Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Sir Peter Estlin, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons, and Alderwoman Martha Grekos.

There were no declarations.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 4 March 2025.

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 4 March 2025.

RESOLVED: - That the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 4 March 2025 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Chairman’s Congratulatory Remarks

The Chairman reported that Alderman Prem Goyal had been appointed as a Non-Executive Director at the Federation of Small Businesses – the UK’s leading organisation representing and advocating for a community of over 500,000 small businesses and the self-employed.

Alderman Robert Howard informed the Committee that he had joined The Army Central Fund, the British Army’s in-house charity that cared for the welfare of soldiers in the UK and around the world.

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.

The Chairman also reported that Alderman Prem Goyal had successfully returned as Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, with Alderwomen Elizabeth King as Deputy Chair. The Chairman also informed the Committee that had had been returned as Chairman of the Barbican Centre Board for the year ensuing. The Committee joined the Chairman in wishing luck to any other Aldermen still to stand for Chair and / or Deputy Chair positions in the forthcoming meetings.

Report of the Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk, concerning a high-level executive summary of the work of the Town Clerk and his Executive Leadership Board over the past two years to January 2025. The Town Clerk introduced the report and provided observations and reflections, including achievements, challenges, and future opportunities. Questions were then invited from Members of the Committee.

The Town Clerk was asked how he was addressing silos at the City Corporation. The Town Clerk responded by referencing his Executive Leadership Board, which met regularly and aimed to enable thematic working. The People Strategy and the Corporate Plan were good examples of positive outcomes of working together to break down silos. The work on addressing silos also connected with Ambition25, which was key for redeployment and lateral movement across the City Corporation.

A Member suggested that the report did not properly highlight the importance of the Climate Action Strategy. The Town Clerk reflected that there could be matters of importance that may have been missed or overlooked in the report but were no less important and the Strategy was a strength to the City Corporation. Members would be receiving reports on the progress for net-zero in 2027 to demonstrate its progress against the climate ambitions.

It was noted that paragraph 5(j) in the report spoke to the communication and engagement strategy, and the need to strengthen the visibility of the City Corporation with its wider stakeholders.

The Town Clerk was queried on what the ambitions were for the use of AI. The Town Clerk noted that the City Corporation had agreed its first-ever Digital and Data Strategy, to address the challenge in managing data and ensuring data was robust and properly collected – AI could help address this challenge. The initial stages for using AI at the City

There were no questions.

There were no public items of other business.

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 4 March 2025.

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 4 March 2025.

a)              Emanuel School

To approve the appointment of a nominee to Emanuel School for a term ending October 2027.

b)              King Edward’s School Witley (Bridewell Royal Hospital)

To approve the appointment of a nominee to King Edward’s School Witley.

The Committee considered and approved various appointments to Emanuel School, King Edward’s School Witley (Bridewell Royal Hospital), and Sir John Soane’s Museum.

The City Surveyor to be heard.

The Committee received a presentation from the City Surveyor, concerning a courts development progress update.  

Report of the City Remembrancer.

The Committee received a report of the City Remembrancer, to consider proposals relating to governance arrangements of Ward Beadles.

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

The report of the Executive Director and Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor was withdrawn from the agenda.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub-Committee held on 5 March 2025.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of The Emanuel Hospital Management Sub (Court of Aldermen) Committee, held on 5 March 2025.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of The Committee of Aldermen to Administer the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund held on 25 March 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 25 March 2025.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee held on 27 March 2025.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee (General Purposes Committee of Aldermen), held on 27 March 2025.

The respective Chairs, or their representative, of each Strategy Group took the opportunity to update the Committee on progress against their objectives for 2025/26.

There were no matters raised.

There were no questions.

Several items of non-public other business were raised.