Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding a proposed process for nominating ambassadors (which also applied to High Commissioners, Heads of Missions or other equivalent posts) for the Freedom of the City.

Whilst the Committee agreed that there should be more consistency in the way in which ambassadors should be nominated for the Freedom of the City, it was agreed that the entirety of the proposal as set out in the report should not be adopted.

Instead, the following process was agreed by the Committee:

·         That any proposal to nominate an ambassador for the Freedom of the City will first be considered by the Freedom Applications Committee. The Committee will make the ultimate decision as to who the formal nominators are and whether such a nomination should be put to the Court of Common Council for approval.

·         Ambassadors will only be eligible to be nominated for a Freedom if they meet the criteria, which includes:

-       The individual has been an ambassador for at least six months;

-       They are the ambassador to a country that the City of London has clear ties to, or relationship/dealings with;

-       They have made a significant contribution to the life of the Capital or in the field of diplomatic life;

-       The individual has just helped to host – or helping to facilitate – a state visit (or other significant visit) from the country or region they represent;

-       They are shortly due to retire from their position;

-       They have just supported the Chairman of Policy and/or the Lord Mayor on an overseas, or other significant, visit.

·         That Members – including members of the Livery – may suggest to the Freedom Applications Committee an ambassador to be nominated for a Freedom but it is not their right to nominate an ambassador themselves.

·         That should the Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court receive a request from a Member or a member of a Livery Company to nominate an ambassador for a Freedom then he will immediately refer the request to the Freedom Applications Committee for consideration.

·         That the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will only be consulted on any such nomination once the Committee has agreed for that nomination to proceed.

·         That this process should also apply to senior political figures.

The Chairman agreed that he would writes to the Livery and Members of the Court of Common Council to explain this new approach. Furthermore, the Committee agreed that this approach be put to the Policy and Resources Committee for information.

RESOLVED –

·         The process for nominating ambassadors for the Freedom of the City, as set out above, be adopted;

·         That the new process be put to the Policy and Resources Committee for information;

·         That the Chairman of the Freedom Applications Committee writes to the Livery and Members of the Court of Common Council to explain this new approach.