Agenda and minutes

Pursuant to the decision of the Court of 16 October 2014, the Lord Mayor invited Deputy William Harry Dove, O.B.E., J.P., to take up the office of Chief Commoner for the ensuing year.

Resolved unanimously – That this Honourable Court wishes to extend to

John Alfred Bennett, Deputy

its sincere gratitude for the manner in which he has undertaken the role of Chief Commoner over the past year.

John took up the post in May 2014 as the first Chief Commoner from the Ward of Broad Street since 1930 and I know that Honourable Members are agreed that he has proven a tribute to his Ward, working tirelessly to represent Members’ interests.

Over the past year he has carried out the many and varied tasks expected of the Chief Commoner – some more challenging than others! - with patience, charm and sound judgement. We particularly acknowledge his ability in representing the City at official ceremonies such as the recent Afghanistan reception, the decommissioning of the City’s affiliated Royal Navy ship HMS Illustrious, and the naming ceremony for its successor, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, where his genial and charming personality has proven a significant attribute in promoting the Corporation’s work. He has also worked hard to foster closer links with the City Academies and has hosted a number of high-profile Freedom ceremonies.

In taking leave of the Chief Commoner and in thanking him formally and sincerely, his colleagues wish to express their appreciation, not only for his resourcefulness and hospitality during the past year, but also for his patience, consideration and courtesy and they wish him continued good health and happiness long into the future.

Deputy John Bennett was heard in reply.

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

Resolved unanimously –

That this Honourable Court wishes to extend to,

John Richard Owen-Ward, M.B.E.

its sincere gratitude for his long and much valued service as a Member for the past 32 years for the Ward of Bridge and Bridge Without. Not only was John a dedicated elected representative of the Ward, but he also served as the Ward Clerk and Secretary of the Ward Club at various points; Bridge will sorely miss his commitment and passion. One of his recent projects within the Ward was pursuing the building of a staircase from London Bridge to the Thames Path; it is fitting that construction of this staircase has begun this year and will serve as a reminder to all of John’s dedication.

John was elected to Common Council in 1983 and has been a stalwart on the Court ever since, serving on and Chairing a variety of Committees. His long-term contributions to the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee and the Barbican Centre Board in particular are noteworthy, as was his Chairing of the 1991 State Banquet in honour of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Throughout his time on the Court he also enjoyed strong links with the Livery, serving as Chairman of the then Livery Consultative Committee from 1997 to 2000.

John’s time at the Corporation will perhaps be best remembered for his service on the Planning & Transportation Committee, on which he sat for some 28 years and also chaired from 2004 to 2007. An architect by trade, John’s was able to bring his considerable expertise and insight to the Committee. He championed high calibre design which enhanced the City’s historic environment, and his term as Chairman saw the first award of the Stirling Prize for Architecture to a commercial building – the Gherkin, at 30 St

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor reported on his recent overseas visits to Luxembourg and Scotland.

There was no policy statement.

There were no documents to be sealed.

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

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

The Remembrancer reported on measures introduced by Parliament which might have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation as follows:-.

¬ denotes appointed

Four Common Councilmen on The Honourable The Irish Society for terms of three years to expire in 2018.

                                                                            Votes

*Brian Harris                                                       52¬

Christopher Michael Hayward                           53¬

Vivienne Littlechild, J.P.                                     44

Gregory Percy Jones QC                                  38

*Richard David Regan, O.B.E., Deputy            49¬

*Ian Christopher Norman Seaton                       54¬

Jeremy Lewis Simons, MSc                              33

Patrick Thomas Streeter                                    12

The Town Clerk reported the results of a ballot taken at the last Court as follows:-

¬denotesappointed

Four Common Councilmen on The Honourable The Irish Society for terms of three years to expire in 2018.

                                                                            Votes

*Brian Harris                                                       52¬

Christopher Michael Hayward                           53¬

Vivienne Littlechild, J.P.                                     44

Gregory Percy Jones QC                                  38

*Richard David Regan, O.B.E., Deputy            49¬

*Ian Christopher Norman Seaton                       54¬

Jeremy Lewis Simons, MSc                              33

Patrick Thomas Streeter                                    12

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Brian Harris, Christopher Hayward, Deputy Richard Regan and Ian Seaton to be appointed to The Honourable The Irish Society, for terms to expire in 2018.

(A list of the proposed appointments, terms of reference, including proposed amendments, and constitutions has been separately circulated).

(Unless otherwise stated the requirement for certain Committees to have a Member with fewer than five or ten years’ service on the Court, at the time of their appointment, is fulfilled by the existing membership).

Nominations received for vacancies of varying terms:-

Where appropriate:-

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment;

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

< denotes fewer than ten years’ service on the Court.

