Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Sir Michael Bear, Jeremy Mayhew, Tom Sleigh and John Tomlinson.

Sir Mark Boleat declared and interest in item no. 13 as a Member of the Centre for London.

A Member questioned the exofficio status of Baroness Patricia Scotland on the Committee as his understanding was that for the time being she was no longer a serving Member of Parliament. The Town Clerk undertook to look into the matter.

To consider minutes as follows:-

The pubic minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 were approved.

The draft pubic minutes of the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting held on 6 July 2017 were noted.

The draft pubic minutes of the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 July 2017 were noted.

The draft pubic minutes of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee meeting held on 6 July 2017 were noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk proposing a change to the quorum of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the approval of the Court of Common Council,  the quorum of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama be amended to “The quorum consists of any seven Common Council Governors plus three co-opted Governors”.

Report of the Town Clerk.

NB: This report is also due to be considered by the Education Board.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk proposing an amendment to the appointment of Company Members and Trustees of the City of London Academies Trust.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the approval of the Court, the appointment of Company Members and Trustees of the City of London Academies Trust be amended to permit a representative of the Chairman/Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee and the Education Board to serve as such where the Chairman/Deputy Chairman is not able to serve.

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

NB: This report is also due to be considered by the Establishment Committee and the IT Sub-Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor concerning the new requirements of the General data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the work required by the City Corporation to comply with the Regulations by 18 May 2018.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor was heard in support of the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that the Comptroller and City Solicitor be appointed as the City of London Corporation’s Data Protection Officer.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain proposing the requirement for certain suppliers to have appropriate health and safety accreditation.

A Member referred to the regulatory burden and adverse impact the application of policies such as the proposed accreditation could have on small businesses and entrepreneurs and sought assurances that the burden would be minimal. Following discussion it was agreed that the report should be deferred to enable Officers to check the level of impact.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred and that the Chamberlain be requested to examine the impact the introduction of a health and safety accreditation would have on small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Remembrancer.

NB: Resolution of the Finance Committee to follow.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Remembrancer together with a resolution of the Finance Committee meeting held on 12 September 2017, concerning a pilot scheme for business rates devolution in London.

It was noted that this would involve the creation of a business rates ‘pool’ which would pay a single joint tariff into the national business rate system and that London Councils was seeking ‘in principle’ approval of the proposal from its constituent authorities.

RESOLVED – that the Chairman (or her representative) be authorised to express the following views at the next meeting of the London Councils Congress of Leaders:-

1.     ‘in principle’ support for the rates retention pilot scheme set out in London Councils’ Draft Prospectus, on condition that the final arrangements include sufficient protection for the position of the City Corporation, so that revenue attributable to the City Premium, the City Offset and the City’s formula allocation are unaffected and remain under the City’s sole control; and

2.     support a method of distribution of any financial dividend from the scheme which either gave relatively high weight to the retention of revenue growth where it was generated, or gave equal weight to that factor alongside those of population, need, and collective investment.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor updating it on the activities of the Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme and the projects which had benefitted from it since its inception in 2016. 

RESOLVED – That it be noted that three projects had been approved by the Energy Board in December 2016 and that the following be approved:-

1.      the use of up to 15% (£75,000) of the annual £0.5m loan allocation as a grant instead of a loan for feasibility studies which support energy project development to be approved by the Energy Board; and

2.      the extension of the Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme to the end of 2020/21 to allow it to run for a five year period with a further review report at the end of 2018-19.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

NB: This report has been considered and approved by the Streets and walkways Sub-Committee and will be considered by the Planning and Transportation Committee.

The Committee considered a Gateway 2 project report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning a review of traffic in the Temple Area.

Members noted that the project had been considered by the Projects Sub-Committee and that the Sub-Committee had supported the review subject to a number of conditions. It was also noted that the source of funding would need to be examined further and that the programme of activities in connection with the review would enable officers to plan for any future development in the area. The Committee was advised that should proposals for the area not prove viable the project would cease at Gateway 3.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the following conditions set by the Projects Sub-Committee, approval be given to the provision of £160,000 from the On-street Parking Reserve to fund the Temple Area Traffic Review:-

1.     details of the revised costs being provided to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Projects Sub-Committee;

2.     the City Corporation paying for the review, but not any associated consultancy costs;

3.     officer reporting back if the review area was extended; and

4.     the next gateway report to include details of any additional work as well as Transport for London’s response to the review.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

NB: his report has been considered and approved by the Community and Children’s Services Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services seeking the provision of additional central risk funding to cover the increased costs of providing a service to unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that a sum of £232,000 be provided from Central Risk budget to cover the increased costs of providing a service to unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk and Cultural Hub Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk and Cultural Hub Director concerning the production of a publication exploring the City of London’s Livery Halls.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the provision of £5,000 to the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects towards the publication of a new book entitled The Livery Halls of the City of London, to be met from the Committee’s contingency for 2017/18.

