Agenda and minutes

(A list of names, together with those of the nominators, has been separately circulated).

* denotes appointment

§ denotes less than ten years’ service on the Court;

# denotes less than five years’ service on the Court; and

< denotes a Member who served on the original Governance Review Working Party.

N.B. Standing Order No. 10(4)(b) requires

(a) One Member on the Investment Committee for the balance of a term expiring in April 2015;

(b) One Member on the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee for a four year term expiring in April 2016;

(c)  One Member on the Society for the Relief of the Homeless Poor for a four year term expiring in July 2014;

(d) One Member on the London Accident Prevention Council for a four year term expiring in May 2016;

(e) One Member on the Court of the City University for a three year term expiring in June 2015;

The Court proceeded to make the following appointments in respect of which the Town Clerk reported that the following nominations had been received:-

(a) One Member on the Investment Committee for the balance of a term expiring in April 2015;

Read.

The Court proceeded, in accordance with Standing Order No. 10, to ballot on the foregoing vacancy.

The Lord Mayor requested the Chief Commoner and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, or their representatives, to be scrutineers of the ballot.

Resolved – That the votes be counted at the conclusion of the Court and the result printed in the Summons for the next meeting.

(b) One Member on the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee for a four year term expiring in April 2016;

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy John Owen-Ward to have been appointed on the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee for a four year term expiring in April 2016.

(c)  One Member on the Society for the Relief of the Homeless Poor for a four year term expiring in July 2014;

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Dr Peter Hardwick to have been appointed on the Society for the Relief of the Homeless Poor for a four year term expiring in July 2014.

(d) One Member on the London Accident Prevention Council for a four year term expiring in May 2016;

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Alderman Alison Gowman to have been appointed on the London Accident Prevention Council for a four year term expiring in May 2016.

(e) One Member on the Court of the

There was no report

8 June 2012

In anticipation of the next set of City Corporation appointments to the City Academy Boards of Governors, in consultation with the Policy and Resources Committee, we have reviewed the current process with a view to creating a more efficient and effective arrangement.

We recognise that current appointments expire at the same time and appointments are not made in accordance with the procedures for appointments to outside bodies. We are proposing to adopt these procedures and phase the next set of appointments to all Academy Boards to ensure that a situation does not arise where all appointments expire without renewal. To adopt a more efficient approach for non-City Corporation Member appointments, we are also recommending that the Court delegates its power in this respect to the Community and Children’s Services Committee.

A printed and circulated report thereon has therefore been submitted and we commend the recommendations to you.

7 June 2012

This report seeks the approval of the Court for the transitional arrangements in respect of the City of London Corporation’s standards arrangements, following the introduction of The Localism Act 2011 (“the Act”) which will, once fully brought into force, abolish the current standards regime under the Local Government Act 2000.  There remain a number of areas that have not yet been clarified by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to enable detailed proposals to be worked up.  However, as a code of conduct must be adopted by 1 July 2012, in order to comply with statutory requirements, it is proposed that the City’s existing code of conduct (Appendix 1) be re-adopted for the time being, until such time as the regulations defining disclosable pecuniary interests have been made, and a new code of conduct reflecting these provisions can be brought to this Court for consideration and approval.  It is also recommended that a revised constitution and terms of reference for the Standards Committee be adopted from the point that section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force and that three independent persons be appointed from the point that section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force.

Our recommendation, supported by the Policy and Resources Committees, for a revised constitution and terms of reference can be found at Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 of the separately printed and circulated report and we recommend approval thereof.

(Mark John Boleat)

7 June 2012

Finance, Policy and Establishment Committees - Reports, etc.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE 

(Mark John Boleat)

Applications for the Use of Guildhall

7 June 2012

In accordance with the arrangements approved by the Court on 21 June 2001 for the approval of applications for the use of Guildhall, we now inform the Court of the following applications which have been agreed to:-

Received.

