Agenda and minutes

Resolved Unanimously – That Neil Graham Morgan Redcliffe, one of the Sheriffs of the City, be invited to take his seat on the Dais.

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 14 September 2017.

Resolved ­– That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded, subject to Tim Levene being added to the list of those Members marked as present.

To read the draft terms of a Vote of Thanks to the Lord Mayor.

Tom Hoffman, Deputy of the Ward of Vintry, read the draft vote of thanks to the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, which was intended to be Moved formally at the next meeting of the Court.

The Lord Mayor was heard in reply.

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor to lay before the Court a letter of the Lord

Mayor Elect declaring his assent to take upon himself that Office.

A letter of the Lord Mayor Elect, declaring his assent to take upon himself the Office of Lord Mayor, was received.

Tom Sleigh, Deputy of the Ward of Bishopsgate, read a vote of thanks to Pooja Suri Tank.

Resolved unanimously - that this Honourable Court wishes to extend to

Pooja Suri Tank

its gratitude for her service as a Member for the Ward of Bishopsgate over the past few months.

As Members of this Court will be aware, sadly Pooja was only able to be with us for a short period following her election earlier this year. Unfortunately the demands of her job have required her to relocate to New York and she is therefore unable to continue in her role on the Common Council. Nonetheless, we wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for her efforts during her time with us, and extend our very best wishes for her future good health and happiness and hope that she may have the opportunity to re-join this Court at a future time.

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 Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, and the Republic of Ireland.

To elect a Chief Commoner for 2018/19.

One nomination has been received in accordance with Standing Order No. 18, namely that of John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

The Court proceeded to elect a Chief Commoner for 2018/19.

One valid nomination had been received in accordance with Standing Order No. 18, namely, that of John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

Resolved – that John George Stewart Scott, J.P. be declared to be elected to the office of Chief Commoner for 2018/19.

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

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 may be obtained from the Remembrancer’s office.)

To consider the following appointments:

(A)         Two Members on the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls for the balance of terms, one expiring July 2018 and one expiring July 2020.

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

(B)         One Member on The City Bridge Trust Committee, for the balance of a term expiring April 2021.

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

Matthew Bell

Tijs Broeke

Peter Gerard Dunphy

(C)         One Member on the Health and Wellbeing Board, for the balance of a term expiring April 2020.

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

Marianne Bernadette Fredericks

(D)         Three Members on Bridewell Royal Hospital for six year terms expiring October 2023.

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

(E)         One Member on the East London NHS Foundation Trust, for a term expiring May 2020.

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls, The City Bridge Trust Committee, the Health and Wellbeing Board, Bridewell Royal Hospital and the East London NHS Foundation Trust.

(A)  Two Members on the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls (one vacancy for a balance of a term ending July 2018 and one vacancy for a term ending July 2020).

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Rehana Banu Ameer to be appointed to Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls for a term ending July 2020.

(B)  One Member on The City Bridge Trust Committee (one vacancy for a balance of a term ending April 2021).

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

Matthew Bell

Tijs Broeke

Peter Gerard Dunphy

Read.

The Court proceeded, in accordance with Standing Order No. 10, to ballot on the vacancy. The Lord Mayor appointed 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.

(C) One Member on the Health and Wellbeing Board (one vacancy for the balance of a term ending April 2020).

Nominations received:-

Rehana Banu Ameer

Marianne Bernadette Fredericks

Read.

The Court proceeded, in accordance with Standing Order No. 10, to ballot on the vacancy. The Lord Mayor appointed 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.

(D)

Underpayments of s106 Monies

Mary Durcan asked a question of the Chairman of Planning and Transportation regarding underpayments of s106 monies.

The Chairman advised that City Local Plan policy required housing developments with ten or more residential units to provide 30% affordable housing on-site or, exceptionally, 60% equivalent on another site or as a cash in-lieu payment.

Where a developer could not provide the required level of affordable housing, or sought an off-site payment, they were required to justify this through a viability appraisal. This reflected guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework and the London Plan.

