Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms, 2nd Floor, West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Gregory Moore
tel. no.: 020 7332 1399  Email: gregory.moore@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from the Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor Alderman Charles Bowman, Henry Colthurst, Christopher Hayward, and Deputy Joyce Nash.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

DECLARATIONS BY MEMBERS OF ANY PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA

Minutes:

Deputy Catherine McGuinness declared a non-pecuniary item in respect of a recommendation to be considered at Item 17d, concerning accommodation arrangements at Guildhall for the Policy Chairman.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes

To consider minutes as follows:-

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

3a

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2018. pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Minutes:

The public minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 6September 2018 were approved, subject to an addition under item 11 (“Social Mobility Strategy”) to incorporate an additional reference in relation to exploring social mobility into the City in relation to employment. It was also asked that the minutes reflect a request to make looking at actions the City Corporation could take in the first instance as the highest priority item.

 

Matters Arising

Virtual Access to Meetings: It was advised that this report would now be coming to the November meeting.

 

Congestion Charge Timing: It was asked that an update be sought in respect of altering the timings of traffic restrictions at Bank Junction to correspond with congestion charge timings.

 

Members’ Email Policy: A Member queried the application and interpretation of the decision made at the previous meeting regarding the sending of outlook invites to private email addresses. It was confirmed that it would be acceptable to send emails concerning meeting or event scheduling to private email addresses, provided no sensitive or detailed information was included.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a

3b

To note the draft public minutes of the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 12 September 2018. pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

The draft public minutes of the meeting of the Project Sub-Committee held on 12September 2018 were noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3b

3c

To note the draft public minutes of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 September 2018 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Minutes:

The draft public minutes of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee held on 3 September were noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3c

3d

To note the draft public minutes of the Members Privileges Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 September 2018 pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Minutes:

The draft public minutes of the Members Privileges Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 September were noted.

 

Matters Arising

Chief Commoner: A Member, also the Deputy Chairman of the Livery Committee, advised that he would ask that Committee to consider how it might assist in raising the profile or awareness of the Chief Commoner’s role amongst the Livery.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3d

4.

Appointments to Committees

To elect one representative to the Social Investment Board and one representative to the Education Board.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the appointment of one representative to the Social Investment Board and one representative to the Education Board.

 

RESOLVED – That:-

1.         Deputy Henry Pollard be appointed as the Committee’s representative on the Social Investment Board; and

2.         Tijs Broeke be appointed as the Committee’s representative on the Education Board.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Update pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor updating on requests received under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and seeking delegated authority to make such changes to Policy and Procedure as required to comply with current law and guidance.

 

RESOLVED: That authority be granted to the Comptroller and City Solicitor to make such changes to the RIPA Policy and Procedure as he considers necessary to comply with current law and guidance.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Living Wage Accreditation - Potential enhancements pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain proposing enhancements to the City Corporation’s London Living Wage Policy to build on its existing strong commitment.

 

Several Members spoke in support of the various proposals to enhance the City Corporation’s commitment to the Living Wage and urged that the organisation continue to lead by example in this area, particularly given the campaign proposed at item 7. The Committee therefore agreed to implement the Living Wage for all City Corporation staff, including back-dating of payments, observing that there was a moral imperative to comply with the full spirit of the Living Wage agreement.

 

The question of implementation with regard to contracted supplier staff was discussed, with Members noting that there might be particular complexities in some cases whereby certain contractors refused to apply the increase with immediate effect. It was agreed that all contractors should be approached and asked to apply the increase and, in the event that any refused, the uplift should be factored in to new contracts once existing agreements expired.

 

RESOLVED: That Members:-

1.         Agree to enhance the commitment to the Living Wage through the mandating of payment of the Living Wage to all contracted supplier staff delivering two hours or more work for the City Corporation.

2.         Agree to commence discussions with the Living Wage Foundation on the Corporation being an early adopter of their ‘in-development’ enhanced accreditation standard.

3.         Approve a change to our existing policy and mandate the back dating of the payments of Living Wage to affected staff to the date of the announcement each year from Financial year 2019/2020 onwards:

                    i.       For our own staff and apprentices with £150k additional costs per annum.

                   ii.      For both our own staff and suppliers’ staff with £400k additional costs per annum.

