Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Emma Cunnington  Email: emma.cunnington@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Simon Duckworth and Tijs Broeke.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

MEMBERS' DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 April 2018.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 April 2018 be approved as a correct record.

 

Matters Arising

The Chairman updated Members on the debate at the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the City Corporation’s position on Brexit, confirming that the position remained pragmatic and in line with the sector. In addition, the Economic Development Office are arranging representatives of trade associations to come in for a roundtable with Members.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Election of Co-opted Members

To elect four co-opted Members from the Court of Common Council.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee proceeded to elect four co-opted Members to the Sub Committee in accordance with the terms of reference.

 

Before the voting commenced, a Member requested consideration be given to the voting system, and that each successful candidate should receive more than 50% of the vote. This motion was not seconded and the majority of the Sub-Committee felt that a First Past the Post voting system should be used on this occasion with further consideration given to future years.

 

A list of seven Members who had expressed interests was read and Andy Mayer, Sophie Fernandes, Anne Fairweather and James Tumbridge were duly elected for the ensuing year.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

EDO Monthly update - April 2018 pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received an update report on the work of the Economic Development Office over the month of April, which covered the hosting of the Commonwealth Business Forum, the City Corporation’s engagement with Brexit debates in Parliament, the hosting of City Week, and the Lord Mayor’s international visits to Brazil, Chile, Peru, Singapore and Indonesia.

 

The Chairman updated the Sub-Committee on more recent developments, including her recent visit to Washington & New York, on which a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer was being drafted.

 

A Member asked a question regarding follow-up on visits and delivering against the commitments made. The Assistant Director of Economic Development remarked that additional resource had been focused in this area, where there were now clearly identified key markets and clear outcomes for each visit. Another Member added how, importantly, inward investment visits were taking place and gave an example of the Mayor of Shenzhen visiting London.

 

Members discussed the recent TheCityUK and EY report on immigration and visas, which had been published the previous week. The Assistant Director of Economic Development updated Members on the work that would soon be commissioned by the City Corporation to focus on the customer journey for financial and professional services’ and technology companies setting up in the City, ensuring that good practices are in place and that the process is as simple as possible.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The letter on the US visit from the Chairman of Policy & Resources to the Chancellor of the Exchequer be circulated to Members of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub Committee for their information;

·         The report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Communications Update

The Director of Communications to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received an update report from the Director of Communications. The Director gave an overview of the recent political activities of the City Corporation and updated Members on the increased work concerning London political engagement, following a reorganisation of the Corporate Affairs team.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Remembrancers Update

The Remembrancer to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received an update from the Remembrancer on recent parliamentary activity. A report was tabled at the meeting, which set out the engagement on the Brexit – Withdrawal Bill, Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill, Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill, and the Data Protection Act.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Development Finance pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Report of Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development regarding Development Finance. Members heard how this proposed Steering Group would be joining up existing workstreams and looking at what could be done to secure London as a pre-eminent financial services centre, as well as being the interface between the private and public sector.

 

Members were broadly supportive of the proposal but had some questions over the financial implications of the work. The Assistant Director of Economic Development advised Members that the funding would be contained within existing budgets.

 

RESOLVED, that it be recommended to the Policy and Resources Committee to:

·         Approve the Economic Development Office’s proposal to begin a new programme of work in development finance;

·         Approve the Economic Development Office’s proposal to establish a High-Level Steering Group to guide, advise and set the direction to the new programme of work in development finance.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Plastic Free City pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the Plastic Free City campaign tackling reliance on single use plastics.

 

RESOLVED, that it be recommended to the Policy and Resources Committee to:

·         Agree a high-profile project in 2018 with the aim to reduce single use plastics across the City Corporation and wider City of London;

·         Support the various workstreams detailed in the report;

·         Note the funding approach for the project;

·         Agree the branding.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Towards a Sustainable Future: The City of London Corporation's Responsible Business Strategy, 2018-23 pdf icon PDF 198 KB

Report of the Chamberlain and the Chief Grants Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Chief Grants Officer concerning the City Corporation’s Responsible Business Strategy, 2018-23.

 

Members were supportive of the report, and one Member raised the issue that the City Corporation should look at changing all our cars to electric vehicles, to show leadership by example.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Corporate Volunteering Strategy, 2018-23 pdf icon PDF 144 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Town Clerk concerning the Corporate Volunteering Strategy, 2018-23.

