Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Stuart Fraser, Wendy Hyde, Vivienne Littlechild and John Tomlinson.

There were no declarations.

To elect the two remaining Deputy Chairmen in accordance with Standing Order No. 30 and the Committee’s Protocol for the Election of Deputy Chairmen.

The Committee proceeded to elect its two remaining Deputy Chairmen in accordance with Standing Order No. 30 and its protocol for the election of Deputy Chairmen. The following Members expressed an interest in serving:-

Simon Duckworth

Marianne Fredericks

Jeremy Mayhew

Hugh Morris

Having secured 50% of votes from the number of Members present at the meeting, Hugh Morris was elected as one of the two Deputy Chairmen. A further ballot was cast for the remaining position and Simon Duckworth was elected as the Committee’s third Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To consider minutes as follows:-

The public minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2016 were considered.

A Member referred to the nominations to London Councils and questioned whether the suggestion that Chairmen should have the ability to nominate a substitute to attend meetings had been agreed. The Chairman pointed out that deputies for nominees to London Council Committees were already nominated as part of the process. However, lead Members were nominated for consultation purposes only and therefore it would not be necessary to nominate a substitute for them.

A Member advised that London Councils had confirmed that meetings of the Chairmen of Health and Wellbeing Boards were convened on a quarterly basis and suggested that it be added to the list of London Council nominations.

RESOLVED – that the minutes be approved and that the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing be added to the nominations to London Councils. 

The draft public minutes if the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 May 2016 were noted.

The draft public minutes if the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 May 2016 were noted.

The draft minutes if the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 May 2016 were noted.

To consider the appointment of Members to serve on the following:-

a)        Audit and Risk Management Committee – one Member;

b)        Corporate Asset Sub-Committee – two Members;

c)         Resource Allocation Sub-Committee – dependant on outcome of election of Deputy Chairmen; and

d)        Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee – dependant on outcome of election of Deputy Chairmen.

The Committee considered the appointment of Members to serve on Committees and Sub-Committees.

It was noted that the Finance Committee had altered the composition of its Corporate Asset Sub-Committee so that places on the Sub-Committee which remained unfilled by committees would now be advertised to the wider Court for appointment by the Finance Committee. It was also noted that, given the outcome of the election of Deputy Chairmen, it would not be necessary to appoint any Member to serve on the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED – That the following appointments be made for the ensuing year:-

1.   Hugh Morris be appointed to serve as the Committee’s representative on the Audit and Risk Management Committee;

2.   Edward Lord and Tom Sleigh be appointed to serve on the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee; and

3.   it be noted that in future, places on the Corporate Asset Sub-Committee which remained unfilled would be advertised to the wider Court with representatives being appointed by the Finance Committee.    

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the appointment of a representative to serve on the Cross River Partnership in the room of George Gillon.

A Member suggested that Wendy Hyde be appointed to serve on the Partnership. Members supported the suggestion.

The Chairman referred to the contribution George Gillon had made to the work of the Partnership over the years and thanked him on behalf of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That Wendy Hyde be appointed as the City Corporation’s representative on the Cross River Partnership.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the City Corporation partnering with the Centre for European Reform (CER) in hosting to two high-level conferences, a post-EU referendum conference and the 2016 Ditchley Park conference.

Members were advised that since the circulation of the report, approval had been given to the sponsorship of the post-EU Referendum conference under the urgency procedures. A Member stated that had the conference been considered by the Committee he would have opposed it. He felt that once the outcome of the Referendum was known it was important for the City Corporation to get back to its position of neutrality. The Committee was advised that the CER has a highly regarded think tank, campaigners on both sides of the Referendum had been invited to attend the conference and that urgent action had been taken to enable the invitations to be sent out as soon as possible.

RESOLVED – that:-

1.   approval be given to the City Corporation sponsoring the 2016 Ditchley Park Conference at a sum of £15,000 to be met from the 2016/17 Policy Initiatives Fund, charged to City’s Cash and Categorised under “events”; and

2.   it be noted that approval had been given, under the urgency procedures, to the post-EU Referendum conference being supported at sum of £15,000 to be met from the 2016/17 Policy Initiatives Fund.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a statement of the Chamberlain on the use of the Policy Initiatives Fund and Committee’s Contingency for 2016/17.

RESOLVED – That the content of the statement be noted. 

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk reporting action taken by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman since the last meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that approval was given to the cost of the following events being met from the £55,000 budget set aside for the extended contact and topical issues programmes:-

1.   the provision of £17,500 to enable the City Corporation to host a half day conference entitle “Britain’s Future in Europe” on 6^th June in partnership with the think tank, ResPublica; and

2.   the provision of £12,000 to enable the City Corporation to host a one day conference organised by Cityforum entitled, “Surging Financial Crime in a Digitised World”.

Traffic Congestion in the City

A Member drew attention to the high level of congestion currently being caused by traffic in the City and the surrounding areas. The City was now gridlocked and it was currently impossible to get round it with any ease. He also pointed out that the level of congestion was also having an adverse effect on air pollution. The Member stated that it was important for the City Corporation to be seen to address matters such as this and suggested that a concerted effort now be made to review the situation and to ascertain what could be done to mitigate it. The review should include the impact of pedestrianisation over the years. Several Members supported his sentiments and a number of heavily congested areas were highlighted. The Chairman of Planning and Transportation advised that Transport for London had already been asked to consider installing a yellow junction box at the Ludgate Junction to alleviate the problems currently caused in that area. The Chairman undertook to raise the matter with the Mayor of London.

A Member expressed concern that any suggestion to release space would encourage more cars into the City and increase pollution even further.

RESOLVED – that the Director of the Built Environment be requested to review the increasing level of traffic congestion in the City to ascertain what could be done to mitigate congestion.

EU Referendum Counting Centre

A Member questioned the City Corporation’s returning officer role in the EU Referendum and whether it was appropriate for Guildhall to be used as a counting centre especially as the City Corporation had come out in favour of a particular side. The Town Clerk advised that the City Corporation did not have a returning officer role in the referendum and that he was not involved. He

There were no items of urgent business.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following 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.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following 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.

Item Nos.                                                          Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A 

13 - 15                                                                                    3 

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

To consider non-public minutes of meetings as follows:-

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2016 were approved.

The draft non-public minutes of the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 May 2016 were approved.

The draft non-public minutes of the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 May 2016 were approved.

The draft non-public minutes of the Ceremonials Working Party meeting held on 23 May 2016 were approved.

The draft non-public minutes of the Cultural Hub Working Party meeting held on 24 May 2016 were approved.

Joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of the Built Environment.

NB: this report has been considered and agreed by the Planning and Transportation Committee and will also be considered by the Police Committee.

The Committee considered and approved a joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of the Built Environment concerning London Wall Car Park.

Joint report of the City Surveyor and Chamberlain.

NB: This report has been considered and received by the Property Investment Board and the Finance Committee.

The Committee considered a joint outturn report of the City Surveyor and the Chamberlain concerning the City Fund Crossrail property strategy.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.