Agenda and minutes

Resolved Unanimously – That Adrian Waddingham, one of the Sheriffs of the City, be invited to take his seat on the Dais.

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

Mr George Gillon, the Chief Commoner, read the draft of a vote of thanks to the Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor, which was intended to be formally Moved at the next meeting of the Court.

A letter of the Lord Mayor Elect declaring her assent to take upon herself the Office of Lord Mayor was received.

There were no resolutions.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor reported on his recent overseas visits to Malaysia, Indonesia and Burma, China and Mongolia and Kuwait and Jordan.

In accordance with Standing Order No. 18, John Alfred Bennett, Deputy and William Harry Dove, M.B.E., J.P., Deputy have valid nominations for the office. Curriculum Vitae for each candidate are the subject of a printed and circulated report.

(N.B. A notice of the nominees is on display in the Members’ Reading Room) 

The Court proceeded to elect a Chief Commoner for 2014/2015.

Deputy John Alfred Bennett and Deputy William Harry Dove M.B.E. were nominated in accordance with Standing Order No. 18.

Whereupon, it was declared necessary, in accordance with Standing Order No. 10, to conduct a ballot.

The Lord Mayor requested the Chief Commoner and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, or their representatives, to be the scrutineers of the ballot.

The result was announced as follows:-

Deputy John Alfred Bennett                            52 Votes

Deputy William Harry Dove                             45 Votes

Resolved – That Deputy John Alfred Bennett be declared elected to the office of Chief Commoner for 2014/15.

There was no policy report.

Sundry documents were sealed with the Hospital Seal.

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

The Chamberlain, in pursuance of the Orders of this Court, presented a list of the under-mentioned persons who had made application to be admitted to the Freedom of this City by redemption:-

The Remembrancer reported on measures introduced into Parliament which may have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation.

* denotes appointed

Votes

John Douglas Chapman, Deputy            49

Clare James, M.A.                                 50 *

The Town Clerk to report the result of a ballot taken at the last Court to appoint one Member on the Finance Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014 to fill a vacancy not taken by the Ward of Candlewick.

Votes

John Douglas Chapman, Deputy            49

Clare James, M.A.                                 50

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Clare James to have been appointed on the Finance Committeefor a term expiring in April 2014.

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment.

a) One Member (Non-Resident of the Barbican Estate) on the Barbican Residential Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014.

Nomination received:-

Ann Holmes

b) Two Members on Christ’s Hospital for the balance of terms expiring in January 2016.

Nominations received:-

Lucy Roseanne Frew

Christopher Michael Hayward

c) One Member on the Dr Johnson’s House Trust for a two year term to expire in October 2015.

Nomination received:-

* Jeremy Lewis Simons, M.Sc.

The Court proceeded to make the following appointments in respect of which the Town Clerk reported that the following nominations had been received:-

a) One Member (Non-Resident of the Barbican Estate) on the Barbican Residential Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014.

Nomination received:-

Ann Holmes

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Ann Holmes to have been appointed as a non-resident of the Barbican Estate on the Barbican Residential Committee for the balance of a term to expire in April 2014.

b) Two Members on Christ’s Hospital for the balance of terms expiring in January 2016.

Nominations received:-

Lucy Roseanne Frew

Christopher Michael Hayward

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Lucy Frew and Christopher Hayward to have been appointed to the Christ’s Hospital for the balance of terms to expire in January 2016.

c) One Member on the Dr Johnson’s House Trust for a two year term to expire in October 2015.

Nomination received:-

* Jeremy Lewis Simons, M.Sc.

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Jeremy Simons, to have been appointed on the Dr Johnson’s House Trust for the balance of a term to expire in October 2015.

There were no questions.

There were no motions.

With the permission of the Lord Mayor, the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee, Alderman Ian Luder, reported orally on his attendance at the London in Bloom finalist award celebrations on 18 September 2013, at which the City won an overall Gold for the ‘Town’ Category. He reported that the full list of accolades included:-

Town Category

City of London – Gold (assessing the overall impact of managing open spaces including: horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation).

Small Park of the Year

Silver - Tower Hill Garden, City of London

Silver Gilt - Cleary Gardens, City of London

Silver Gilt - Festival Gardens and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Garden, City of London

Silver Gilt - Portsoken Street Garden, City of London

Gold - Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden, City of London

Small Cemetery  

Silver Gilt & Category Winner - Bunhill Fields, City of London                

The London in Bloom Business Premises of the Year (judged against all other business premises in London) was awarded to Middle Temple.

