Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alex Deane, Tom Sleigh and Sir Michael Snyder.

The Town Clerk reported that representatives of Quiller, the City Corporation’s Political Affairs consultants, were present at the meeting and the Chairman invited the representatives of Quiller to contribute to the meeting as appropriate.

The Town Clerk reported that briefing notes on the Chairman’s recent visits to Shanghai and Paris had been put around the table for Members’ information.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 8May 2014.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 8 May 2014 be approved as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Alderman Alan Yarrow on the list of those present at the meeting, and the inclusion of Sophie Fernandes on the list of those giving their apologies for absence at the meeting.

Report of the Director of Public Relations.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Relations which provided details of the results of London Borough Elections in May 2014, and provided the opportunity to discuss the implications of the results of these Elections and the European Elections in May 2014 on the work of the City Corporation.

Members particularly discussed the implications of Labour’s strong performance in Elections in London, the challenges facing the UK in working with the new EU Parliament, the implications of the likely appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the European Commission, and the potential appointees as the UK’s EU Commissioner.

RESOLVED – That the Sub-Committee notes the report.

The Director of Public Relations to be heard.

The Sub-Committee discussed the potential implications for the City of London of the upcoming Scottish Independence Referendum, which would take place on 18 September. The City Corporation continued to remain neutral on the issue.

Quiller explained that after gathering some momentum during the spring, polls indicated that the campaign in favour of independence appeared to have stagnated, and it was currently expected that the vote would be in favour of Scotland remaining as part of the UK.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Economic Development which introduced a report by John Llewellyn Consulting (initiated by the International Regulatory Strategy Group’s (IRSG’s) Anglo-French Committee on financing growth and investment in Europe.

The Director of Economic Development explained that the proposals in the report from John Llewellyn appeared to have support from the European Commission, and demonstrated an excellent example of the strong working relationship that had been developed with French colleagues. It was thought that this work would be a useful example of the strong working relationships that can be developed between the UK and other countries.

A Member explained that he was surprised that there was no direct mention of European Long Term Investment Funds. The Director of Economic Development explained that there was an additional annex to the report from John Llewellyn Consulting which may include information on these Funds, and he would discuss this with the Member following the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Sub-Committee notes the report.

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Director of Economic Development which provided Members with an update on the work of the IRSG since the Committee’s last meeting.

The Chairman commented that the report provided further examples of the excellent working relationship that had been developed with French colleagues.

The Director of Economic Development explained that in addition to the report, a draft consultation response from the IRSG to the Government’s balance of competences consultation on “Economic and Monetary Union” had been circulated to the Sub-Committee prior to the meeting for comments. Two Members noted that they had commented on the draft directly to the Director of Economic Development. The final response would be provided to Members of the Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the report.

The Chairman to be heard.

The Sub-Committee discussed the City Corporation’s EU Engagement Strategy. The Chairman explained that this would be a standing item for discussion at all future meetings of the Sub-Committee, but there were no changes required to the Strategy at this point.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.