Agenda and minutes

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

No declarations were made.

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on  23 June 2016.

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

There were no resolutions.

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 Costa Rica, Japan, Panama, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States of America. He also reported on recent domestic events including the Dinner to the Her Majesty’s Judges and the forthcoming Security and Defence Lecture.

To receive a statement from the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning…

There was no statement.

Sundry documents were sealed with the Hospital Seal.

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.)

To consider the following appointments:

(A)         Four Members on the Central Criminal Court Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee, for terms expiring in April 2020.

Nominations received:-

Michael Hudson

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

Adam Fox McCloud Richardson

Havilland James de Sausmarez

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

(B)         One Member on the Community and Children’s Services Committee, for the balance of a one year term expiring in April 2017.

Nominations received:-

Christopher Punter

(C)         Two Members on Christ’s Hospital, for four year terms expiring in June 2020.

Nominations received:-

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

(D)         One Member on the Court of City University, for a three year term expiring in July 2019.

Nominations received:-

*Jeremy Paul Mayhew

(E)         One Member on Age UK London, for a four year term expiring in July 2020.

Nominations received:-

Karina Dostalova

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the Central Criminal Court Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee, the Community and Children’s Services Committee, Christ’s Hospital, the Court of City University, and Age UK London.

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment

(A)         Central Criminal Court Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee (four vacancies for terms expiring in April 2020).

Nominations received:-

Michael Hudson

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

Adam Fox McCloud Richardson

Havilland James de Sausmarez

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

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 and Children’s Services Committee (one vacancy for the balance of a term expiring in April 2017).

Nominations received:-

Christopher Punter.

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Chris Punter to be appointed to the Community and Children’s Services Committee.

(C)         Christ’s Hospital (two vacancies for four year terms expiring in January 2020).

Nominations received:-

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared John Scott to be appointed to Christ’s Hospital.

(D)         Court of City University (one vacancy for a three year term expiring in July 2019)

Nominations received:-

*Jeremy Paul Mayhew

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Jeremy Mayhew to be appointed to the Court of City University.

(E)         Age UK London (one vacancy for a four year term expiring in July 2020).

Nominations received:-

Karina Dostalova.

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Karina Dostalova to be appointed to Age UK London.

City Corporation’s Duties and Responsibilities

Patrick Streeter asked a question of the Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the City Corporation’s focus on local authority and non-local authority activities.

Responding, the Deputy Chairman reminded the Member of the City Corporation’s unique history and various responsibilities, which were significantly more wide-ranging than those of a local authority. These included the promotion of the Square Mile, the maintenance of a number of public spaces across London, support for several world-class cultural institutions, and widening access to education for children from challenging backgrounds across London. Notwithstanding this, the City Corporation demonstrably delivered its local authority duties to a high level. The Deputy Chairman made reference to various awards recently won by the City Corporation in this respect, including those recognising its clean streets and efforts in improving air quality.

Residential Development

Patrick Streeter asked a question of the Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee regarding the prospective purchase of a particular portion of land in east London for the purposes of building residential housing.

In reply, the Deputy Chairman reiterated the City Corporation’s commitment to alleviating the housing shortage in London but noted that the particular piece of land referred to was currently ill-suited for residential purposes, setting out the various difficulties associated with it. Notwithstanding this, the City Corporation would continue to search for appropriate sites and would monitor this site in case the situation changed.

Hate Crime and Xenophobic Incidents

Deputy Joyce Nash asked a question of the Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning recent racist and xenophobic incidents and instances of hate crime.

The Deputy Chairman was robust in reiterating the City Corporation’s condemnation of such incidents and emphasised its commitment to the preservation of London’s highly successful multicultural society. She also

There were no motions.

There was no report.

To note the prior approval of the listed applications for the use of Guildhall.

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Michael Welbank, M.B.E., Chief Commoner)

31 May 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.

To receive the annual report providing a summary of the City of London Police’s activities and performance over the past financial year.

POLICE COMMITTEE

(Douglas Barrow, Deputy)

30 June 2016

City of London Police: Annual Report 2015/16

The Annual Report, setting out the achievements and performance of the City of London Police over the past financial year, was submitted to the Court for information.

The Chairman introduced the item to the Court and provided a comprehensive overview of the City Police’s achievements over the year, as well as a summary of the constructive challenge provided by the Police Committee across the period.

Resolved – that the report be received.

To consider reports of the Standards Committee, as follows:

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

(Oliver Arthur Wynlayne Lodge)

(A) Independent Review of Standards Framework – to note the intention of the Committee to commission an independent review of the standards framework.

