Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Gemma Stokley
tel.no.: 020 7332 1407  Email: gemma.stokley@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Judith Barnes (Co-opted Member), Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, Dan Large (Co-opted Member), Tom Sleigh, Chris Taylor (Independent Person) and Alderman Sir Alan Yarrow.

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

2.

Members' Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in respect of Items on the Agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

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

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 213 KB

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2016.

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

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 May 2016 were considered and approved as a correct record.

 

MATTERS ARISING

Freemasonry (page 8-9) - The Chairman reported that he had made enquiries following the last Standards Committee meeting and reported that, whilst the Ministry had attempted to ban all masonic meetings on their premises approximately 10 years ago, this proposition was withdrawn and no such ban appeared to be in place.

 

In response to queries raised at the last meeting, the Town Clerk reported that Guildhall Lodge (like certain other lodges) were granted use of the Guildhall Crypts for meetings three times per year at no charge. Members questioned whether lodges were unique in receiving this type of discount. The Town Clerk undertook to report back on this matter.

 

With regard to Mansion House, the Town Clerk reported that Guildhall Lodge paid the appropriate rate for 'City linked' organisations. This was technically a discount from the standard rate in the same way that the Livery and charities receive a discount.     

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

4.

Report of Action Taken Between Meetings pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk providing Members with the details of decisions taken by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Standards Committee, since the Committee’s meeting in January 2016.

 

The Town Clerk reported that a full record of all Members currently in receipt of a dispensation was kept on file and updated as necessary by the Committee and Member Services Team.

 

In response to a question, the Town Clerk clarified that all five of the further dispensations granted related to the Business Rate Premium.

 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

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

5.

Interaction between the disciplinary powers of the Chief Commoner, Senior Alderman, Guildhall Club, etc. with the work of the Standards Committee pdf icon PDF 212 KB

A report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor relative to the disciplinary powers of the Chief Commoner, the Aldermanic Chairmen and the Guildhall Club, and setting out options for how these parties might interact with the Standards Committee going forward, particularly in terms of reporting.

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor discussing the disciplinary powers of the Chief Commoner, the Aldermanic Chairmen and the Guildhall Club and sets out options for how these parties might interact with the Standards Committee going forward, particularly in terms of reporting. The report also considered additional reporting by the Monitoring Officer.

 

The Chairman reported that these wider arrangements were likely to be touched upon as part of a proposed independent review of the Standards Committee. He added that it would therefore be unwise to make any firm decisions on this matter at this stage.

 

The Deputy Chairman stated that he would expect the Chief Commoner and the Aldermanic Chairmen to be interviewed as part of any review of the City Corporation's existing arrangements for addressing matters connected with the conduct of Members.  

 

RESOLVED - Members noted the report and agreed that the matter should be revisited in the context of a forthcoming, wider Independent Review of Member conduct arrangements.

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

6.

Complaints Process Review pdf icon PDF 161 KB

A report of the Town Clerk.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk asking Members to reflect on the recent Hearing and Appeal processes overseen by the Standards Committee and to consider whether, in light of this, any further amendments to the document entitled 'How complaints submitted to the City of London Corporation's Standards Committee will be Dealt with' are now required.

 

Members suggested that any decisions on this matter should also await the outcome of a forthcoming review of the Standards Committee. Members suggested that advice from the reviewer would be most welcome in this area.

 

The Deputy Chairman stated that the process around any future hearings should not be left fluid as the report suggested given that this might lead to further criticism.

 

Members were keen that the complaints procedure should in future include more guidance on the factors that determine whether proceedings are held in public or private session, including the assessment of competing public interests.

 

RESOLVED - That, Members note the report but await the outcome of a forthcoming Independent Review before considering any further amendments that might now be required in relation to the Standards Committee's written complaints procedure and/or relevant Standing Orders. 


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

7.

Co-opted Member Vacancy

The Town Clerk to be heard.

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

Minutes:

The Town Clerk reported that Felicity Lusk had chosen to step down as a Co-opted Member of the Standards Committee with immediate effect due to her departure from the UK to work abroad. Given the Committee's decision to commission a full review of Member conduct arrangements that would be likely to affect the Standards Committee, the Town Clerk suggested that the appointment of a new Co-opted Member to fill this vacancy be put on hold pending the outcome of this review.

 

The Chairman agreed with this approach and reported that he had recently written to Ms Lusk on behalf of the Committee to thank her for her service. 

 

Some Members of the Committee disagreed with this approach and suggested that recruitment for a new Co-opted Member should commence as soon as possible. This was generally accepted.

 

Members of the Committee were asked to encourage any suitable candidates they might know to apply for the position.

 

 

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

8.

Referral Back - Standards Committee pdf icon PDF 92 KB

A report of the Town Clerk following the Court of Common Council’s decision on 23rd June 2016 to refer the Standards Committee’s Annual Report back to the Committee.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk, prepared at the request of and in conjunction with the Chairman of the Standards Committee.

 

The Chairman opened the discussion by referring to the recent Annual Report of the Standards Committee submitted to the Court of Common Council. The report had been referred back to the Standards Committee. Comments made on the report illustrated clear concern from a number of Members and it was now the Chairman's firm view that radical steps needed to be taken in order to re-establish the standing of the Standards Committee in the Court.

 

The Chairman went on to state that he had made a formal complaint to the Chairman of the General Purposes of Aldermen regarding unacceptable comments made by an Alderman at the Court of Common Council meeting. He added that a full transcript had been provided by the Town Clerk and was currently being considered alongside his complaint. The Chairman undertook to keep the Standards Committee informed of progress on this matter.

 

Finally, the Chairman proposed that, if Members were minded to commission an Independent Review of Member conduct arrangements, this decision should be reported swiftly to the Court of Common Council with the Annual Report also resubmitted in due course.

 

A Co-opted Member commented that, whilst he had not been present at the recent Court of Common Council meeting, he had seen the transcript from the meeting and agreed that this clearly illustrated that there was wide disquiet amongst Members. He was, however, unclear on what this disquiet stemmed from - the procedure followed by the Standards Committee in hearing a recent complaint or the decisions taken. The Co-opted Member went on to state that it was right and proper that the process followed regarding the complaint should be reviewed given that

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

9.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

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

10.

Any Other Business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

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