The Chairman reported that City Gardens won gold for Cleary Gardens, silver gilt for Christchurch Greyfriars and bronze for St Dunstan’s in the East in the London Garden’s Society awards ceremony which took place on 3 October and, in conclusion, he paid tribute to the City Corporation staff and volunteers who had made the awards possible.

Received.

(Mark John Boleat)

10 October 2013

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Mark John Boleat)

10 October 2013

In January 2013 this Committee approved the establishment of a working party to devise an education strategy for the City Corporation, to focus on improving the quality of education in London, especially for disadvantaged children.

The Education Strategy Working Party (ESWP) held its first meeting in May 2013 and has held nine meetings over the course of a four month review period. Throughout the consultation the ESWP reviewed the City Corporation’s: schools portfolio and governance arrangements; its statutory education provision; education outreach work from City Corporation organisations; and the City Corporation’s employability support. Meetings were also held externally with livery companies, businesses, local authorities and education institutions, which sought to identify educational best practice. This strategy represents the culmination of all these meetings and considerations. It outlines a vision for the City Corporation’s education offer and makes recommendations to achieve it. This strategy is limited to education provision between the ages of 4-18, covering primary and secondary, but not tertiary, education.

The strategy states that the City Corporation’s vision for education should be to educate and inspire children and young people to achieve their full potential. This has been segmented into five strategic aims:

·       To promote and support excellent education and access to higher education

·       To strive for excellence in the City schools

·       To inspire children through an enriched education and outreach opportunities

·       To promote an effective transition from education to employment

·       To explore opportunities to expand the City’s education portfolio and influence on education throughout London

We accordingly recommend that this Court agree that the City of London Corporation Education Strategy 2013-2015, as set out in the separately printed and circulated report, be approved.

In January 2013 this Committee approved the establishment of a working party to devise an education strategy for the City Corporation to focus on improving the quality of education in London, especially for disadvantaged children.

The Education Strategy Working Party (ESWP) held its first meeting in May 2013 and has held nine meetings over the course of a four month review period. Throughout the consultation the ESWP reviewed the City Corporation’s schools portfolio and governance arrangements; its statutory education provision; education outreach work from City Corporation organisations; and the City Corporation’s employability support. Meetings were also held externally with livery companies, businesses, local authorities and education institutions, which sought to identify educational best practice. This strategy represents the culmination of all these meetings and considerations. It outlines a vision for the City Corporation’s education offer and makes recommendations to achieve it. This strategy is limited to education provision between the ages of 4-18, covering primary and secondary, but not tertiary, education.

The strategy states that the City Corporation’s vision for education should be to educate and inspire children and young people to achieve their full potential. This has been segmented into five strategic aims:

·       To promote and support excellent education and access to higher education

·       To strive for excellence in the City schools

·       To inspire children through an enriched education and outreach opportunities

·       To promote an effective transition from education to employment

·       To explore opportunities to expand the City’s education portfolio and influence on education throughout London

We accordingly recommend that this Court agree that the City of London Corporation Education Strategy 2013-2015, as set out in the separately printed and circulated report, be approved.

Read and agreed to.

Following discussion at the Court of Common Council meeting in July the Chairman of your Committee undertook to consider how and when appointment to ward committees are made as well as look at the Standing Orders which govern the nominations process.

The Committee has since reviewed the process and whilst we have concluded that the Standing Orders governing this particular area are satisfactory, we believe that the nominations process would benefit from the introduction of a protocol to assist Members.

A draft protocol has been prepared which we support and we now recommend that a protocol for the nomination of Members to the Court to serve on ward committees be adopted, as follows:-

Protocol for the nomination to the Court of Members for appointment to Ward Committees

Introduction

This document sets out relevant Standing Orders and protocols relating to the appointment of Members to ward committees.

