Agenda and minutes

The apologies of those Members unable to attend this meeting of the Court were noted.

Deputy Alex Deane declared a pecuniary interest in respect of the question to be asked at item 14 and also in relation to a statement to be made by the Chairman of Policy and Resources concerning the European Union.

Pursuant to the decision of the Court of 15 October 2015, the Lord Mayor invited Michael Welbank M.B.E. to take up the office of Chief Commoner for the ensuing year.

Resolved unanimously – That this Honourable Court wishes to extend to

William Harry Dove, O.B.E., J.P., Deputy

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

Since taking up post in April 2015, he has undertaken the many and varied tasks expected of the Chief Commoner with enthusiasm and sound judgement. He has attended at least one meeting of nearly every Grand Committee – no mean feat with the number we have at the Corporation! – and has worked tirelessly to involve himself with the full spectrum of Members’ activities. He has also been an ebullient and charismatic host at a large number of civic and hospitality events, including memorable Freedom ceremonies for such luminaries as Dame Janet Suzman, John Amaechi, Bryn Terfel, Simon Weston, Ahmed Kathrada and Dennis Goldberg. 

Having previously served as Chairman of the Education Committee, the Board of Governors of the City of London School and the Community and Children’s Services Committee, as well as having been a teacher in a past life, Billy has also used his year as Chief to continue his work with young people. He has particularly encouraged their involvement in civic activity, attending a number of events with the Chair of the City Youth Forum – informally known as the “young Lord Mayor”.

In taking leave of the late Chief Commoner and in thanking him formally and sincerely, his colleagues wish to express their appreciation, not only for his enthusiasm and hospitality during the past year, but also for his wit, consideration and courtesy and they wish

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 3 March 2016.

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

Resolved unanimously - That the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled wish to extend their best wishes to

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second

on the occasion of her 90th birthday. We thank her for the dedication and service she has given across many decades to the citizens of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and her other realms and territories. We have been privileged and honoured to have been led by one so resolute and devoted to the welfare of her peoples; we extend our congratulations and best wishes for her future health and happiness.

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor to report on his recent overseas visits.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor reported on his recent overseas visits to Bahrain, Finland, India, Norway, Oman and Sweden.

The United Kingdom’s Membership of the European Union

At this point in proceedings, the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee made a statement to the Court in accordance with Standing Order 13(11).

The Chairman made reference to the Court’s decision at its March meeting to approve the City Corporation’s adoption of a position supportive of the UK’s continued membership of the European Union. He took the opportunity to highlight several surveys, reports and statements made by key organisations advocating the economic reasons for remaining in the European Union, reflecting that this suggested that the Court’s decision had been the correct one.

Responding to questions from John Fletcher and Ann Pembroke, the Chairman clarified the distinction between the economic impact forecast made by Her Majesty’s Treasury in respect of Brexit and general economic forecasts. He also reiterated that the Policy and Resources Committee had not considered any proposed expenditure on campaigning and provided his assurance that there was no intention to do so. In relation to a further query concerning the extent to which some might feel that membership of the European Union placed limitations upon the UK’s self-determination, the Chairman advised that it would be a matter for individual voters to reach a view.

There were no documents to be sealed.

To consider a circulated list of applications for the Freedom of the City.

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:-

To receive a report setting out measures introduced into Parliament which may have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation.

The Court received a report on measures introduced by Parliament which might have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation as follows:-.

(The text of the measures and the explanatory notes thereon may be obtained from the Remembrancer’s office.)

The Town Clerk to report the outcome of a ballot taken at the last Court:

One Member to the Thames Festival Trust, for a three year term expiring in March 2019.

¬ denotes appointed.

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

Thames Festival Trust (one vacancy for a three year term expiring in March 2019).

                                                                                Votes

John Alfred Barker, O.B.E., Deputy        30

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.                                     68

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared John Scott to be appointed to the Thames Festival Trust.

