Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Henry Colthurst and Dhruv Patel.

The following declarations were made:-

·          The Chairman declared an interest in item No. 11 as a member of the Advisory Council of the European Forum. He also advised Members that he had recently been appointed Chairman of Link the body responsible for running ATMs across the UK.

·          Catherine Mcguinness declared an interest in item No. 6 as member of the Council of St Paul’s Cathedral;

·          Christopher Haywood declared an interest in item No. 23 as a member of the Advisory Council of the UK/Sichuan Business Association; and

·          Wendy Mead also declared an interest in item No. 23 as a member of the Advisory Council of the UK/Sichuan Business Association and as Chief Commoner Elect.

To consider minutes as follows:-

The public minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2017 were agreed, subject to Deputy Joyce Nash being added to the list of Members present.

The draft public minutes of the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 January 2017 were noted.

The draft public minutes of the joint meeting of the Resource Allocation and Efficiency and Performance Sub-Committees with Committee Chairmen held on 19 January 2017 were noted.

The draft public minutes of the Members Privileges Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 January 2017 were noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning amendments to Standing Orders to clarify the governance arrangements relating to the disposal of property and to enable the Corporate Asset Sub-Committee to be part of the decision making process for the disposal of operational property which has been declared surplus to requirements.

RESOLVED - that approval be given to the following amendments to Standing Orders (highlighted in italics/underlined):-

56. FreeholdDisposals

1.       Disposals of freeholdssubject to2000 year leases and of formerfreehold highwayland shall besubject totheapproval of the PropertyInvestment Board (investment property assets) or the Finance Committee (for non-investment property assets).

2.       All otherfreeholddisposals shallrequire thefollowingapprovals:-

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning the design and location of recognition plaques at three Crossrail stations.

RESOLVED – that approval be given to the plaque design, locations and wording recognising the City of London’s contribution to the construction of Crossrail (the Elizabeth Line).

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk and Cultural Hub Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning the provision of financial support to assist with the restoration of the bells at St Paul’s Cathedral.

A Member questioned the safety of the bells. Whilst officers were of the view that the restoration complied with any health and safety at work requirements the Head of Culture and Visitor Development undertook to look into the matter.

RESOLVED – that approval be given to the provision of £30,000 to St Paul’s Cathedral for the restoration of the City Corporation’s tenor bell, to be met from the Committee’s 2017/18 Contingency Fund.

Report of the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School.

The Committee considered a report of the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School seeking delegated authority for the approval of the detailed design proposals (Gateway 4 of the projects procedure) for the refurbishment of the Main House at the School and the outline options for the 2016 Masterplan (Gateway 3).

RESOLVED – that the approval of the following be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School, the Policy and Resources Committee and the Projects Sub-Committee:-

1.           the Gateway 4 report - preferred option detailed design for the Main House refurbishment project, subject to approval by the Court of Common Council; and

2.           the Gateway 3 report - outline options for the 2016 Masterplan to allow suitable planning progress in tandem with the Main House work.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment proposing the creation of a Listing Review Procedure in relation to Assets of Community Value.

A Member questioned whether it was appropriate for a senior officer to review a decision taken by Members. Several Members supported this and expressed concern about the lack of Member involvement in the review process. During further discussion Members questioned:-

·          whether it was possible to include one or two Members on the review panel;

·          whether the inclusion of an independent Member(s) of the Standards Committee might be more appropriate;

·          what the City Corporation was legally obliged to do; and

·          the process adopted by other authorities.

The Chairman advised that the procedure had to meet legal requirements. He suggested that, pending the receipt of more detailed information and in order not to delay matters unduly, the approval of the review procedure be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Members supported his suggestion.

RESOLVED – That the approval of the Listing Review Procedure for Assets of Community Value be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

NB: this report has been considered by the Culture, Heritage & Libraries Committee and is due to be considered by the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning major events taking place on City’s highways during 2017.

RESOLVED – That the events as set out in the report be supported and that it be noted that a review was planned for Standard Chartered Great City Race and the City of London Mile Run Fast events for 2018.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the preparation of a statement on the City Corporation’s vision and ambitions for Future City and the creation of a smart city that was competitive, innovative, resilient and connected.

RESOLVED – That:-

1.          the recent progress made and future initiatives expected to help deliver the place elements of the City’s emerging mission statement, vision and ambitions for Future City be noted; 

2.          the Initial Strategy for a Smart and Innovative City as summarised in paragraphs 8-10 of the report be noted;

3.          the proposed Smart City Initiatives for 2017 as set out in paragraphs 17-20 of the report be approved; 

4.          a sum of £200k for the interim funding of the programme of smart city initiatives for 2017 be approved. The funds would be met from the department’s 2016/17 local risk projected underspend and carried forward in to 2017/18; and

5.          it be noted that it was intended to seek funding for additional permanent staff to progress the smart city agenda longer term. 

