Agenda item

Report of the Director of Public Relations.

Members considered a report of the Director of Public Relations on annual party conference activities before going on to exchange feedback on the conferences. The following points were made.

·         The Liberal Democrats had appreciated the City of London Corporation presence at their conference. The City Corporation dinner had been well attended with some good discussion on London issues. Given the number of Lib Dem peers scrutinising legislation in the House of Lords, continuing City Corporation engagement with the Lib Dems would be fruitful.

·         The Chairman commented that the City Corporation fringe event at Labour conference had been well attended, and that the recent City Corporation housing policy announcement had been well received. He had also met Sadiq Khan, the Labour London Mayoral candidate.

·         The City Corporation fringe event at the Conservative conference had been poorly attended. Consideration should be given in future to locating events within the secure zone. No further detail on localisation of business rates to local authorities had been provided at the conference and was unlikely ahead of the Autumn Statement.

·         The Chairman noted his attendance at the Scottish National Party conference had not been useful, primarily as there had been a low business presence.

RESOLVED, that

·         The general approach outlined within the report for the delivery of the City Corporation’s party conference activities in 2016 be agreed.