To appoint the Committees until the first meeting of the Court in April 2017 and to agree the terms of reference and constitution for each Committee.

(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).

(Supporting statements in respect of the contested vacancies outlined below are set out immediately following the White Paper, at pages 81 to 94).

Nominations received for vacancies of varying terms:-

Where appropriate:-

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment;

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

^ denotes a Member whose primary residence is in the City.

a) Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

*Simon D’Olier Duckworth, O.B.E., D.L.

*Marianne Bernadette Fredericks

*Catherine McGuinness, Deputy 

James Henry George Pollard, Deputy

Virginia Rounding

*Dr Giles Robert Evelyn Shilson, Deputy 

*Jeremy Lewis Simons

Thomas Charles Christopher Sleigh

James Richard Tumbridge

Patrick Thomas Streeter

b) Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee

(one vacancy).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

*William Barrie Fraser, O.B.E, Deputy

Ann Marjorie Francescia Pembroke

c) Members’ Privileges Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee (three vacancies).

(No contest)

Nominations received:-

Ann Holmes

Jamie Ingham Clark, Deputy

Ann Marjorie Francescia Pembroke

d) Investment Committee (three vacancies).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

Nicholas Michael Bensted-Smith, J.P.

Keith David Forbes Bottomley

*Tom Hoffman

Ann Holmes

*Michael Hudson

*Clare James

e) Social Investment Board (two vacancies).

One vacancy must be filled by a Member with fewer than five years’ service on the Court.

(No contest)

Nominations received:-

#*Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst

#*Wendy Marilyn Hyde

f) Audit and

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 2017, and that the terms of reference and constitutions be also approved, subject to the following amendments:

• For the Board of Governors of the City of London School, Sophie Fernandes being removed from the listed Membership;
• For the Community and Children’s Services Committee, the Ward of Bread Street being added to the list of those Wards not making appointments on this occasion;

·         In view of an outstanding item concerning responsibility for grant making, paragraph 4(f) being deleted from the Community and Children’s Services Committee’s terms of reference and paragraph 4(d) being deleted from the Education Board’s terms of reference.

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 a Member with fewer than five years’ service on the Court; and

^ denotes a Member whose primary residence is in the City.

a) Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

*Simon D’Olier Duckworth, O.B.E., D.L.

*Marianne Bernadette Fredericks

*Catherine McGuinness, Deputy 

James Henry George Pollard, Deputy

Virginia Rounding

*Dr Giles Robert Evelyn Shilson, Deputy 

*Jeremy Lewis Simons

Thomas Charles Christopher Sleigh

James Richard Tumbridge

Patrick Thomas Streeter

Read.

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

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

Resolved – That the votes be counted at the conclusion of the Court and the result

To appoint vacancies on Ward Committees (where not all places on Ward Committees are filled by Wards, vacancies can be filled by Members of the Court), viz.:-

a) Markets Committee (three vacancies).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

John Alfred Barker, O.B.E., Deputy

Ann Holmes

Adam Fox McCloud Richardson

b) Community & Children’s Services (seven vacancies).

(No contest)

Nominations received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

The Revd. Dr. William Goodacre Campbell-Taylor

David Andrew Graves, Alderman

Professor John Stuart Penton Lumley

Delis Regis

Angela Mary Starling

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

a) Markets Committee (three vacancies).

(Contest)

Nominations received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

John Alfred Barker, O.B.E., Deputy

Ann Holmes

Adam Fox McCloud Richardson

Read.

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

The Lord Mayor appointed the Chief Commoner and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, or their representatives, to be the 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) Community & Children’s Services (eight vacancies).

(No contest)

Nominations received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

The Revd. Dr. William Goodacre Campbell-Taylor

David Andrew Graves, Alderman

Professor John Stuart Penton Lumley

Delis Regis

Angela Mary Starling

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Randall Anderson, William Campbell-Taylor, Alderman David Graves, Professor John Lumley, Delis Regis and Angela Starling to be appointed to the Community and Children’s Services Committee for the year ensuing.