The City Corporation had commenced a review of the City’s Local Plan and would be considering what changes were necessary to ensure the delivery of affordable housing going forward. In considering these changes, account would be taken of the Mayor of London’s recently adopted Affordable Housing and Viability Supplementary Planning Guidance, which required developments providing less than 35% affordable housing to be justified by reference to a publicly available viability assessment.

City of London Police Investigation

Prem Goyal asked a question of the Chairman of Policy and Resources regarding a City of London Police investigation. In reply, the Chairman noted that she was not able comment on police matters and encouraged the Honourable Member to raise the issue with the City of London Police directly.

In response to a supplementary question from Prem Goyal regarding a review of the outcomes of the recent City-wide elections, the Chairman clarified that the Policy and Resources Committee had surveyed potential electoral candidates who subsequently chose not to stand in the City elections in a bid to understand their reasons for not doing so, in order to inform the promotion of diversity on the Court of Common Council in the future. The Committee had not reviewed the

The Town Clerk advised that the Lord Mayor had directed that an urgent motion be put before the Court of Common Council, pursuant to Standing Order 12(4). 

Motion – “That this Honourable Court expresses its deep regret at the ongoing violence in Myanmar and the oppression of that country’s minority Rohingya population. It further expresses its considerable disappointment that Aung San Su Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, Nobel Laureate and Honorary Freeman of the City of London has not appeared to challenge the conduct of her armed forces to end their humanitarian crisis.

The Court notes the concerns expressed by several Honourable Members at the timing of and the process leading to the grant to Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor of the honorary freedom.

This Court therefore resolves:

(a)          To instruct its Freedom Applications Committee to Review the process by which proposals for the Honorary Freedom are promulgated and brought before the Court;

(b)          To ensure that any future procedure should allow for wide informal and confidential consultation with Members prior to any proposal being made officially, and certainly before the proposed recipient is sounded out about the honour;

(c)           To establish whether, once awarded, this Honorary Freedom may be removed, and if so, by what procedure;

(d)          In the event the Court does not currently have a procedure to revoke an Honorary Freedom once granted, then the relevant steps are taken to address this lacuna and consideration is given to implementing and documenting such a procedure; and

(e)          To write to the Ambassador for Myanmar, expressing the Court’s profound concern about the current situation in his country and a wish that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, plays a more active role to end the humanitarian crisis.”

There was no report.

To note changes to the Lord Mayor’s Overseas Engagement Strategy.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Catherine McGuinness, Deputy)

21 September 2017

Overseas Engagement

The Policy and Resources Committee was responsible for any policy decisions on the City of London Corporation’s overseas engagement activities. A review of the City Corporation’s international engagement had recently been undertaken which had identified the strategic priorities for influencing policy/regulation and supporting trade and investment. These priorities had now been reflected in a draft travel schedule for the Chairman of Policy and Resources and the Lord Mayor for 2017/18. It was anticipated that engagement would now be more strategic, joined-up and complementary.

Resolved – That the report be received.

To consider two recommendations relating to the provision of hospitality.

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Wendy Mead, O.B.E., Chief Commoner)

13 September 2017

(i) Early Evening Reception to launch the Fields of Battle – Lands of Peace: Peace and Reconciliation exhibition

From 30 April to 30 May 2018, an outdoor photographic exhibition, Fields of Battle - Lands of Peace: Peace and Reconciliation was to be displayed in the Guildhall Yard and it was recommended that the City Corporation host an early evening reception to launch the start of this exhibition. Guests would include representatives from the countries featured in the exhibition, historians with an interest in the First World War, representatives from the City’s Privileged Regiments, the Museum of London, the Imperial War Museum, London Metropolitan Archives, Parliamentarians, students from the City Academies and Schools, and Members with relevant interests.

