Agenda and minutes

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor reported on his recent overseas visits to Brunei, New Zealand and Australia.

There was no Policy statement.

Sundry documents were sealed with the Hospital Seal.

(A list of names, together with those of the nominators, has been separately circulated).

(a)        ¬ denotes appointment

§ denotes less than ten years’ service on the Court;

# denotes less than five years’ service on the Court; and

^ denotes a Member whose primary residence is in the City of London.)

For appointments to the Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies - at least one Member to have less than ten years’ service on the Court).

(b)       For appointments to the Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee(four vacancies).

(c)        For appointments to the Energy and Sustainability Sub, Policy and Resources Committee(four vacancies).

(d)        For appointments to the Police Committee (eleven vacancies – at least one Member to have less than five years’ service on the Court and a minimum of two Members must have their primary residence in the City of London).

The Town Clerk reported the result of ballots taken at the last Court viz:-

(a)        ¬ denotes appointment

§ denotes less than ten years’ service on the Court;

# denotes less than five years’ service on the Court; and

^ denotes a Member whose primary residence is in the City of London.)

For appointments to the Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies - at least one Member to have less than ten years’ service on the Court).

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Simon Duckworth, Bob Duffield, Marianne Fredericks, Deputy Catherine McGuiness and Deputy Dr Giles Shilson to have been appointed on the Policy and Resources Committee.

(b)        For appointments to the Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee(four vacancies).

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Bill Fraser, Deputy Doug Barrow, Simon Duckworth and Deputy Richard Regan to have been appointed on the Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee for terms of four, three, two and one years, according to the  results of the ballot.

(c)        For appointments to the Energy and Sustainability Sub, Policy and Resources

There were no motions.

(Mark John Boleat)

Policy and Resources Committee

(Mark John Boleat)

(A)       The Localism Act 2011 received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011 and, once fully brought into force, will abolish the current standards regime under the Local Government Act 2000.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) envisages that the new standards regime provided for in the Act will come into force on 1 July 2012. In line with the requirements of the Act, the Court of Common Council must adopt and publicise a code dealing with the conduct that is expected of Members and Co-opted Members. Under the Act, the City Corporation is required to appoint at least one Independent Person whose views:

(i)            must be sought, and taken into account, by the City Corporation before it makes its decision on an allegation that it has decided to investigate;

(ii)           may be sought by the City Corporation in relation to an allegation in other circumstances; and

(iii)       may be sought by a member against whom an allegation has been made.

The Independent Person/s must not have been a Member, Co-opted Member or Officer of the City Corporation in the last five years, nor be a relative or close friend of a Member, Co-opted Member or Officer.  The current legal advice obtained by the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors (ACSeS) is that the Independent Members of the existing Standards Committee are not eligible. 

The selection procedure, as below, will be followed for the appointment of all future Independent Person/s to support the City Corporation’s new standards arrangements:

(a) The placing of an advert to be consistent with other appointment processes that are followed by the City Corporation when appointing independent external representatives to formal decision-making bodies.

(b) The Selection Panel is authorised to shortlist and interview applicants for the role of Independent Person/s, and shall comprise

(A)       The Localism Act 2011 received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011 and, once fully brought into force, will abolish the current standards regime under the Local Government Act 2000.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) envisages that the new standards regime provided for in the Act will come into force on 1 July 2012. In line with the requirements of the Act, the Court of Common Council must adopt and publicise a code dealing with the conduct that is expected of Members and Co-opted Members. Under the Act, the City Corporation is required to appoint at least one Independent Person whose views:

(i)            must be sought, and taken into account, by the City Corporation before it makes its decision on an allegation that it has decided to investigate;

(ii)           may be sought by the City Corporation in relation to an allegation in other circumstances; and

(iii)       may be sought by a member against whom an allegation has been made.

The Independent Person/s must not have been a Member, Co-opted Member or Officer of the City Corporation in the last five years, nor be a relative or close friend of a Member, Co-opted Member or Officer.  The current legal advice obtained by the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors (ACSeS) is that the Independent Members of the existing Standards Committee are not eligible. 

The selection procedure, as below, will be followed for the appointment of all future Independent Person/s to support the City Corporation’s new standards arrangements:

(a) The placing of an advert to be consistent with other appointment processes that are followed by the City Corporation when appointing independent external representatives to formal decision-making bodies.

(b) The Selection Panel is authorised to shortlist and interview applicants for the role of Independent Person/s, and shall comprise

In accordance with the arrangements approved by the Court on 21 June 2001 for the approval of applications for the use of Guildhall, we now inform the Court of the following applications which have been agreed to:-

In accordance with the arrangements approved by the Court on 21 June 2001 for the approval of applications for the use of Guildhall, we now inform the Court of the following applications which have been agreed to:-

Read.

