Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Joseph Anstee
Tel: 0207 332 1480  Email: joseph.anstee@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Dominic Christian, Deputy Catherine McGuinness, and Deputy Tom Sleigh.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 8 October 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 8 October 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Review of the Vetting Procedure for Applicants to the City Freedom by Redemption without the Intervention of a Livery Company pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk presenting the current arrangements for the vetting of candidates applying for the Freedom, for discussion. The Chairman introduced the item and outlined the context of the review before the Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court introduced the report.

 

Members noted that the vast nomination of cases carried very little risk and even where there was some indication of risk, this would not necessarily have an adverse impact for the City of London Corporation. However, the vetting process provided an important safety valve. The Committee noted that the Chamberlain’s Court could only vet non-Livery applications, which made up a third of the total. The burden of expectation was on each Livery Company to vet applications made through them, and Livery Companies often maintained stronger processes such as Membership Committees. Members noted that the City of London Corporation could not always apply the standards of the Livery, and that there were some factors beyond the Court of Common Council’s control, such as Ward List applications.

 

The Committee agreed that a vetting process should be maintained, and that the current arrangements were satisfactory, noting the effectiveness of the process used so far.

 

RESOLVED – That the Freedom Applications Committee endorse the current vetting procedure and agree that it should continue as set out.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Equality and Diversity Monitoring Survey pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Report of the Chamberlain

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain presenting the annual Equality and Diversity Monitoring Survey. The Chairman introduced the item and gave some context around the survey before the Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court introduced the report.

 

The Committee discussed the methods behind undertaking the survey and recommended that further steps be taken to separate the survey from the assessment process, and strengthen confidentiality of the survey, in order to increase confidence and encourage a fuller response from Freemen. The Committee also advised that the Chamberlain’s Court consult with the Communications team on the presentation and style of the survey template.

 

Members then discussed how the Committee could increase equality and diversity. Members broadly felt that encouragement was preferable to enforcement, and that encouragement of the Livery Companies was likely to be the most productive route. Whilst Members noted that some Livery Companies had made commendable efforts to increase diversity, others needed to do more. The City of London Corporation should also lead by example if it was to encourage and recognise the efforts of the Livery Companies.

 

The Committee then discussed the balance between encouragement and engineering that might be appropriate and how effective different methods might be in practice, using the Royal Honours system as a comparison of policy-driven process. Members recognised that without the City of London Corporation being proactive, things were unlikely to change. Whilst the City of London Corporation had little control over the Livery Companies, Members noted that direct action to influence them had been effective on occasions in the past. Furthermore, newer Livery Companies were more likely to be receptive.

 

Arising from the discussion, Members agreed that active encouragement and monitoring would be appropriate, alongside City of London Corporation initiatives such as the 100 Women campaign. The Corporation should also try to

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Questions on Matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

A Member advised that during 2020, Bangladesh would be commemorating the centenary of the birth of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, and suggested that the Committee consider an initiative in recognition of this, as well as the 50th Anniversary of Bangladeshi independence. The Chairman added that London had a strong Bangladeshi community with much history and agreed that this was a good proposal which the Committee could look into.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

There was no other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Exclusion of the Public

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

RESOLVED - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

Item No.                                                          Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

9                                                                                              1, 3

10                                                                                            3

11                                                                                            -

12 - 15                                                                                     1

16                                                                                            -

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Review of the Procedure for Applicants to the City Freedom Through a Livery Company

Report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain and the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Questions on matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There was one question.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Confidential Minutes

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2019.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Freedoms Dashboard and Applications Requiring Discussion

Report of the Town Clerk

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

List of Heads of Missions

Report of the Town Clerk

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Freedom by Special Nomination - Composite List of Potential Recipients

Report of the Chamberlain

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Any Other Business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the committee agree should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There was one item of other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.