Agenda item

Report of the Secondary of London.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Secondary of London presenting, for approval, the business plans for 2017/18 for the Central Criminal Court.

The Secondary reported that this plan would be subject to change following the completion of the restructuring exercise being carried out involving the Central Criminal Court and Mansion House. It was expected that this would be complete by Autumn 2017.

He went on to report that the Major Works Programme was continuing and that Courts 2 and 18 were now currently under refurbishment. Members were also informed that the department had continued to expand the number of events it co-ordinated across all categories – City, Shrieval, etc.  

In response to questions regarding catering provisions at the Central Criminal Court, the Secondary stated that the City of London Corporation was looking at re-letting the catering contract. He believed that the Central Criminal Court would be joined with Mansion House under new proposals. The Deputy Chairman commented that this matter warranted further conversation outside of the meeting. He stated that he was aware of suggestions that catering at Mansion House and the Central Criminal Court could be amalgamated but he believed that it had now been successfully argued that both sites had very different, specific requirements.

A Member commented that she had some concerns over those items that the department proposed to measure within the business plan as set out in Appendix 1 to the report. She commented that Shrieval engagement did not feature, for example, and questioned how this might be brought in so that what was measured could be more closely aligned with the ambitions set out. The Deputy Chairman clarified that Shrievalty matters were reported directly to the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen, however, he agreed with the point that this business plan should reflect the ‘fuller picture’.

A Member suggested that the first point set out under ‘ambitions’ should also include the word ‘secure’   to read ‘to provide premises that are safe, secure, well maintained and able to respond to the current and future needs of our customers in the 21^st C”.

In response to a question regarding the likelihood and risk ratings assigned to ‘Plant Failure’, the Secondary confirmed that this had now been classified as low risk.

RESOLVED – That, the high-level and detailed departmental business plans for the Central Criminal Court be amended as suggested and that revised plans be presented to the next meeting of the Courts Sub Committee.