Monday 16 June:

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Reform UK shake-up

• Reform UK made waves in May’s local elections, winning 677 council seats, taking control of 10 councils, and landing its first mayoral wins in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire. Their narrow win in Runcorn and Helsby gave them a fifth parliamentary seat. “Unprecedented,” said Nigel Farage, signalling a shift in the UK’s political landscape.

£85 million for culture

• The Government announced a major £85m funding package for arts and heritage venues, libraries, and museums. Applications are now open.

UK-EU relations reset

The UK-EU post-Brexit summit ended with a wide-ranging deal on security, food standards, energy and migration. Notably:

• EU e-gate access could be opened to UK travellers
• A youth mobility scheme could let young Europeans live and work in the UK

Shining a spotlight on Leicester Square

• HOLBA’s upcoming Bollywood statue, marking 30 years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, was highlighted by VisitBritain’s CEO on the UK’s trade mission to India.

IN WESTMINSTER

New leadership

• Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg is Westminster’s new Lord Mayor, focused on youth and homelessness.

Planning committee membership updates

• Cllr Robert Rigby (Cons) returns to Planning Sub-Committee 1 chaired by Cllr Patrick Lilley (Labour), while Cllr Paul Fisher (Cons) returns to Planning Sub-Committee 2 as an opposition Councillor.

New Jazz Club in St Martin’s Lane

• The Licensing Sub-Committee approved a new premises licence for Blue Note Jazz Club, allowing it to extend its operating hours following a previous refusal.

Public safety boost

• Westminster City Council approved a £500,000 investment in 32 new CCTV cameras across Soho, Leicester Square and Chinatown.

Climate and planning

The Partial Review of the City Plan went to public examination, with a focus on:

• Affordable housing
• Site allocations
• The new Retrofit First policy

£6m Climate Fund now open

• Funding is available for businesses and community organisations aiming to cut carbon and generate clean energy.

FROM CITY HALL

New London Plan

• City Hall’s Towards a new London Plan has been published, setting a target of 880,000 new homes and putting the Experience Economy, night-time economy, and economic clusters front and centre.

Biggest month for business

Sadiq Khan is dubbing June “London’s biggest ever” for investment with:

• SXSW London
• Concordia Europe Summit
• London Tech Week
• London Climate Action Week

Nightlife Taskforce launches

• VibeLab has been appointed to lead research into nightlife’s challenges. HOLBA is feeding into the process and encouraging members to respond to the consultation.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

Business Rates

• Presented at ATCM London conference
• Launched HOLBA’s campaign for Business Rates reform
• Flagged a missed £50k discount for one HOLBA member

Alfresco returns?

• Working alongside WCC to reintroduce an al fresco dining scheme with support from the GLA Summer Streets Fund.

Bakerloo line upgrade

• Joined the Business for Bakerloo campaign. Improvements would mean new trains, more services, and a better West End experience.

Evening & Night-Time Economy

• Took part in the GLA’s Nightlife Taskforce sessions and held member roundtables on skills, transport, and the Westminster After Dark strategy.

Soft power spotlight

• Chaired a roundtable with Lord Young on the cultural soft power of the West End and its value to UK plc.

WHAT’S COMING UP

• Hosting a crime and safety roundtable with Commander James Conway at the BusinessLDN conference
• Welcoming Saqib Bhatti MP to meet HOLBA members
• Submitting responses to the Westminster After Dark and London Plan consultations
• Advocating for our Combined Business Rates proposal
• Meeting the Met to establish a West End Forum