Agenda item

Remuneration and Diversity

A question was raised regarding work being undertaken by the City Corporation on remuneration and diversity.

Members noted that efforts were being made by the City Corporation to promote diversity, e.g. the comprehensive programme of roadshows, events, etc, in the build up to the 2017 City Elections, but agreed more could and should be done.

A Member noted that one potential area in which to promote diversity would be the Livery. For example, the Lord Mayor should in his annual speech to the Livery encourage the Livery Companies to undertake more outreach into the business community and encourage candidates to stand for election to the City.  Members also noted the role the City had played in encouraging the admission of women to the Livery and how this provided some precedent for the sort of role the City could play going forward.

Members noted that an emphasis on securing diversity should not preclude the right stakeholders being included in forthcoming City events, and that the City should be mindful that in some sectors, the diversity of senior stakeholders would undergo gradual change as middle ranking employees were promoted to senior roles over time.

A Member noted that evidence suggested that women were less likely to put themselves forward for election. It was suggested that it might be helpful to circulate some information to potential female candidates and that gender diversity should be an explicit consideration mind when the City co-opted candidates on to its committees.