Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Alex Deane, Sheriff and Alderman Peter Estlin (ex-officio), the Recorder, His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC (ex-officio), James de Sausmarez and John Scott. It was noted that the Secondary and Under Sheriff also sent his apologies.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2016.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2016 were considered and approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding their terms of reference and asking them to note their 2017 meeting dates.

The Deputy Chairman reported that it had always been the intention that ex-officio Members of the Committee would not have voting rights if they were not also directly elected Members of the Court of Common Council. He also suggested that the revised terms of reference should make it clear that there would be no change to the role of the Court of Aldermen in relation to the appointment of the Secondary and Under Sheriff and that all matters in relation to the activities and operation of the Shrievalty would be excluded from the work of this Sub Committee.

The Town Clerk highlighted that those matters outside of a Sub Committee’s remit were not normally detailed in their terms of reference and therefore suggested that these points could be added as a footnote to the existing terms of reference so as not to set a precedent.

Members disagreed with this suggestion and requested that the existing Sub Committee information be amended as follows:

·        Under the heading ‘Constitution’ add “the Recorder and a Sheriff who is not an Alderman or Common Councilman shall have no vote” to the final bullet point; and

·        Under the heading ‘Terms of Reference’ add “but excluding the appointment of the Secondary and Under Sheriff and matters relating to the Shrievalty”.

RESOLVED – That, Members:

a)     Add the proposed wording to the information on the Sub Committee’s constitution and Terms of Reference; and

b)     Note the 2017 dates for Sub Committee meetings.

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Remembrancer setting out the constitutional background to the City’s relationship with the Magistracy.

The Remembrancer undertook to produce a future report on the background to the Central Criminal Court and County Court which the Sub Committee said they would be very happy to receive as time permits.

RESOLVED – That, Members note the report.

There were no questions.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

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 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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2016 were considered.

Report of the Town Clerk (TO FOLLOW).

The Sub Committee considered a late, separately circulated report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive regarding the modernisation of the City’s Courts.

There were no questions raised in the non public session.

With the Chairman’s permission, the Sub Committee received a report of the City Surveyor regarding the City of London Magistrate’s Court, 1 Queen Victoria Street. Matters regarding the Central Criminal Court capital/improvement works and IT capabilities were also raised.