Tax Avoidance and Evasion

William Campbell-Taylor asked a question of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning tax avoidance and evasion and the role that the City Corporation might play in advocating greater transparency on taxation matters.

In reply, the Chairman made reference to a number of initiatives being pursued by the City Corporation, including engagement at a European level and through the International Regulatory Strategy Group, which was producing a position paper to support the European Commission’s Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive that was to be considered by the EU’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council in May. He also reiterated that any action taken would need to be on a coordinated international basis in order to be effective.

Responding to a supplementary question from the Revd. Campbell-Taylor concerning prospective changes to the UK listing agreement, the Chairman advised that he would provide a written response to the Honourable Member in due course.

There were no motions.

There was no report.

To consider reports of the Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee, as follows:

(William Harry Dove, O.B.E., J.P., Deputy)

(A) Applications for the Use of Guildhall – to note the prior approval of the listed applications for the use of Guildhall.

16 March 2016

(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, the Court was informed of the following applications which had been agreed to:-

Resolved – That the several applications be noted.

(B) Applications for Hospitality – to consider one recommendation concerning the provision of hospitality.

16 March 2016

(B) Applications for Hospitality

London Road Safety Council Reception

In January 2017 the London Road Safety Council will be holding a conference in the Livery Hall to mark their centenary. The Council develops road safety resources and promotes strategies to keep all users safe on London roads. The Lord Mayor is the patron of the Council and the City of London Corporation plays an active role in its activities.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an early evening reception following the conference and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Planning and Transportation Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

This was to be a Committee event.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted and that the arrangements be made under

the auspices of the Planning and Transportation Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

To consider a report concerning proposed temporary experimental traffic orders at Tudor Street. This proposal was previously approved by the Streets & Walkways Sub Committee and, pursuant to Standing Order 9(4), has now been referred to the Court of Common Council.

(Michael Welbank, M.B.E.)

14 March 2016

North-South Cycle Superhighway – Proposed Temporary Experimental Traffic Orders – Tudor Street

The Court considered a report which had been referred to it from the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee, relative to the introduction of experimental traffic orders in the Tudor Street area. The Sub Committee had agreed the introduction of these orders leading to the provisions of Standing Order 9(4) being subsequently invoked, whereby 20 Members of the Court of Common Council had requested in writing that the decision be referred to the Court with no action to be taken to implement the orders until such time as the Court had considered the matter.

The report, as presented to the Sub Committee and with some explanatory commentary associated with the invocation of Standing Order 9(4), was therefore put to the Court for consideration.

It was recommended that the Court of Common Council approve:

·      the making of experimental Traffic Orders under section 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, so that Tudor Street at its junction with New Bridge Street was closed to motor vehicles, Bridewell Place was returned to two way traffic and contra flow cycling was removed from Kingscote Street and Watergate;

·      the making of experimental Traffic Orders under section 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in relation to loading and waiting restrictions and provision of parking spaces, so as to implement the mitigation measures as detailed in Appendix 6 of the report;

·      that the objectors and Transport for London be informed of the Court’s decision accordingly; and

·      that officers obtain a written undertaking from Transport for London to monitor and fund, if necessary, further mitigation measures in the Tudor Street and Temple area.

The Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee introduced the report, explaining that the

To consider a report concerning the annual increases to be applied in respect of services provided at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. 

(Wendy Mead, O.B.E.)

8 March 2016

Animal Reception Centre – Heathrow Airport: Annual Review of Charges

It is necessary to submit periodic recommendations to the Court for an increase to be applied to the Schedule of Charges in respect of services provided at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC), for the forthcoming financial year.

The Byelaws, incorporating a new schedule of charges for the services provided, were set out in Appendix A to the report and the Committee recommended approval thereof; the Comptroller and City Solicitor being instructed to seal the Byelaws accordingly.

