderman William Russell
The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor
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