Venue: https://youtu.be/GP8Rztxcofc
Contact: Gregory Moore
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Apologies Minutes: The apologies of those Members unable to attend this meeting of the Court were noted. |
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Declarations by Members under the Code of Conduct in respect of any items on the agenda Minutes: There were no additional declarations. |
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To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 3 December 2020. Minutes: Resolved – That the minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded. |
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Mayoral Visits The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor to report on his recent engagements. Minutes: The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor took the opportunity to update the Court on his virtual engagement programme. |
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Policy Statement To receive a statement from the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee. Minutes: The Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee provided Members with an update on the latest position in respect of the Covid-19 response and the end of the EU transition period. |
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Policy and Resources Committee PDF 249 KB To consider proposals in relation to the Standards Regime and Lord Lisvane’s recommendations thereon through his review of the City Corporation’s governance arrangements. Additional documents:
Minutes: POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
(Deputy Catherine McGuinness) 10 December 2020 Governance Review: Standards Regime The Court was recommended to approve a series of proposals relating to the establishment of a new Standards regime and associated implications in respect of other existing arrangements.
The Chair spoke to introduce the proposals, noting they emerged from extensive engagement with Members in response to Lord Lisvane’s review. In response to questions, she expressed her personal agreement that the principle of increased transparency should extend to co-optees and Chief Officers as well as Members, and clarified that the involvement of Members at the Appeal Stage was intended to assist the Panel through the provision of contextual information. The Chair also stressed the importance of flexibility in being able to refine and improve arrangements as required once the new system was in place.
Resolved - That:- 1. The proposals in relation to Standards made by Lord Lisvane in Section 8 of his Review (Appendix 1) be noted and the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee thereon, as set out in paragraphs 20-30 of this report, be approved. 2. The Town Clerk be authorised to take such actions as are required to give effect to the decisions taken by this Court and facilitate their implementation.
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Planning and Transportation Committee PDF 157 KB To consider revisions to the City Plan 2036.
Additional documents: Minutes: PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
(Deputy Alastair Moss) 17 November 2020 City Plan 2036: Revisions to Proposed Submission Draft Plan The draft Local Plan, titled City Plan 2036, had been agreed for Regulation 19 pre-submission consultation by the Court of Common Council at its meeting on 21 May 2020. Local Plan regulations at that time prevented consultation taking place without making physical copies of the Plan available for inspection; however, amendments to those Regulations in July 2020 now enabled a website-only consultation to occur.
Changes to the Plan were now required prior to this consultation taking place in order to address revisions to permitted development rights and the Use Classes Order, which came into effect on 31 August and 1 September 2020, as well as to address other items, such as the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the City’s climate ambitions as set out by the recently approved Climate Action Strategy.
These changes had been agreed by the Planning & Transportation Committee and Policy & Resources Committee and were now recommended to the Court of Common Council.
In response to questions concerning the future demand for office space and the potential to explore developing sites for housing, the Chair expressed his confidence that the City remained the best place to do business and would continue to attract demand. He observed that the Planning department was incredibly busy at present with a significant volume of applications, demonstrating there was clear continued appetite for office space. The Chair acknowledged that there would likely be an element of adaptation or change to how such space was used but added that this sort of evolution was natural within the City. The Chair also observed that the Plan already emphasised the importance of housing, making a clear commitment to 1460 net additional dwellings, a figure above the |
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To consider proposals relating to the terms of appointment for Independent Persons. Minutes: STANDARDS COMMITTEE
(Caroline Kordai Addy) 2 October 2020 Fixed Terms for Independent Persons The Committee on Standards in Public Life had recommended that Independent Persons be appointed for a fixed term of two years, renewable once. The Committee had also recommended that the terms of multiple Independent Persons should, ideally, overlap. Both the Standards Committee and the Establishment Committee had now considered this matter and were proposing to introduce a fixed term of two years, renewable twice. The Standards Committee had also agreed in principle to stagger the appointments of the Independent Persons. The Court was now recommended to endorse these proposals and the necessary transitional arrangements.
Resolved – That a fixed term of office of two years, renewable twice, be adopted for the City Corporation’s Independent Persons, alongside the necessary transitional arrangements as set out in the report.
