Agenda item

(B)         Applications for Hospitality – to consider two recommendations concerning the provision of hospitality.

For Decision

5 May 2017

(B) Applications for Hospitality

(i)  Dinner for the 2017 British-American Parliamentary Group Conference

The British-American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) is an all-party parliamentary group, chaired by the Prime Minister, whose objective is to promote understanding between British parliamentarians and leading US political figures. Its core activity is the holding of annual conferences taking place alternately in the UK and the US.

This year’s conference was due to take place in London and the BAPG had invited the City of London Corporation to provide input into the trade element of the conference programme. To mark the opening day of the conference, it was proposed that the City Corporation host a dinner to help to build contacts between the City and leading US and UK politicians. A similar dinner had been held at Guildhall in March 2014.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for a dinner to mark the first evening of the BAPG Conference and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Policy and Resources Committee;the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for a dinner to mark the first evening of the BAPG Conference, with arrangements be made under the auspices of the Policy and Resources Committee;the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

(ii) Dinner to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the new Smithfield Market

Smithfield Market (officially known as London Central Markets) is the only wholesale market that remains located on its original site within the Square Mile. Livestock and meat have been traded on the site for over 800 years. Construction of a new market building at Smithfield was completed in 1868, with the Lord Mayor formally opening the building in September of that year.

Smithfield market remains the leading meat market within London and the UK, with a turnover valued at approximately £500M.

It was proposed that the City Corporation host a dinner to mark the 150^th anniversary of the Market’s official opening. This would be an opportunity to highlight the importance of the Market as one of the City Corporation’s key operational activities and celebrate its long-standing links with the City.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for a dinner to mark the 150^th anniversary of the opening of Smithfield Market, with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Markets Committee;the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

A Member took the opportunity to provide clarification concerning the age of the Market, noting that a livestock market had occupied the site for over a thousand years, not just the 800 years referred to in the report.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for a dinner to mark the 150^th anniversary of the opening of Smithfield Market, with arrangements to be made under the auspices of the Markets Committee;the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.