Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Doug Barrow, Sir Michael Snyder, and The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor, Alderman Alan Yarrow.

The Town Clerk noted that Alderman The Lord Mountevans had been appointed to the sub committee since the agenda papers had been published and was therefore in attendance, and that Hugh Morris was now on the sub committee by virtue of being Deputy Chairman of the Policy Committee. Lastly, Deputy Michael Cassidy and Deputy Alex Deane were listed on the frontispiece in error.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Town Clerk to be heard.

Members agreed extend the term of the existing co-opted members for a further year, on the understanding that the four posts would then be opened to the wider membership of the Court of Common Council from 2016/17.

RESOLVED, that

·         Oliver Lodge, Ian Seaton, Tom Sleigh and Sophie Fernandes be appointed as co-opted members on the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee for 2015/16.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 19 February 2015.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2015 were approved as a correct record subject to Edward Lord being marked as present, and reference to the City of London Corporation not limiting itself on cross-sectoral issues being factored into the Economic Development Office’s Business Plan (Item 8).

Report of the Director of Public Relations.

The subcommittee considered a report of the Director of Public Relations on the City of London Corporation’s 2015 Party Conference Activity. Members requested advice from the Public Relations Office on what fringe events were advisable to attend. A member emphasised that it was important to maintain engagement with the Liberal Democrats given the number of Liberal Democrat peers who would be responsible for scrutinising draft legislation.

RESOLVED, that:

·         The proposed City of London Corporation programme for the 2015 Party Conferences be confirmed;

·         The proposed arrangements for Member attendance be agreed.

Joint report of the Remembrancer and Director of Public Relations.

The subcommittee received a joint report of the Remembrancer and the Director of Public Relations on the implications of the 2015 General Election for the City of London Corporation. The Chairman commented that he had undertaken some positive engagement with politicians since the election, including Greg Clark (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government), Brandon Lewis (Minister for Housing and Planning), Lord Adonis (Labour) and Lord Hill (European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union).

Members then discussed the forthcoming referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. The Chairman noted his recent statement to the Court of Common Council in May 2015 that emphasised the majority view of City businesses was that the UK was better off as a member of the European Union, and that UK interests were best served by being fully engaged in EU policy making as a EU member. He acknowledged that differences of opinion existed among members of the Court of Common Council over the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s role in the EU referendum would therefore be decided through the committee process in the usual way.

Members noted the range of factors that would need to be catered for when deciding the City of London Corporation’s position on the EU, namely the Prime Minister’s efforts to secure EU reform; UK sovereignty; the industries the City of London Corporation was best placed to represent; whether the City should adopt a wider public relations message than once focused purely on financial services; and the role EU membership played in providing jobs in the UK.

RESOLVED, that:

·         The matter of the City of London Corporation’s policy on UK membership of the European Union be referred to the Policy and Resources Committee for consideration; and

·         A briefing note be issued to

Joint report of the Remembrancer and the Directors of Public Relations and Economic Development.

The subcommittee received a joint report of the Remembrancer and the Directors of Economic Development and Public Relations on political developments and policy issues affecting London. In response to a comment from the Chairman on the critical importance of housing policy to London, a member commented that the Conservative pledge to extend Right to Buy to housing association stock would potentially undermine the ability of housing associations to raise finance at AAA rates, and therefore the City of London Corporation should be involved in such a debate.

Members noted that both Zac Goldsmith MP and Stephen Greenhalgh were likely Conservative candidates for the London Mayoral elections in 2016.

RECEIVED

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The subcommittee received an update report of the Director of Economic Development on activity of the International Regulatory Strategy Group since February 2015.

RECEIVED

The Chairman to be heard.

The subcommittee received a review of EU engagement events since February 2015. The Chairman took the opportunity to request that an equivalent document be provided for the City of London Corporation’s political engagement programme.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill

A member noted that this Bill had implications for social investment and therefore the City of London Corporation should be proactive in engaging with government during its passage through Parliament.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

RESOLVED – that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7a of Schedule 12A of the Act. 

The Town Clerk was heard on a confidential matter.