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Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee PDF 136 KB To consider recommendations concerning the provision of hospitality. Minutes: HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
(Deputy Brian Desmond Francis Mooney, the Chief Commoner) 21 December 2020 Applications for Hospitality
(A) Armed Forces Day 2021 Armed Forces Flag Day formed part of a week of activities across the country to raise public awareness of the contribution made by the Armed Forces. It was established to provide an opportunity to show support to members of the Armed Forces and Service families.
To mark this occasion, it was proposed that the City Corporation host a flag-raising ceremony in Guildhall Yard during the afternoon of Thursday 24th June 2021, followed by light refreshments in the Old Library. The event would provide an opportunity for the City to show its support for the Armed Forces, acknowledge the challenges encountered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and raise awareness of the contribution made by those who are currently serving or have previously served in the Forces.
Resolved – That hospitality be granted for a flag-raising ceremony to mark Armed Forces Flag Day, followed by light refreshments, and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.
(B) Commonwealth and High Commissioners Banquet 2021 The City Corporation had hosted an annual banquet for the Commonwealth High Commissioners since 2015. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for 2020 was scheduled to take place in Rwanda in June, with the High Commissioners’ Banquet was planned for September; however, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, CHOGM and the Banquet had had to be deferred. It was now anticipated that CHOGM would take place in June 2021, subject to any public health restrictions that might be in operation at the time.
It was, therefore, proposed that the City Corporation host the |
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Appointments To consider the following appointments:-
(A) Two Members on the Education Board, for the balance of terms expiring in April 2021 and April 2024.
Nominations received:- Tijs Broeke Alderman Robert Picton Seymour Howard
(B) One Member on Christ’s Hospital, for a term expiring in March 2024. . Nominations received:- Tijs Broeke Minutes: The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the following Committees:-
(A) Two Members on the Education Board, for the balance of terms expiring in April 2021 and April 2024.
Nominations received: Tijs Broeke Alderman Robert Picton Seymour Howard
Read.
Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Tijs Broeke and Alderman Robert Picton Seymour Howard to be appointed to the Education Board for the balance of terms expiring in April 2024 and April 2021, respectively.
(B) One Member on Christ’s Hospital, for a term expiring in March 2024.
Nomination received: Tijs Broeke
Read.
Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Tijs Broeke to be appointed to Christ’s Hospital for a term expiring in March 2024. |
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The Freedom of the City PDF 89 KB To consider a circulated list of applications for the Freedom of the City. Minutes:
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Motions By Deputy Andrien Gereith Dominic Meyers “That Doug Barrow be appointed to the Planning and Transportation Committee for the Ward of Aldgate, in the room of Sylvia Doreen Moys?” Minutes: Resolved –That Doug Barrow be appointed to the Planning and Transportation Committee for the Ward of Aldgate, in the room of Sylvia Doreen Moys. |
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Questions Minutes: Shravan Joshi asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee seeking an update on the implementation of the Climate Action Strategy.
Responding, the Chair agreed that the Climate Action Strategy represented a significant great achievement and advised that the actions within that strategy were now being implemented at pace. She explained that detailed project plans for each action area, converting the targets and metrics described in the strategy into annual targets for achievement between 2021 and 2027, were now being developed, together with a new performance management system to facilitate this process. It would be vital for the strategy to become embedded in the day-to-day activity of every department and associated actions and targets were also being integrated into 2021-22 business planning process and relevant Chief Officers’ performance objectives.
The Chair also outlined the various capital bids associated with the Strategy already approved by the Resource Allocation Sub Committee, together with a further £200,000 approved from the Policy Contingency Fund to support critical enabling actions in the 2020/21 financial year to accelerate the programme. She noted that dedicated officer governance had been developed to support the four delivery areas related to building interventions, as well as wider measures associated with committee reporting and decision-making.
Finally, the Chair touched on the significant engagement activity initiated across all audiences ahead of a re-launch planned for the Spring, including with bodies such as the London Assembly, City Property Association, the Annual City Residents’ Meeting, Livery Companies, and the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffiths.
