Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded

The following Member, lately elected to be of the Common Council, for the Ward mentioned, was introduced to the Court and, having previously made the declaration prescribed by the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868, took his seat, viz:­

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor made no report of overseas visits.

M.J. Boleat

K.E.Ayers, M.B.E., Deputy

Resolved – That on the occasion of his retirement, the Members of this Court are delighted to have this opportunity to express to:

Chris Duffield

their thanks for the service that he has given to this Court, to the City Corporation and to the City.

Chris’s leadership has been exemplified in a great many  ways over the nine years that he has served as Town Clerk and Chief Executive,  whether that be with issues of ensuring the City’s resilience in the face of the on-going terrorist threat, making arrangements to keep things moving during harsh winters or ensuring the streets are returned to the community as a whole, or whether it is helping this Court to improve its resilience to the uncertain financial landscape through looking at how services can be delivered, not only to make economies but also to enable funds to be redirected to enable new initiatives to be pursued.

Chris has also been able to assist the Members of this Court with a review of its governance structure. We recognise that such changes which are, inherently, of a political nature, are difficult ones for any of the Court’s officers to be involved in, but the Court wishes to place on record its appreciation of the support and counsel that he gave to Members throughout the process. That counsel has also been available across a range of other issues, to this Court, to its Committees and to individual Members and we thank him for it.

We are also most appreciative of the way in which Chris has conducted our meetings on behalf of you, Lord Mayor; steering us through the procedural issues and lightening the formalities on many an occasion.

In taking their leave of Chris, the Members thank him for all

In accordance with Standing Order No. 18, George Marr Flemington Gillon and Julian Henry Malins, Q.C., Deputy have valid nominations for the office. Curriculum Vitae for each candidate are the subject of a printed and circulated report.

(N.B. A notice of the nominees is on display in the Members’ Reading Room) 

The Court proceeded to elect a Chief Commoner.

George Marr Flemington Gillon and Julian Henry Malins, Q.C. were nominated in accordance with Standing Order No. 18. Whereupon, it was declared necessary, in accordance with Standing Order No. 10, to conduct a ballot.

The Lord Mayor requested the Chief Commoner and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, or their representatives, to be the scrutineers of the ballot.

The result was as follows:-

George Marr Flemington Gillon  46 votes

Julian Henry Malins, Q.C.           37 votes

Resolved – That George Gillon be declared to be elected to the office of Chief Commoner for 2013/14.

The Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee commented upon the success of the London Olympic Games and congratulated the athletes on their outstanding achievements. He referred to the careful planning which ensured that the marathons and athletes’ parade went according to plan and to the hosting of high level events, at Guildhall and the Mansion House, all of which gave a unique opportunity to engage with a global audience and show what the City had to offer. He paid tribute to all Members, officers and volunteers who helped to make the Games such a success and commented that the perception of London in the future would be greatly enhanced by the success of the Games.

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

To change the date of ordinary elections of Common Councilmen

(On 19th July the Court of Common considered and approved the Bill for its first and second reading and a printed report of the Policy & Resources Committee thereon has been circulated).

(Third and Final Reading)

A Bill for an Act of Common Council.

To change the date of ordinary elections of Common Councilmen.

On 19th July the Court of Common considered and approved the Bill for its first and second reading and a printed and circulated report of the Policy & Resources Committee thereon had been circulated)

Resolved – That the report be agreed to and the Bill be read a third and final time, pass into Law and do become an Act of Common Council.

One Member on the Investment Committee for the balance of a term expiring in April 2015;

Votes

Martin James Day, B.A., M.Sc., LL.M.                56

Gerald Albert George Pulman, J.P., Deputy         31

Result of Ballot

The Town Clerk reported the result of a ballot taken at the last Court for one Member on the Investment Committee for the balance of a term expiring in April 2015;

Votes

Martin James Day, B.A., M.Sc., LL.M.                      56

Gerald Albert George Pulman, J.P., Deputy         31

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Martin Day to have been appointed on the Investment Committee.

