Wow, what a week at City Hall. We’ll never get through all of it, and I hope you’ll forgive me popping up with “One more thing…” over and over. Everybody loves Columbo, right1? Peter Falk, relatable working-class guy, smelly raincoat, crappy car, makes sure rich melonfarmer gets what’s coming to him. It’s awesome.
This is relevant. You’ll see.
Yesterday, I sent all my lovely subscribers this update, focused on the most important events at City Hall this week and rounding up a few more. Since then, time has moved on, as it tends to do2, and I have some more snippets.
So I’m channelling Lieutenant Columbo3, who happens to be relevant to local news, which you will know by now if you have clicked the link. I’ll add a wee promo below, too.
Let’s start again
I’m Mike - comms guy. You’re great and I want you to know this stuff. It’s in the public interest. Let’s go!
Extended term limits for City Boards
Here’s one I haven’t seen reported elsewhere, so I’ll give you the gist myself, with help from the evil robot, drawing from the agenda here, where it’s Item 5, way at the end.
Summary (A.I)
As the current Council term nears its end, members reflect on the transition challenges faced by incoming councillors, including committee assignments, board appointments, budget updates, and development of a new Strategic Plan.
The proposal highlights risks associated with turnover in Agencies, Boards, and Commissions, particularly the loss of institutional knowledge and disruption to ongoing priorities during a period of significant governance and budget continuity pressures.
A motion seeks to extend public member appointments to March 31, 2027, directing Civic Administration to implement changes and prepare by-law amendments, ensuring stability through the 2026 election transition and alignment with potential provincial requirements.
The motion is proposed by Mayor Josh Morgan, Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, and Budget Chair Councillor Elizabeth Peloza.
Some context
This is an eyebrow-raiser, that’s for sure.
First, my disclosure: I’m a Board member and Past Chair at Eldon House, which is unpaid and involves contact with folks at City Hall. I can joyfully admit to lobbying councillors and the mayor during the last multi-year budget process, because it’s an honour to represent London’s hidden heritage gem4. You should totally visit.
The City’s ABCs are wide-ranging in their budgets and purposes - Eldon House’s is the smallest, the police budget is the most humungous and <Opinion alert> the library budget is the most important. </Opinion alert> I asked one of my bots for some background and a list:
Agencies, Boards, and Commissions (ABCs) in the City of London are bodies established by London City Council to oversee specific services, provide governance, and offer advisory or operational support on municipal matters; they include a mix of council-appointed and public members and play a role in maintaining continuity, subject expertise, and community input in decision-making processes.
List of City of London ABCs:
London Police Services Board; London Public Library Board; Middlesex-London Health Unit Board of Health; London Transit Commission; London & Middlesex Housing Corporation; Covent Garden Market Corporation Board of Directors; Eldon House Board of Directors; Museum London Board of Directors; London Downtown Business Association Board; London Hydro Board of Directors; Invest London Board of Directors; and tbd conservation authority (this is in flux - latest on that).
The City’s involvement in those orgs also varies wildly, so please don’t shoot me for missing nuances of governance. And it’s a bot, so tell me if it’s wrong. Let’s not miss the key point: this is a lot of people, supporting an enormous portfolio of public services, and this council is seeking to make an important change by extending their (our) terms of office.
Mayor Josh Morgan was among the sponsoring council members who spoke about this at the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (EDIT: committee name fixed), saying it will support a good transition. I’d agree with that (bias alert) having been part of a similar (though post-election) extension previously. The transition process can be what we Scots would call a guddle (a bit of a mess).
And, is this democracy? Those ABC appointments are tightly controlled by council members, because reasons5, and I’m unsure how potential members of the next council will feel about this. Let’s not assume everyone is coming back6.
This story will bear watching further. If you’re a Board member, please tell me what you think. This will return to Full Council on March 31.
Let’s make the rest like a crocodile sandwich.
Mayor’s housing incentive - reaction
Since yesterday, here’s more reporting: CBC. That has the mayor expressing confidence in a '“positive outcome”.
And here’s a Matt Brown podcast about it - political panel.
Highbury goes th’dum NOT budump
Dastardly Daryl Newcombe thinks he can define the noise that Highbury Avenue makes, and has done a journalism on it. He spells it budump, which is obviously wrong.
Over at the London Free Press, Jack Moulton gives great background and history, but doesn’t enter the debate about how to spell the noise. Get in touch, Jack.
I’m sticking with th’dum th’dum th’dum.
That park on Scotland Drive
CBC picks up the issue of community benefit next to the landfill in south London. Story is here. They voted yes; comes back to council next week.
And one more thing - Columbo at the Grand Theatre
If you like things, you should go and see my good friend David Pas… Pask… Pasq… DAVID P. in the on-stage entertainment they call Prescription: Murder, at the Grand Theatre. This link (again) shows it’s almost sold out.
Mini-review: I saw it at the weekend and heartily recommend it. It’s basically an episode of the TV show, with the usual elements, including the audience knowing whodunnit throughout and watching this clever man figure it out. I didn’t really like the venue, which is the tight wee theatre downstairs, but the show is so much fun7.
Don’t believe me? Then let Jo-Anne Bishop back me up with her review at The Beat.
And do you see why I see potential for aligned ads on this blog? I’m working on it.
Enough
This has been some City Hall news that may help you, plus a bit of local theatre because I’m a nice guy and Art For Art’s Sake. I’m back with your wider local news ROUNDUP tomorrow and every Friday until the Triffids8 awaken and consume us all.
- Mike
And you can click this:
I swear, that show had the BEST guest stars. Here’s a bit of the one with Billy Connolly.
I still say “left-tenant” and don’t know how to stop it.
Do not miss the strawberry-tea-on-the-lawn experience this summer. Eldon House website
I’m just saying I don’t fully understand the thinking behind all the appointments to these bodies.
No, sirree!
I used to write theatre reviews professionally. I’d phone copy at the interval from the phone box outside. It was the Before Times. And, in case you’re visiting Scotland, Perth Festival of the Arts tickets just went on sale.
I have a special love for the 1981 TV production of Day of the Triffids.
You are awesome! (Pasquino, btw - pronounced “Pass-queen-oh”)