Dowgate Ward Mote - annual meeting with voters

Dowgate Ward Mote held in Innholders' Hall on 22nd March 2023

Each electoral ward in the City of London holds an annual meeting, called a Wardmote to meet the electors and others working or living in the Ward.  On 22nd March Dowgate Ward held this event and we had a good turnout both from voters we know well and those new to the electoral roll from a range of businesses in the Ward. 
The Wardmote started with a traditional ceremony led by me as the Alderman during which I appointed the Honorary Ward Clerk, Michael Stewart and my Deputy, Henry Pollard. All present elected the Ward Beadle who is John Cash. That role probably predates that of the Alderman ( 900 years old) and started as the equivalent of a Ward Constable but is now more ceremonial. However John carries the ancient Dowgate Mace (see picture) that could hurt someone if used in anger.
When this ceremonial was concluded the three elected representatives -  Alderman Alison Gowman, Deputy Henry Pollard and Common Councillor Mark Wheatley - gave an update on the activity over the past year, the range of committees they serve highlighting some important issues. This was necessarily only a brief overview and all members would be happy to talk more about the range of activity they undertake at the Corporation and visit businesses and voters in Dowgate Ward when convenient. 
An update had been requested from the City of London Police and two officers who cover the Dowgate and Fleet Street areas spoke followed by a short presentation by James Chapman, the Station Commander of Dowgate Fire Station (the second busiest in London).  The next formal meeting with the local City Police Officers is on 24th July at the Salvation Army HQ on Queen Victoria Street.  If you want to be in touch please email : isaac.keown@cityoflondon.police.uk
A question and answer session threw up a range of queries, where the following questions were asked and  responses given and enhanced later with information from the Environmental Services department as follows:

• "Mixing of recycling and refuse: Whilst some local authorities use “split back” trucks to collect two different material streams on the same vehicle, we do not. The vehicles are double shifted however, and this means that the same vehicle could conceivably be used to collect recycling in the morning and refuse in the afternoon. But recycling and refuse should NOT be going in the same vehicle at the same time. If any of your residents or members see this happening, please do let me know and we will act immediately. As much information as possible is useful, including time/date/location and photographs."
• "Vape devices are difficult to recycle given the huge variety of devices and the multiple materials involved in their production. We have no plans to provide collection points ourselves, there is however one at the Currys store in Chiswell Street, just outside of the City where they can be taken. This will be added to the  AtoZ of recycling."
• "Littered NOx/laughing canisters are an issue, we have noted a move away from the small canisters to much larger ones in the past year or so. When these are found on street, they are collected separately by the street sweeping operatives, stored securely at our depot and collected by a specialist contractor for recycling. I have regular liaison meetings with the City of London Police on anti-social behaviour and report “hot-spots” in to them so they are aware".

There was concern about the future of Arthur Street now that the works are substantially finished. The TfL Arthur Street consultation is ongoing and reference was made to the survey haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/arthur-street to find out more information on the proposals, including maps and background information, and a survey seeking your views. 
All three members are keen to meet businesses, residents and other voters or occupiers and so do get in touch. I am indebted to Deputy Henry Pollard for sending a briefing to all voters following the meeting which I have used to create this blog.