Agenda and draft minutes

The Town Clerk having asked for nominations for a Chairman for the meeting, it was proposed, duly seconded and agreed that Ann Holmes be elected as Chairman.

RESOLVED - That Ann Holmes be elected as Chairman of the Assessment Sub (Standards) Committee for the meeting.

The complaints procedure (“How Complaints to the City of London Corporation’s Standards Committee Will Be Dealt With”) is attached for information.

The Committee noted the circulated report setting out the complaints

process.

RECEIVED.

There was no other 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 1 of 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 item on the grounds

that it involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of

Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

A joint report of the Town Clerk and the Comptroller and City Solicitor presenting, for assessment by the Sub-Committee, a complaint made against a member of the Court of Common Council.

Copy of decision letters attached.

The Committee considered a joint report and associated papers of the Town Clerk and the Comptroller and City Solicitor presenting, for assessment by the Committee, a complaint made against a member of the Court of Common Council.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor provided a brief introduction to his report and reminded Members of the need to ascertain whether they were satisfied that if

the complaint was proven it would constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct, along with the current Corporation Assessment Criteria. During discussion, a Member asked that the Code of Conduct be circulated to Committee members in advance of future meetings as a guidance document.

The Committee then proceeded to discuss the contents of the report and duly considered all relevant matters including hearing the views of the Independent Person that was present. The Committee were clear that Mr Goyal had breached the Code of Conduct, as acknowledged by him, and considered that an investigation was unlikely to elicit any further information. The Committee judged that Mr Goyal’s offer to apologise, attend a training session, reimburse the Corporation and give an undertaking as to his future conduct, with the details to be approved by the Committee, would be sufficient remedy. The Committee were also keen to determine the matter in a timely fashion given the upcoming election. At the conclusion of discussion, it was

RESOLVED:- That the Assessment Sub (Standards) Committee agree that:-

(a)      Having considered the complaint received and comments submitted by Mr Goyal on it, and given Mr Goyal’s admission of a breach of the Code of Conduct, the matter should not proceed to investigation subject to Mr Goyal’s compliance with the actions set out in paragraphs (i) to (iii) below.

(i)        That within 7 days of the date of being formally