Report of the Director of Communications.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Communications Development proposing the sponsorship of the Centre for London’s annual London Conference on 16^th November 2017.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the provision of £25,000, from the Policy Initiatives Fund for 2017/18 in support of the Centre for London’s London Conference 2017 categorised under Events and charged to City’s Cash.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

NB: This report will have been considered by the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee earlier this day.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the Green Finance Summit event held earlier this year and proposals for the event to be repeated in 2018.

RESOLVED – That following the success of this year’s Green Finance Summit event approval be given to the City Corporation hosting the Summit in 2018.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the provision of support for the annual City Week event, organised by City and Financial Global to be held on April 23^rd and 24^th 2018. 

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the provision of £25,000 from the 2017/18 Policy Initiatives Fund, categorised under ‘Events’ and charged to City’s Cash for the 8^th City Week annual conference.

Report of the Director of Economic Development

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development proposing that the City Corporation hosts the Commonwealth Business Forum from 16-18 April 2018.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the City Corporation hosting the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) from 16-18 April 2018 and that the following be noted:-

1.     a follow-up paper was due to be presented to the Hospitality Working Party requesting funding for hospitality in the Guildhall;

2.     as the agenda takes shape, further papers providing detailed costings would be submitted to this committee; and

3.     policy discussions relating to the agenda and outcomes were ongoing and that, as a full partner in of the initiative, the City Corporation would be contributing to designing the CBF programme in coordination with central government and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. Further papers detailing the policy direction would be brought to this Committee.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment updating it on the Gigabit City Programme being led by the City Corporation’s City Property Advisory Team (CPAT). It was noted that the aim of the programme was to provide improved world leading wired and wireless connectivity for businesses, residents and visitors to the Square Mile.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Town Clerk, the Chamberlain and the Remembrancer.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Town Clerk, Chamberlain and the Remembrancer concerning the revenue outturn for services overseen by the Committee in 201617 and the budget carried forward to 2017/18.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

NB: This report was approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services concerning the Business Healthy Strategy for 2017-20.

RESOLVED – That report be noted and that the Business Healthy Strategy for 2017-20 be endorsed.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a statement of the Chamberlain on the use of the Policy Initiatives Fund (PIF) and Committee Contingency for 2017/18.

Concern was expressed about the PIF being exhausted at such a critical time and also with six months left to the end of the financial year. The Chairman suggested that in order to continue to support the City Corporation’s aims and objectives from this source a sum of £200,000 be transferred to the PIF from the Committee’s contingency. Members supported her suggestion.

RESOLVED – That the statement be noted and that a sum of £200,000 be transferred to the PIF from the Committee’s 2017/18 contingency.  

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning the City Corporation’s compliance with the requirements of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the relevant Codes of Practice. It was noted that no requests for surveillance had been received by the RIPA Monitoring Officer/Co-ordinator since the last report to the Committee in January 2017. One request to undertake directed surveillance (outside of the scope of RIPA) had however been sought and authorised in accordance with the City Corporation’s Policy and Procedure.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk reporting action taken since its last meeting.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that approval was given to the following:-

1.      the appointment of Councillor Richard Watts (a nominee of London Councils) as a City Corporation Governor on the Board of Governors of the Museum of London;

2.      the City Corporation’s participation in a Key messaging Project in partnership with the GLA and London Partners at a cost of £50,000.

3.      the provision of £170,000 up lift to the Town Clerk’s local risk budget to fund the appointment of two personal assistants and a speechwriter; and

4.      the reconfiguration of the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen’s IT Room on the second floor of the West Wing to form a small meeting room and separate, four station, IT room.

