Agenda and minutes

The Chief Commoner welcomed the new Alderman for the Ward of Tower, Nicholas Stephen Leland Lyons, to his first meeting of the Court of Common Council. Alderman Lyons was heard in reply.

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

There were none.

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 20 July 2017.

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.

There was no report.

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

There was no statement.

There were no docquets 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:-

To consider the following appointments:

(A)      One Member on the Audit and Risk Management Committee, for the balance of a term expiring April 2019.

          Nominations received:-

          Alexander Robertson Martin Barr

(B)      One Member on the Outside Bodies Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee, for a term expiring April 2018.

          Nominations received:-

          Tom Hoffman, Deputy

(C)      One Member on Age UK London, for a term expiring July 2020.

          Nominations received:-

          Tom Hoffman, Deputy

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the Audit and Risk Management Committee, the Outside Bodies Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee, and Age UK London.

(A)      One Member on the Audit and Risk Management Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2019.

          Nominations received:-

          Alexander Robertson Martin Barr

          Read.

          Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Alexander Barr to be appointed to the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

(B)      One Member on the Outside Bodies Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2018.

          Nominations received:-

          Tom Hoffman, Deputy

          Read.

          Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Tom Hoffman to be appointed to the Outside Bodies Sub-Committee.

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

          Nominations received:-

          Tom Hoffman, Deputy

          Read.

          Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Tom Hoffman to be appointed to Age UK London.

City Workforce

Deputy Brian Mooney asked a question of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the composition of the City workforce, with particular reference to the new City of London Jobs leaflet. This was one of a new range of products being produced to provide succinct and accessible information on financial and professional services and other priority areas for the City Corporation. Responding, the Chairman confirmed that none of the employees currently based in the City had been born in Antarctica and advised that the wording on the leaflet would be altered to remove any scope for future confusion.

In response to a supplementary question from Deputy Mooney, the Chairman updated Members on the work the City Corporation was engaged in to inform the Brexit negotiations, as well as to promote the City around the world. She also outlined significant work with partners that was underway, to seek to ensure that the City’s pre-eminence as a financial and professional services hub was maintained post-Brexit, with the size its workforce preserved or increased in years to come.

Diversity

Prem Goyal asked a question of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee regarding the City Corporation’s approach to diversity. In reply, the Chairman set out the robust internal policies and procedures in place in support of the City Corporation’s commitment to equality and inclusion, as well as referencing the various staff networks and the significant efforts to increase the diversity of the Court through the recent City-wide elections. She also detailed the external activities the City Corporation was engaged in to spread its values and best practice across other City businesses and employers, such as the Power of Diversity breakfast series, utilising its ‘soft power’ to influence others positively.

The Sheriffs’ Breakfast

Prem Goyal asked a question of

There were no motions.

There was no report.

To consider a change to the process by which applications for the use of the Great Hall are reported.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Catherine McGuinness, Deputy)

6 July 2017

Applications for the Use of Guildhall

The arrangements for approving applications for the use of Guildhall had last been considered by the Court of Common Council on 21 June 2001. At that time, the Court had agreed to delegate the approval of such applications to the then City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee. This Committee was no longer in existence and responsibility for the approval of applications had since transferred to the Policy and Resources Committee, via its Hospitality Working Party.

Notwithstanding this, it had been customary to submit the details of applications for the use of Guildhall to the Court for information. However, in the interests of efficiency, the Policy and Resources Committee and its Hospitality Working Party now considered the practice of sending details of those applications for the use of Guildhall which were not felt to be significant should be discontinued. This was supported on the basis that no such application had been the subject of any questioning in at least the past ten years.

It was therefore recommended that, going forward, details of only the more significant applications for the use of Guildhall be reported to the Court.

Resolved – That only details of the more significant applications for the use of Guildhall be reported to the Court henceforth.

To consider reports of the Police Committee, as follows:-

POLICE COMMITTEE

(Douglas Barrow, Deputy)

(A)      Annual Report – to receive the annual report providing a summary of the City of London Police’s activities and performance over the past financial year.

For Information

18 May 2017

City of London Police: Annual Report 2016/17

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.

(B)       Appointment of External Member – to consider the appointment of Mr Andrew Lentin to the Police Committee.

For Decision

8 August 2017

(B) Appointment of Independent External Member to the Police Committee

The constitution of the Police Committee allows for the recruitment of two external individuals (i.e. not Members of the Common Council) onto the Committee, through an open process. In May 2017, the second and final term of one of these external Members of the Committee, Helen Marshall, had expired. As a result, two rounds of recruitment were undertaken in order fill this vacancy, in accordance with the Committee’s membership scheme (as specified in its Terms of Reference).

A selection panel was established and the post openly advertised. All applications were considered and six candidates who met the eligibility criteria were interviewed on 8 August 2017. Following deliberations, the panel was pleased to recommend one candidate for appointment to the position and the Court’s approval was now sought to the appointment of the successful candidate, Mr Andrew Lentin, as an external Member of the Police Committee for a four-year term commencing 21 September 2017.

Resolved – That approval be given to the appointment of Mr Andrew Lentin to the Police Committee for a four-year term, commencing on 21 September 2017.

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 Paragraphs 1 and 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 consider proposals relating to the City Corporation’s office in Brussels.

Policy and Resources and Establishment Committees

The Court approved recommendations concerning the restructure of the City Corporation’s office in Brussels.

To consider the award of a contract for the provision of a Local Area Network.

Finance Committee

The Court approved proposals concerning the award of a contract for the provision of a Local Area Network.

To receive a report setting out action taken under urgency procedures concerning the City of London Police’s Action and Know Fraud Centre.

Police Committee

The Court received a report of action taken under urgency procedures concerning the City Police’s Action and Know Fraud Centre.

To receive a report outlining action taken under urgency procedures concerning a project at the School.

Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School

The Court received a report of action taken under urgency procedures concerning a project to refurbish the School’s Main House.

To receive a report providing an update on the purchase of a freehold.

Property Investment Board

The Court noted a report providing final details of a freehold acquisition.