For Information

8 July 2016

(A) Independent Review of Standards Framework

In light of the comments expressed by Members at the meeting of the Court of Common Council on 23 June 2016 about the content of the Committee’s annual report, specifically in respect of a complaint addressed by the Standards Committee, it was agreed that the report should be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

Having given the matter careful and detailed consideration, this report now informed the Court of the Committee’s decisions to re-submit the annual report to the Court this day, without the Member concerned in the complaint being named; and to commission an independent broadly-based review of the arrangements currently in place for addressing matters connected with the conduct of Members (including co-opted Members) under the Localism Act 2011.

Several Members sought clarification as to the scope of the review and the formulation of its terms of reference. In reply, the Chairman confirmed that the terms of reference would allow for a broad review to look at the totality of the current arrangements, with a direction towards the complaints procedure. The Town Clerk would be asked to select a fully independent reviewer to conduct the process who would have latitude to explore and make recommendations as they saw fit. It was also the intention of the Committee to consult the entire Court informally once the findings of the review were known, prior to formal recommendations being brought before the Court of Common Council by the end of the year. Members consequently expressed their expectation that the reviewer’s report would be shared with the Court as part of the consultation process.

Resolved – That the report be received.

(B) Annual Report – to receive the revised annual report providing a summary of the Committee’s activities over the past year.

For Information

(B) </AI17>

<AI18>

Annual Report

At the 23 June 2016 Court of Common Council meeting, concerns had been expressed about the Standards Committee’s annual report, principally around the identification in the report of the respondent of a particular complaint. This led to the Court referring the annual report back for further consideration.

The Standards Committee, having duly reconsidered its annual report in the light of comments made, now re-submitted the report for information in an amended form, without including the name of the Member who was the subject of the complaint in question.

Whilst noting that training concerning the Member/Officer Protocol had been offered to all Members and co-opted Members, it was asked whether thought had been given to offering any similar training to officers. The Chairman of the Establishment Committee thanked the Member for the suggestion and confirmed that this would be considered accordingly.

In response to a query concerning the public nature of the complaints process referred to in the report and the potential exemption of certain information in accordance with Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman observed that he was not intimately acquainted with the specifics of the legislation but that officers’ professional recommendations would have been applied.

In discussing the findings of the Appeal Sub (Standards) Committee, referred to within the annual report, Members suggested that it should be made clear that the Sub-Committee had confirmed that no Member had received any pecuniary advantage in respect of the upheld complaint referred to within the report.

Motion – That the minutes record that the Appeals Sub (Standards) Committee had found that no pecuniary advantage had been afforded to any Member in respect of the upheld complaint referred to within the Standards Committee’s annual report.

Upon the Motion being put, the Lord Mayor declared

To consider a report of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning proposals to strengthen the City of London Corporation's support for and promotion of the City.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Mark Boleat)

7 July 2016

Strengthening the City of London Corporation’s Support and Promotion of the City

The Court considered a report regarding the strengthening of the City of London Corporation’s support for and promotion of the City.

Following a review undertaken by Sir Simon Fraser of the effectiveness of the City Corporation’s promotion and representation of UK-based financial and related services, it was clear that an increasingly complex and competitive environment was bringing new opportunities and challenges. A compelling case had been made for the City Corporation to strengthen its promotional activities in three key areas, including the City’s ability to build future products and services, strengthening the regulatory frameworks and the promotion of exports and investment. The review also highlighted the need to enhance the City Corporation’s partnerships with business and government, and increase capacity and capability at officer level to deliver on the City Corporation’s ambitions.

To enable this work to be implemented, approval had been given to an increase in the relevant local risk budgets by £2.55m per year beginning in April 2017 to provide the requisite expertise and additional capacity, subject to the normal budget setting process for 2017/18.

The Committees that had considered the proposals exhibited a sense of agreement that this work should begin as soon as possible, especially due to the additional work that had been created in light of the recent referendum. Accordingly, it was recommended to the Court that approval be given for a budget increase of £1.7m in the current financial year, to be funded from City’s Cash reserves, thereby enabling work to be started at the earliest opportunity.

In response to a question from James Tumbridge, the Chief Commoner agreed that it would be helpful to update the register of Members’ areas of interest

That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, or relates to confidential information that would be disclosed in breach of an obligation of confidence by a department of Her Majesty’s Government, as defined by paragraph 100A(2) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 or which falls under paragraph 100A(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to confidential information that would be disclosed in breach of an obligation of confidence by a department of Her Majesty’s Government.

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

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting of the Court held on 23 June 2016.

Non-public Minutes

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