Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons, Alderman Professor Micheal Mainelli, Alderman Robert Howard, Alderman & Sheriff Gregory Jones KC, Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney, and Alderman Kawsar Zaman.

There were no declarations.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 3 December 2024.

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 3^rd December 2024.

RESOLVED: - That the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 3^rd December 2024 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Chairman’s Congratulatory Remarks

The Chairman reported that Alderman Prem Goyal OBE had recently been appointed to the Financial Inclusion Commission and had been appointed to a role at Greengage.

Further, the Chairman reported that Alderman Vincent Keaveny, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons, and himself had been appointed as Honorary Visiting Professors of the President’s Office at City St George’s, University of London.

Finally, it was reported that Alderman Professor Emma Edhem had been appointed to the Open UK Space Advisory Board, alongside Geospatial and Open Data Lead of Google, Ed Parsons, and Chief Test Space Pilot David Mackay.

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.

The Honourable the Irish Society

To approve the re-appointment of Alderman Robert Howard for a further three-year term ending March 2028.

RESOLVED: - That the General Purposes Committee agree to approve the re-appointment of Alderman Robert Howard for a further three-year term to The Honourable the Irish Society ending in March 2028 (subject to further ratification at the Court of Common Council).

There were no questions.

There was no 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 3 December 2024.

The Committee considered and approved the non-public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 3 December 2024.

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

The Committee considered and approved a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Town Clerk and the Remembrancer asking Members to note the 2024/25 budget and approve the proposed revenue budget for 2025/26 for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Remembrancer concerning the petition of the Company of Entrepreneurs to be constituted as a Livery Company of the City of London and related documents.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a joint report of the Town Clerk and the City Surveyor providing an update in respect of the planned refurbishment of Mansion House.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee held on 6 December 2024.

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Magistracy & Livery Sub-Committee held on 6 December 2024.

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor to be heard.

The Lord Mayor was heard relative to his recent trip to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Town Clerk and respective Chairs of each Strategy Group took the opportunity to update the Committee on their objectives for 2025/26.

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

There were no questions raised in the non-public session.

Items of business concerning the Recorder’s Portrait, United Guilds Service and 2-25 Aldermanic Awayday were raised.