Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Aldermen Nicholas Anstee, Sir Alan Yarrow, Robert Hughes-Penney and Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal Q.C.

There were no declarations.

Mark Gettleson (Election Engagement Manager) to be heard.

Mark Gettleson (Election Engagement Manager) provided an update for the Committee in respect of the City Corporation’s election engagement activities.

Members were advised that initial feedback about the voter registration process had indicated that a large majority of people were unclear about the City’s electoral processes, including voter registration and how to stand for election. Members were advised that significant progress had been made over recent months with the aim of enhancing provision of clear information about all aspects of the City’s electoral arrangements, particularly in an enhanced digital format.

It was noted that the new elections website (https://www.speakforthecity.com/) had recently gone live and information about this site was being promoted as widely as possible. Mr Gettleson provided a walk-through of the website which provided clear information about the registration process for both residents and workers in the City; it enabled individuals to check how many votes were allocated to a registered business and the key point of contact at the business; and it also provided clarification about the eligibility criteria and how to stand for election. Information about candidates would be accessible on the site in due course. It was noted that the aim was to direct as much traffic as possible so various tools and social media platforms would be used to profile the site. Information about the site and how to profile it would be shared with Members and officers across the organisation, particularly those departments that engaged with external stakeholders.  Members stressed the importance of corporate-wide input into this activity in order to maximise voter registration and promote greater diversity amongst future candidates.

Members were advised that enhanced functionality had been introduced which enabled officers to be proactive and follow up where responses were not received from individual businesses in respect of registration.  Ahead

A report of the Town Clerk setting out a revised programme of meeting dates for the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the Court of Aldermen in 2022.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk setting out a revised programme of meeting dates for the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the Court of Aldermen in 2022.

The revised programme of meetings in 2022 was set out alongside the dates of the Wardmotes which were expected to be held in 2022, for up to nine Aldermanic elections to take place as of March 2022. The paper before Members identified where dates for meetings of the General Purposes Committee of Alderman or the Court of Aldermen would be revised, or where additional meetings would be scheduled, to reflect the Aldermanic election timetable.

There was some discussion regarding the proposed electoral timetable on the basis that at previous meetings of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen in 2020 and in early 2021, the Committee had agreed to defer Aldermanic elections for a number of reasons and elections would not therefore take place before March 2022. As the Court of Common Council’s Ward Elections would take place on 24 March 2022 (for contested seats), some Members queried why Aldermanic elections could not commence before 11 May 2022. Further to this, clarification was sought as to why the elections had to be staggered across four months rather than holding them all on one date, where vacancies would have already arisen before March 2022 in normal circumstances. Several Members commented on the risk of being seen to manage and configure the electoral arrangements which was not, in their mind, in the spirit of transparency.

During the discussion the following points were made:-

-       Require clarity about the rationale for the approach set out in the report;

-       What are the specific considerations as to Aldermanic elections should not be triggered as of the February 2021 meeting of the Court of Aldermen?;

The Chairman to be heard.

The Chairman commented on the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen’s Future Work Programme and advised Members that some preliminary discussions had taken place about the development of an Aldermanic Impact Report (Impact report 2021 – Court of Aldermen), following previous discussions about how this activity could highlight the work of the Court of Aldermen and the role of the Aldermen across a spectrum of internal and external spheres.

Members were advised that during a recent meeting involving several members of the Committee as well as officers from the Town Clerk’s Department, Innovation and Growth, Communications, the Remembrancer’s Department and Mansion House, the aim, format, audience and content of a future report were discussed. Noting that officers, with Member input, were working towards a deadline of 12^th November 2021 (Silent Ceremony) for production of the Impact Report, each Alderman was encouraged to submit feedback to the Town Clerk by 1 October 2021 about their activities over the past 18 months – the focus being on having impact.  Members were advised that an update would be provided at the Committee’s next meeting.

Linked to the issue of explaining the role of an Alderman and demystifying the work of the Court, Alderman Masojada explained that he would be speaking at the City Briefing on 21 September and he would welcome any feedback from those that had previously spoken at a briefing.

Resolved:- That:-

(i)            the Future Work Programme be noted; and

(ii)           all contributions in respect of the Aldermanic Impact Report be submitted to the Town Clerk by 1 October 2021.

A report of the Executive Director of Innovation and Growth setting out nominations for the final two external Members of the IGAB for 2021/2022 and seeking approval for the adoption of a new name for the IGAB. 

Approval of the recommendations set out in the report will be sought from the Policy and Resources Committee on 16September 2021.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Innovation and Growth presenting the names of the final two external Members of the Innovation and Growth Advisory Board (IGAB) for confirmation, and a proposed name change for the Innovation and Growth Advisory Board (IGAB). It was noted that these matters would be considered, for approval, by the Policy and Resources Committee on 16 September 2021.

In response to a query about access to reports and minutes associated with the meetings of the IGAB, the Chairman explained that the Advisory Board -effectively an informal working group- would undertake its work in private thus enabling the membership, of which there were a number of external stakeholders, to have restricted conversations.

Resolved:- That the report be noted.

The Town Clerk to provide an update in respect of Common Hall (Election of the Lord Mayor) on 29 September 2021.

The Chairman provided a brief update in respect of the arrangements for Common Hall (Election of Lord mayor) which would take place on 29 September 2021.

Resolved:- That the update be noted.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

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, 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 5 July 2021.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 5 July 2021.

Resolved:- That the non-public minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 5 July 2021 be approved as an accurate record.

To review the outstanding actions in respect of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen’s work programme.

The Committee considered the Non-Public Outstanding Actions List which had been updated since the last meeting on 5 July 2021.

Resolved: - That the Non-Public Outstanding Actions List be noted.

To receive the list of forthcoming events.

The Committee received the list of forthcoming events.

Resolved:- That the list of forthcoming events be noted.

The Chairman to be heard.

The Committee received an update in respect of arrangements at the Old Bailey.

Resolved:- That the update be noted.

The Chair of the Lord Mayor’s Show Ltd to be heard relative to the arrangements for the 2021 Lord Mayor’s Show.

The Chairman of the Lord Mayor’s Limited provided the Committee with an update about the arrangements for the Lord Mayor’s Show 2021.

Resolved:- That the update be noted.

The Chairman to be heard.

The Chairman updated the Committee about the Aldermanic Allowance.

Resolved:- That the update be noted.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.