A MESSAGE FROM OUR ALDERWOMAN

Dear Residents

It is with great regret that I write to let you know that Deputy Mark Bostock has just resigned from the Court of Common Council due to ill health.

Mark became a great friend and supported me through all the tribulations of my first term as a common councillor. He has always fought for Golden Lane Estate and has pushed hard for our major works project to be delivered efficiently. He spoke out on planning in our support and worked to get the Barbican Association and GLERA working together for the benefit of all. I’m sure we will all wish him well.

First elected in 2017 Mark became a Deputy at the last election in 2022. He has worked tirelessly for both the Barbican and Golden Lane residents to improve our services.  He was one of the co-sponsors of the Planning petition which gained over 1000 signatures and aimed at making the City's planning process more transparent. 

A keen supporter of the Barbican Quarter team, pushing for a rethink of the London Wall West site, he has throughout his time strived to get the City of London Corporation to understand the value of an overall masterplan and not ad-hoc plans for small areas, in particular the importance of an overarching plan for Smithfield, the Barbican and St Pauls. 

The remaining members will continue his fight for a Cultural Strategy for the City and ensure that the Ward meeting he was organising for 18th October will be an opportunity for us all to hear more about ‘Destination City’ and its cultural aims. 

Finally, and most importantly for all elected resident councillors he has pushed with me for the repeal of Section 618, a clause which meant that, alone in the country, City of London councillors cannot vote on housing matters where they have an interest. We have been informed by the Remembrancer that the clause to repeal it has now been accepted into the ‘Levelling Up’ Bill and trust that this will soon be passed into law.

We are currently shuffling some committee memberships to cover for Mark's absence and make sure we carry on his good work. Expect a by-election in early November with hustings in October.

Sue Pearson
Alderwoman Cripplegate Ward