Agenda and minutes

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 7 December 2017.

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

Sir Michael Bear

Resolved unanimously – That, on his retirement from this Honourable Court, Members wish to place on record their most sincere thanks to:-

Sir Michael David Bear, Kt.

for the service that he has given to the City of London Corporation and to the City – as a Common Councilman for the Ward of Portsoken, as Alderman for that Ward, as Sheriff, and also of course as the City’s 683rd Lord Mayor.

It has been an exemplary record of service, spanning some fifteen years, and the knighthood he received in the 2012 New Year Honours List for services to Regeneration, Charity and the City of London reflects this.

Sir Michael’s specialist knowledge as a civil engineer and the work that he undertook to help regenerate the Spitalfields area on the City fringes gave him a unique perspective on the importance of the City in creating wealth, jobs and prosperity. He has used this expertise to benefit the City – not just through his civic roles and through the many City Corporation Committees on which he has served, but also on the international stage, including as the UK Special Envoy for Sustainable Urbanisation in China. Through all he has done, he has truly been a stalwart supporter of the City and its pre-eminence as a global hub for financial and professional services.

Having now stepped down from Office, Sir Michael, so well supported throughout by Lady Bear, can take with him the very best wishes of all his colleagues on this Court for a long, happy and healthy retirement from civic life in the City.

Resolved unanimously – That the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to

Sir Andrew Charles Parmley, Kt.

on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Knight Bachelor, in recognition of his services

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

The Lord Mayor reported on his recent visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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:-

Read.

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

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

Where appropriate:-

 *   denotes a Member standing for re-appointment;

¬ denotes appointed.

Four Members to the Board of Governors of the Museum of London.

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

Four Members to the Board of Governors of the Museum of London.

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Vivienne Littlechild, Paul Martinelli, Judith Pleasance and John Scott to be appointed to the Board of Governors of the Museum of London.

To consider the following appointments:

Five Members on the Capital Buildings Committee, subject to the creation of this Committee being approved at Item 15.

Nominations received:-

Randall Keith Anderson

Peter Gordon Bennett

John Douglas Chapman

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst

Alison Jane Gowman, Alderman

Timothy Russell Hailes, J.P., Alderman & Sheriff

Christopher Michael Hayward

Michael Hudson

Ian David Luder, J.P., Alderman

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

Susan Jane Pearson

James Henry George Pollard, Deputy

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

Oliver Sells, Q.C.

Sir Michael Snyder

James Richard Tumbridge

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the Capital Buildings Committee.

Where appropriate:-

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

Capital Buildings Committee (five vacancies for varying terms).

Nominations received:-

^#Randall Keith Anderson

^#Peter Gordon Bennett

John Douglas Chapman

^#Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst

Alison Jane Gowman, Alderman

^#Timothy Russell Hailes, J.P., Alderman & Sheriff

^#Christopher Michael Hayward

Michael Hudson

Ian David Luder, J.P., Alderman

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

^#Susan Jane Pearson

James Henry George Pollard, Deputy

John George Stewart Scott, J.P.

^#Oliver Sells, Q.C.

Sir Michael Snyder

James Richard Tumbridge

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.

Thames Footbridge

Deputy Brian Mooney asked a question of the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee seeking an update in respect of the future the primary pedestrian bridge at Queenhithe, which connected the Ward to the north side of Upper Thames Street.

In reply, the Chairman confirmed that a deed to acquire the bridge had been forwarded by the City Corporation to the lawyers representing the structure’s current owners, with it hoped that legal completion would be achieved by mid-January. Meanwhile, officers were working with consultant engineers to review costings and time allocation for the next stage of investigations into making the bridge safe for long-term usage and it was expected that this work would also be commissioned before the end of this month.

It was anticipated that a report would be presented to Members during Quarter 2 of 2018/19 setting out the works required to enable the opening of the bridge.  Provided the bridge was structurally sound, it was expected that it could be brought back into public use before the end of the calendar year, subject to the requisite funding approvals.

In response to a supplementary question from Deputy Mooney concerning funding commitments, the Chairman observed that this would be a matter for the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee and not something he was personally able to guarantee. He added however that the Planning and Transportation Committee was strongly in support of this proposal and was confident that the Resource Allocation Sub Committee would take this into account when coming to a decision.

Mansion House External Cleansing

Andrew McMurtrie asked a question of the Chairman of the Finance Committee concerning the cleansing of the exterior of Mansion House.

Responding, the Chairman outlined the current schedule for stonework cleaning and maintenance works, noting that in the context of the

There were no motions.

There was no report.

To consider the creation of a new Capital Buildings Committee.

The Lord Mayor directed that Item 15 be taken in advance of Item 11.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Catherine McGuinness, Deputy)

12 December 2017

Capital Buildings Committee

Approval was sought for the formation of a new committee to scrutinise and provide detailed oversight and delivery of two major capital projects, namely the upcoming Police Accommodation and City’s Courts projects.

Amendment – That an additional recommendation be added to the effect that the provisions of the relevant part of Standing Order No.30(4)(b) should not apply in respect of this Committee, thereby enabling ex-officio Members to be eligible to serve as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee. Further, that the Committee be added to the list set out in Standing Order Nos.29(7) and 30(10), thereby enabling ex-officio Members to be able to vote in the election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Several Members spoke to debate the proposal with it suggested that, whilst the intent of the amendment was to provide the possibility for continuity of leadership, it was partially self-defeating in that Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen serving in an ex-officio capacity were subject to re-election and term limits on their own Committees and would therefore not enjoy any greater longevity on the Capital Buildings Committee than any other Member.

