Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Hugh Morris.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes of the last meeting held on 23 July 2015.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2015 were approved subject to Edward Lord being recorded as being “in attendance”.

To note the Guidance on Freedoms circulated to Members.

The Committee noted that since its last meeting the “Guidance for Members on the Freedom” had been approved and circulated to all Members of the Court of Common Council for information. 

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain which provided a list of those who had nominated three or more recipients’ of the Freedom from April to July 2015.

Reference was made to individuals who had made high level of nominations and a Member questioned on whether they actually knew all the recipients they were putting forward. The Chairman suggested that it might be helpful for Members of the Committee to be provided with a list of multiple nominations on a monthly basis in order to monitor the situation and ensure matters were challenged appropriately. Members supported this suggestion.

RESOLVED – Members of the Committee be provided with a list of multiple nominators of recipients of the Freedom on a monthly basis.

The following item was moved from the non-public part of the agenda into the public session:-

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the waiver of the administrative fee for applicants of the Freedom who were registered on the City’s Ward List.

Discussion ensued on the current practice of waiving the fees for those on the Ward List. It was felt that the waiver was an anomaly and that there was no merit in retaining such an historic practice, particularly as very few people made use of it. The Committee supported this view and agreed that the waiver should now be dispensed with.

The Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court pointed out that dispensing with the waiver required the approval of the Court of Common Council.

RESOLVED – that the Chamberlain be requested to draft a report for submission  to the Court of Common Council that the practice of waiving the administrative fee for applicants of the Freedom who were registered on the City’s Ward List should now be dispensed with but that the practice be retained for candidates standing for elections in the City.

There were no questions.

Quorum of the Committee

In view of the increased activity on the part of the Committee, reference was made to the possibility of the Committee having inquorate meetings with a composition of just five Members. It was suggested that to avoid this, the composition of the Committee should be increased by one to six Members. It was also suggested that the sixth position be allocated to the immediate past Chief Commoner for part of the year and then the Chief Commoner Designate, once elected in October, for the remainder of the year. Members supported the suggestions.

RERSOLVED – that it be recommended to the Court of Common Council that the membership of the Freedom Applications Committee be increased by from five to six Members and that the sixth position be the immediate past Chief Commoner for part of the year and then the Chief Commoner Designate, once elected in October, for the remainder of the year.

MOTION– 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.

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

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

                 9 and 11                                                                1

To approve the non-public minutes of the last meeting held on 23^rd July  2015.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2015 were approved.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered and agreed a report of the Chamberlain concerning potential recipients of a Freedom by Special Nomination.

There were no questions.

There were urgent items.