Resolved – That the Byelaws contained at Appendix A to the report be made and the Comptroller and City Solicitor be instructed to seal the Byelaws accordingly.

To consider a report proposing amendments to Standing Orders and the Committee’s Terms of Reference in relation to restrictions concerning the ability to stand as Chairman or Deputy Chairman.

(Dhruv Patel)

8 April 2016

Amendment to Standing Orders – Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Community and Children’s Services Committee

Both Standing Orders and the Community and Children’s Services Committee Terms of Reference were currently worded such that Standing Orders 29(3) and 30(4a) prohibited residents or tenants of any property owned or managed by the City of London Corporation to serve as Chairman or Deputy Chairman of that Committee.

The Community and Children’s Services Committee, having considered this provision and satisfied itself as to any legal requirements, was minded that this prohibition should be removed, with the relevant Standing Orders and Terms of Reference updated accordingly.

It was therefore recommended that the Court of Common Council approve the amendment of Standing Orders 29(3) and 30(4a) and the Community and Children’s Services Committee’s Terms of Reference to remove the prohibition.

The Town Clerk advised Members that the Policy and Resources Committee had expressed its support for the requested amendments at its meeting on 14 April 2016.

Resolved – That the amendment of Standing Orders 29(3) and 30(4a) and the Terms of Reference of the Community and Children’s Services Committee be approved, such that the prohibition on residents or tenants of any property owned or managed by the City of London Corporation serving as Chairman or Deputy Chairman of that Committee be removed.

To consider a report recommending the closure of the Guildhall Improvement Project and the dissolution of the Committee.

(Sir Michael Snyder)

5 April 2016

Conclusion of Project

By the year 2000 it had become clear that much of the Guildhall Complex was in need of renewal and renovation to make its buildings fit for purpose in the coming decades. The Court of Common Council consequently established the Guildhall Improvement Committee to oversee the Guildhall Improvement Project, a programme of works that was designed to renovate and reconstruct elements of the Complex, and create both a modern working environment for staff and a welcoming institution for members of the public. In May 2015 a final settlement account for works to the North Wing was agreed between the City of London Corporation and its project contractor, Lend Lease. The final payment on that account was made in January 2016, drawing the project to a close.

Members were therefore recommended to discharge the Guildhall Improvement Committee of its duties and noted the summary provided of the main items of work undertaken to the Guildhall Complex during the life of the project.

The Chief Commoner took the opportunity to thank the Committee for its work and to commend the Chairman, Sir Michael Snyder, on his diligent and successful stewardship of the project which had delivered outstanding modern facilities to the Guildhall.

Resolved – That thereport be noted and that Guildhall Improvement Committee be discharged of its duties in light of the completion of the project.

To consider a report proposing an Education Strategy for the City for 2016-19.

(Catherine McGuinness, Deputy)

3 March 2016

Education Strategy 2016-19

The Court received a report outlining the background to the City of London Corporation’s proposed Education Strategy 2016-2019, describing the process through which the strategy had been developed by the Education Board and setting out the strategy’s vision statement. The report also described the three strategic objectives within the strategy, namely the aim to ensure that the City’s cultural and historical resources enrich the learning experience of London’s learners; that all City of London Corporation education providers are deemed ‘outstanding’; and that young Londoners in the City’s schools and academies and beyond have access to the information and advice they need to help them progress into fulfilling careers.

It was recommended that the Strategy, as appended to the report, be approved.

Resolved – That the City of London Corporation Education Strategy 2016-2019 be approved.

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.

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 whilst the public were excluded:-

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting of the Court held on 3 March 2016.

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

To consider reports of the Property Investment Board, as follows:

A)   A report on action taken in accordance with urgency procedures concerning the surrender and re-grant of a head lease to facilitate development;

B)   A report on action taken in accordance with urgency procedures concerning the purchase of a head leasehold interest.

The Court received two reports of the Property Investment Board advising of actions taken in accordance with urgency procedures.