Agenda item

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2016.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 October 2016 were considered and approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Freemasonry (page 2) – The Town Clerk reported that, at the Committee’s request she had now made further enquiries with the Remembrancer’s Department to ascertain how the use of the Guildhall Crypts by the Masonic lodges was approved and on what grounds they received preferential rates.  The Committee were informed that applications for use of the Crypts by the Masonic lodges were submitted to the Remembrancer as part of the non-Guildhall use report and that the Chief Commoner was also consulted. Whilst the applications were submitted at ‘no user charge’ some lodge meetings did incur additional costs and were charged accordingly. The Town Clerk added that she had been informed that the lodges received preferential rates on the basis that they had clear City of London/Member links.

A Co-opted Member questioned whether the decision to grant usage of the Crypts to the masonic lodges was recorded publicly in any way. He stated that he was concerned about the potential external perception of this and the fact that it might be viewed as an unrecorded benefit. He stated that he would like to ask the City of London to strongly consider this and any associated reputational risks  going forward.

A Member reported that the City’s Finance Grants Sub Committee regularly received details of all benefits in kind for review. He added that there was therefore the opportunity for Member challenge at this stage.

The Chairman, who reminded the Committee that he had disclosed his membership of Guildhall Lodge on previous occasions, suggested that the Committee convey their concerns to the Remembrancer and encourage him to consider making this decision in the public domain going forward and how best this might be done.

The Deputy Chairman reported that use of the Great Hall was approved by the Hospitality Working Party who, in turn, reported up to the Court of Common Council on this. He added that use of other parts of the Guildhall complex were not so widely reported but suggested that this could perhaps be pursued under delegated authority in consultation with the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Hospitality Working Party and the Policy and Resources Committee.  He also asked that a note of this discussion be sent to the next meeting of the Hospitality Working Party given that the use of Guildhall was within their remit.

A Co-opted Member suggested that a key issue here would be whether or not the Guildhall Crypts were a public or private space.

Complaint to the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen (page 2) – The Chairman reported that he had received no formal response to the complaint he had made. The Deputy Chairman stated that he had had an informal conversation with the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen who had informed him that he had spoken to the Alderman who was the subject of this complaint. The Committee were informed that the Alderman in question would e resigning from office early next week. The Chairman stated that he hoped that this would therefore draw the matter to a conclusion.