Your Policy and Resources Committee recently approved, in principle, the establishment of a £20 million Social Investment Fund (SIF) from within the Bridge House Estates Fund. Events in the social investment arena are moving fast and the time appeared to be right for the City Corporation to establish such a Fund.

Whilst the progression of the initiative is subject to settling the management arrangements and any other necessary approvals, it presented a significant opportunity to maximise the social impact of the City Corporation’s investments by making the capital work harder to achieve a social, as well as a financial, return. It is also a demonstration of our commitment to the social investment agenda.

A printed and circulated report thereon has therefore been submitted for your information.

The Chairman undertook to look into the structure of the fund to ensure that it would allow the best opportunities for funding

Your Policy and Resources Committee recently approved, in principle, the establishment of a £20 million Social Investment Fund (SIF) from within the Bridge House Estates Fund. Events in the social investment arena are moving fast and the time appeared to be right for the City Corporation to establish such a Fund.

Whilst the progression of the initiative is subject to settling the management arrangements and any other necessary approvals, it presented a significant opportunity to maximise the social impact of the City Corporation’s investments by making the capital work harder to achieve a social, as well as a financial, return. It is also a demonstration of our commitment to the social investment agenda.

A printed and circulated report thereon has therefore been submitted for your information.

The Chairman undertook to look into the structure of the fund to ensure that it would allow the best opportunities for funding

Received.

(D)       Following the discussion which took place at the Court in January about the appointment process at the time of the appointment of the Comptroller and City Solicitor, your Policy and Resources Committee has reviewed the appointment of the City Corporation’s High Officers and, in particular, their election by the Court of Common Council. 

The current arrangements were considered in detail. This included a suggestion on the possibility of involving more Members in the recruitment process and whether a presentation and set questions from the floor was a satisfactory means of assessing candidates.

A printed and circulated report on the outcome of the review has been submitted and we commend the recommendations to you.

Appointment of High Officers

Following the discussion which took place at the Court in January about the appointment process at the time of the appointment of the Comptroller and City Solicitor, your Policy and Resources Committee has reviewed the appointment of the City Corporation’s High Officers and, in particular, their election by the Court of Common Council. 

The current arrangements were considered in detail. This included a suggestion on the possibility of involving more Members in the recruitment process and whether a presentation and set questions from the floor was a satisfactory means of assessing candidates.

A printed and circulated report on the outcome of the review has been submitted and we commend the recommendations to you.

Motion – To agree with the Committee in their report?

(E)       2012 will be the first time the modern Paralympic Games has returned to London since the first Games for disabled athletes, then known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, were staged here in conjunction with the 1948 Olympic Games.

Both the City and the UK have a large reputational and financial investment in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Members will recall the City has already hosted a reception at Guildhall during the fact-finding visit to London by the National Paralympic Committees’ Chefs de Mission, whose job is to ensure that participating athletes enjoy a stress-free and successful experience during the Games.

With this in mind and the fact that the International Paralympic Committee will also be staying in the City throughout the Paralympic Games, it is recommended that a number of guests be invited to attend a reception to be held on Wednesday 29 August 2012 at the Guildhall immediately prior to the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony; it being referred to this Committee to make the necessary arrangements out of City’s Cash within the approved cost parameters. This would provide a unique opportunity for the City of London to support and engage with this prestigious global event. Guests would include senior UK government figures, senior overseas representatives, Sports Ministers, members of the International Olympic and Paralympic Executive Committees, and other prominent personalities and representatives from the international sports, cultural and creative communities.

This would be a Committee event.

(E)       2012 will be the first time the modern Paralympic Games has returned to London since the first Games for disabled athletes, then known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, were staged here in conjunction with the 1948 Olympic Games.

Both the City and the UK have a large reputational and financial investment in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Members will recall the City has already hosted a reception at Guildhall during the fact-finding visit to London by the National Paralympic Committees’ Chefs de Mission, whose job is to ensure that participating athletes enjoy a stress-free and successful experience during the Games.

With this in mind and the fact that the International Paralympic Committee will also be staying in the City throughout the Paralympic Games, it is recommended that a number of guests be invited to attend a reception to be held on Wednesday 29 August 2012 at the Guildhall immediately prior to the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony; it being referred to this Committee to make the necessary arrangements out of City’s Cash within the approved cost parameters. This would provide a unique opportunity for the City of London to support and engage with this prestigious global event. Guests would include senior UK government figures, senior overseas representatives, Sports Ministers, members of the International Olympic and Paralympic Executive Committees, and other prominent personalities and representatives from the international sports, cultural and creative communities.

