Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded.

Resolved unanimously - That, the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to Her Majesty The Queen in the following terms:-

“May it please Your Majesty.

We, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled, wish to offer to Your Majesty and to His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, our warmest congratulations on the birth of a son to Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

We are confident that this happy and auspicious event has given Your Majesty great pleasure, as it has to the Citizens of this City, this Country and throughout the Commonwealth.”

Resolved unanimously - That, the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the following terms:-

“We, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled, desire to offer to Your Royal Highness and to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall our sincere congratulations on the birth of a son to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

We are confident that this happy event will be a source of great pleasure to Your Royal Highness, to all the people of this Country and throughout the Commonwealth.”

Resolved unanimously - That, the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the following terms:-

“We, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled, desire to express our great pleasure, which is shared by all the citizens of this City, on the birth of a son to Your Royal Highnesses, and to offer our most cordial congratulations on this auspicious and happy event.

We look forward to seeing reflected in the young Prince those characteristics which have so endeared you both to the people of this Nation.”

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor reported on his recent visits to Chile, Peru, Columbia, Panama, Mexico and Jersey.

There was no report.

Sundry documents were sealed with the Hospital Seal.

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

The Chamberlain, in pursuance of the Orders of this Court, presented a list of the under-mentioned persons who had made application to be admitted to the Freedom of this City by redemption:-

                                                                                Votes

Affirmative                                                                   85

Negative                                                                        4

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared the recommendation of the Establishment Committee to have been agreed.

a) One Member on the Finance Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014 to fill a vacancy not taken by the Ward of Candlewick.

Nominations received:-

John Douglas Chapman, Deputy

Clare James, M.A.

b) One Member on the Community and Children’s Services Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014 to fill a vacancy not taken by the Ward of Farringdon Without.

Nomination received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

c) One Member (Non-Resident of the Barbican Estate) on the Barbican Residential Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2015.

Nomination received:-

Jeremy Paul Mayhew, M.A., M.B.A.

d) One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School   for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014.

Nomination received:-

Philip John Woodhouse

e) One Member on the St Andrew Holborn Charity for the balance of a term to expire in July 2015.

Nomination received:-

John Fletcher

f) One Member on Christ’s Hospital for the balance of a term to expire in January 2018.

Nomination received:-

Ann Marjorie Francescia Pembroke

g) One Member on the Mitcham Common Conservators for a four year term to expire in September 2017.

h) One Member on the Aldgate & Allhallows Barking Exhibition Foundation for a three year term to expire in September 2016.

Nomination received:-

Marianne Bernadette Fredericks

a) One Member on the Finance Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014 to fill a vacancy not taken by the Ward of Candlewick.

Nominations received:-

John Douglas Chapman, Deputy

Clare James, M.A.

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 Community and Children’s Services Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014 to fill a vacancy not taken by the Ward of Farringdon Without.

Nomination received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Randall Anderson to have been appointed on the Community and Children’s Services Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014 to fill a vacancy not taken by the Ward of Farringdon Without.

c) One Member (Non-Resident of the Barbican Estate) on the Barbican Residential Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2015.

Nomination received:-

Jeremy Paul Mayhew, M.A., M.B.A.

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Jeremy Mayhew to have been appointed as a Non-Resident of the Barbican Estate on the Barbican Residential Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2015.

d) One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School   for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014.

Nomination received:-

Philip John Woodhouse

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Philip Woodhouse to have been appointed on the Board of Governors of the City of London

Letter of Peter Nelson thanking the Court for the resolution passed following his retirement from the City of London Corporation.

Received.

Vivienne Littlechild asked a question of the Chairman of the Finance Committee regarding any assessment that had been made of the effect of the LIBOR scandal on the City Corporation’s investments and pension funds which were held with banks and other financial institutions.

In reply the Chairman reported that it was impossible to say whether the City Corporation’s finances were affected over the five years in question. He added that although there were financial instruments relating to borrowing that had a direct link to LIBOR, the City Corporation was not a borrower. He confirmed that none of the City Corporation’s money market activities were linked directly to LIBOR, activity was based on market rates that offered the best return so any exposure would be on the basis of an indirect link between LIBOR and interest rates. He concluded that there was not enough useful evidence on the impact or extent of how LIBOR was managed, for fund managers to make an assessment of consequential financial losses or gains. On the pension fund it was considered that any financial effect would be unquantifiable and, in case, it was unlikely to have been a negative impact.

In response to a supplementary question from Vivienne Littlechild, the Chairman confirmed that the Corporate Treasurer was in regular, if not daily, contact with the City Corporation’s treasury and investment advisors and although no formal guidance had been issued by them, the matter was likely to have been discussed.  

Revd. Dr Martin Dudley asked a question of the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee regarding the omission of the Health and Wellbeing Board from the Members’ Pocketbook.

In reply the Chairman apologised for the administrative error which caused the omission and reminded Members that the Town Clerk had sent a note providing them

There were no Motions.

A) Open Spaces Awards

Report of the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee.

