Agenda item

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2017.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 February 2017 were considered and approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Freemasonry (page 4) – A Member, who had also been present at the Hospitality Working Meeting at which this matter was discussed, reported that there had been detailed discussion around this with over half of the Members present declaring a non-pecuniary interest by virtue of the fact that they were Freemasons. These Members were invited by the Chief Commoner to contribute to the discussions and provide any background information but refrained from voting on any outcomes.

Members were informed that the Hospitality Working Party had concluded that both the Guildhall Lodge and Londinium Lodge should continue to have free use of the Guildhall on the same basis as any other Member/staff club was. It was felt that it was no longer appropriate for the City of London Lodge of Installed Masters (who were currently charged the Members’ private hire rate of 10% of the commercial rate) to be entitled to this level of discount and that, going forward, they should now be charged a higher, ‘City Connection’ rate which was currently offered to all Livery Companies, Ward Clubs etc.

In response to a question regarding entitlement to free use of Guildhall as opposed to a 90% discount, a Member explained that free use was granted solely to ‘internal users’ for clubs/societies that were for the benefit of elected Members or members of staff. Individual Members were also entitled to a 90% discount for personal occasions/celebrations.

The Chairman requested that a formal minute/resolution of the Hospitality Working Party on this matter be circulated to the Standards Committee ahead of their next meeting.