Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That the minutes of the Court of Aldermen held on 12^th February 2013 were correctly recorded.

The Minutes of the Court of Common Council were laid upon the table of the Court.

Congratulatory resolutions:

Resolved unanimously - that the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to Alderman Sir David Wootton on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as Knight Bachelor for services to legal business, charity and the City of London; to His Honour Judge Peter John Luther Beaumont CBE, QC, the retiring Recorder of London, on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to the administration of justice; and also to Lieutenant Colonel Richard Martin, MBE, the recently retired Swordbearer, on his appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to the City of London Corporation.

Vote of Thanks to His Hon Judge Peter Beaumont, CBE, QC (Recorder of London):

Resolved unanimously – that, upon the retirement of His Honour Judge Peter Beaumont QC, the members of this Court wish to express their sincere gratitude for the service he has given to the Corporation and to this Court.  Today marks the end of a substantial and significant period of service to both the City and to the administration of justice, and thanks of the highest order are due.  Peter served as Common Serjeant from 2001 until the untimely death of H.H. Judge Michael Hyam.  Appointed to the office of Recorder in 2004, he has served through a period of change and ever increasingly complexities.

As a barrister he developed a busy criminal practice mainly in East Anglia and swiftly rose to the rank of Q.C.  His judicial abilities were soon realised by his appointment as a Circuit Judge 1989 to sit at Chelmsford, but they were unable to keep him for long and he arrived at the Central Criminal

His Honour Judge Brian Barker QC made and subscribed the declaration for the due execution of the office of the Recorder of London and the Oath of Allegiance.

Mr Chamberlain presented the names of one hundred and fifty-nine persons to be made free of this City, and it is Ordered that they be admitted into the Freedom of this City accordingly, as follows:-

Name                                                    Company

Robert Stephen Barker              Gunmakers

David Henry Whitehouse            Coopers

Mark Daniel Whitehouse            Scriveners

Applications of the following Freemen to be recorded in the Companies named:- 

Name                                      Company

Robert Stephen Barker           Gunmakers

David Henry Whitehouse        Coopers

Mark Daniel Whitehouse        Scriveners

Read and agreed to.

Name                                    Company

Robert David Dobson           Haberdasher

An application of the following to be admitted into the Freedom of the City by Servitude in the company named:- 

Name                                      Company

Robert David Dobson            Haberdashers

Read and agreed to.

The draft of a Precept to the Masters, Prime wardens, Upper Bailiff and Wardens of the several Livery Companies requiring the attendance of the Livery on 24^th June next for the election of Sheriffs and other Officers for the year ensuing and on 30^th September next, for the election of a Lord Mayor of this City, for the year ensuing, was read, agreed to and ordered to be issued.

An Order against persons crowding upon the Hustings at elections at Common Hall was passed.

Resolved – That the Most Revd David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, be requested to preach before this Court and the Governors of the several hospitals of this City, at the Guild Church of St. Lawrence Jewry, on 7^th March 2013.

Also, that the Vicar of St. Lawrence Jewry be requested to –

(a) grant permission for the use of St. Lawrence Jewry Church;

(b) settle the details of the service;

(c) brief the Bishop; and,

(d) conduct the service.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor to lay before the Court a letter from Alderman Sir David Lewis DL offering to surrender his Office of Alderman of the Ward of Broad Street.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor laid before the Court a letter from Alderman Sir David Lewis DL offering to surrender the Office of Alderman for the Ward of Broad Street.

Resolved – Whereupon this Court, taking into consideration the request of Sir David Lewis DL, doth agree to accept his surrender of the Office of Alderman for the Ward of Broad Street, with effect from the last day of the relevant period provided for by Section 3A(2) of the Act of Common Council, 1960, as amended, and requests the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor to hold a wardmote for the election of a fit and able person to be Alderman thereof.