Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded, subject to the addition of Virginia Rounding to the list of those Members present.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor reported on his recent visits to Brunei, New Zealand and Australia.

Pursuant to the decision of the Court of 8 September 2011, the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor invited Deputy Ken Ayers to take office as Chief Commoner for the ensuing year.

Resolved Unanimously – That this Honourable Court wishes to extend to Richard David Regan, Deputy, its sincere gratitude for the manner in which he has undertaken the role of Chief Commoner over the past year.

Richard took up the post in April 2011 and was the first Chief Commoner to be elected by his colleagues on the Court Common Council.

Throughout the past year he has successfully developed the role and has carried out the many and varied tasks expected of the Chief Commoner with determination and sound judgement, setting a benchmark for others to follow.

In taking leave of the Chief Commoner and in thanking him formally and  sincerely, his colleagues wish to express their appreciation not only for his resourcefulness and hospitality during the past year, but also for his enthusiasm, consideration and courtesy and they wish both Richard and Anne continued good health and happiness long into the future. My Lord Mayor.

There was no Policy Statement.

There were no documents to be sealed with the Hospital Seal.

The Chamberlain, in pursuance, of the Orders of this Court, presented a list of the under-mentioned persons who made application to be admitted to the Freedom of this City by redemption:-

Letter of:-

the Lord Levene of Portsoken, K.B.E. thanking the Court for the resolution passed following the announcement of his retirement from the Court of Aldermen.

Read.

Chris Duffield Esq., of 12 March 2012, giving six months’ notice of his intention to retire from Office as Town Clerk of the City of London was read.

Policy, Finance, Establishment, Investment and Audit Committees – Reports

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Stuart John Fraser)

22 March 2012

Use of Guildhall

In accordance with the arrangements approved by the Court on 21 June 2001 for the approval of applications for the use of Guildhall, we now inform the Court of the following applications which have been agreed to:-

Received.

Early Evening Reception to recognise the work of London’s Uniformed Adult Volunteers

YOU (Youth Organisations – Uniform) London is a unique partnership of ten of the oldest, largest and most experienced uniformed youth organisations in London: the Air Training Corps LaSER (London and South East Region); Army Cadet Force; Boys’ Brigade; Community Fire Cadets; Girlguiding LaSER; Girls’ Brigade; Sea Cadet Corps; St John Ambulance (Prince of Wales’ District); The Scout Association Greater London; and Volunteer Police Cadets. It co-ordinates an area committee in each of London’s 32 boroughs, with its Board chaired by one of the Deputy Lord Lieutenants of Greater London and is supported by partner organisations including the Greater London Authority. With over 17,000 adult volunteers supporting approximately 76,000 children and young people across Greater London, these organisations help to provide a range of opportunities for young people which are recognised to improve school attendance, help young people to achieve more and reduce the likelihood of antisocial behaviour.

In recognition of the commitment and contribution of current adult volunteers and to thank them their work during Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, we recommend that adult members and volunteers from YOU London organisations, the Mayor of London and GLA representatives, the Greater London Lieutenancy, politicians, senior figures from the Armed Forces and the Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, representatives from those Livery Companies having relevant connections, and representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service, Safer London Foundation, The Jack Petchey Foundation, and The Prince’s Trust be invited to attend a reception to be held in the Guildhall in October 2012; it being referred to this Committee to make the arrangements out of City’s Cash within the approved cost parameters.

(This would be a Full Court event).

Communications Strategy 2012-2015

The Communications Strategy sets out the City of London Corporation’s plan of action over the short to medium-term for communicating our activities and managing our reputation. It is comprised of three core stands, supporting and promoting the City as a world leader in international finance and business services, promoting the City Corporation as a provider of modern, efficient and high quality local and policing services and promoting our role as a provider of valued services to London and to the nation as a whole.

The Communications Strategy, a copy of which has been circulated separately, identifies two key priorities for 2012/13, namely:-  

• Supporting London’s communities i.e. all the work we do to support educational and cultural opportunities and economic development, thereby helping to provide jobs and growth and improve the quality of life throughout London; and
• Helping to look after London’s heritage and green spaces i.e. all the work we do to look after London and the nation’s heritage and to provide green spaces across the capital and beyond.

Each City Corporation department, in drawing up their business plan, is required to take the Strategy into account when dealing with the communications aspects of their own work to ensure a consistent and co-ordinated approach.

We recommend that approval be given to the Communications Strategy for 2012-2015.

Read.

In response to Members’ comments the Chairman commented that it was difficult to reflect every Members’ particular interest but he encouraged Members to submit their views to the Public Relations Sub Committee as the document would continue to evolve to reflect the work of the organisation.

Resolved – that the report be agreed to.

Retirement of the Town Clerk

In accordance with the procedures for the appointment of Chief Officers, your Policy and Resources Committee is required to notify the Court of Common Council of a vacancy occurring in the position of Town Clerk. We, therefore, advise that Chris Duffield has tendered his resignation and intends to retire on 16^th September 2012. 

With the approval of the Establishment Committee, the process to find Mr Duffield’s successor has now commenced.

At the meeting of the Court in January 2012, the process for recruitment to vacancies filled by the Court was raised and the Policy and Resources Committee was requested to report back on those arrangements. Work is ongoing in this respect and a report will be submitted to the Court shortly.

We recommend that the Town Clerk’s resignation be noted.

Rates Committees – Reports

PORT HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

(John Tomlinson BA MSC)

Heathrow Animal Reception Centre - Annual Review of Charges

It is necessary to submit periodic recommendations to the Court for a revision of the byelaws that incorporate the charges levied at the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow (HARC).  This revision is required so that the charges can be increased to take account of inflation and to meet the agreed target for estimated variable costs to be recovered on this important service.

The byelaws, incorporating a new schedule of charges for the services provided, can be found in Appendix A to a separately printed and circulated report and we recommend approval thereof; the Comptroller and City Solicitor being instructed to seal the Byelaws accordingly.

Read and agreed to.