Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Deputy Chairman, Alderman Sir Charles Bowman, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley, Alderman Gowman and Alderwoman Pearson.

There were no declarations.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19 March 2024.

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19 March 2024.

MATTERS ARISING

APPOINTMENTS (Page 5) – The Chairman reported that Alderman Hailes would be serving as his representative on the Communications and Corporate Affairs Sub-Committee for the year ensuing.

MAYORAL THEME 2024-25 - ALDERMAN ALASTAIR KING (SUBJECT TO ELECTION) (Page 8) – Alderman King reported that his friend and colleague Ms Lee who had served as his Aldermanic and Shrieval Consort would also be called upon to attend certain events whilst Mrs King (Lady Mayoress for 2024/25 subject to election) was serving as a reservist. It had been agreed with Mansion House and the Remembrancer that Ms Lee’s status when standing in for the Lady Mayoress would be ‘Representative Lady Mayoress’ and he wished to place this formally on record at this stage.

RESOLVED: - That the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19 March 2024 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

(a) Member Development and Standards Sub-Committee

To approve the re-appointment of Alderman Alison Gowman to the Member Development and Standards Sub-Committee for the ensuing civic year.

(b) United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation

To approve the appointment of Alderman Simon Pryke as a Trustee of the United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation for a four-year term expiring in May 2028.

(c) The Emanuel Hospital Management Sub (Court of Aldermen) Committee

To approve the appointment of Alderman Christopher Makin to the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub (Court of Aldermen) Committee for the remainder of a three-year term expiring in November 2026.

The Committee considered appointments to the Member Development and Standards Sub-Committee, the United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation and the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub (Court of Aldermen) Committee.

RESOLVED: - That the Aldermen approve:

(a)   The re-appointment of Alderman Alison Gowman to the Member Development and Standards Sub-Committee for the ensuing civic year;

(b)   The    appointment of Alderman Simon Pryke as a Trustee of the United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation for a four-year term expiring in May 2028; and

(c)   The appointment of Alderman Christopher Makin to the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub (Court of Aldermen) Committee for the remainder of a three-year term expiring in November 2026.

The Chairman welcomed Mark Gettleson, Head of Campaigns and Community Engagement.

Mr Gettleson updated the Committee on the ‘City Belonging’ project and gave a presentation on the City Corporation’s. He began by highlighting how different the City was in terms of its community by depicting both the residential and worker population here with that across other London local authorities. Uniquely, workers voted in City elections and the City had a citizenry who, for the majority, had a primary civic relationship elsewhere.

Mr Gettleson went on to speak on the purpose of community engagement and covered points around democratic legitimacy, statutory engagement/consultations, creating communications channels/insight gathering about the community, changing perceptions of the organisation, recognising that businesses want to locate to a vibrant community, delivering meaningful change to citizens within the square mile and, essentially, recognising that good community engagement would make everything the City Corporation did easier.

Mr Gettleson highlighted the challenges associated with community engagement in the City, reiterating the point that the primary civic relationship of much of the citizenry was based elsewhere. A high worker population also made the citizenry hard to reach and track through traditional methods used with residents. He went on to focus on solutions and the desire to engage ‘gatekeepers’ at all City workplaces and to create a holistic engagement model with the goal of engaging every workplace and every worker. It was recognised that it would be important to draw upon the resources of those City businesses wanting to engage with this work and to focus on their needs and priorities. In terms of the business community, it was reported that there were over 6,000 City workplaces and that 1,000 or these had more than 100 staff and approximately 100 of these had more than 1,000 staff. Not all small workplaces were

Report of the Executive Director & Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director & Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor providing a detailed mid-year update of progress against the 2023/24 Shrieval Plan of Sheriffs, Alderwoman Susan Langley and Alderman Bronek Masojada.

Alderwoman Langley highlighted the nocturnal nature of many of the Shrieval activities with 4-5 dinners to attend each week.  With this in mind, the Sheriffs had taken a different approach this year whereby if there was more than one event taking place on the same evening they would split the Civic Team to ensure representation at each. This had been commented upon positively for the most part. In terms of outreach, both Sheriffs had been trying to deliver something with longevity and take a common approach. For example, some of the Shrieval outreach buffet lunches were all being delivered in partnership with a third party and could therefore continue into a new Shrievalty rather than being associated with an individual, named Sheriff.

Alderman Masojada spoke on the extensive work of the Shrieval consorts which was a huge part of the success of any Shrievalty and also helped with broader community engagement with the Livery for example.

In response to a question on matters that forthcoming Sheriffs might find useful to consider, Alderwoman Langley spoke of the amount of interaction with and support from the Livery. Alderman Masojada remarked that the role was very much about the office as opposed to the individual thereby further underlining the importance of the continuum.

