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 Deputy Catherine McGuinness, Christopher Hayward, Jeremy Mayhew and Alderman Sir David Wootton.

 ...  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 197 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 26 February 2018.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 26 February 2018 be approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

·         James Tumbridge’s apologies be recorded.

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

4.

Business of Trust Key Messages pdf icon PDF 190 KB

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

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

Minutes:

Members considered a joint report of the Director of Communications and the Director of Economic Development concerning the Business of Trust initiative’s key messages.

 

Members welcomed the report but asked that more information be given about the tangible work that is taking place on the Business of Trust initiative and what it is achieving. The Director of Economic Development assured Members that a further report would be presented to the Sub Committee in due course outlining the work of the Business of Trust initiative, particularly focusing on the Leaders of Tomorrow (the City’s next generation of leaders) work.

 

In light of this report, a Member asked a question concerning the perception (particularly on social media) of the City Corporation when Aldermen and the Lord Mayor wear traditional dress at functions such as the Commonwealth Business Forum. Following discussion, the overall view of Members was to employ a balanced approach, as particularly stakeholders from overseas have fed back positively to more traditional dress, therefore there are occasions where traditional dress can be worn appropriately. However, as there does seem to be criticism, especially on social media, on the pomp and ceremony aspect of these functions, the Director of Communications and the Executive Director of Mansion House & the Central Criminal Court committed to keeping this under review.

 

The Chairman requested that Members were kept updated on the initiative.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The factsheet and key messages in the report relating to the Business of Trust initiative be approved.

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

5.

Updates Available to Members pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

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

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Communications outlining updates to Members on the City Corporation’s public statements and positions on issues of local, regional, national and international importance.

 

A Member requested that this information be included in the Members Briefing, which the Director of Communications agreed to.

 

Another Member asked for Court statements to be put on the website or tweeted, which the Director of Communications agreed to but asked that some discretion be given for Officers to decided which statements are in the interests of the public.

 

The Chairman underlined the importance of Members using these positions when speaking on behalf of the City, as well as Members holding their own individual opinions. A Member questioned whether there is a record of who the official spokespersons of the City of London Corporation are, to which the Town Clerk advised Members of the job descriptions for the Policy Chairman and the Lord Mayor. Members also discussed the role of spokesperson for Committee Chairmen within the remit of their respective Committees. One Member praised the Chairman of Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queens Park Committee for her media presence on behalf of the City Corporation, which is reflected in the amount she is involved in on the Weekly Media Grid.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

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

6.

Brexit Legislation: Trade Bill and Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Report of the Remembrancer.

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

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Remembrancer summarising the Trade Bill and Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

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

7.

EDO Monthly Update - March pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Economic Development updating Members on the key activity undertaken by the Economic Development Office (EDO) in March 2018.

 

The Director of Economic Development gave a quick review of the Commonwealth Business Forum but advised Members that a more detailed report would be submitted to this Sub Committee in due course.

 

A Member requested that the Financial and Professional Services Monthly Highlights newsletter be leveraged further through promotion in ward newsletters. This was welcomed by Officers although made clear that the publication was intended for stakeholder communication rather than to the general public.

 

Following a question concerning EU engagement, the Special Representative for the City to the EU gave some insight from his visits to the EU. He perceived that there was a clear cut 6-month phasing and that it was widely hoped that conceptual agreement will be resolved by October 2018. From October to March, the UK would then move to associate member status. The Special Representative continued to give an overview of the City Corporation’s three T’s messaging (Transition, Talent, Trade), outlining that transition has now been developed, talent (or immigration) was still void in policy terms and that more needed to be done on trade policy particularly to develop a deal for the financial services industry. There was discussion on how much this deal would be a reciprocal partner based model or something more beholden to an existing EU model.

 

A Member asked whether there was a divergence of views across the 27 EU countries on the UK’s relationship with the EU but the Special Representative perceived there to be less divergence than expected, but there are differences of emphasis with each country and national interests vary.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

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

8.

Political Engagement Update pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

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

Minutes:

Members received an update report of the Director of Communications on political activities of the City Corporation, including engagements of the Chairman of Policy and Resources and the Lord Mayor between the period of 26 February until 9 April 2018.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

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

9.

Parliamentary activity update March-April 2018 pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Report of the Remembrancer.

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

Minutes:

Members received an update report of the Remembrancer, concerning key activity undertaken by the Parliamentary Team in the Remembrancer’s Office since the last meeting of the Committee.

 

RESOLVED, that:

·         The report be noted.

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

10.

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

Minutes:

Questions were raised as follows -

 

City Corporation’s position on Brexit

 

A question was raised concerning the City Corporation’s position on Brexit and particularly whether the City Corporation should call for the access to the Single Market rather than just mutual market access.

 

Some Members were supportive of this change in position whereas others wondered if it could damage the City Corporation’s relationship with the industry and with HM Government. A Member suggested that the City Corporation could lead on some sensible scenario planning.

 

It was agreed that it was important for the Policy Chairman to lead this debate and that this discussion be deferred to the Policy & Resources Committee in due course.

 

RESOLVED – that this Sub Committee recommend that the Policy and Resources Committee discuss whether the City Corporation should change its position on calling for UK access to the Single Market.

 

Gender Diversity on the Policy and Resources Committee

 

A question was raised on the lack of gender diversity on the Policy and Resources Committee following the recent elections at Court of Common Council. It was noted that the Committee was not representative in terms of gender of the wider Court nor the City of London as a whole. Concerns were raised that this posed an issue for the Committee and could also be perceived as a reputational risk.

 

Members felt that there was some urgency around the lack of diversity and asked that this be raised with the Policy and Resources Committee at its next meeting to encourage a discussion about any action that should be taken by the Committee to increase the diversity of its Membership.

 

RESOLVED – That the discussion and issues raised by Members of this Sub-Committee be highlighted to the Policy and Resources Committee to enable it to consider whether and, if

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

11.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

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

12.

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 12.

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

13, 16

3, 4

 

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

13.

Note of the Informal Meeting of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub Committee

To receive the note of the informal meeting of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub Committee held on 27 March 2018.

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

Minutes:

The Sub Committee received the minutes of an informal meeting of Members of the Public Relations & Economic Development Sub Committee held at The Grange St Paul’s Hotel on Tuesday 27 March 2018.

 

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the informal meeting of the Public Relations & Economic Development Sub Committee be noted.

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

14.

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

Minutes:

One question was raised in respect of the Special Representative for the City to the EU’s recent EU engagement.

 ...  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:

There were no items of urgent business.

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

16.

Reconfiguration of the CRM and COD functions and the transition to and long-term support for City Dynamics

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

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

Minutes:

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the reconfiguration of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and City Occupiers Database (COD) functions and the transition to and long-term support for City Dynamics.

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