“I am delighted to announce that the City Corporation’s Open Spaces and Gardens have again received several prestigious Green Flag and London in Bloom Awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces and aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. All sites must be freely accessible to the public and perform well against eight criteria, including safety and security, cleanliness, management and sustainability. This year the following Open Spaces retained the Award; Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Coulsdon Common, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, Riddlesdown, Spring Park, West Ham Park, West Wickham Common and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Green Heritage Site accreditation, which is sponsored by English Heritage, is awarded in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. The following Open Spaces retained their Green Heritage Site accreditation this year to acknowledge the heritage value of the Ashtead Common, Kenley Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, West Ham Park and of the Cemetery and Crematorium.

The City Corporation now holds 15 Green Flag and 9 Green Heritage Awards.  

The achievement of these Awards is a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of all the staff in the Open Spaces Department and the large teams of local volunteers who help to maintain the high quality of our Open Spaces. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

B) Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)

Report of the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

“I am delighted to announce

A) Open Spaces Awards

Report of the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee.

“I am delighted to announce that the City Corporation’s Open Spaces and Gardens have again received several prestigious Green Flag and London in Bloom Awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces and aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. All sites must be freely accessible to the public and perform well against eight criteria, including safety and security, cleanliness, management and sustainability. This year the following Open Spaces retained the Award; Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Coulsdon Common, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, Riddlesdown, Spring Park, West Ham Park, West Wickham Common and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Green Heritage Site accreditation, which is sponsored by English Heritage, is awarded in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. The following Open Spaces retained their Green Heritage Site accreditation this year to acknowledge the heritage value of the Ashtead Common, Kenley Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, West Ham Park and of the Cemetery and Crematorium.

The City Corporation now holds 15 Green Flag and 9 Green Heritage Awards.  

The achievement of these Awards is a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of all the staff in the Open Spaces Department and the large teams of local volunteers who help to maintain the high quality of our Open Spaces. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

B) Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)

Report of the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

“I am delighted to

(Michael Welbank, Deputy)

Your Committee seeks approval for the adoption of the Liverpool Street Area Enhancement Strategy to progress the delivery of public realm improvement.  A separately printed and circulated report has been submitted thereon.

The Strategy will provide prioritised enhancement proposals for public realm and road danger reduction as well as an improved, accessible, functional and safe environment that would support the increased footfall caused as a result of the work being undertaken by Crossrail at the entrances in Liverpool Street and Moorgate stations and in the buildings of the nearby Eastern City Cluster.  In addition, the Strategy would identify current issues and future demands, setting out a framework for addressing these in the context of existing policies and guidance and we recommend its adoption.

Your Committee seeks approval for the adoption of a 20mph speed limit in all City streets, including those managed by Transport for London, as part of the City’s Road Danger Reduction Plan to address the recent rise in the number of road casualties in the Cityand a separately printed and circulated report has been submitted thereon.

The City’s aim to tackle the recent rise in casualty numbers began with the adoption of the Road Danger Reduction Plan (RDRP) which detailed a range of methods to be undertaken between now and 2020. 

One of these called for an investigation into the reduction in the speed limit. A study was therefore undertaken which demonstrated that introducing a 20mph limit City-wide would be a cost-efficient and practical way to reduce casualty numbers quickly and we recommend its adoption, as set out in the report.

(B) 20 mph Speed Limit Benefits and Dis-benefits Investigation

Your Committee seeks approval for the adoption of a 20mph speed limit in all City streets, including those managed by Transport for London, as part of the City’s Road Danger Reduction Plan to address the recent rise in the number of road casualties in the Cityand a separately printed and circulated report has been submitted thereon.

The City’s aim to tackle the recent rise in casualty numbers began with the adoption of the Road Danger Reduction Plan (RDRP) which detailed a range of methods to be undertaken between now and 2020. 

One of these called for an investigation into the reduction in the speed limit. A study was therefore undertaken which demonstrated that introducing a 20mph limit City-wide would be a cost-efficient and practical way to reduce casualty numbers quickly and we recommend its adoption, as set out in the report.

Read.

A number of Members were heard in support of and against the proposals.

Amendment – ‘That an additional recommendation (d) be added as follows:-

d) that the City of London Corporation liaise with the GLA, London Councils and the Local Government Association to seek to build support for changes in the law so that speed limits apply to all road users, other than emergency vehicles using their blue lights, and that cyclists be obliged to wear appropriate helmets?’

Upon the question being put, the Lord Mayor declared the amendment not to be carried.

The original motion being before the Court again.

Amendment – ‘That an additional recommendation (d) be added as follows:-

d) that the Planning and Transportation Committee be requested to:-

i) bring forward a comprehensive Road Safety Strategy Plan to the Court; and

ii) together with the Policy and Resources Committee, work with GLA and London Councils to build a consensus with surrounding boroughs on road traffic safety measures?’

Upon the question being put, the Lord Mayor declared the amendment not to be carried.

The original motion being before the Court again.

Resolved - That the question now be put.

Resolved - that the report be read and agreed to.

“That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972:-

a) action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board on the disposal of a long leasehold interest;

b) action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board on the acquisition of an investment property; and

c) the details of a proposed resolution concerning a hospitality event?”

Resolved - That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972:-

Summary of exempt items considered while the public were excluded

The Court -

a) noted action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board on the disposal of a long leasehold interest;

b) noted action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board on the acquisition of an investment property; and

c) approved the details of a proposed resolution concerning a hospitality event.