Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor, Alderman Alastair King, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Alderman Robert Howard, Alderman & Sheriff Gregory Jones and Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney

There were no declarations.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 15 October 2024.

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 15 October 2024.

RESOLVED: - That the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 15 October 2024  be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Chairman’s Congratulatory Remarks

The Chairman reported that Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley had recently made the FT list of ‘Leading with Kindness’ and also the Spears Power List – he mentioned that he was aware that she is particularly proud of the first of these. The Committee joined the Chairman in offering their congratulations.

The Committee were encouraged to continue to feed in news of any similar achievements/accolades worthy of note going forward.

a)    City & Guilds of London Institute

To approve the appointment of an Alderman to the City & Guilds of London Institute for a term ending April 2026.

b)    The Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund

To approve the appointment of two Aldermen to the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund, each for a three year term.

RESOLVED:-That the General Purposes Committee agree:

a)    City & Guilds of London Institute

To approve the appointment of Alderman & Sheriff Gregory Jones to the City & Guilds of London Institute for a term ending April 2026.

b)    The Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund

To approve the appointment of Alderman Simon Pryke to the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund, for a three-year term.

Executive Director Private Secretary to the Policy Chairman and Destination City Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) to be heard.

The Chairman welcomed thePrivate Secretary to the Policy Chairman and Destination City SRO who presented on the Destination City Programme.

The presentation covered the following points:

·       The former Destination City Programme – focused on transforming the City into a leading leisure destination in the context of a significant reduction in footfall in the aftermath of the pandemic.

·       The new Destination City Programme – an enhanced initiative that goes beyond promoting the City as a leading leisure destination and becomes the growth strategy for the Square Mile.

·       New ambition – to position the City as an even more magnetic destination – for businesses, worker and visitors.

·       Destination City in the broader context of initiatives across the organisation – Innovation & Growth, the Resident Reset/City Belonging for example.

·       Plan of Collective Action – breaking down siloes, both internally and externally.

·       Major Workstreams/Key Actions – improving pedestrian connectivity between places, developing a consistently lively an animated ground floor experience, establishing a premium concierge service for relocating businesses, driving footfall Friday-Monday. Re-evaluation of social media strategy and possible partnership approaches, ensuring lease conditions in relevant commercial areas reflect a curated and appealing visitor experience, encouraging relevant services working with young people to prioritise school visits that align with Destination City priorities.

·       New Destination City Programme Hub to be established with recruitment currently underway – designed to provide a strategic and advisory function and support programme delivery.

·       Factors for Growth – footfall (daytime v nighttime? Weekday v weekend?) spend.

·       The City’s USPs

·       Attracting workers – days in the office

The Chairman thanked the Private Secretary to the Policy Chairman and Destination City SRO for her presentation and invited questions from the floor.

An Alderman commended the initiative and commented that proposals to break down siloes such as through the creation of the new Hub would

The Chairman welcomed and introduced Mark Johnson and Rob Wirszycz – both members of the Financial Services Group (FSG) of Livery Companies.

It was noted that a copy of the 2024 FSG Mayoral & City Briefing had been circulated to all ahead of the meeting for context.

Mr Johnson and Mr Wirszycz reported that the FSG was made up of 15 Guilds and Livery Companies who were active in their current professions. They spoke on the purpose of the briefing and how this had been developed. Last year had seen the Group produce a paper for the immediate past Lord Mayor who had responded with feedback seeking further challenge in future such reports. This year’s version therefore more proactively highlighted areas where the Group felt they might be able to assist the current Lord Mayor in achieving his objective of ‘Unleashing Growth’ as opposed to being purely complimentary of the City.

In terms of the key points emerging from the briefing, the following were highlighted to the Committee:

·       The need to avoid London & the City becoming less relevant and less globally competitive;

·       The focus of Regulation & Regulators should be to enhance competitiveness - not blunt it;

·       The City is only as good as its talent pool – the need to cast our net wider;

·       The need to reverse the decline in the influence and attractiveness of the LSE;

·       The path to ‘net zero’ provides London with an opportunity for global leadership;

·       The City must embrace the potential for AI while appropriately managing the risks;

·       All stakeholders need to come together to develop a long-term vision for the City.

During the process of gathering information for the briefing, contributors were also asked to identify headwinds and tailwinds which were highlighted to the Committee. The key message here was the need for

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

The Committee considered the award of the Annual Livery Cloth grant – a sum of £1,700.

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

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 15 October 2024.

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 15 October 2024.

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

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Town Clerk and the Remembrancer presenting the annual submission of the revenue budgets overseen by them.

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

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Town Clerk and the Remembrancer comparing the revenue outturn for the services they had overseen in 2023/24 with the final approved budget for the year.

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

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Executive Director & Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor Mansion House reviewing income generation in the 2023-24 Financial Year, providing a brief update on the implementation of the Mansion House commercial strategy, recommending future rates to be agreed for the 2025-26 Financial Year and highlighting other relevant issues.

Report of the City Bridge Foundation Finance Director.

The Committee considered and approved 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 (2023/24) and in the period to date (5 months to 31 August 2024), with a forecast for the remainder of the 2024/25 financial year alongside a cash flow forecast from 2024/25 up to 2031/32.

Report of the Acting Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation and Chief Charities Officer.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Acting Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation and Chief Charities Officer providing a key Risk Register of the Emanuel Hospital Charity.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk advising of action taken by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen, in accordance with Standing Order No. 46 (Court of Aldermen).

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee of Aldermen to administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund held on 16 October 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 16 October 2024.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub-Committee held on 23 October 2024.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub-Committee held on 23 October 2024.

Aldermanic Strategy Group Three updated the Committee on progress following the launch of the ‘Court of Aldermen 2024’ document.

Aldermen were given the opportunity to report on recent, wider Committee issues of strategic importance.

There were no questions raised in non-public session.

There was no other business.

There were xx items of other business.