News

As the City re-emerges from lockdown, as elected representatives for the Ward of Cheap we have been speaking to City workers, residents and businesses around Cheapside.

It has been more than four months since we left the City – some to work from home and some on furlough – and while it is likely to be some time before some semblance of normality resumes, there are things we are doing, can do and can make plans for, in order to support businesses and the community in the City of London, both now and moving forward. 

Please follow this link to the latest update from our Ward’s Alderman, Robert Hughes-Penney.

The first ever Freedom of the City of London ceremony to be conducted ‘virtually’ will take place on Tuesday (12 May) at 10.30am for Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old Second World War veteran who raised nearly £33 million for the NHS.

Recent weeks, and in particular the events of last week, have understandably caused high levels of anxiety. Firstly, for the health and wellbeing of our friends and loved ones, and also because of the impact coronavirus is having on businesses and jobs in the City and across the UK. Naturally, we all have questions, and having worked with my colleagues to try to find some tangible answers for everyone within the Ward of Cheap, I wanted to draw attention to what is being done, where you can find support and the possible pathways ahead.

TThe City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust (CBT), has pledged £1 million to a new emergency support fund to help London’s community and voluntary organisations affected by the impact of the COVID-19.

We wrote to you recently as an elector in the Ward of Cheap to invite you to meet your Alderman and three Common Councillors at the annual ward meeting (Wardmote). This meeting – due to take place on Thursday 19th March – has now been postponed.

Due to heightened concern regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney as presiding officer, supported by the three Common Councillors, has decided to reschedule this event.  

A new date has not been scheduled at this time, but the City Corporation will write to you again when a new date has been scheduled and will update their website with more information as it becomes available.  

If you have any concerns about your business in the Square Mile or if there is anything else we can help with don’t hesitate to get in touch.

You can find latested information from Government on http://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

In the meantime stay safe.

In March there are a couple of events taking place in the Ward of Cheap starting with our annual reception on Wednesday 4 March, a public consultation on the transformation of the current BT Centre on 4-5 March, and our annual ‘Wardmote’ or meeting of citizens on 19 March.

In the last few weeks we have received a few questions from City workers and businesses in the Ward of Cheap about what the City Corporation’s position is in the negotiations between the UK and EU, and what we are doing to represent financial and professional services. Setting our own personal positions on Brexit aside as a team we are pushing for a proactive approach putting people and businesses at the forefront of our efforts.