Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Ray Catt and Alderman Sir Paul Judge.

John Scott declared an interest in items 8(a) and (d) by virtue of past association with the applicants and in item 9 by virtue of association with the Worshipful Co. of International Bankers.

Both Roger Chadwick and Wendy Hyde declared an interest in item 9 by virtue of association with the Worshipful Co. of World Traders.

None of the above were considered to be pecuniary interests.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2012.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2012 were approved.

The Sub Committee received the Guidelines to be observed by the Grants Sub Committee. 

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

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 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting of the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain outlining applications for Finance Committee assistance received since the last meeting.

RESOLVED: That:-

(i)         the following applications be agreed to and that they be funded from                        City’s Cash:-

Barts City Life Saver

A one-off grant of £5,000 towards Life Support Training.

Friends of Guildhall Art Gallery

A one-off grant of £5,000 towards a production of Medea in the Roman amphitheatre as part of the Classics Gateway project supported by the Mayor of London’s Love Latin Scheme

St Marks Church, Clerkenwell

A one-off grant to cover the remaining costs of new toilets and baby changing facilities against the funds raised by the church so far. The grant shall not exceed £10,000.

The Stuart Low Trust

A one-off grant of £2,500 towards an activity programme for people with mental health problems aged 25-35.

(ii)        the following applications be not agreed to:-

City of London Choir

That no contribution be awarded to a concert at the Barbican in November 2012 as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds available.

Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust

That no contribution be awarded to the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster Memorial as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds available.

Prisoners Abroad

That no contribution be awarded towards the costs of a corporate fund raiser as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds available.

The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust

That no contribution be awarded to provide safer cycling sessions as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds available. It was suggested, however, that the Trust be recommended to engage with the Sir John Cass School to explore alternative funding arrangements.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk providing Members with information on those organisations that have been awarded grants by the Finance Grants Sub Committee.

RESOLVED: That the report be received and its contents noted.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk providing Members with information the current recipients of benefits and grant in kind.

A Member queried how the various items listed on the report were agreed and expressed concern about the level and purpose of some benefits, in particular, one being provided to the Worshipful Company of Carmen. The Town Clerk clarified that the purpose of the report was to outline the totality of benefits and grants in kind agreed by the various Corporation Committees, and that the Grants Sub-Committee was not responsible for scrutinising the purpose or level of these.

RESOLVED: That:-

i)                 the updated report and note the recipients of benefits and grants in kind relating to 2012/13 be received;

ii)                the policy that no benefits and grants in kind to charities or other external organisations should be made by committees or officers without the agreement of your Committee subject to a de minimis of £2,500 be reaffirmed;

iii)              one new benefit in kind relating to the provision of a free season ticket to Broadway Homelessness and Support to park a car at Whites Row Car Park, which is valued at the parking season ticket price of £4,264 be approved; and

iv)              the definition of benefits and grants in kind be confirmed.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.