Agenda and minutes

It was moved by Deputy Kevin Everett, duly seconded and

RESOLVED – That Deputy Joyce Nash takes ‘the chair’ pending the election of a Chairman of the Committee for 2019/20.  

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy The Rev’d Stephen Haines and it was noted that Alderman Charles Bowman would join the Committee at its next meeting, following the expiry of purdah relating to the late Mayor, after the Easter Banquet that was due to take place in May.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council appointing the Committee dated 25 April 2019.  TO FOLLOW

This document was not available at the time of publication and will be

circulated separately.

The Order of the Court of Common Council was tabled.

RECEIVED.

To elect a Chair in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chair in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

The Town Clerk read out a list of Members eligible to stand as Chair. Deputy Edward Lord being the only Member indicating his willingness to stand it was

RESOLVED – That Deputy Edward Lord be duly elected as Chair for the ensuing year.

Deputy Lord thanked the Committee for their continued support.

To elect a Deputy Chair in accordance with Standing Order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chair in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

The Town Clerk read out a list of Members eligible to stand as Deputy Chair. Deputy Kevin Everett being the only Member indicating his willingness to stand it was

RESOLVED – That Deputy Kevin Everett be duly elected as Deputy Chair for the ensuing year.

Deputy Everett thanked the Committee for their support.

With the agreement of the Committee, the Chairman confirmed that item 34 on the confidential section of the agenda would be taken as next business with the public to be excluded from the meeting for that item, prior to the consideration of the other public business on the agenda. 

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for item 34 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Report of the Executive Director Mansion House and Central Criminal Court.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Mansion House and Central Criminal Court on his Programmes Team.

The meeting then returned to public session.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 26 February 2019.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 26 February 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

The Town Clerk undertook to respond to Members by email on the outstanding matters identified at the February meeting (item 6 on page 4 of the agenda pack).

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which provided details of outstanding actions from previous meetings.

The following matters were raised:-

·         The report back on Inclusive Recruitment: Ban the Box was scheduled to come to the Committee in July.

·         Noted that the Town Clerk would circulate the City Surveyor’s paper on workplace utilisation to Members by email.

·         On influenza inoculation, noted that the pilot in Open Spaces Department had received only a small take-up from officers.

RECEIVED.

To appoint four Members, in addition to the Chair, Deputy Chair and representative of the Finance Committee, to the Joint Consultative Committee.

The Town Clerk referred to the appointment of the Joint Consultative Committee. After discussion, it was

RESOLVED – That the following appointments be made to the Joint Consultative Committee for 2019/20:-

·         The Chair;

·         The Deputy Chair;

·         Randall Anderson;

·         Deputy Keith Bottomley;

·         Deputy Joyce Nash;

·         Ruby Sayed; and

·         The Finance Committee representative, Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark (the latter subject to confirmation by the Finance Committee).

To appoint the following Members to the Senior Remuneration Sub-Committee:

·         Chair of the Establishment Committee (Chair)

·         Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee (Deputy Chair)

·         Deputy Chair of the Establishment Committee

·         A Deputy Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee

·         Chairman of the Finance Committee

·         Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen

·         Up to 3 additional members of the Establishment Committee

The Town Clerk referred to the appointment of the Senior Remuneration Sub Committee. After discussion, it was

RESOLVED – That the following appointments be made to the Senior Remuneration Sub Committee for 2019/20:-

·         Chair of the Establishment Committee (Chair of the Sub Committee);

·         Deputy Chair of the Establishment Committee;

·         Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee (Deputy Chair of the Sub Committee);

·         a Deputy Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee;

·         Chair of the Finance Committee;

·         Chair of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen;

·         Deputy Keith Bottomley;

·         Christopher Hayward;

·         Ruby Sayed; and

·         The Finance Committee representative, Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark (the latter subject to confirmation by the Finance Committee)

Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive.

The Town Clerk and Chief Executive reported on Gender Identity Policy.

The Committee noted that paragraph 14 of the policy (page 19 of the agenda pack) be amended as set out below:-

The Equality Act 2010 gives protection against less favourable treatment of employees in relation to an absence that is because of their gender reassignment. Our Policy for Staff makes clear that Time off for medical or other treatment should be treated no less favourably than time off for illness or medical appointments. In addition, it states that a trans employee must be able to use the toilet or changing room of their expressed gender identity without fear of harassment. 

It was confirmed that the intention would be to review the policy in 5 years or earlier as required to reflect any law change.

RESOLVED – That the Gender Identity Policy be approved.

The Director of Human Resources to be heard.

The Director of Human Resources provided the latest update on Brexit.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Director of Human Resources reported on the equality and inclusion update, including pay gap. Members noted the additional information provided in the tabled addendum.

The following matters were raised:-

·         The Committee asked that staff be further advised on what constitutes a disability in the legal sense.  

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

Members had before them the report of the Director of Human Resources on the Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest. The additional information on the tabled addendum paper was also noted as was the proposal that paragraph 9.ii of the report be withdrawn at this stage and not approved.

The following matters were raised:-

·         References to Information Technology within the paper and appendices should be updated to Digital Services.

·         The Director of Human Resources undertook to refresh documentation to provide for GDPR, clarity on paid time off and wording relating to school governors.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to

(a)  the revisions to the Code of Conduct, subject to the withdrawal of paragraph 9.ii of the report; and

(b)    the new Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Director of Human Resources reported on the review of the 1-year trial on buying additional leave.

RESOLVED – That the buying additional leave scheme be made permanent.

The Head of Events to be heard.

The Head of Events provided an oral report that the outcome of the recent staff survey on the staff Christmas luncheon had provided a majority in favour of retaining the ‘status quo’

RESOLVED – That the staff Christmas luncheon should continue in its present format.  

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

Members had before them the report of the Director of Human Resources updating the Committee on the City of London Corporation Schools.

RECEIVED.

Joint report of the Director of Human Resources and the Comptroller & City Solicitor.

The Director of Human Resources and the Comptroller and City Solicitor reported on developments in employment law.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

See also item 38 in the confidential section of the agenda.

The Committee considered the Director of Human Resources’ report on the operation of the scheme of delegations October 2018 to March 2019.

RECEIVED.  

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2019.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2019 be approved.

Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to be heard.

The Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama presented a report on strategic overview and staffing.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee noted a report of the Town Clerk which provided details of non-public outstanding actions from previous meetings.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

To agree the confidential minutes of the last meeting held on 26 February 2019.

RESOLVED – That the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2019 be approved.

Report of the Bursar of the City of London School.

The Bursar of the City of London School reported on staffing matters.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Chamberlain reported on staffing matters.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The City Surveyor reported on staffing matters.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The City Surveyor reported on staffing matters.

Report of the Barbican Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Barbican Chief Operating and Financial Officer reported on staffing matters.

Report of the Managing Director of the Barbican.

The Managing Director of the Barbican reported on staffing matters.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Director of Economic Development reported on staffing matters.

The Town Clerk undertook to report back on a review of the Committee’s cycle of meeting dates.  

Joint report of the Assistant Town Clerk and the Director of Economic Development.

The Assistant Town Clerk and the Director of Economic Development reported on staffing matters.

Report of the Comptroller & City Solicitor.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor reported on employment cases and settlements.

RESOLVED – That the Committee meeting continue after the usual 2 hour deadline for completion of business.

Item 18 in the public section of the agenda refers.

The Committee noted the confidential appendix to Operations of the Scheme of Delegations.

The Committee noted the Workshop Notes.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk reported on urgent action taken.