29 May 2012

On Tuesday 5 June 2012, the City of London Corporation hosted receptions at Mansion House in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

At the meeting of the Hospitality Working Party on 23 May 2012 it was reported that to enable the speeches at the event to be relayed to the various rooms used, the obtaining of additional toilet facilities and transportation costs for a number of guests would mean that a further £10,000 was needed in excess of the original budget.

This additional sum was approved as a matter of urgency on behalf of this Committee and of the Court and, in accordance with Standing Order No.19, we now report the action taken.

Diamond Jubilee: Budget Increase 

29 May 2012

On Tuesday 5 June 2012, the City of London Corporation hosted receptions at Mansion House in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

At the meeting of the Hospitality Working Party on 23 May 2012 it was reported that to enable the speeches at the event to be relayed to the various rooms used, the obtaining of additional toilet facilities and transportation costs for a number of guests would mean that a further £10,000 was needed in excess of the original budget.

This additional sum was approved as a matter of urgency on behalf of this Committee and of the Court and, in accordance with Standing Order No.19, we now report the action taken.

Received.

With the London 2012 Games commencing next month, it has been necessary to consider the City’s management arrangements to ensure it can respond effectively to operational demands during this time. Your Policy and Resources Committee has considered the matter and authorised the Town Clerk to take any action necessary in support of the City Corporation’s contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic operations, consulting with relevant Members where practicable. A printed and circulated report is submitted for your information.

Arrangements for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

With the London 2012 Games commencing next month, it has been necessary to consider the City’s management arrangements to ensure it can respond effectively to operational demands during this time. Your Policy and Resources Committee has considered the matter and authorised the Town Clerk to take any action necessary in support of the City Corporation’s contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic operations, consulting with relevant Members where practicable. A printed and circulated report is submitted for your information.

Received.

In accordance with Standing Order No. 61(1), the Recruitment Panel established by your Policy and Resources Committee submit a candidate for appointment as the Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

The candidate will appear before the Court of Common Council (in private session) and will give a presentation. Upon the candidate’s withdrawal from the Court, a ballot by Members will be held for the appointment.  On completion of that, the public will be re-admitted and the decision of the Court can be made known.

Our report has been separately printed and circulated only to Members as its contents include personal information relating to the candidate, which is considered to be exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Election of the Town Clerk and Chief Executive 

In accordance with Standing Order No. 61(1), the Recruitment Panel established by your Policy and Resources Committee submit a candidate for appointment as the Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

The candidate will appear before the Court of Common Council (in private session) and will give a presentation. Upon the candidate’s withdrawal from the Court, a ballot by Members will be held for the appointment.  On completion of that, the public will be re-admitted and the decision of the Court can be made known.

Our report has been separately printed and circulated only to Members as its contents include personal information relating to the candidate, which is considered to be exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Read.

7^th June 2012

Under section 28 of the Localism Act 2011, which will, once fully brought into force, abolish the current standards regime under the Local Government Act 2000, the City must appoint at least one independent person whose views (i) must be sought, and taken into account, by the City before it makes its decision on an allegation that it has decided to investigate; (ii) may be sought by the City in relation to an allegation in other circumstances; and (iii) may be sought by a member against whom an allegation has been made.  Given the contrasting roles that an independent person may be asked to perform and taking into account scheduling considerations, it has been recommended that three independent persons be appointed (from the point that section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force) [Item 12 on the summons].  Independent persons must not have been a member, co-opted member or officer of the authority in the last five years, nor be a relative or close friend of a member, co-opted member or officer.

Vacancies must be advertised, candidates must submit an application and appointments must be approved by a majority of Members of the Court of Common Council. The selection and appointment procedure for the post of Independent Person was approved by your Policy and Resources Committee and thereafter approved by the Court of Common Council (under urgency procedures) in March 2012.  Since this time, the selection and appointment process has been progressed with a vacancy advertised in the City AM (hard copy), on the City of London website, the Guardian On-line and the public appointments section on the Cabinet Office website as of 1 May 2012.  The deadline for receipt of applications was midday on Friday 18 May 2012, at which point

Appointment of Independent Person (Standards) 

