Council chiefs have revealed that Greenwich is looking into bidding to be London’s Borough of Culture in 2021.

The capital’s current pick is Waltham Forest, in east London, but Greenwich Council is considering putting the borough forward for the next round.

At a regeneration scrutiny meeting on Thursday night, councillors were told that the authority was thinking about putting itself forward.

The winner of the project is awarded cash from City Hall to put on cultural activities, with last time’s winner getting a £1.3m handout.

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Council officials visited Waltham Forest to learn more about how they can successfully bid as applications are set to open next month.

Takki Sulaiman, the director for community, culture and corporate development, told councillors the authority was considering a bid.

He said: “We are examining the possibility of a borough of culture bid for 2021. That’s why we visited Waltham Forest today.

“The mayor does not want us to see culture as something that is out there, but as something that is very much a force for intervention, that creates jobs and opportunities.

“There’s a lot of work that can be done.”

On the bid, he added: “The GLA has just publicised the information for it. The applications start in July and close in mid-October.

“There is a lot of work to be done, we haven’t decided whether a bid is right for us but if we do decide to go for it, you really have to go for it, you really have to go for it. There are no half measures.”

The council unsuccessfully bid for the award last time round, but said a new approach will be worked out for this year.

Cllr Williams admitted at a meeting on June 20: “I imagine a fresh sheet of paper will be the best starting point.”

She added: “Culture is something you can never have too much of. We should allow people to define culture.”

It comes as the authority begins work on a new cultural strategy that will help frame how it spends its cash.

Mr Sulaiman said: “A new strategy would help define how we spend S106. At the moment we have corporate objections which frame the decision making.”