Agenda item

To consider recommendations concerning the provision of hospitality.

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(John George Stewart Scott, J.P., Chief Commoner)

22 May 2018

Applications for Hospitality

(a)      Reception following Pride Flag raising

In July 2017, the City Corporation flew the LGBT Pride Flag at Guildhall to mark the Pride in London Festival. The Court of Common Council subsequently passed a motion to fly the LGBT Pride Flag at Guildhall and other City Corporation buildings to mark the annual Pride in London Festival.

In 2018, the Pride in London Parade was to take place on Saturday 7 July. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport advice to Government Departments was for the Rainbow Flag to be flown from Monday 2 July to Saturday 7 July.

It was therefore proposed that the Pride Flag fly at Guildhall in line with Government advice and that the City Corporation host a reception in the Crypts following the flag raising on 2 July.  The reception would provide an opportunity for the City Corporation to show its continuing support for the LGBT community and its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout London and the UK.

Guests would include the Board of the LGBT+ Pride in London Organising Committee, representatives from the City Corporation’s Pride LGBT staff networks and the City Corporation’s other staff diversity networks, representatives from the City of London Police and City associated units from the Armed Forces, representatives from LGBT+ networks from businesses and firms within the City and leading LGBT+ charities.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an early evening reception following the flag raising to mark the 40^th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the agreed parameters.

This would be a full Court event.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an early evening reception following the flag raising to mark the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the agreed parameters.

(b)      Cancer Research Centre

It had recently been announced that a new Cancer Research Centre would be opening in London. This major new centre represented a significant financial investment from four partner organisations: University College London, Queen Mary University London, King’s College London and the Francis Crick Institute.  The aims of the centre were to research into the causes of cancer, develop new state of the art therapies and run specialist training programmes for clinicians and scientists.  A key focus of the centre would be on cancers where there has been a relative lack of research, and to undertake research into alternative medical treatments.

It was proposed that the City Corporation host an early evening reception to launch the new centre. The reception would be an opportunity for the City Corporation to show its support for the creation of the new centre and its commitment to providing services for the benefit of those working and living in the Square Mile.

Guests would include key individuals involved in the establishment of the centre, representatives from the four main partner organisations, Cancer Research UK and the governance board for the new centre.

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an early evening reception to launch the new centre and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Health and Wellbeing Board; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

The host element would be the Health and Wellbeing Board, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee and Members with relevant interests.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an early evening reception to launch the new centre and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Health and Wellbeing Board; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

(c)      Commonwealth High Commissioners’ Dinner

Since 2015, the City Corporation had hosted an annual dinner for the Commonwealth High Commissioners and other selected guests during Commonwealth Week, which fell in March each year. In April 2018 the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was hosted by the UK. As part of this, the Commonwealth Business Forum took place at Guildhall and Mansion House and the City Corporation hosted a banquet on the second day of the Forum. The City Corporation’s contribution to the success of the Summit was widely appreciated both by the UK Government and by Commonwealth institutions.

As a result of the CHOGM taking place in London in April and following discussion with the Royal Commonwealth Society, it had been proposed that the City Corporation host the 2018 High Commissioners’ Dinner in October this year. This would provide opportunities for the building of relationships with business interests in Commonwealth countries and their representatives in London and UK based businesses.

It was therefore proposed that the City Corporation host the 2018 annual dinner for the Commonwealth High Commissioners. Guests would include selected business guests with Commonwealth interests and other relevant institutional representatives.

It was consequently recommended that hospitality be granted for a dinner for the Commonwealth High Commissioners and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Policy and Resources Committee; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within approved parameters.

The host element would be the Policy and Resources Committee, Chief Commoner and Members with relevant Commonwealth interests.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for a dinner for the Commonwealth High Commissioners and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Policy and Resources Committee; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within approved parameters.