7^th June 2012

Under section 28 of the Localism Act 2011, which will, once fully brought into force, abolish the current standards regime under the Local Government Act 2000, the City must appoint at least one independent person whose views (i) must be sought, and taken into account, by the City before it makes its decision on an allegation that it has decided to investigate; (ii) may be sought by the City in relation to an allegation in other circumstances; and (iii) may be sought by a member against whom an allegation has been made.  Given the contrasting roles that an independent person may be asked to perform and taking into account scheduling considerations, it has been recommended that three independent persons be appointed (from the point that section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force) [Item 12 on the summons].  Independent persons must not have been a member, co-opted member or officer of the authority in the last five years, nor be a relative or close friend of a member, co-opted member or officer.

Vacancies must be advertised, candidates must submit an application and appointments must be approved by a majority of Members of the Court of Common Council. The selection and appointment procedure for the post of Independent Person was approved by your Policy and Resources Committee and thereafter approved by the Court of Common Council (under urgency procedures) in March 2012.  Since this time, the selection and appointment process has been progressed with a vacancy advertised in the City AM (hard copy), on the City of London website, the Guardian On-line and the public appointments section on the Cabinet Office website as of 1 May 2012.  The deadline for receipt of applications was midday on Friday 18

27^th March 2012

Each year, the recognised Trade Unions submit a pay claim on behalf of the staff to take effect from the 1^st July in that year. Due to financial pressures across the organisation and the Government’s public sector pay policy, pay awards have been minimal in the last three years.  The last consolidated pay award was made in 2009 when a 1% increase on basic pay was made to all staff excluding Chief Officers. This was agreed on the basis of productivity savings including the removal of up to three days protected annual leave by the end of 2012.

In 2010, there was no pay award to staff. In 2011, due to the financial pressures faced by the City of London and the government’s public sector pay policy, the City made a one-off non-consolidated payment of £250 to staff in grades A-B who are the lowest paid staff within the organisation.

This year, after consulting with the Town Clerk and the Chamberlain, the Establishment Committee felt able to make an offer to staff, subject to the agreement of the Court of Common Council. Whilst accepting that this could not be an across the board cost of living increase, an offer to increase London Weighting was made. This was to be consolidated and was the equivalent of £300 on Inner London Weighting and will be awarded to all staff with the exception of the Senior Management Grade i.e. Chief Officers. The unions felt able to recommend this to their members and have now confirmed that their members have overwhelmingly accepted the offer.

The cost of the offer to increase London Weighting would add £1.13 million to the pay bill (circa 1%) including employer’s on-costs. The Chamberlain included this figure in his financial report which was agreed by

ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE

(Deputy John Barker, O.B.E.)

Pay Award 2012/13

 27^th March 2012

Each year, the recognised Trade Unions submit a pay claim on behalf of the staff to take effect from the 1^st July in that year. Due to financial pressures across the organisation and the Government’s public sector pay policy, pay awards have been minimal in the last three years.  The last consolidated pay award was made in 2009 when a 1% increase on basic pay was made to all staff excluding Chief Officers. This was agreed on the basis of productivity savings including the removal of up to three days protected annual leave by the end of 2012.

In 2010, there was no pay award to staff. In 2011, due to the financial pressures faced by the City of London and the government’s public sector pay policy, the City made a one-off non-consolidated payment of £250 to staff in grades A-B who are the lowest paid staff within the organisation.

This year, after consulting with the Town Clerk and the Chamberlain, the Establishment Committee felt able to make an offer to staff, subject to the agreement of the Court of Common Council. Whilst accepting that this could not be an across the board cost of living increase, an offer to increase London Weighting was made. This was to be consolidated and was the equivalent of £300 on Inner London Weighting and will be awarded to all staff with the exception of the Senior Management Grade i.e. Chief Officers. The unions felt able to recommend this to their members and have now confirmed that their members have overwhelmingly accepted the offer.

The cost of the offer to increase London Weighting would add £1.13 million to the pay bill (circa 1%) including employer’s on-costs. The Chamberlain included this