Agenda and minutes

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

There were no additional declarations.

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 5 March 2020.

Resolved – That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded, subject to Alderman David Graves being recorded as present.

There were no resolutions.

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

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor took the opportunity to advise the Court of the virtual engagement programme which he and the Chair of Policy and Resources were undertaking during the current period of travel restrictions. In particular, he commented on various meetings with Trade Commissioners and other key stakeholders to discuss COVID challenges and the response of businesses, as well as the future of the British economy post COVID.

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

The Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee spoke to provide an update on COVID19. The Chair outlined the challenges that the COVID had caused and thanked, on behalf of the Court, those Officers who had been instrumental in helping in these difficult times. The Chair outlined the City’s response across all its functions and noted the challenges ahead for the country and the City particularly.

With reference to City Corporation specific matters, the Chair also took the opportunity to advise that it would be proposed that the annual appointment of committees, which had previously been deferred until April 2021, now take place at the July 2020 meeting, if Members were so minded.

There were no docquets for the 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:-

Bills

The Coronavirus Bill

The Bill was introduced and received Royal Assent prior to the meeting of this Court. The Act is expansive and contains exceptionally broad powers. The powers in Act are be limited to two years, and unlike the powers in the Civil Contingencies Act, the powers granted to the Secretary of State do not require Parliamentary authorisation every 28 days. Measures include powers to reduce obligations on local authorities and granting local authorities and central government powers to help tackle the coronavirus crisis. Additionally, local government elections are postponed to 2021. This provision does not apply to City of London local elections.

In the absence of standard reporting arrangements, a briefing on the Bill’s second reading in the Commons was supplied to members of the Policy and Resources Committee, Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-committee and Chief Officers.

Impact of COVID-19

Anne Fairweather asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning assessments of the impact of COVID-19 to the City of London Corporation’s budget, on smaller businesses which serviced office workers, and changes needed to support social distancing in the City.

In reply, the Chair confirmed that COVID-19 had had a significant impact on the Corporation’s finances and that the overall net cost was being tracked, reported and discussed by the Finance Committee. The informal meeting of Resource Allocation Sub Committee in early July would receive an update on both the in-year budget position and Medium-Term Financial Plan, leading on to a re-budgeting exercise in early autumn; efforts to control costs in the meantime would be vital.

With reference to the impact on small and medium sized businesses, the Chair City advised that the Corporation was doing what it could to help mitigate the impact; however, the scale of this problem was such that there were serious limits to the extent that it could provide relief. She noted that there was a separate question on the order sheet on this matter, where she would address the issue in more detail.

In relation to changes that would need to be made to the City’s environment, the Chair referenced forthcoming proposals to alter the City’s streets so as to provide more space for walking and cycling, in order to enable social distancing on the City’s streets and support the safe return of employees to the workplace. Measures to support businesses and manage travel demand were also included.

In closing, the Chair also highlighted the opportunity for cultural organisations in the City to focus on serving local communities and neighbours in different way. She made reference to work with  the London Festival of Architecture and London

There were no motions.

The Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee spoke to inform the Court that the Planning and Transportation Committee’s long standing legal advisor, Deborah Cluett, had been named as the Planning Resource Magazine’s council legal department’s number one individual solicitor 2020, following the 23^rd edition of the Planning Law Survey. On behalf of the Court, he took the opportunity to offer public congratulations on this accolade. He also congratulated the wider Planning legal team, which had made the second spot in terms of the most admired local authority legal teams in planning terms in this same survey, expressing his gratitude for their dedication and expertise

To receive reports of the Policy and Resources Committee, as follows:-

(A)Report of Urgent Action Taken: COVID-19 Response – to receive a report advising of four actions taken under urgency procedures in relation to the COVID-19 response.

(Deputy Catherine McGuinness)

17 April 2020

(A) Reports of Action Taken: COVID-19 Response

As a consequence of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in the United Kingdom and related directives from Her Majesty’s Government, the City of London Corporation suspended the vast majority of formal decision-making meetings towards the end of March 2020. Whilst formal meetings had since been reinstated following the introduction of new Regulations permitting virtual meetings, a number of decisions concerning the immediate response to the outbreak had been required to be taken in the interim, in accordance with the City Corporation’s urgency procedures. The various actions taken were as follows:

i)   Postponement of the election of Sheriffs and other Officers usually elected in Common Hall on Midsummer Day

Arising from the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, Hm Government suspended the London Mayoral, Police and Crime Commissioner and local government elections until May 2021. These provisions did not apply to municipal elections in the City, which remained under the control of the City Corporation, but reflected a clear statement of national policy.  It was, accordingly, necessary to give consideration to the election of Sheriffs and other Officers by an assembly of the Livery in Common Hall on Midsummer Day (24 June). The timeline was also relevant to the Mayoral election in Common Hall due in September 2020.

Given the national position and uncertainty about the length of time during which restrictions and effects on normal activities may be in place, it was recommended that the elections on Midsummer Day should be delayed for a year, until Midsummer Day in 2021, which would have the effect that the terms of office of the incumbent Sheriffs and other Officers would also be extended accordingly. This could be implemented though a formal resolution of the Court of Common Council. The Court of Aldermen resolved

(B) Report of Action Taken: City of London Academies Trust – To receive a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures in relation to the expansion of the City of London Academies Trust.

(Deputy Catherine McGuinness, Chair of Policy and Resources)

17th April 2020

(B) Report of Action Taken: City of London Academies Trust

The City of London Corporation (CoLC) was the sponsor of a number of academies, with the governance of these academies managed through The City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT). However, two Academies for which the CoLC was a co-sponsor - the City of London Academy Islington (COLAI) and The City Academy, Hackney (TCAH) – had, until now, operated outside of CoLAT.

