Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms, 2nd Floor, West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Gregory Moore  Tel:- 0207 332 1399

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Deputy Catherine McGuinness and Deputy Henry Pollard.

 ...  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 none.

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

3.

Order of the Court of Common Council pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 21 April 2016, appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 21 April 2016 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

 

RECEIVED.

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

4.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

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

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order No.29, the Board proceeded to elect a Chairman for the year ensuing. The Town Clerk read a list of Members eligible to stand and Marianne Fredericks, being the only Member expressing her willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chairman.

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

5.

Election of Deputy Chairman

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

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

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order No. 30, the Board proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year. The Town Clerk read out a list of Members eligible to stand and Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, being the only Member expressing his willingness to serve, was duly elected as Deputy Chairman.

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

6.

Overview of Safer City Partnership priorities for 2015/16 and recommended areas for scrutiny pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining the role and remit of the Safer City Partnership (SCP), its areas of activity in recent years, and suggesting potential areas the Committee might wish to scrutinise in more detail.

 

Members noted that the role of this Committee was atypical of City Corporation Committees, as the Corporation did not operate the scrutiny system employed by most local authorities. In order to assist Members in this potentially unfamiliar role, the Town Clerk would be organising scrutiny training for the Committee in due course; it was also observed that the role of the Committee would be to act as a critical friend to the SCP.

 

The Committee discussed the role and composition of the Safer City Partnership, asking a number of questions with a view to developing a greater understanding of its work and identifying where Members’ scrutiny efforts might prove most efficacious. It was noted that limited funding was available for direct action, although some monies were occasionally made available through the Proceeds of Crime Act, and that the SCP tended to work through its partners (for instance the Christmas Campaign set out in paragraph 16 of the report, which the London Ambulance Service had led on to great effect).

 

In the process of debate, Members expressed a particular interest in understanding the SCP’s channels of communication and the way in which it was able to disseminate advice and information, either directly or through partners. Members noted the use of Twitter feeds and the City of London Police’s text messaging services but sought clarity as to the full suite of alternative communication methods which might be used. It was suggested that a report be prepared for the next meeting on this subject, thereby allowing the Committee to scrutinise the arrangements in

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

7.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

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

8.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

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