 

Members were supportive of this paper, although one Member commented that the City Corporation antiquated other local authorities in having a strategy for volunteering. Members did, however, acknowledge that volunteers had been a key part of the organisation for many years.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The process and the content of the Corporate Volunteering Strategy be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Digital Skills Strategy for 2018-23 pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Joint report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services and the Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the Director of Economic Development outlining the Digital Skill Strategy for 2018-23.

 

Members asked that the work be joined up with the Barbican and, it was clarified that this had been approved by the Education Board.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The process for developing the strategy, including the proposed timetable for Member consultation and approval, be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Party Conferences 2018 pdf icon PDF 51 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Communications concerning the City Corporation’s activity in party conferences later this year.

 

Members commented that the programme looked good and that it was pleasing that UK Finance were partnering with the City Corporation.

 

One Member requested that registration was undertaken as soon as possible in order to receive the early bird discounts. The Director of Corporate Affairs assured Members that bookings would be made shortly, following the election of the four co-opted Members onto this Sub-Committee.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The proposed programme for party conferences be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Design, built, support and hosting for new website pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Communications updating Members on the progress of the City Corporation website project.

 

A Member enquired into the effectiveness of analytics on the new website, and officers remarked that these would be hard-baked into the requirements stage of the project.

 

Additionally, a Member asked whether the ambition of the website was to enable the City Corporation’s customers to request services (e.g. waste collection) as well as just being an information piece. The response outlined that this would be dealt with as part of the review of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) rather than this website project.

 

Members also discussed the procurement panel and suggested that the Chairman of the IT Sub Committee take part in this panel to feed in Members’ views.

 

One Member alerted the Director of Communications to the Museum of London’s attempt to ensure that images on their advertising indicated the diverse range of stakeholders it reached. The Director of Communications agreed that the images on the City Corporation website would include a diverse range of people, to represent the City Corporation’s stakeholders.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

The Commonwealth Business Forum 2018 pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Joint report of the Director of Economic Development and the Remembrancer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a joint report of the Director of Economic Development and the Remembrancer concerning the Commonwealth Business Forum.

 

The Chairman thanked Duncan Richardson in the Economic Development Office for his work in organising the Forum.

 

Members fed back that the Commonwealth Banquet had far too many guests not turn up, leaving empty seats at tables, and that the caterers did not perform to the standard expected. One Member asked that Officers be given authority to rearrange seating plans at last minute should drop-outs happen.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

The Business of Trust - six month update pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the Business of Trust. This report reflected the Sub-Committee’s request for more information on this policy area.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE

Minutes:

A question was raised as follows -

 

Bookings at the Guildhall Club

 

A Member asked a question regarding the controls in place for hire of the Guildhall Club. This question was prompted following a recent private event organised by a livery company in the Aldermen’s Dining Room where a few controversial high-profile guests were in attendance. This was later reported on in the press. The Member specifically asked the Sub-Committee to review the reduction in costs that livery companies benefit from, as well as the appropriateness of the contractors of the Guildhall Club, the Cook and Butler, being the only check on the events held in certain areas of the Guildhall complex.  

 

The question caused much debate amongst Members and the following points were made:

·         The charging for events by the Guildhall Club is a matter for the House Committee of the Guildhall Club (and for wider Guildhall events, it is a matter for the Hospitality Working Party;

·         The event was a private event and was not intended to be political, nor to provide a platform to a controversial political figure;

·         On this occasion, the booking was not made free of charge as the livery company paid for food and the room hire was covered as part of this cost;

·         The manager of the Cook and Butler should liaise with the Chairman of the House Committee of the Guildhall Club on this issue;

·         It would be very difficult for the City Corporation to vet guest lists for external bookings;

·         Comparisons were made with room bookings at Parliament;

·         One suggested solution was to enforce that a Member act as sponsor to external events at the Guildhall Club;

·         Another suggested approach was that the Remembrancers Office assist in consider further arrangements for room bookings.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         A further discussion be held in

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Exclusion of the Public

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

Item

Paragraph

20, 22

3, 4

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2018.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

The non-public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 April were approved.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

NON-PUBLIC QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT AND WHICH THE SUB COMMITTEE AGREES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILST THE PUBLIC ARE EXCLUDED

Minutes:

There was one item of urgent business raised.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.