4.         Agree to uplift immediately payments

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

London Living Wage Campaign pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development proposing the City Corporation run a campaign in 2018/19 to encourage financial and professional services businesses in the Square Mile to pay the London Living Wage at £10.20 per hour.

 

A Member queried why the campaign was to be focused solely on financial and professional services companies and not the wider range of City businesses. Replying, the Director of Economic Development advised that, as this was the first time such a campaign had been attempted by the City Corporation, it had been deemed prudent to focus in the first instance on working with those sectors with whom the Corporation already enjoyed a close pre-existing relationship. In addition, given the high wages often paid by such businesses to some employees, it was felt that the campaign would have more weight and impact in this area. Should this initial campaign prove successful, a decision could be taken to expand the campaign more widely.

 

RESOLVED: That approval be given to:-

1.         Commencement of a business-facing London Living Wage campaign in 2018/19 with the aim of demonstrating the commercial and societal benefits of paying the London Living Wage.

2.         Part-funding of £15,000 for the London Living Wage Campaign to be met from the Committee’s Policy and Initiatives Fund for 2018/19 categorised as ‘Communities’ and charged to City’s Cash.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Member travel relating to International Export and Investment Programme pdf icon PDF 51 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development proposing the City Corporation run a campaign in 2018/19 to encourage financial and professional services businesses in the Square Mile to pay the London Living Wage at £10.20 per hour.

 

A Member queried why the campaign was to be focused solely on financial and professional services companies and not the wider range of City businesses. Replying, the Director of Economic Development advised that, as this was the first time such a campaign had been attempted by the City Corporation, it had been deemed prudent to focus in the first instance on working with those sectors with whom the Corporation already enjoyed a close pre-existing relationship. In addition, given the high wages often paid by such businesses to some employees, it was felt that the campaign would have more weight and impact in this area. Should this initial campaign prove successful, a decision could be taken to expand the campaign more widely.

 

RESOLVED: That approval be given to:-

1.         Commencement of a business-facing London Living Wage campaign in 2018/19 with the aim of demonstrating the commercial and societal benefits of paying the London Living Wage.

 

2.         Part-funding of £15,000 for the London Living Wage Campaign to be met from the Committee’s Policy and Initiatives Fund for 2018/19 categorised as ‘Communities’ and charged to City’s Cash.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Exports and Investment Regional Strategy: Interim Update pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Economic Development updating on engagement with the three regional centres of Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester to support export and investment in financial and professional services.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be received and its contents noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

2018/19 Mayoral Programme pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Communications outlining the proposed theme of the 2018/19 Lord Mayoralty of the City of London, ‘Shaping Tomorrow’s City Today’.

 

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman congratulated Alderman Peter Estlin on his election as Lord Mayor.

 

RESOLVED: That the proposed 2018/19 Mayoral them be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Policy Initiatives Fund and Committee Contingency pdf icon PDF 43 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain updating on projects and activities that had received Policy Initiatives Funding for 2018/19.

 

The Chairman advised that a report concerning the issue of multi-year requests for PIF funding was currently being prepared and would be submitted to a forthcoming meeting.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be received and its contents noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Ex-Officio Membership pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Rreport of the Town Clerk (TO FOLLOW).

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining the current membership of the Committee and seeking views on the Committee’s composition moving forward.

 

Members discussed the implications of any change, with a range of views expressed as to the Committee’s current composition and effectiveness.

 

The addition of the City Bridge Trust Chairman as an ex-officio Member was particularly debated, with some Members arguing that the increasing strategic role and profile of the Trust’s work provided a sound rationale for the change. However, a number of Members expressed concern that any such change could potentially risk clouding the separation that existed between the role of the City Bridge Trust and Bridge House Estates and the rest of the City Corporation’s activities.

 

Ultimately, Members were minded that it would not be desirable to make any changes to the Committee at this point in time, including the potential addition of the Chairman of The City Bridge Trust Committee as an ex-officio Member. Two Members, Tijs Broeke and Deputy Edward Lord, asked that their dissent be recorded in relation to the decision not to extend ex-officio Membership to the Chairman of The City Bridge Trust Committee.

