Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from The Chief Commoner – Wendy Mead, OBE – and Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee – Deputy Catherine McGuinness.

There were none.

To note the Order of the Court of Common Council, 28 April 2017, appointing the Committee and approving its terms of reference.

RESOLVED – That the Order of Common Council, 28 April 2017, appointing the Committee and approving its terms of reference be noted.

The Committee noted that this item – Election of Chairman – had been excluded from the agenda by error.

An Election of Chairman was held in accorance with Standing Order 29. Sir David Wootton, being the only Member willing to stand, was declared Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2017.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing the outstanding references from the previous meeting and action taken to date.

Matters Arising

In respect to the outstanding reference 1 – an Application for the Freedom – the Chairman stated that he had spoken to the nominator (GP) and has been given assurance over the application. The Committee subsequently agreed to endorse the application of IM, as originally outlined at item 14 of the meeting held on 24/11/2016.

In respect to outstanding references 5 and 6 – matters relating to Freedom Applications and Convictions – the Committee requested that a) typos at the bottom of the first page of the application form be correct and b) that on the second page of the application form the words ‘being a Freeman of the City of London’ be inserted after ‘We, the undersigned’. The Committee approved to the revisions of the application form, subject to those additional amendments being made as specified above.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chamberlain regarding options on how to improve equality and diversity in applications for the Freedom.

Note: this report will be circulated as a late item before the meeting.

The Committee noted that the report had been provided as a late supplementary paper. Hard copies were made available for Members at the meeting.

The Chamberlain introduced the report, which focused on how diversity can be improved in respect to those applying for the Freedom of the City. He noted that in relation to paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 of the report – suggestions regarding Chief Officer nominations – there had been a very positive response, with over 30 responses having been received already. He stated that the summit group of Chief Officers had endorsed the approach as a valuable way of increasing diversity.

Deputy Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee, Mark Boleat, stated that the recommendations in the report do not go far enough, and that without bolder actions the City, and the Freedom of the City, may be open to challenge in the future. He further stated that the question of patrimony on the application form was out of date, and does not aid the drive to improve the diversity of recipients.

The Chairman acknowledged the points raised, although stated that there is a limit to what the Committee can do. He further stated that the liveries have a vital role in increasing diversity.

Alderman Duckworth commented that education is a good area to target, and that the visibility of an improvement of diversity is key to ensuring the success of the Freedom of the City Award.

The Committee discussed that in respect to the allocation of a £5,000 budget to pay fees for

potential candidates from schools and academies (for a pilot period of 12 months), the emphasis should be on those receiving bursaries from local independent schools, City of London family schools, and City of London Academies. The Committee further commented that Clerk to the

There were none.

Members placed on record their thanks for the support Charlotte Taffel (Town Clerk’s Department) had given to the Committee, and wished her luck as she leaves the Corporation for a new role.

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.

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.  

None to receive.

There were none to agree.

There were none.

There was none.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2017.

RESOLVED – That the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain which set out a composite list of recipients of the Freedom by Special Nomination and the progress of existing candidates.

RECEIVED.