This would be a Committee event.

            Read and agreed to.

(William Harry Dove M.B.E., J.P., Deputy)

8 May 2012

Freedom Applications

On Thursday 17 May 2012 The City Bridge Trust plans to launch ‘Growing Localities’, the one-off £2m grants programme, previously agreed, to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. ‘Growing Localities’ will promote the use of green spaces and encourage people to grow their own food through community involvement and volunteering. It is hoped that the programme will help reduce social isolation, teach the value of biodiversity and provide horticultural work training for young unemployed people and those with special needs.

The programme is to be launched by Raymond Blanc, Chef & Joanna Lumley, Actress at a green pop-up space in the Guildhall Yard. Planting workshops, will be hosted by the City of London’s Open Spaces department demonstrating how easy it is to grow your own food, while several City Farms will sell their locally grown produce. 

In acknowledging their assistance and in appreciation of their efforts, applications for the Freedom of the City of London were duly proposed and seconded for both Mr Blanc and Ms Lumley and as there was no meeting of the Court scheduled to take place before the launch day, it was necessary to approve the applications using urgency procedures.

In accordance with Standing Order No.19, we now report the action taken.

(William Harry Dove M.B.E., J.P., Deputy)

8 May 2012

Freedom Applications

On Thursday 17 May 2012 The City Bridge Trust plans to launch ‘Growing Localities’, the one-off £2m grants programme, previously agreed, to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. ‘Growing Localities’ will promote the use of green spaces and encourage people to grow their own food through community involvement and volunteering. It is hoped that the programme will help reduce social isolation, teach the value of biodiversity and provide horticultural work training for young unemployed people and those with special needs.

The programme is to be launched by Raymond Blanc, Chef & Joanna Lumley, Actress at a green pop-up space in the Guildhall Yard. Planting workshops, will be hosted by the City of London’s Open Spaces department demonstrating how easy it is to grow your own food, while several City Farms will sell their locally grown produce. 

In acknowledging their assistance and in appreciation of their efforts, applications for the Freedom of the City of London were duly proposed and seconded for both Mr Blanc and Ms Lumley and as there was no meeting of the Court scheduled to take place before the launch day, it was necessary to approve the applications using urgency procedures.

In accordance with Standing Order No.19, we now report the action taken.

14        “That the public be excluded from the meeting for one item of business concerning a recommendation of the Policy & Resources Committee on an application for hospitality on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100(4) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as it has been conveyed to the City Corporation in confidence by Her Majesty’s Government. 

“Resolved - That the public be excluded from the meeting for one item of business concerning a recommendation of the Policy & Resources Committee on an application for hospitality on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100(4) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as it has been conveyed to the City Corporation in confidence by Her Majesty’s Government. 

DUFFIELD

Court of Common Council on Thursday 19th April, 2012

Omitted from the Remembrancer’s list of Members present at that Court of Common Council:-

John William Brewster, O.B.E.

The Town Clerk reported that the Lord Mayor was unable to attend the Court as he was overseas, whereupon, this day was produced and read in Court a Warrant signed by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor appointing a locum tenens to transact all the business appertaining to the Office of Mayoralty of this City during his absence.

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

8.         To appoint the following:-

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment;

§ denotes less than ten years’ service on the Court;

# denotes less than five years’ service on the Court; and

< denotes a Member who served on the original Governance Review Working Party.

(a)          One Member on the Board of Governors of the Museum of London for the balance of a term expiring in November 2013;

(b)          Six Members on the Post Implementation Governance Review Working Party, of which not more than three Members shall have served on the original Governance Review Working Party, at least one Member shall have less than ten years’ service on the Court and one Member shall have less than five years’ service on the Court;

(c)           One Member on the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee to fill a Ward vacancy;

(d)          One Member on the Bridewell Royal Hospital for the balance of a term to expire in November 2016;

(e)          One Member on the Trust for London for a five year term to expire in May 2017;

(a)          One Member on the Board of Governors of the Museum of London for the balance of a term expiring in November 2013;

Read.

(b)          Six Members on the Post Implementation Governance Review Working Party, of which not more than three Members shall have served on the original Governance Review Working Party, at least one Member shall have less than ten years’ service on the Court and one Member shall have less than five years’ service on the Court;

Read.

(c)           One Member on the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee to fill a Ward vacancy;

Read.