Agenda item

To consider two applications for hospitality and note one application for hospitality approved under urgency procedures since the last meeting of the Court.

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Wendy Mead, O.B.E., Chief Commoner)

13 June 2017

A)  Reception to welcome the IAAF World Championships to London

The 2017 IAAF World Championships were due to take place in London at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 4-13 August. This biennial event being the biggest global sporting event after the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, it had been proposed that the City Corporation, in conjunction with the London Organising Committee, should host the official welcome reception for the World Championships. This reception would provide the opportunity for the City to demonstrate its continuing commitment to sport following the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and show its support for the UK’s position as a world-leading host nation for major sporting events.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an early evening reception to welcome the IAAF World Championships to London, with arrangements to 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.

This would be a full Court event.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an early evening reception to welcome the IAAF World Championships to London, with arrangements to 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.

B)   World Para Athletics Championships 2017

The 2017 World Para Athletics Championships were also scheduled to take place in London at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, from 14–23 July.  For the first time, these Championships had been organised to take place in the same city, and immediately prior to, the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) World Championships. 

Consequently, it had been proposed that the City Corporation, in conjunction with the International Paralympic Committee (the global governing body of the Paralympic movement) and the London Organising Committee, also host a reception for the World Para Athletics Championships. As with the IAAF reception, this event would provide an opportunity for the City to demonstrate its continuing commitment to sport following the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, and show its support for the UK’s position as a world-leading host nation for major sporting events.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an afternoon reception for the World Para Athletics Championships, with arrangements to 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.

This would be a Sub-Committee event.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an afternoon reception for the World Para Athletics Championships, with arrangements to 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.

C)   Report of Urgent Action Taken: G30 Dinner

The Court received a report of action taken under urgency procedures in approving the grant of hospitality in the form a dinner on Friday 9 June 2017.

Having been approached by the Governor of the Bank of England, the Hospitality Working Party had agreed to host the Group of Thirty (G30) visitors at a dinner during their London meetings in June 2017. The G30 is an international body of leading financial regulators and academics which aims to deepen understanding of economic and financial issues.

The dinner was due to take place at Mansion House on Friday 9 June 2017 and, in the normal course of events the concurrence of the Court of Common Council would have been sought at the next Court meeting following the Working Party’s initial approval. However, owing to an error, the concurrence of the Court was not sought on this occasion and, accordingly, the formal approval of the Court was sought under urgency procedures.

Approval was consequently obtained in accordance with Standing Order No.19 for the City Corporation to host a dinner for G30 delegates on Friday 9 June 2017; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

It was recommended that the urgent action taken be noted.

Resolved – That the report be received and its content noted.