Agenda and minutes

Resolved - That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded.

There were no resolutions.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor reported on his recent overseas visits to Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

There was no statement.

Sundry documents were sealed with the Hospital Seal.

(A list of names, together with those of the nominators, has been separately circulated).

The Chamberlain, in pursuance of the Order of this Court, presented a list of the under-mentioned, persons who had made applications to be admitted to the Freedom of the City by Redemption:-

¬ denotes appointed.

Members’ Privileges Sub Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee (one vacancy for the balance of a term expiring in April 2017).

Votes

Charles Edward Lord, O.B.E., J.P.                                68¬

Ann Marjorie Francescia Pembroke                              29

The Town Clerk reported the results of a ballot taken at the last Court as follows:-

¬ denotes appointed.

Members’ Privileges Sub Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee (one vacancy for the balance of a term expiring in April 2017).

Votes

Charles Edward Lord, O.B.E., J.P.                                68¬

Ann Francescia Marjorie Pembroke                              29

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Edward Lord to be appointed to the Members’ Privileges Sub Committee.

a)     One Member on the Health and Wellbeing Board, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2016.

Nominations received:-

Karina Dostalova

b)      One Member on the Central Foundation Schools of London, for a four year term expiring in October 2019.

Nominations received:-

Robert Picton Seymour Howard, Deputy

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Central Foundation Schools of London.

a) Health and Wellbeing Board (one vacancy for the balance of a term expiring in April 2016).

Nominations received:-

Karina Dostalova

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Karina Dostalova to be appointed to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

b) Central Foundation Schools of London (one vacancy for a four year term expiring in October 2019).

Nominations received:-

Robert Picton Seymour Howard, Deputy

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Robert Howard to be appointed to the Central Foundation Schools of London.

Idling Vehicles

Patrick Streeter asked a question of the Chairman of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee concerning vehicles with idling engines.

In response, the Chairman advised that there had been no prosecutions for vehicle idling within the past year, due to the positive response of vehicle drivers and restrictions around the legal action that could be taken. Despite this, much work had been undertaken by officers, the Police and with other local authorities to tackle the issue; the Chairman had also met with the relevant Minister to appeal for changes to legislation, thereby increasing the Corporation’s ability to take action.

In response to a supplementary question from Brian Mooney, the Chairman advised that data relating to pollution at Smithfield Market could be shared with interested Members upon request.

In answer to a further supplementary question from Deputy Stanley Ginsburg, the Chairman also agreed to ask officers to explore the possibility of monitoring pollution levels at Middlesex Street.

Blackfriars Bridge

Andrew McMurtrie asked a question of the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee concerning Blackfriars Bridge.

In response, the Chairman reported that programmed maintenance work to the Bridge was two years overdue, having been delayed to facilitate speedier completion of the works on the adjacent rail bridge and the building of the new Blackfriars station itself.

Separate discussions concerning the Thames Tideway Tunnel (TTT) were also due to conclude shortly, to ensure that any maintenance work was feasible alongside the TTT plans.

Subject to the outcome of these discussions, investigatory works were now underway to prepare for the overdue maintenance programme for Blackfriars Bridge, with works planned to begin in early 2016.

There were no motions.

Open Spaces Awards

Report of the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee and the West Ham Park Committee.

“After another exceptional year, The City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces have once again received several prestigious Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces and aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. All sites must be freely accessible to the public and perform well against eight criteria, including safety and security, cleanliness, management and sustainability. This year the following Open Spaces retained the Award: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Coulsdon Common, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, Riddlesdown, Spring Park, West Ham Park, West Wickham Common and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Green Heritage Site accreditation, which is sponsored by English Heritage, is awarded in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. The following Open Spaces retained their Green Heritage Site accreditation this year to acknowledge the heritage value of the sites: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, West Ham Park, West Wickham Common, and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. The City Corporation now holds 16 Green Flag and 12 Green Heritage Awards, more than any other organisation. 