Business Improvement Districts

In response to a question on the creation of Business Improvement Districts in the City, it was noted that a report on the matter was scheduled to be submitted to the Committee in November.

The following items of urgent business were considered:-

Appointment of a City Corporation Governor to serve on the Board of Governors of the Museum of London.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning the appointment of a City Corporation Governor to the Board of Governors of the Museum of London.

A Member referred to the Outside Bodies Sub-Committee which had been established to monitor, consider and make recommendations on the appointment of the City Corporation’s representatives on external bodies. He advised that the Sub-Committee was due to meet shortly and suggested that the appointment be referred to the Sub-Committee for consideration in line with this. It was also suggested that prior to that, the Chairman of this Committee  should meet with the candidate and, that on this occasion, in order not to delay matters unduly, the final approval of the appointment be delegated to the Sub-Committee having received feedback from the Chairman. The Committee supported the suggestions.

RESOLVED – that in accordance with the Committee’s process for considering appointments to outside bodies, the appointment of a City Corporation Governor to the Board of Governors of the Museum of London be referred to the Outside Bodies Sub-Committee for consideration and that on this occasion, the final approval of the appointment be delegated to the Sub-Committee having received feedback from the Chairman’s meeting with the candidate.

Banksy Artworks

The Assistant Director of the Built Environment was heard regarding the Banksy artwork located in Beech Street Tunnel and the measures which would now be undertaken to retain and preserve the Artwork. Members noted that currently there was 24 hour security to ensure that the works were not stolen or defaced.

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.

RESOLVED – 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 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item Nos.                                                           Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

26 - 38                                                                                     1 and 3

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

The non-pubic minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 were approved.

The draft non-public minutes of the informal meeting of the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee held on 23 and 24 June 2017 were considered and the recommendations contained therein were approved.

The draft non-pubic minutes of the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting held on 6 and 20 July 2017 were noted.

The draft non-pubic minutes of the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 July 2017 were noted.

The draft non-pubic minutes of the Cultural Hub Working Party 1 June 2017 were noted.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the City Surveyor, together with a resolution of the Finance Committee held on 12 September 2017, concerning 20 and 21 Aldermanbury.

Report of the City Surveyor.

NB: This has been considered by the Markets Committee and the Projects Sub-Committee.

This report was withdrawn for further work.

Report of the City Surveyor.

NB: This report has been considered and approved by the Projects Sub-Committee and by the Property Investment Board.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the City Surveyor concerning the action required to progress the redevelopment of the Fleet House.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

NB: This report will have been considered and approved by the Projects and Streets and Walkways Sub-Committees.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the progression of the City Corporation’s security enhancement works.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

NB: This report will also have been considered by the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee.

The Committee noted a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the outcome of a review of the overseas engagement activities undertaken by the Chairman of the Policy Committee and the Lord Mayor.

Report of the Private Secretary & Chief of Staff of Mansion House.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Private Secretary and Chief of Staff of Mansion House concerning the funding of the Lord Mayor’s Overseas Visits Programme for 2017/18.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk reporting action taken since its last meeting and noted the action taken in respect of the following:-

·          21 Lime Street

·          The Centre for Music - appointment of consultants

·          Refurbishment works at the Central Criminal Court

·          Guildhall List of Eligible Caters

·          The relocation of the City’s Salt Store

·          The freemen’s School Main House Project

·          The Police accommodation Strategy – Decant Fit Out

Joint report of the Town Clerk and the City Surveyor (TO FOLLOW).

The Committee considered and approved a joint report of the Town Clerk and the City Surveyor concerning the provision of a combined courts centre.

There were no questions.

The following items of urgent business were considered:-

Centre for Music - Update

The Committee considered and agreed a report of the Managing Director of the Barbican Centre concerning the progress of the business case for the Centre for Music and the appointment of a number of consultants.

City Office – Brussels

The Committee noted that the City Corporation’s proposals to strengthen the structure and refocus the activities of its Brussels office had been well received by government and a number of trade bodies.

With the exception of the relevant officers only, all officers withdrew from the meeting whilst the following items were considered.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 were approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

NB: This report was agreed by the Establishment Committee and considered by the General Purposes Committee of Court of Alderman.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning Mansion House and the Central Criminal Court. Approval was given to the suspension of Standing Order No. 40 in relation to the length of the meeting in order to complete consideration of this item.