Agenda and draft minutes

That the minutes of the Court of Aldermen meeting held on 14^th October 2025 were correctly recorded.

[The minutes of the Court of Common Council were on the table].

Resolved : - That this Court wishes to convey to,

Alastair John Naisbitt King DL

their gratitude and appreciation for the distinguished manner in which he has served as Lord Mayor of the City of London during the past year. 

His Mayoral theme, ‘Growth Unleashed’, has focused on driving growth by celebrating the successes and diverse communities within the Square Mile, encouraging the adoption of technologies that provide London with a competitive advantage, and challenging industry to maximise opportunities through responsible risk-taking. 

Alastair has achieved particular success through his tireless work to transform the UK’s pension investment culture, championing a value-for-money approach that prioritises long-term returns for savers. Through the Mansion House Accord, an extra £50 billion of investment for UK businesses and major infrastructure projects is set to be unlocked, and his corresponding success through the Employer Pension Pledge, signed by the  Chancellor in July, commits over twenty of the UK’s largest employers to pledge to prioritise retirement outcomes for their workforce, rather than focusing solely on cost reduction, when selecting or reviewing pension providers.

Throughout the year of office, the Lord Mayor undertook an extensive programme of international visits, travelling to over twenty countries by November and maintaining enthusiasm and good humour throughout, including visits to Australia, India, China, North America, Japan, the Gulf, and South East Asia. Notable highlights include hosting visiting dignitaries and officials, such as the State Visit by the President of the French Republic in July—celebrating ties between the UK and France and encouraging stronger collaboration on financial services—and hosting the Amir of Qatar at Mansion House during his State Visit.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given his Scottish heritage, Alastair also made promoting investment into Scotland a personal priority, including through his co-hosting of Scotland’s Global Investment Summit with Scottish Financial Enterprise in October, supported by

There were no resolutions.

The Bridgemasters, Giles Robert Evelyn Shilson and Susan Elizabeth Patterson Threader, made the prescribed declaration under the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 for the dueexecution of the Office.

The Chamberlain presented the names of two hundred and one persons to be made free of this City, and it is Ordered that they be admitted into the Freedom of this City accordingly, as follows:-

Governance of the Court of Aldermen – Amended Standing Orders

The Court of Aldermen considered recommendations of its General Purposes Committee on amended Standing Orders for the Court of Aldermen (together with additional guidance on the Pre and Post Mayoral Election period) and proposed Terms of Reference for the General Purposes Committee.

Resolved: - That the amended Standing Orders of the Court of Aldermen (including the appended Supporting Guidance for Immediate Pre and Post Mayoral Periods piece) and the Terms of Reference of the General Purposes Committee be approved to come into immediate force and be made publicly available, replacing any past such versions.

Trusteeship of the Samuel Wilson Loan Charity

The Court of Aldermen considered recommendations of its General Purposes Committee concerning accepting trusteeship of the Samuel Wilson Loan Charity (noting that this was also contingent on a concurrent decision by the Policy and Resources Committee regarding resource allocation).This historic Aldermanic charity, provides business loans to disadvantaged young people aged 18–39, and is currently overseen by individual trustees - the Chamberlain (ex officio) and five Aldermen. The most recent Corporate Charities Review again recommended transferring trusteeship to the City of London Corporation acting by the Court of Aldermen, a proposal supported by the Charity’s trustees. If approved, a new sub-committee under the Court of Aldermen would be formed, mirroring the Emanuel Hospital structure, with aligned meetings and a proposed core group of Aldermen serving across both sub-committees to enhance and reinforce understanding of charity trustee regulation and compliance obligations, as well as to otherwise improve efficiency and oversight.

Resolved: -  That this Honourable Court, subject to the concurrence of the Policy & Resources Committee regarding resource allocation:

•       accept the transfer of trusteeship to the City of London Corporation, acting by the Court of Aldermen, for Samuel Wilson Loan

The Town Clerk lay before the Court a letter of surrender of office from Alderman Sir Peter Estlin offering to surrender his Office of Alderman of the Ward of Coleman Street.

RECEIVED.

Resolved Unanimously:- That the Court of Hustings NOTE the appointment by the Lady Mayor of Gary Langley as Deputy Gauger for her Mayoralty.

At the conclusion of the Court of Hustings, the Lady Mayor wished all members of the Court, the High Officers, and all others present or observing the meeting online, a very happy festive period.