The host element would be the Hospitality Working Party, the Culture Heritage &

Libraries Committee, and Members with relevant interests.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an early evening reception, with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

(ii) Early Evening Reception in support of a First World War Commemorative Exhibition in Guildhall Yard

The Royal Parks and the Royal Parks Guild were intending to hold a series of events to commemorate their involvement in the First World War, and to mark the contribution made by men and women who worked in British parks and gardens and who lost their lives in the conflict. One of the proposed projects was a commemorative installation, to be delivered in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, which was to be located in Guildhall Yard from 3 to 13 April 2018.

It was recommended that the City Corporation host an early

To consider proposals relative to the road layout at the Tudor Street/New Bridge Street junction.

PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

(Christopher Michael Hayward)

3 October 2017

Tudor Street/New Bridge Street – Alternative Layout Update

The City Corporation had previously agreed to accept and support Transport for London’s (TfL’s) proposal for Cycle Super Highways (CSH) within the City at its Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 19 February 2015. TfL had later set out proposals in relation to the design detail of how the North/South CSH would impact on local streets, including the Tudor Street/New Bridge Street junction. These were agreed by the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee on 22 February 2016, having first deferred the decision to facilitate further local consultation. Thereafter, TfL proceeded to implement their scheme with immediate effect.

In March 2016, the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee decision was ‘called-in’ and overturned by the Court of Common Council at its meeting of 21 April 2016. Despite this, TfL had proceeded to deliver their CSH scheme at Tudor Street through a Works Permit issued in late 2015 and an Experimental Order which the City Corporation was unable to prevent (as this Order related to construction and movement on New Bridge Street, for which TfL were the Highway Authority). The impact of this Experimental Order on Tudor Street was that vehicles were prevented entering from New Bridge Street. The pre-existing restriction, limiting Tudor Street egress to left turning vehicles only, was retained.

Officers were consequently instructed to work with TfL, the Temples and their transport consultant to establish if a more effective scheme could be developed and, on 12 January 2017, the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee advised the Court of Common Council that TfL had agreed to work with the City Corporation to progress an alternative Tudor Street/New Bridge Street Junction layout and that a scheme had been agreed in principle by TfL which

To consider an amendment to the quorum for meetings of the Board of Governors.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DRAMA

(John Alfred Bennett, Deputy)

3 July 2017

Proposed Quorum Change

Over the past calendar year, the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama had been considering its compliance with The Higher Education Code of Governance and related matters. As a result of these deliberations, the Board had determined to recommend a change to its existing quorum in order to better comply with the Code and to reflect best practice in the Higher Education sector.

The Policy and Resources Committee had been consulted and endorsed the recommendation at its September meeting; the Court was consequently now recommended to approve a proposed change to the quorum of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama such that the attendance of at least three co-opted Governors would be required, in addition to the seven Common Council Governors currently needed.

Resolved – That the Terms of Reference and Instrument and Articles of Government of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama be amended, such that the quorum consists of any seven Common Council Governors plus three co-opted Governors.

To consider the arrangements governing the appointment of Members to the City of London Academies Trust.

EDUCATION BOARD

(Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst)

14 September 2017

Appointments to the City of London Academies Trust

Due to a potential conflict of interest, the current Chairman of the Education Board had not taken up the role of Company Member and Trustee of the City of London Academies Trust. However, it had not been possible to make an appointment in the room of the Education Board Chairman as the January 2016 resolution of the Court was explicit that the Education Board Chairman should perform both of these roles. Therefore, it was recommended that the January 2016 resolution should be adjusted to permit a representative to be appointed to those roles in the room of any Member who is not able to serve.

Resolved – That the January 2016 resolution of the Court of Common Council be amended to permit a representative/nominee of the Chairman/Deputy Chairman of the Policy Committee and the Education Board to serve as Company Member/Trustee of the City of London Academies Trust, where the original candidate is not able to serve.

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 X 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 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 14 September 2017.

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

To receive a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures relating to the purchase of a freehold.

Policy and Resources and Finance Committees

The Court received a report outlining action taken under urgency procedures relating to the purchase of a freehold.

To receive a report of action taken under urgency procedures relative to the City Police’s Action and Know Fraud Centre.

Police Committee

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