On 2 December 2019 and 22 January 2020 the Governing Bodies of COLAI and TCAH respectively resolved to support the proposal for their academies to join the CoLAT, and for the academies’ joint sponsors to enter into formal discussions to that end. In each instance the proposals were supported by the respective co-sponsors. Both the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Islington were also supportive. In addition, the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), whose consent is required, approved these academies joining CoLAT.

Following consideration by the relevant Committees and engagement with the Department for Education, urgency procedures were subsequently employed to approve the transfer of TCAH and COLAI to CoLAT.

Resolved – That the action taken under urgency procedures be noted.

To consider the draft City of London Local Plan 2036.

(Deputy Alastair Moss)

31 March 2020

City of London Local Plan Review: Proposed Publication of the City Plan 2036

The City Corporation had reviewed its Local Plan, which set out the Corporation’s vision, objectives and policies for planning the City of London. The current City Local Plan was adopted in 2015 and set the context for land-use and development requirements up to 2026. The new Local Plan would have an end date of 2036.

Preparation of the new Local Plan had been informed by two rounds of public consultation, as well as national planning policy, the Mayor of London’s current London Plan and the emerging new London Plan, an evidence base of research, including a viability assessment, a supporting Integrated Impact Assessment, and delivery of the Corporate Plan and other City Corporation strategies.

The Court of Common Council was now recommended to agree to the publication of the Proposed Submission City Plan 2036 for a final period of public consultation, following which it would return to the Planning & Transportation Committee for final consideration before being submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for examination by an independent Planning Inspector. Consultation would take place after the Recess and when feasible in line with Government health advice. The new Plan was currently expected to be adopted in 2021 and a full version of the Proposed Submission City Plan 2036 was available at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/cityplan2036.

Whilst it was too soon to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19, the Chair advised that the Plan was flexible and capable of adapting to change as might be required.

Following a suggestion that the report should be rejected at this time, an indicative vote was held, following which the Lord Mayor declared the report to be carried.

Resolved – That the Proposed

To consider an amendment to the Markets Committee’s Terms of Reference.

(James Richard Tumbridge)

4 March 2020

Proposed Amendment to Terms of Reference

This item was withdrawn.

The Chairman, on a point of order, spoke to explain the rationale for the withdrawal and referenced the agreement of a protocol, which had been circulated to all Members. This protocol articulated the information-sharing arrangements in respect of the Markets Consolidation Programme and obviated the requirement for an amendment to the Terms of Reference.

To receive a report advising of two actions taken under urgency procedures in relation to the COVID-19 response.

(Dhruv Patel, OBE)

7 April 2020

Report of Urgent Actions Taken: COVID-19 Response

Following the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in the United Kingdom, the City Bridge Trust Committee had proposed two actions be taken which required the approval of the Court of Common Council, in accordance with the City Corporation’s urgency procedures. These actions were intended to assist with the immediate response to the crisis and were as follows:

i)    Covid-19 Response: Grant to London Funders

London Funders, the umbrella body for any corporate, independent or governmental organisations who fund civil society in London, had determined to co-ordinate a response to the COVID-19 crisis for London’s funding community.

A proposal for a pooled fund to provide support to civil society organisations in need of additional resources was subsequently devised, with it further proposed that the City Bridge Trust allocate £1 million (out of its agreed ‘Bridging Divides’ grants budgets) towards this pooled fund, with the City of London Corporation (acting as trustee of the Bridge House Estates charity) administering the fund through City Bridge Trust.

Approval was subsequently granted under urgency procedures in respect of the allocation of £1 million towards a pooled fund, this pooled fund to be held by the City of London Corporation (as trustee to the Bridge House Estates charity), administered by CBT working with London Funders and its members. Approval was also granted for the City of London Corporation, as trustee of Bridge House Estates, establishing the London Community Response Fund, a separate trust fund within the ancillary object of Bridge House Estates.

Resolved – That the action taken under urgency procedures be noted.

ii)    Temporary amendments to thresholds for grant approvals under delegated powers and the Scheme of Delegation to Officers (Chief Grants Officer)

Following the establishment of the London Community Response Fund outlined

To receive a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures in relation to the award of a Freedom by Special Nomination.

(Alderman Sir David Wootton)

17 April 2020

Report of Urgent Action Taken: Award of the Freedom of the City of London by Special Nomination to Thomas Moore

In recognition of his initiative to raise money for the NHS during the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, the Lord Mayor had nominated Thomas Moore, also known as Captain Tom Moore, for Freedom of the City of London by Special Nomination. The nomination was seconded by the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, Deputy Catherine McGuinness. The Freedom Applications Committee considered this nomination and was highly supportive of the award.

The Freedom was the first to be given virtually and was live streamed on YouTube. The request for approval was submitted under urgency to provide this recognition to mark the completion of the 100 laps of his garden and his 100^th birthday, where it was intended that the Freedom of the City would form one of many honours that were bestowed upon Captain Moore.

Approval was, therefore, granted by the Court of Common Council under urgency procedures to admit Thomas Moore, also known as Captain Tom Moore, to the Freedom of the City of London by Special Nomination; being nominated by The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor, and Deputy Catherine Sidony McGuinness, Citizen and Solicitor.

Resolved – That the action taken under urgency procedures be noted.

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 5 March 2020.

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

To consider a project proposal at Gateway 4b concerning a series of waterproofing, drainage and landscaping works.

The Court approved a project proposal at Gateway 4b concerning a series of waterproofing,

drainage and landscaping works.