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 City Corporation’s future membership of think tanks.

Members were advised that arrangements were being made for the Corporate Affairs Team to now fall within the remit of the Director of Communications. It was therefore suggested that the report be deferred to enable the Director to contribute to the review. It was noted that the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee had also considered the report earlier this day and had supported the suggestion, subject to the approval of any subscriptions which needed to be renewed in the interim being delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred for further work, subject to the approval of any subscriptions to think tanks which needed to be renewed in the interim being delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development concerning the proposed sponsorship of City Week 2017, an annual gathering of the international financial services community which aimed to bring together policy makers and senior industry representatives.

RESOLVED – a sum of £26,000 be provided from the Policy Initiatives Fund for  2017/18, categorised under ‘Events’ and charged to City’s Cash, in order to finance the City’s sponsorship of the City Week annual conference.

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 reviewing the arrangements for the 2016 party conferences and setting out proposals for participating in the conferences in 2017.

A Member referred to the current arrangements for engagement at the conferences and questioned whether a more moderate sized event at the Conservative Party Conference would have better results than the proposed small dinner. It was agreed that the matter should be referred to the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee for further investigation and that the outcome be reported back.

RESOLVED – That:-

1.    the City Corporation continues hosting events at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative conference, with slight changes to the format as referred to in the report, subject to officers re-examining the arrangements for the Conservative Party Conference an bring back a new proposal to the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee; and

2.    activities at the SNP conference be extended.

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

NB: This report will have been considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee and is also due to be considered by the Community and Children’s Services Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Acting Director of Community and Children’s Services concerning the integrated commissioning of health and social care and the creation of an Integrated Commissioning Board which would comprise members of the City Corporation as well as the NHS City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body.

In response to comments on the complexity of the proposal, the Chairman of the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee advised that the proposed commissioning model had been looked at in detail and that being joined up would in her view improve outcomes for patients.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to:-

1.       the City of London Corporation entering into a single integrated commissioning arrangement (a commissioning Board) with the City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group as set out in the report;

2.       the establishment of an Integrated Commissioning Sub-Committee of the Community and Children’s Services Committee;

3.       the establishment of the Transformation Board; and

4.       the funding arrangement to pool budgets.

NB: This report will have been considered by the Establishment Committee.

The Committee considered the Town Clerk’s and Member Services Business Plan.

The Chairman advised that the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee had considered the high-level business plan for the Economic Development Office and had made a number of comments which would be considered by officers. In essence it felt that whilst the structure of the business plan was much better, it was work in progress. Members supported this view.

RESOLVED – that the content of the Plan be noted.

NB: This report is also due to be considered by the Hospitality Working Party later this day.

The Committee considered the Remembrancer’s Business Plan.

RESOLVED – that the content of the Plan be noted.

NB: this report will also be considered by the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub-Committee earlier this day.

The Committee considered the Economic Development Office Business Plan.

RESOLVED – that the content of the Plan be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Remembrancer.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Remembrancer concerning the provisions of the Local Government Finance Bill.

It was noted that the Bill would enable 100% of business rates to be retained within local government, subject to the establishment of a mechanism for its distribution among councils.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

The Committee considered an evaluation report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries on the outcome of the high-profile events which took place to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London.

Members noted that the events commissioned by Artichoke had been very successful. The associated activities commissioned by the Museum of London and the London Metropolitan Archive such as the Great Fire website, the Fire! Fire! Exhibition and the Great Fire Mindcraft game were also largely successful.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee considered a progress report of the Director of Economic Development on the changes which had been implemented following the Promoting the City review in 2016.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

Report of the City Surveyor.

NB: This report has been considered by the Projects and the Corporate Asset Sub-Committees.

The Committee considered an outcome report (Gateway 7) of the City Surveyor concerning the Guildhall, Great Hall Level Access project.

In answer to a question about the length of time it had taken to evaluate the project, the City Surveyor advised that in future all project reviews would be completed within three months of the completion of a project.

RESOLVED – that the lessons learned be noted and the project be closed.

Report of the Chamberlain.