The Court proceeded to make the annual appointment of Committees:

Resolved – That the several Committees as set out in the White Paper be appointed until the first meeting of the Court in April 2015, and that the terms of reference and constitutions be also approved, subject to the following amendments:

-       For the Planning & Transportation Committee,  Alderman Mainelli to be appointed in place of Alderman Richardson;

-       For the Gresham (City Side) Committee, Alderman Mainelli to be appointed in place of Alderman Richardson;

-       For the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School, Alderman Richardson to be appointed in place of Alderman Mainelli;

-       For the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee, Karina Dostalova to be appointed in place of Clare James by the Ward of Farringdon Within;

-       For the Markets Committee, John Scott’s total years’ service to be corrected to read “6”, as opposed to 2;

-       For the Port Health & Environmental Services and the Community & Children’s Services Committees, the title Deputy to be deleted against the entries for Michael Welbank; and,

-       For the Planning & Transportation Committee, David Bradshaw to be noted as representing Cripplegate Within.

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

Nominations received for vacancies of varying terms:-

Where appropriate:-

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment;

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

< denotes fewer than ten years’ service on the Court.

a) Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

*Douglas Barrow, Deputy

*Mark John Boleat

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst

*George Marr Flemington Gillon

*Charles Edward Lord, O.B.E., J.P.

Alastair Michael Moss, Deputy

*Stephen Douglas Quilter, B.Sc.(Hons).

Thomas Charles Christopher Sleigh

James Richard Tumbridge

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to vacancies on Ward Committees.

Air Quality

Patrick Streeter asked a question of the Chairman of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee regarding air quality in London.

In response, the Chairman set out the significant steps the City was taking and the various policies and strategies which were in place or being developed. In response to a supplementary question concerning idling vehicles, the Chairman advised that the Mayor of London’s proposed scheme to ensure that from 2018 all new licensed taxi cabs were electric or hybrid would help to tackle the pollution caused by idling cabs at Liverpool Street station; the City Corporation’s policy of restricting traffic in areas where it was having a negative impact on air quality and on the proper functioning of the City was also highlighted.

In response to a second supplementary question from Mr Mooney, an undertaking was given to provide the Member with information concerning pollution levels at Smithfield Market.

Members’ Dress

Brian Mooney asked a question of the Chief Commoner concerning Members’ dress at civic functions.

In response, the Chief Commoner advised that Members should be well aware of the requirements around dress at functions in advance of joining the Court and that, for some, the ability to attend such functions was considered a privilege. In reply to a supplementary question, the Chief Commoner advised that he would be content to consider the possibility of the City Corporation funding the provision of dress for any Members in need of financial assistance, subject to individual discussions.

Blossom Street Site Development

The Revd. William Campbell-Taylor asked a question of the Deputy Chairman of the Property Investment Board concerning the City Corporation’s policy in respect of an ongoing development in Tower Hamlets.

In reply, the Deputy Chairman confirmed that the City Corporation had adapted its policy in respect of the site

There were no motions.

There were no reports.

(Mark John Boleat)

26 March 2015

Amendment to Standing Orders

The Court is asked to approve an amendment to Standing Orders which was discussed at the of your Policy and Resources Committee on 26 March 2015. The amendment will enable a question to be asked at a meeting of the Common Council, for which notice has been given in accordance with Standing Orders, even if the Member asking it is unavoidably absent from the meeting.

We therefore recommended that the City of London Corporation’s Standing Orders are amended by adding the following to the end of Standing Order No.13 (3):

“Questions will normally only be answered if the Member giving notice is present to put their question in person. In exceptional circumstances, the Lord Mayor may direct that the Town Clerk puts the question on behalf of a Member who is unavoidably absent and where he considers it would be in the interests of the Corporation that the Court hear the Chairman’s answer.”

(Mark John Boleat)

26 March 2015

Amendment to Standing Orders

The Court is asked to approve an amendment to Standing Orders which was discussed at the meeting of your Policy and Resources Committee on 26 March 2015. The amendment will enable a question to be asked at a meeting of the Common Council, for which notice has been given in accordance with Standing Orders, even if the Member asking it is unavoidably absent from the meeting.

We therefore recommend that the City of London Corporation’s Standing Orders are amended by adding the following to the end of Standing Order No.13 (3):

“Questions will normally only be answered if the Member giving notice is present to put their question in person. In exceptional circumstances, the Lord Mayor may direct that the Town Clerk puts the question on behalf of a Member who is unavoidably absent and where he considers it would be in the interests of the Corporation that the Court hear the Chairman’s answer.”

Read and agreed.

(Deputy John Bennett, Chief Commoner)

(Deputy John Bennett, Chief Commoner)

18 March 2015

(A) Applications for the Use of Guildhall

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:-

18 March 2015

(A) Applications for the Use of Guildhall

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:-

Read and received.

