Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes of the last meeting held on 11^th December 2014.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2014 were approved.

To elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman. Alderman Sir David Wootton being the only Member expressing willingness to serve was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year and took the Chair.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

RESOLVED:– That under Section 100(a) 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 Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item No.                                             Paragraph No.

8 & 9                                                        3

10                                                                 1

MOTION - 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 Nos.                              Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

8-10                                                  3 and 1

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

To approve the non-public minutes of the last meeting held on 11^th December 2014.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2014 were approved.

A joint report of the Town Clerk and the Chamberlain seeking the Committee’s views on the terms of some guidance for elected Members in respect of the new arrangements for the Freedom agreed by the Court on 5 March 2015.

The purpose of the guidance is to explain to Members the new processes and, particularly, the arrangements that are now in place for Freedoms by Special Nomination.

A copy of the draft guidance is attached at Appendix A and a copy of the Committee’s report to the Court in March is attached at Appendix B, for information.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning guidance to be issued to Members to assist with the new arrangements for the Freedom agreed by the Court on 5 March 2015.

In response to a number of suggestions it was agreed that the Guidance be amended in consultation with the Committee to reflect those suggestions and that the final version be circulated to all Members of the Court of Common Council.

Appendix A to the report of the Town Clerk has been produced by the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee in order to provide examples of the sort of people who should be considered for the Freedom by Special Nomination. 

The list, which is not exhaustive, reflects the main criterion to being granted the Freedom via this route, that being the provision of services to the City of London above and beyond the call of duty.  This list also reflects references in the report to the Court of Common to an individual’s “…. significant contribution in support of the City of London Corporation’s aims and objectives and the cultural, political and diplomatic life of the capital”.

The Committee considered a list of examples of the sort of people who should be considered for a Freedom by Special Nomination (FSN) which had been prepared by the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.

Members discussed the names of potential recipients and agreed a way forward.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.