Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Alsatair King and Alderwoman Jennette Newman,.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 14 October.

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 14 October 2025.

RESOLVED: - That the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 14 October 2025 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Chairman’s Congratulatory Remarks

The Committee were informed that Alderman Gregory Jones KC had recently been appointed as Vicar General of the Province of York. The Chair reported that this appointment placed Alderman Jones in a significant legal and ecclesiastical role within the Church of England. In essence, as Vicar General, he would be the Archbishop of York’s chief legal deputy, exercising delegated authority in governance and judicial matters across the Province.

The Chair encouraged all to continue to share news of any notable achievements/appointments for reporting in this way at future meetings.

a)    To approve the appointment of an Alderman to the St Paul’s Cathedral Chorister Trust for a four year term expiring in December 2029, following the resignation of Alderman Gregory Jones KC from this position;

b)    To approve the appointment of Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons as Vice President and Governor of Bridewell Royal Hospital, effective 31 December 2025;

c)     To recommend to the Board of Directors of the Lord Mayor’s Show the appointment of Alderman & Sheriff Robert Hughes-Penney, Alderman Tim Levene and Alderman Prem Goyal as Directors.

RESOLVED: - That the General Purposes Committee:

a)    St Paul’s Cathedral Chorister Trust

Appoint Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley as a trustee for a four-year term expiring in December 2029, following the resignation of Alderman Gregory Jones KC from this position.

b)    Vice President and Governor of Bridewell Royal Hospital

Appoint Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons to this position, effective 31 December 2025, in the room of Alderman Sir Peter Estlin who is stepping down from this position.

c)     Board of Directors of the Lord Mayor’s Show

Recommend to the Board the appointment of Alderman & Sheriff Robert Hughes-Penney, Alderman Tim Levene and Alderman Prem Goyal as Directors.

The Chair highlighted that the February 2026 meeting would seek to approve 2026/27 Aldermanic Committee appointments and therefore encouraged all to contact the Town Clerk with any preferences they might have in this respect so that these might be taken into consideration in good time..

To award the annual Livery Cloth grant (£1,700).

The Committee considered the award of the Annual Livery Cloth grant, alongside an Impact Report from Providence Row, their previously selected charity, setting out their achievements over the past year thanks, in part to the Court of Aldermen’s onoging financial support.

An Alderwoman queried the amount set aside for this and whether it might be increased in future years given that it had been set at this amount for some time now. She spoke in favour of the excellent work undertaken by Providence Row. The Chamberlain undertook to look into this and report back. It was reported that this was historically a grant of cloth which had since been translated into a charitable grant.

RESOLVED: - That the annual Livery Cloth grant of £1,700 be awarded to Providence Row.

There were no questions.

There was 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 14 October 2025.

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 14 October 2025.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Deputy Town Clerk and the Remembrancer.

The Aldermen considered and approved a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Deputy Town Clerk and the Remembrancer presenting the revenue budgets overseen by this committee.

Report of the Managing Director (Acting), City Bridge Foundation.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Managing Director (Acting), City Bridge Foundation regarding trusteeship of the Samuel Wilson Loan Charity.

Report of the City Bridge Foundation Finance Director.

The Committee considered a report of the City Bridge Fund Finance Director (representing the Chamberlain) setting out the Emanuel Hospital Charity’s financial position as at the most recent year end (2024/25) and in the period to date (5 months to 31 August 2025), with a forecast for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year alongside a cash flow forecast from 2025/26 up to 2026/27.

Report of the City Surveyor and Executive Director of Property.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor and Executive Director of Property concerning the disposal of 1 Queen Victoria Street (Magistrates’ Court).

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk advising of action taken between Committee meetings by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen.

Strategy Group Three (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement) updated the Committee on the forthcoming release of the 2025/26 Court of Aldermen report.  

There were several matters concerning key committee issues raised.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy & Livery Sub-Committee held on 15 September 2025.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy & Livery Sub-Committee held on 15 September 2025.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund held on 22 October 2025.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund held on 22 October 2025.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub-Committee held on 24 October 2025.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub-Committee held on 24 October 2025.

Alderman Gregory Jones KC addressed the meeting on key reflections from his recently concluded Shrieval year.

The Committee discussed arrangements made for the recent Lady Mayor’s Show weekend.

There were no questions raised in non-public session.

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