(a) One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School for the balance of a four year term expiring in April 2016;

(b) One Member on the Standards Committee for the balance of a four year term expiring in April 2016;

Appointments

(a) One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School for the balance of a four year term expiring in April 2016;

Nomination received:-

Nicolas Cressey

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Nicholas Cressey to have been appointed on the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School.

(b) One Member on the Standards Committee for the balance of a four year term expiring in April 2016;

Nomination received:-

The Revd.Dr. Martin Dudley

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared The Revd.Dr Martin Dudley to have been appointed on the Standards Committee.

There were no questions.

From Richard David Regan, Deputy 

'That Mark Adrian Clarke be appointed to represent the Ward of Farringdon Within on the Finance Committee?’

Regan, R.D. Deputy

Ayers, K.E. M.B.E., Deputy

Resolved - That Mark Adrian Clarke to be appointed to represent the Ward of Farringdon Within on the Finance Committee.

Awards and Prizes

There was no report

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Mark John Boleat)

5 July 2012

(Mark John Boleat)

23 August 2012

Between 6^th – 8^th November 2012, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) UK and the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) are hosting an International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics, with up to 120 international parliamentarians expected to attend.

The aim of the conference is to focus on political participation, education, economic empowerment and the impact on women and men of gender policies and legislation. To provide City hosts and guests with an opportunity to engage with UK and international parliamentarians and other conference contributors and to facilitate dialogue between international parliamentarians attending the conference, we recommend that conference delegates be invited to attend a reception in the Crypts on 6 November 2012. This would include international parliamentarians and prominent women in business within the City, as well as key business leaders and Members with relevant interests.

This would be a Resource Allocation Sub-Committee event.

Between 6^th – 8^th November 2012, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) UK and the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) are hosting an International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics, with up to 120 international parliamentarians expected to attend.

The aim of the conference is to focus on political participation, education, economic empowerment and the impact on women and men of gender policies and legislation. To provide City hosts and guests with an opportunity to engage with UK and international parliamentarians and other conference contributors and to facilitate dialogue between international parliamentarians attending the conference, we recommend that conference delegates be invited to attend a reception in the Crypts on 6 November 2012. This would include international parliamentarians and prominent women in business within the City, as well as key business leaders and Members with relevant interests.

This would be a Resource Allocation Sub-Committee event.

Read and agreed to.

We submit for the information of the Court, the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Police for 2011/2012 which has been printed and circulated.

We submit for the information of the Court, the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Police for 2011/2012 which has been printed and circulated.

Received.

“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 Policy and Resources Committee on the replacement of the Guildhall Fire Alarm;

B)  action taken under urgency procedures approving the method for the procurement of gas and electricity supplies;

C) action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board on the sale of a long lease interest in a Crossrail/Bridge House Estates property;

D) recommendations of the Barbican Centre Board on the letting of Barbican Exhibition Hall 1; and

E) the details of a proposed resolution concerning a hospitality event?”

Ayers, K.E. M.B.E., Deputy

Chadwick R.A.H.

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 and in respect of Item (E) under Section 100(4) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as the matter has been conveyed to the City Corporation in confidence by Her Majesty’s Government.   

Summary of exempt items considered whilst the public were excluded

The Court:-

A) agreed recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee on the replacement of the Guildhall Fire Alarm which would provide a system that would connect across the entire Guildhall Complex;

B)  received action taken under urgency procedures approving the method for the procurement of gas and electricity supplies through the Kent County Council – LASER Energy Buying Group;

C) received action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Property Investment Board on the sale of a long leasehold interest in a Crossrail/Bridge House Estates property;

D) agreed recommendations of the Barbican Centre Board on the terms of a letting of Barbican Exhibition Hall 1; and

E) approved the terms of an Address of Welcome to a visiting Head of State.

The meeting commenced at 1 p.m. and ended at 1.40 p.m.

ERRATA

Court of Common Council on Thursday 19^th July 2012

Omitted from the Remembrancer’s list of Members present at the Court of Common Council:-

Martin James Day B.A.,M.Sc. LLM