18 March 2015

(B) City of London Festival

The City of London Festival was founded in 1962 as an independent trust with the aim of revitalising the cultural life of the City. The City of London Corporation has long supported the event and will this year again be providing a venue for a concert.

To facilitate the exchange of ideas and discussion, it is proposed that a number of guests including City representatives, those representing the arts in London and political and diplomatic contacts, be invited to attend a pre-concert reception held in the Art Gallery.

Accordingly, we recommend that hospitality be granted in the form of a reception to be held on Thursday 9 July 2015 in the Art Gallery, with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

This would be a Committee event.

18 March 2015

(B) City of London Festival

The City of London Festival was founded in 1962 as an independent trust with the aim of revitalising the cultural life of the City. The City of London Corporation has long supported the event and will this year again be providing a venue for a concert.

To facilitate the exchange of ideas and discussion, it is proposed that a number of guests including City representatives, those representing the arts in London and political and diplomatic contacts, be invited to attend a pre-concert reception held in the Art Gallery.

Accordingly, we recommend that hospitality be granted in the form of a reception to be held on Thursday 9 July 2015 in the Art Gallery, with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

This would be a Committee event.

Read and agreed.

18 March 2015

C) European Study Group for Legionella Infections Conference

The European Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) is a group which shares information and best practice on the recognition and control of legionella infections, both in clinical and environmental settings. The City of London Corporation has close links with ESGLI, as legionella is a potential risk in the City owing to the proliferation of wet cooling towers. The City’s Environmental Health Department carries out training for other local authorities and has also organised European training courses with ESGLI to help ensure that outbreaks of legionnaire’s disease are investigated to the same standard across Europe.

The third ESGLI Conference is due to take place at the Barbican Centre on 16 and 17 September 2015. It is usual for the host city to provide some form of hospitality prior to the event to mark the start of the conference.

We therefore recommend that hospitality be granted in the form of an early evening reception, to be held on Friday 15 September 2015 with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

This would be a Committee event.

18 March 2015

(C) European Study Group for Legionella Infections Conference

The European Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) is a group which shares information and best practice on the recognition and control of legionella infections, both in clinical and environmental settings. The City of London Corporation has close links with ESGLI, as legionella is a potential risk in the City owing to the proliferation of wet cooling towers. The City’s Environmental Health Department carries out training for other local authorities and has also organised European training courses with ESGLI to help ensure that outbreaks of legionnaire’s disease are investigated to the same standard across Europe.

The third ESGLI Conference is due to take place at the Barbican Centre on 16 and 17 September 2015. It is usual for the host city to provide some form of hospitality prior to the event to mark the start of the conference.

We therefore recommend that hospitality be granted in the form of an early evening reception, to be held on Friday 15 September 2015 with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

This would be a Committee event.

Read and agreed.

(Gordon Warwick Haines, Alderman)

9 March 2015

Waiver of Standing Order No. 29

In accordance with Standing Order 29(2) the Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee is subject to annual re-election and is limited to serving a maximum term of three years. The current Chairman is now in his third and final year and is not currently eligible to seek election for a fourth year in this position. The Deputy Chairman was elected to this position in April 2014 but, due to a number of external factors, would be unable to take the chair this year should they be elected. No other existing member of the Committee has expressed an interest in standing for this position. The Chairman of the Committee has indicated that, subject to the Court’s approval, he would be willing to stand for a fourth and final year.

We therefore recommend that Standing Order No.29(2) be waived in respect of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee for the ensuing year and submit a separately printed and circulated report thereon.

(Gordon Warwick Haines, Alderman)

9 March 2015

Waiver of Standing Order No. 29

In accordance with Standing Order 29(2) the Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee is subject to annual re-election and is limited to serving a maximum term of three years. The current Chairman is now in his third and final year and is not currently eligible to seek election for a fourth year in this position. The Deputy Chairman was elected to this position in April 2014 but, due to a number of external factors, would be unable to take the chair this year should they be elected. No other existing member of the Committee has expressed an interest in standing for this position. The Chairman of the Committee has indicated that, subject to the Court’s approval, he would be willing to stand for a fourth and final year.

We therefore recommend that Standing Order No.29(2) be waived in respect of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee for the ensuing year and submit a separately printed and circulated report thereon.

Read and agreed.

“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)   recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the disposal of a property;

B)   recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the refurbishment of a property; and

C)   recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the surrender and re-grant of a lease; and

D)   two actions taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board, concerning the disposal of a property and the letting of another property?”

Resolved – that 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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972:-

Summary of exempt items considered whilst the public were excluded: -

The Court:-

A)   agreed recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the disposal of a property;

B)   agreed recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the refurbishment of a property; and

C)  agreed recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the surrender and re-grant of a lease; and

D)  noted two actions taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board, concerning the disposal of a property and the letting of another property.