These awards are an excellent way to recognise the extraordinary hard work of all the staff in the Open Spaces Department and the large teams of dedicated local volunteers who help to maintain our Open Spaces. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

Open Spaces Awards

Report of the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee and the West Ham Park Committee.

“After another exceptional year, The City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces have once again received several prestigious Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces and aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. All sites must be freely accessible to the public and perform well against eight criteria, including safety and security, cleanliness, management and sustainability. This year the following Open Spaces retained the Award: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Coulsdon Common, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, Riddlesdown, Spring Park, West Ham Park, West Wickham Common and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Green Heritage Site accreditation, which is sponsored by English Heritage, is awarded in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. The following Open Spaces retained their Green Heritage Site accreditation this year to acknowledge the heritage value of the sites: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, West Ham Park, West Wickham Common, and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. The City Corporation now holds 16 Green Flag and 12 Green Heritage Awards, more than any other organisation. 

These awards are an excellent way to recognise the extraordinary hard work of all the staff in the Open Spaces Department and the large teams of dedicated local volunteers who help to maintain our Open Spaces. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

Read.

(The Revd. Stephen Decatur Haines, Deputy)

16 July 2015

Report of Urgent Action Taken: City Office in Brussels

In June 2015, the Policy and Resources Committee agreed to allocate £500,000 per year for three years (2015/16 to 2017/18) to fund the creation a new Senior Representative post in the City Office in Brussels. This funding covers the salary of the Senior Representative, the salary of a new officer post based in the City Office in Brussels to support the Senior Representative, plus additional office and IT resources and funding to support additional activity in support of the work of the new Senior Representative.

As the salary of the Senior Representative post is in excess of £100,000, approval for the creation of the post was also required from your Establishment Committee and the Court of Common Council.

We therefore submit a printed and circulated report advising that on 16 July 2015 approval was given, in accordance with Standing Order No. 19, to create the post.

ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE 

(The Revd. Stephen Decatur Haines, Deputy)

16 July 2015

Report of Urgent Action Taken: City Office in Brussels

In June 2015, the Policy and Resources Committee agreed to allocate £500,000 per year for three years (2015/16 to 2017/18) to fund the creation a new Senior Representative post in the City Office in Brussels. This funding covers the salary of the Senior Representative, the salary of a new officer post based in the City Office in Brussels to support the Senior Representative, plus additional office and IT resources and funding to support additional activity in support of the work of the new Senior Representative.

As the salary of the Senior Representative post is in excess of £100,000, approval for the creation of the post was also required from your Establishment Committee and the Court of Common Council.

We therefore submit a printed and circulated report advising that on 16 July 2015 approval was given, in accordance with Standing Order No. 19, to create the post.

Responding to a question from Deputy Alex Deane, the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee clarified that the post holder’s mandate would be set by the City Corporation and, as an Officer of the Corporation, they would accordingly be tasked with reflecting its views. With reference to Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent comments in respect of pursuing treaty change to protect the City, the Chairman agreed that he was supportive of the Government’s diplomatic efforts to ensure the protection of the integrity of the single market and to prevent any discrimination against the countries outside of the Eurozone, whether this was on the form of a treaty or any other form of agreement.

The Chairman consequently undertook to provide an update to Members on the work undertaken by the post holder in due

“That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972:-

A) recommendations of the Property Investment Board proposing the granting of a lease; and

B) action taken under urgency procedures in approving recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee and the Police Committee concerning a matter of procurement?

In response to a question relating to one of the items to be considered whilst the public were excluded, assurance was provided that Ward Members would be informed should major infrastructure projects impact their electors such that they were required to relocate.

Resolved – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:-

Summary of exempt items considered whilst the public were excluded:-

The Court:-

a)    approved recommendations of the Property Investment Board concerning the granting of a long-term leasehold; and

b)    noted action taken in accordance with urgency procedures in approving recommendations of the Policy and Resources and Police Committees, concerning a matter of procurement.