RESOLVED:- That Members note and endorse the update report.

Report of the Executive Director & Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director & Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor outlining the proposed mayoral theme to be championed, subject to election, by the Lord Mayor of London 2024-25, Alderman Alastair King.

Alderman King reported that he had now hosted 19 Mayoral Theme events over the course of the past 3-4 months which had attracted approximately 250 attendees. The reported that the chosen Mayoral Theme for 2024-25 would focus on Inspiring Growth within the City – this would be delivered through three key strands, one of which would focus on pushing for regulatory and mindset reform, one would focus upon new technologies and another on celebrating the networks which make up the City.

Alderman King reported that his focus between now and November would be around developing a programme that would bring in elements of the City Belonging Project and also the Vision for Economic Growth published last year. Engagement with government and opposition would also be key. He reported that he was keen to organise a session specifically for the Court of Aldermen to launch his Mayoral Theme and to keep them regularly updated with progress against this thereafter.

An Alderman mentioned that the Quoted Companies Alliance who championed and advised the UK’s community of small and mid-sized businesses were also very focused on the Growth Agenda at present. He therefore undertook to facilitate introductions with the CEO. Alderman King commented that there was recognition across the current Mayoral continuum that growth would be a key theme across the next few mayoralties which had gone down very well with key stakeholders.

In response to a question regarding Permanent Secretaries, Alderman King confirmed that he was reaching out to these individuals across the various sectors to build relationships. He added that he would also be embarking

The Aldermen took the opportunity to reflect upon the annual Wardmotes held in March.

The Town Clerk reminded all that this had first been introduced as an agenda item last year and that the Aldermen had expressed a desire for it to now feature annually to facilitate discussion. Aldermen had been asked to reflect specifically on attendance on this occasion.

During the course of discussion the following points were raised:

·       The Bread Street Wardmote had attracted the normal number of attendees (approximately 20) and had featured a Motion concerning taxi access to Bank Junction.

·       The Billingsgate Wardmote had approximately 15 attendees and the number one concern aired had been in relation to cyclists and their inability to obey the rules of the road through Bank Junction and elsewhere.

·       The Cheap Wardmote had a good turnout of around 40 and involved a standard, business as usual agenda.

·       The Farringdon Without Wardmote had seen increased turnout this year and a Motion regarding permitting taxi access to Bank Junction had been carried. Concerns around cyclists had also been raised.

·       The Langbourn Wardmote had attracted 15 attendees and the resolution passed here had related to Leadenhall Market which was the main concern locally.

·       The Cornhill Wardmote had 15 voters in attendance which was slightly up on last year. A local police officer had been in attendance to talk on crime in the area which had been well received. Issues around bicycle parking was raised.

·       The Cordwainer Wardmote had been attended by 15 voters which was comparable with attendance figures from recent years. A motion to allow taxi access at Bank Junction had also been passed here.

·       The Bridge Wardmote had attracted 35 attendees which was approximately double that of last year. The Wardmote had been changed to an evening event on this occasion and

There were no questions.

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

MOTION - That, in accordance with the Court of Aldermen’s Disclosure Arrangement (Standing Order 25), the public shall be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen have determined, having had due regard to the Disclosure Arrangement, that disclosure should not be permitted.

RESOLVED - That, in accordance with the Court of Aldermen’s Disclosure Arrangement (Standing Order 25), the public shall be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen have determined, having had due regard to the Disclosure Arrangement, that disclosure should not be permitted.

To approve the non-public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19 March 2024.

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19 March 2024.

The Chamberlain gave a presentation and responded to subsequent questions on City Fund and City’s Estate Finances.

Report of the Town Clerk & Chief Executive.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Town Clerk &/ Chief Executive relative to a request for a leave of absence and potential disqualification for absence.

Report of the Town Clerk, submitted on behalf of Counsel to the City and Undersheriff.

The Committee considered and approved a late, separately circulated report of the Town Clerk, submitted on behalf of the Counsel to the City & Under-Sheriff in relation to the post of the Honorary Secondary.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund held on 6 March 2024.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund held on 6 March 2024.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee held on 8 March 2024.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee held on 8 March 2024.

Members of Aldermanic Strategy Group Three updated the Committee on their work regarding Communications and Stakeholder Engagement - specifically the production of the ‘Court of Aldermen 2024’ document.

Aldermen reported on recent wider Committee issues.

There were no questions raised in non-public session.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration in non-public session.

Report of the Chief People Officer.

The Committee considered and approved a confidential report of the Chief People Officer relative to the Member-led recruitment process for the post of Deputy Town Clerk.