Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Leanne Murphy  Email: leanne.murphy@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Andrew Mayer.

 

 ...  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 158 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 December 2017.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 December 2017 be approved as a correct record.

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

4.

Membership of Chatham House pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

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

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Director of Communications concerning the membership of Chatham House. The Sub Committee were advised that if a proposed nominee did not accept the position, they would be asked to propose an alternative. Members agreed with this approach and recommended that the Chairman of Planning and Transportation be added to the list of representatives. 

 

A Member suggested issuing a reminder of the core benefits and instructions on how to access them. Members also noted that they were often in receipt of a number of emails and asked that Officers ensure that invitations come well in advance of an event, and that advice on the priority of the event be given. Officers also agreed to ensure Member’s addresses and emails were up to date.

 

RESOLVED – that Members,

 

·         Approve a new proposed list of 25 City Corporation nominees, in accordance with the process set out in the report.

·         Agree that that the list comprises of both Members and Officers.

·         Agree that membership be offered to the following Member and Officers as detailed below and, more specifically, in Annex A.

 

o   Members of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub Committee (PRED);

o   SABTAC;

o   9 Officers representing interested departments/offices and/or leading on Chatham House engagement: EDO, Communications, Corporate Affairs, Mansion House, Remembrancer.

 

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

5.

The Business of Trust 'factsheet' - key messages pdf icon PDF 103 KB

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

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Communications and Director of Economic Development concerning the key messages from the Business of Trust factsheet.

 

Members strongly felt that 24 key messages were too many. It was agreed the messaging needed to be sharper and should be restricted to 5 or 6 key messages along with a clear description of what the City Corporation is doing to achieve them.

 

Members agreed that the positioning of the messaging would benefit from some further consideration and recommended ensuring the messaging was proactive in terms of highlighting the work the City Corporation undertook. A Member added that the facts need to be more focussed to communicate progress and suggested testing some messages externally.

 

RESOLVED, that

 

·         The factsheet be amended based on recommendations from the Sub Committee in consultation with by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

·         A further report on Business of Trust Key Messaging be referred to a future meeting.

 

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

6.

Economic Development Activities Update pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

 

NB: The appendices to this report, The Total Tax and The Value of Fintech, have been circulated as electronic documents only. Hard copies are available on request

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the quarterly Economic Development Activities update (October-December 2017).

 

The Director of Economic Development highlighted that transition went beyond the EU and Brexit, linking the City with future markets where it can make the biggest impact. He also noted that the Commonwealth Business Forum, held in Guildhall and Mansion House, was a key way to showcase the City as a centre of finance in the wider Commonwealth.

 

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

 

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

7.

Political and Parliamentary Activity

The Director of Communications and the Remembrancer to be heard.

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

Minutes:

The Director of Communications and the City Remembrancer were heard regarding recent political and parliamentary activity. The Director of Communicationsadvised Members that the London Government Dinner saw some positive engagement with wider London government stakeholders and that the London Mayor had noted in his speech his support for the City of London Corporation.

 

The Director noted the summary of the main changes arising out of the Labour government reshuffle, which was circulated to Members and Officers following confirmation of the final appointments, and provided an update on planned engagement with the Shadow Cabinet

 

The City Remembrancer noted that he would circulate a written update outside of the meeting. He noted that Lord McFall, former Chair of the Commons Treasury Committee, had raised numerous questions on the Open Spaces Bill which was currently progressing through the Lords.

 

The Chairman commended the work by the Remembrancer and his wider team.

 

A Member noted that the new Lord Chancellor would be attending a Shrieval Lunch at the Old Bailey.

 

Members noted the positive speech by the Leader of London Councils Claire Kober at the London Government Dinner. The Chairman added that Ms Kober had been a positive influence of the work of London Councils and London government more generally.

 

In response to a comment from a Member, the Director of Communications confirmed that all outgoing ministers would be receiving letters of thanks from the Corporate Affairs Team.

 

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

8.

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

Minutes:

Remuneration and Diversity

A question was raised regarding work being undertaken by the City Corporation on remuneration and diversity.

 

Members noted that efforts were being made by the City Corporation to promote diversity, e.g. the comprehensive programme of roadshows, events, etc, in the build up to the 2017 City Elections, but agreed more could and should be done.

 

A Member noted that one potential area in which to promote diversity would be the Livery. For example, the Lord Mayor should in his annual speech to the Livery encourage the Livery Companies to undertake more outreach into the business community and encourage candidates to stand for election to the City.  Members also noted the role the City had played in encouraging the admission of women to the Livery and how this provided some precedent for the sort of role the City could play going forward.

 

Members noted that an emphasis on securing diversity should not preclude the right stakeholders being included in forthcoming City events, and that the City should be mindful that in some sectors, the diversity of senior stakeholders would undergo gradual change as middle ranking employees were promoted to senior roles over time.

 

A Member noted that evidence suggested that women were less likely to put themselves forward for election. It was suggested that it might be helpful to circulate some information to potential female candidates and that gender diversity should be an explicit consideration mind when the City co-opted candidates on to its committees. 

 

 

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

9.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

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

10.

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 10.

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.

 

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

11.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2017.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED - that the non-public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 December 2017 were approved.

 

 

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

12.

Non-Public Political and Parliamentary Update

The Director of Communications and the Remembrancer to be heard.

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

Minutes:

There was no non-public political and parliamentary update.

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

13.

Non Public Economic Development Update

The Director of Economic Development to be heard.

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

Minutes:

There was no non-public economic development update.

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

14.

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 14.

15.

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

Minutes:

The late circulated report concerning the draft outline mayoral programme for 2018/19 was withdrawn.

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