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

RESOLVED – That the statement 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 allocation of £673,800 to meet the cost of highway improvements at Queen Victoria Street, Bucklersbury and Walbrook and £70,000 from 2016/17 City’s Cash provision for new schemes for  improvements to City’s Estate land known as “The Grid” (i.e. private land immediately in front of the Mansion House) in relation to the Bloomsbury Development;

2.       the provision of £70,000 to sponsor the first year of operation of a Social Mobility Employer Index being launched by the cross party Social Mobility Commission (£60,000 in sponsorship plus £10,000 to cover a launch event in June). The cost was to be met from the Committee’s Policy Initiatives Fund for 2016/17, categorised under the Communities section of the Fund and charged to City’s Cash;

3.       to delegating responsibility for signing a memorandum of understanding to the Director of Community and Children’s Services in relation to the integrated governance arrangements for the North East London Sustainability and Transformation Plan; and

4.       the release of funding (in instalments) of up to £5.398m to take the Museum of London Relocation project to the end of RIBA Stage 1 by July 2017.

There were no questions.

The Committee considered the following items of urgent business:-

Wendy Mead withdrew from the meeting whilst the following item was discussed.

Global Innovation and Enterprise Fair in Sichuan China – Visit by the Chief Commoner Elect

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development proposing the Chief Commoner Elect’s attendance at the Global Innovation and Enterprise Fair in Sichuan, China from 8-12 May 2017 following an invitation from the Mayor of Chengdu. It was noted that the cost was being met by the hosts.

Several Members expressed concern about the visit and were keen to ensure that the City Corporation was not committed to anything resulting from it.

Arguments were also advanced on:-

·          whether it was appropriate for the Chief Commoner Elect to attend the Fair;

·          the mechanism for approving invitations such as this in future; and

·          the repercussions of withdrawing attendance at this stage.

After further discussion, and on balance, the Committee supported the Chief Commoner Elect accepting the invitation to attend the Fair in Sichuan.

RESOLVED – that approval be given to the Chief Commoner Elect attending at the Global Innovation and Enterprise Fair in Sichuan, China from 8-12 May 2017.

Traffic Congestion

The Chairman advised that a small group of Members was being formed to act as an informal sounding board and assist in driving forward measures to address traffic congestion in the City. He stated that it was anticipated that the group would include the Chairmen of the relevant service committees. The Chairman of the Planning and Transportation added that congestion was a major issue which needed to be tackled with urgency and that he was therefore supportive of the creation of an informal sounding board.

During discussion Members expressed support for the proposal and reference was made to the importance of the

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 I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item Nos.                                                           Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

25 - 32                                                                                     1, 3 and 7

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

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

The public minutes of the Committee meeting held on 19 January 2017 were approved.

The draft non-public minutes of the joint meeting of the Resource Allocation and Efficiency and Performance Sub-Committees with Committee Chairmen held on 19 January 2017 were noted and the recommendations contained therein supported.

The draft non-public minutes of the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 January 2017 were noted

The draft non-public minutes of the Members Privileges Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 January 2017 were noted.

Resolution from the Barbican Centre meeting held on 25 January 2017.

This item was withdrawn.

Report of the City Surveyor.

NB: This report has been considered by the Projects and the Corporate Asset Sub-Committees.

The Committee considered an outcome report (Gateway 7) of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the North Wing and Old Library elements of the Guildhall Improvement Project.

RESOLVED – that the lessons learned be noted and the project be closed.

Reports of the City Surveyor as follows:-

The Committee received annual progress reports of the City Surveyor concerning the following property estates:-

RESOLVED – that report be noted.

RESOLVED – that report be noted.

RESOLVED – that report be noted and the recommendations agreed.

NB: The Annual Reviews are available on request from the Town Clerk’s department.

RESOLVED – that report be noted.

Reports of the City Surveyor as follows:-

The Committee considered and approved a joint issues report (Gateway 3) of the City Surveyor, Chamberlain and Commissioner of the City of London Police concerning the redevelopment of the Wood Street Police Station.

The Committee considered and agreed a joint report of the City Surveyor, Chamberlain and the Commissioner of the City of London Police which delegated the approval of all Gateway reports for the Police Accommodation Strategy which arose during the City’s election recess period to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the relevant Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen.

It was noted that items 29c and 29d had been withdrawn.

There were no questions.

The Committee considered the following item of urgent business:-

Cross-Cutting Security Enhancement Project

The Committee considered and agreed a joint report of the City Surveyor and the Chamberlain concerning the cross-cutting security enhancement project.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered and agreed a report of the Town Clerk concerning the proposed reorganisation of the staffing structure of Mansion House and the Central Criminal Court.

With the exception of the Principal Committee and Members Services Manager and the Director of Human Resources, all remaining officers withdrew from the meeting whilst the following item was considered.

The Committee considered and agreed a report of the Director of Human Resources concerning a proposed adjustment to a Chief Officer’s working conditions.