Standing orders

Appointments to Ward Committees are made by the Court and the Court is able to change the membership of Ward Committees at any time.  In practice, the Court normally endorses the names put forward by the Wards.  There are two relevant standing orders governing this process -

Standing Order No. 23 – Ward Committees

(4)   Wards shall choose whether to nominate a Member(s) to serve on each of the several Ward Committees;

(5)   After consultation with the Members of their Wards, the Deputies of the Wards shall submit the nominations to the Town Clerk subject to the following:-

(a)  the term of office of a Member on a Ward Committee is one year;

(b) a Member who has served four terms on a Ward Committee, separately or consecutively, is not eligible for appointment for a further term whilst there is a Member of the Ward who has not served and wishes to

Following discussion at the Court of Common Council meeting in July the Chairman of your Committee undertook to consider how and when appointment to ward committees are made as well as look at the Standing Orders which govern the nominations process.

The Committee has since reviewed the process and whilst we have concluded that the Standing Orders governing this particular area are satisfactory, we believe that the nominations process would benefit from the introduction of a protocol to assist Members.

A draft protocol has been prepared which we support and we now recommend that a protocol for the nomination of Members to the Court to serve on ward committees be adopted, as follows:-

Protocol for the nomination to the Court of Members for appointment to Ward Committees

Introduction

This document sets out relevant Standing Orders and protocols relating to the appointment of Members to ward committees.

Standing orders

Appointments to Ward Committees are made by the Court and the Court is able to change the membership of Ward Committees at any time.  In practice, the Court normally endorses the names put forward by the Wards.  There are two relevant standing orders governing this process -

Standing Order No. 23 – Ward Committees

(4)   Wards shall choose whether to nominate a Member(s) to serve on each of the several Ward Committees;

(5)   After consultation with the Members of their Wards, the Deputies of the Wards shall submit the nominations to the Town Clerk subject to the following:-

(a)  the term of office of a Member on a Ward Committee is one year;

(b) a Member who has served four terms on a Ward Committee, separately or consecutively, is not eligible for appointment for a further term whilst there is a Member of the Ward who has not served and wishes to

Applications for the Use of Guildhall

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:-

Applications for the Use of Guildhall

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:-

Received.

(Roger Arthur Holden Chadwick)

FINANCE COMMITTEE

(Roger Arthur Holden Chadwick)

23 July 2013

The Court authorised this Committee to approve, amongst other things, the Statement of Accounts for the City Fund and Pension Funds.  We have duly considered and approved the 2012/13 City Fund and Pension Funds Statement of Accounts.  Copies of the Statement have been placed in the Members’ Reading Room and are available from the Chamberlain.  The management letter from Deloitte on its audit of the funds is attached for the information of the Court. In addition, the Statement and letters have been published on the City’s website.

The Court authorised this Committee to approve, amongst other things, the Statement of Accounts for the City Fund and Pension Funds.  We have duly considered and approved the 2012/13 City Fund and Pension Funds Statement of Accounts.  Copies of the Statement have been placed in the Members’ Reading Room and are available from the Chamberlain.  The management letter from Deloitte on its audit of the funds is attached for the information of the Court. In addition, the Statement and letters have been published on the City’s website.

Received.

The Court has authorised this Committee to approve, amongst other things, the Annual Reports and Financial Statements for Bridge House Estates and the Sundry Trust Funds. We have duly considered and approved the Annual Reports and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2013.  Copies of the Annual Reports and Financial Statements have been placed in the Members’ Reading Room and are available from the Chamberlain.  The management letter from Deloitte on its audit of the funds is attached for the information of the Court.

The Court has authorised this Committee to approve, amongst other things, the Annual Reports and Financial Statements for Bridge House Estates and the Sundry Trust Funds. We have duly considered and approved the Annual Reports and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2013.  Copies of the Annual Reports and Financial Statements have been placed in the Members’ Reading Room and are available from the Chamberlain.  The management letter from Deloitte on its audit of the funds is attached for the information of the Court.

Received.

“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:-

A) action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Barbican Residential Committee concerning the waterproofing of the Barbican Podium;

B) action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the lease of 200 Aldersgate Street, EC1; and

C) recommendations of the Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning a matter of hospitality?”

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 while the public were excluded:-

The Court -

A) noted action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Barbican Residential Committee concerning the waterproofing of the Barbican Podium;

B) noted action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the lease of 200 Aldersgate Street, EC1; and

C) noted recommendations of the Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning two matters of hospitality.

(Deputy Alexander Deane declared an interest in this item as his employer provided a public relations service to an organisation concerned with one of the matters of hospitality).