In response to a supplementary question from Shravan Joshi concerning emissions from the Barbican Estate, the Chair advised that officers were working to identify the exact site level interventions at the Barbican and other buildings, both operational and investment. This included |
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Policy and Resources and Finance Committees PDF 119 KB To note action taken under urgency procedures in relation to delegations concerning write-off limits and discretionary Business Rates relief. Minutes: FINANCE COMMITTEE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
(Jeremy Paul Mayhew) (Deputy Catherine McGuinness) 26 November 2020 Report of Urgent Action Taken: Update to the Code of Corporate Governance concerning delegation of write-off limits and discretionary Business Rates relief During 2020, in an effort to streamline and accelerate the decision-making process as part of the Corporation’s immediate response to the Covid-19 pandemic, amendments were made to the Scheme of Delegations affecting irrecoverable debt write-off limits. The Head of Revenues was given delegation to write-off debts of up to £100,000, and the Chamberlain was given delegation to write-off debts of up to £500,000 (the pre-Covid delegated limit was £20,000). Debts over £500,000 still required approval by your Finance Committee. These temporary measures expired on 31 October 2020.
At the same time, the limits of delegation were increased for the Head of Revenues from £5,000 to £25,000 for awards of discretionary rate relief, made under Sections 47 and 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. This was also a temporary measure which expired on 31 October 2020.
Whilst the temporary write-offs and discretionary rate relief limits had now expired, it was felt that the reason for the increased delegation limits continued, with many businesses and individuals likely to suffer further financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic.
In the absence of a November meeting of the Court its approval was, therefore, sought under urgency procedures, to extend the delegations for these revised limits until 31 March 2021.
A new grant scheme was also announced by the Government in the autumn, which involved regular support grant payments to businesses that have been forced to suspend trading due to the Covid restrictions. As this was a new scheme, there had been no previous requirement for delegation and, therefore, the Court was also asked to |
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To receive a report setting out measures introduced into Parliament which may have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation. Minutes: 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:-
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Docquets for the Hospital Seal Minutes: There were no docquets for the seal. |
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Awards and Prizes Minutes: There was no report. |
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Resolutions on Retirements, Congratulatory Resolutions, Memorials PDF 54 KB To consider congratulatory resolutions in respect of the recent award of honours. Minutes: Resolved – That, following the reference to a number of Members and Officers of the City, Corporation and City of London Police in the New Year’s Honours List and the delayed Birthday Honour’s List, the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to:- (i) Jeremy Lewis Simons, OBE, on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his services to environmental conservation in London. (ii) John Michael Petrie, OBE, on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his services to Antigua and Barbuda. (iii) Douglas Gordon Fleming Barrow, MBE, on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his services to the maritime sector and to the City of London. (iv) Shravan Jashvantrai Joshi, MBE, on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his services to diversity and the British Hindu community. (v) Sufina Ahmad, MBE, until recently Corporate Strategy Manager at the City Corporation, on her recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of her contributions to charitable service. (vi) Joanne Folan, QPM, until her recent retirement a Detective Constable with the City of London Police, on her award by Her Majesty the Queen of the Queen’s Police Medal. |
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By the Chief Commoner 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 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972. Minutes: 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 the Local Government Act, 1972.
Summary of exempt items considered whilst the public were excluded:- |
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Non-Public Minutes To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting of the Court held on 3 December 2020. Minutes: Resolved – That the non-public minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded. |
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Policy and Resources Committee To consider proposals in relation to the Markets Co-location Programme. Minutes: Policy and Resources Committee The Court approved proposals in relation to the City’s Wholesale Markets Consolidation Programme. |
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Property Investment Board To note two reports of the Property Investment Board, advising of action taken under urgency procedures, as follows:- Minutes: Property Investment Board The Court noted two reports of the Property Investment Board, advising of action taken under urgency procedures, as follows:- |
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Report of Action Taken: Alfred Place (A) Report of Action Taken: Alfred Place – to note action taken under urgency procedures in respect of the surrender and re-grant of two long-term leases. For Information Minutes: (A) action taken in respect of the surrender and re-grant of two long-term leases.
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Report of Action Taken: Brewery Road (B) Report of Action Taken: Brewery Road – to note action taken under urgency procedures in respect of the purchase of a long leasehold. For Information
Minutes: (B)action taken in respect of the purchase of a long leasehold.
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