 

RESOLVED: That no changed be made to the current composition of the Policy and Resources Committee.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

London Business Rates Pool - Strategic Investment Pot pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Report of the Chamberlain (TO FOLLOW).

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain seeking approval to eight recommended bids to the Strategic Investment Pot (SIP).

 

RESOLVED: That,

 

1.    The recommendations as set out in the SIP Consultation Report be approved.

2.    SIP funding be allocated according to the outcomes of the consultation with London Boroughs and the GLA which totals at £46.83m in the City of London Corporation’s role as lead authority for the pot.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

Minutes:

There were three questions:

 

Occupational Health Support

It was asked if thought could be given to the provision of occupational health support for Members, for instance in relation to physical and mental support, including the availability of therapy for stress, depression and so on. Whilst it was noted that Members were not employees, they were a vital part of the Corporation’s workforce and, for several the City Corporation was the primary or sole professional organisation in which they were based; thus, they were unlikely to have access to any such services elsewhere.

 

The Chief Commoner advised that he had asked this matter to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Members’ Privileges Sub-Committee, so that it might be given appropriate consideration.

 

In response to a further query, it was confirmed that ‘flu inoculations were not routinely offered to either staff or Members. It was suggested that the Establishment and Health & Wellbeing Board might wish to consider the advisability of introducing such an offer.

 

Security Cameras on City Bridges

A Member reminded the Committee of a previous decision in respect of the placement of particular cameras on City Bridges which would provide a valuable tool in respect of suicide prevention, allowing earlier identification of and response to incidents. It was suggested that the cameras’ installation had been delayed as a consequence of them being brought into a larger project postponed the installation of security cameras across the City, which had encountered delays. The Member asked that this matter be looked into and an update on the position provided.

 

Immigration

In the wake of the Prime Minister’s recent announcement concerning immigration post-Brexit, a Member asked if a report could be produced outlining the implications for the City and updating on the Corporation’s engagement with Government on the issue

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(4) 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 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

                        Item No.                                              Paragraph No.

                         17a-23                                                          3           

                             

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Non-Public Minutes

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

17a

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2018.

Minutes:

The non-public minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 6 September were approved.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17a

17b

To note the draft non-public minutes of the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 12 September 2018.

Minutes:

The draft non-public minutes of the Projects Sub-Committee meeting held on 12 September were noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17b

17c

To note the draft minutes of the Hospitality Working Party meeting held on 11 September 2018

Minutes:

The draft minutes of the Hospitality Working Party meeting held on 11 September 2018 were noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17c

17d

To note the draft non-public minutes of the Members Privileges Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 September 2018

Minutes:

The draft non-public minutes of the Members Privileges Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 September 2018 were noted and a recommendation relating to Members’ Accommodation was agreed.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17d

18.

Markets Consolidation Programme - Billingsgate Market site - proposed Memorandum of Understanding with London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the City Surveyor relating to the Markets Consolidation Programme.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

City Surveyor's Local Risk Budget - Additional Resources Request

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

The Committee considered and approved a report of the City Surveyor relating to a proposed uplift to his department’s local risk budget.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Service Based Review Update Report

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain providing an update in respect of the monitoring of Service Based Review savings.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Museum of London Relocation

Report of the Town Clerk (TO FOLLOW).

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk providing an update in relation to the Museum of London Relocation.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Beech Street Transformation Project

Report of the Managing Director, Barbican Centre (TO FOLLOW).

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director, Barbican Centre, relating to the Beech Street Transformation Project.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

23.

DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY OR URGENCY POWERS

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 23.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out one action taken under delegated authority, relative to the Markets Consolidation Programme.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT AND WHICH THE COMMITTEE AGREE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILST THE PUBLIC ARE EXCLUDED.

Minutes:

There was one urgent item, concerning the transfer of responsibilities relating to various projects to the Capital Buildings Committee.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Market Forces Supplements

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor relating to Market Forces  Supplements.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.