Agenda item

(Mark John Boleat)

16 July 2015

(A) Promotion of a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill

The Management Committees for the City Corporation’s Open Spaces have agreed that it would be desirable to promote a private Bill in Parliament to make changes to the legislative framework governing the Open Spaces. This follows a local consultation exercise carried out early this year. We are supportive of the promotion of a Bill and have considered and agreed detailed proposals for your consideration.

The aim of the changes will be to clarify and expand the management powers available to the City of London Corporation, to increase opportunities to generate revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces (consistently with their status as public places of recreation and enjoyment), and to strengthen enforcement powers.

We therefore recommend that approval be given to the promotion of a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill to seek the legislative changes described in this Report, and that a Petition to Parliament be prepared and sealed accordingly.

24 September 2015

(B) Increasing the Supply of Homes: Role of the City of London Corporation

The supply of affordable homes for households on low and middle incomes in London is insufficient to meet current demand. This not only affects London’s communities, but it also presents a risk to the capital’s competitiveness and its economy. Meeting London’s housing needs is critical and the issue cannot be addressed in isolation: it requires the commitment and action of all local authorities to adopt measures for a new supply of homes. We have considered proposals on how the City of London Corporation can play its part to address the provision of additional housing and we have agreed a policy entitled “Increasing the Supply of Homes – the Role of the City of London Corporation”.

The Policy sets out the scope of what the City Corporation can do in respect of the provision of increased housing. It includes a commitment to increase the supply of homes on City Corporation’s social housing estates by 25 per cent, and provide 3,000 additional homes on development sites in our ownership. In doing so the City Corporation will be able to deliver a range of homes – those that are social rented, homes that offer shared ownership and homes for market sale and rent.

The Increasing the Supply of Homes Policy has been developed in response to the capital’s housing shortage. It is presented as a separately printed and circulated report and we recommend you endorse it accordingly.

24 September 2015

(C) Local Government Pensions Board: Revision to Appointment Process

At present, the Terms of Reference for the Local Government Pensions Board state that the Scheme Member representatives appointed to the Board are to be “selected by election by Scheme Members”. In September 2015, your Policy and Resources Committee agreed that amending the Terms of Reference so that Scheme Member representatives are appointed through an open and transparent appointment process, against an agreed set of criteria, would be the most effective way to ensure that appropriate candidates are selected. This process would also be significantly more cost effective than staging an election, and would also be in line with the approach being taken by many London Borough Councils.

We now submit a separately printed and circulated report thereon and recommend that the Court of Common Council approves the proposed amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Local Government Pensions Board.

24 September 2015

(D) City of London Corporation Aviation Policy

The City of London Corporation has consistently supported expansion in aviation capacity. In light of the recommendations of the recent Airports Commission, your Policy and Resources Committee has considered the adoption of a formal aviation policy position to inform, as far as possible, the Government’s response to those recommendations, which is expected by the end of 2015.

We now submit a separately printed and circulated report, setting out a proposed policy position, and recommend that it be endorsed accordingly.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Mark John Boleat)

16 July 2015

(A) Promotion of a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill

The Management Committees for the City Corporation’s Open Spaces, having each considered the matter, had been unanimous in agreeing that it would be desirable to promote a private Bill in Parliament to make changes to the legislative framework governing the Open Spaces. This had followed a local consultation exercise carried out early this year. The Policy and Resources Committee were supportive of the promotion of a Bill and had considered and agreed detailed proposals for the Court’s consideration.

The aim of the changes was to clarify and expand the management powers available to the City of London Corporation, to increase opportunities to generate revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces (consistently with their status as public places of recreation and enjoyment), and to strengthen enforcement powers.

It was therefore recommended that approval be given to the promotion of a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill to seek the legislative changes described in this Report, and that a Petition to Parliament be prepared and sealed accordingly.

In response to a question from Gregory Lawrence concerning the details of an individual’s housing circumstances in the Epping Forest area, the Chairman advised that he would ask officers to look in to the specific case and write to the Member with a response in due course.

Resolved – That approval be given to the promotion of a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill and that a Petition to Parliament be prepared and sealed accordingly.

24 September 2015

(B) Increasing the Supply of Homes: Role of the City of London Corporation

The supply of affordable homes for households on low and middle incomes in London is insufficient to meet current demand. This not only affects London’s communities, but it also presents a risk to the capital’s competitiveness and its economy. Meeting London’s housing needs is critical and the issue cannot be addressed in isolation: it requires the commitment and action of all local authorities to adopt measures for a new supply of homes. The Policy and Resources Committee, having considered proposals on how the City of London Corporation could play its part to address the provision of additional housing, consequently agreed a policy entitled “Increasing the Supply of Homes – the Role of the City of London Corporation”.

The Policy sets out the scope of what the City Corporation can do in respect of the provision of increased housing. It includes a commitment to increase the supply of homes on City Corporation’s social housing estates by 25 per cent, and provide 3,000 additional homes on development sites in our ownership. In doing so the City Corporation will be able to deliver a range of homes – those that are social rented, homes that offer shared ownership and homes for market sale and rent.

The Increasing the Supply of Homes Policy was developed in response to the capital’s housing shortage and accordingly presented as a separately printed and circulated report, with it recommended that the Court endorse it accordingly.

Resolved – That the Housing Policy be endorsed.

24 September 2015

(C) Local Government Pensions Board: Revision to Appointment Process

The Terms of Reference for the Local Government Pensions Board previously agreed by the Court stated that the Scheme Member representatives appointed to the Board were to be “selected by election by Scheme Members”. In September 2015, the Policy and Resources Committee agreed that amending the Terms of Reference so that Scheme Member representatives are appointed through an open and transparent appointment process, against an agreed set of criteria, would be the most effective way to ensure that appropriate candidates are selected. This process would also be significantly more cost effective than staging an election, and would also be in line with the approach being taken by many London Borough Councils.

A separately printed and circulated report was submitted thereon and it was recommended that the Court of Common Council approved the proposed amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Local Government Pensions Board.

In response to questions from Gregory Lawrence and Deputy Stanley Ginsburg concerning the pensions fund deficit, the Chairman of the Finance Committee agreed to submit a report at an appropriate point clarifying the position. He also offered to arrange for an additional Member Development session to be scheduled concerning the City Corporation’s pensions arrangements.

Resolved – That the amendments to the terms of reference and appointments process for the Local Government Pensions Board be approved.

24 September 2015

(D) City of London Corporation Aviation Policy

The City of London Corporation has consistently supported expansion in aviation capacity. In light of the recommendations of the recent Airports Commission, the Policy and Resources Committee had considered the adoption of a formal aviation policy position to inform, as far as possible, the Government’s response to those recommendations, which is expected by the end of 2015.

A separately printed and circulated report was submitted, setting out a proposed policy position, and it was recommended that it be endorsed accordingly.

Resolved – That the Aviation Policy be endorsed.