Upon the Amendment being put, the Lord Mayor declared it to fall.

Amendment – That the number of Members on the Committee to be appointed by the Court of Common Council be increased from five to seven, and that the number of Members to be appointed by the Policy and Resources Committee be increased from two to four.

Several Members suggested that, should this Amendment be carried, it would be unfair to continue with the ballot this day. This was in view of the fact that a number of additional Members

To consider four applications concerning the provision of hospitality.

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

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

13 December 2017

Applications for Hospitality

(i)        (i) Lecture and early evening reception to mark the 250^th anniversary of the imprisonment of John Wilkes

John Wilkes was an 18^th century journalist and radical politician who, following repeated expulsions from Parliament and a period of imprisonment, was elected as an Alderman in 1769. He became a Sheriff of the City of London in 1771, before being elected as Lord Mayor in 1774. He was subsequently elected as City Chamberlain in 1779. 2018 marks the 250^th anniversary of his imprisonment for seditious libel and a study of his remarkable life provided an opportunity to examine eighteenth-century British politics, demonstrate the City Corporation’s commitment to education, and provide the opportunity to engage with students from the City Corporation’s associated schools and academies. It would also help illuminate an intriguing element of the City Corporation’s rich history.

It was proposed that the City Corporation invite Professor Jeremy Black to give a lecture on the career of John Wilkes, followed by a reception and a small private dinner. Guests would include historians, students from the City Academies and Schools, representatives from the Livery Companies and the London Metropolitan Archives, past Lord Mayors and parliamentarians.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for a lecture and early evening reception, with arrangements made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

This was to be a full Court event.

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

To consider a proposal relating to the City Corporation’s participation in a pilot scheme for business rates devolution in London.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Catherine McGuinness, Deputy)

FINANCE COMMITTEE

(Jeremy Paul Mayhew)

12 December 2017

14 December 2017

Pilot Scheme for Business Rates Devolution in London

The Government, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Councils had negotiated a pilot scheme for business rates devolution in London for the financial year 2018–19, involving the establishment of a business rates pool.

The scheme would have a financially neutral starting-point but enable any year-on-year growth in rates revenue to be retained in London – a dividend projected to be worth £240 million in 2018–19. Some of this would be used to establish a new strategic investment fund and the rest would be shared among the participating authorities (with the Common Council’s projected share £8.2 million). If these projections were not to materialise, the Government would guarantee that no individual authority would be worse off as a result of participating in the pool. The Common Council would therefore not face any risk to its current allocations, including the City Premium and the City Offset. The scheme would carry no commitment beyond 2018–19 but could offer a platform for a further-reaching devolution settlement.

In addition to this the City Corporation had been invited to act as lead authority under the scheme and undertake the main administrative responsibility for operating the pool and the strategic investment fund.

The proposal required the unanimous agreement of the borough councils and the Court of Common Council to proceed and it was recommended that the Court grant its approval.

Resolved – That:-

i)      approval be granted for the City Corporation to participate in business rates pool pilot scheme for the 2018-19 financial year, together with the Greater London Authority and the London borough councils;

ii)     the arrangements for the distribution of revenue within the pool should, subject to recommendation

To consider the findings of the review undertaken by the Standards Regime Working Party in respect of the Corporation’s current Standards Framework.

STANDARDS REGIME REVIEW WORKING PARTY

(Emma Edhem)

27 November 2017

Independent Review of the City of London’s Standards Regime

This report provided the findings of the review undertaken by the Standards Regime Working Party in respect of the Corporation’s current Standards Framework, especially the Complaints Procedure (alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct). Specifically, the report outlined the consideration given to a review undertaken by Mr Charles Bourne QC and his report, who was appointed by the Town Clerk to examine the Standards Framework, and provided both findings and recommendations on how to improve the current arrangements.

It was recommended that the Court of Common Council approve the responses proposed in respect of the recommendations as set out in the report, and the revised Code of Conduct, Complaints Procedure and Guidance to Members on the Code of Conduct as appended.

The Chairman spoke to introduce the item, reminding Members of the background to this issue and outlining the process through which the Working Party had examined the various items raised by Mr Bourne, thereby coming to the conclusions now being presented to the Court.

Oliver Lodge expressed his gratitude to the Chairman and the Working Party for the significant time and effort expended on this review; however, he expressed a number of reservations as to the proposals in their current format, noting that there remained a small number of areas where he felt that further thought and reflection was required. In particular he was concerned that recommendation 10, which proposed that the Monitoring Officer make initial assessments in response to complaints against Members, transferred responsibility and ownership of the process away from democratically elected and accountable Members and unfairly placed officers in a difficult position.

Mr Lodge also outlined concerns in relation to the proposed composition of the Standards

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 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 7 December 2017.

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

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

Finance Committee

(A) Extension of IT Contract – to consider the extension of a contract to provide IT services to the City Corporation and City of London Police.

(A)  The Court approved the extension of an IT contract.

(B) Highway Disposal – to consider the disposal of City Fund and City’s Estate highways land.

(B) The Court approved the disposal of highway land.

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

Police Committee

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

To receive a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures in relation to the grant of a long leasehold interest.

Property Investment Board

The Court received a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures in relation to the grant of a long-term leasehold.