Agenda and minutes

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

Resolved unanimously –

That this Honourable Court wishes to extend to,

Kenneth Edwin Ayers, M.B.E

its sincere gratitude for his much valued service as a Member and Deputy for the Ward of Bassishaw.

Members may be aware that Ken is a keen devotee of motor racing; indeed, in 1982 he was the British Motor Sprint Champion. It is no surprise therefore that, following his election as Sheriff in 1995, Ken raced to cement his links with the Corporation and passed the winning post when he successfully stood for election as a Member of the Ward of Bassishaw in 1996.

Since that time Ken has been a constant source of wisdom on the wide-range of activities he has been involved in or Committees on which he has served. His always measured, polite and reasoned approach has been much valued by Members; his terms as Chairman of the Community & Children’s Services and Standards Committees in particular marked by his unfailingly balanced and courteous disposition. I know that Members will miss his sage counsel in the months and years to come.

Ken’s wide-ranging contributions to the City Corporation were duly recognised in January 2010, when he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours List. His colleagues on the Court further expressed their appreciation for his efforts in 2012, when he was elected Chief Commoner for what was an eventful year for London; I know that Ken will look back fondly on the role he played that year in the celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the successful London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In taking their leave of Ken, the Members of this Honourable Court wish to take this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude for his varied contributions

There was no policy statement.

There were no documents to be sealed.

(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 a Member standing for re-appointment

# denotes less than five years’ service on the Court

¬ Denotes appointed.

a) Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies for four year terms to expire April 2019).

Votes

*Douglas Barrow, Deputy                                              62¬

*Mark John Boleat                                                         74¬

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst                                 50¬

*George Marr Flemington Gillon                                    47¬

*Charles Edward Lord, O.B.E., J.P.                              59¬

Alastair Michael Moss, Deputy                                      37

*Stephen Douglas Quilter, B.Sc.(Hons).                        22

Thomas Charles Christopher Sleigh                              46

James Richard Tumbridge                                            25

b) Social Investment Board (two vacancies for one year terms expiring April 2016, with one vacancy to be filled by a Member with fewer than five years’ service on the Court).

Votes

#Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst                               75¬

*The Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley                                       37

#*Wendy Marilyn Hyde                                                  84¬

c) Police Committee (three vacancies for four year terms expiring in April 2019 and one for the remainder of a four year term expiring in April 2018).

Votes

*Douglas Barrow, Deputy                                              75¬

Nicholas Michael Bensted-Smith, J.P.                          42

*Mark John Boleat                                                         67¬

*James Henry George Pollard                                       84¬

James Michael Douglas Thomson, Deputy                   72¬

d) Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (four vacancies for three year terms expiring in April 2018).

Votes

*John Alfred Barker, O.B.E., Deputy                             45

John Douglas Chapman, Deputy                                   72¬

*David Andrew Graves, Alderman                                78¬

Vivienne Littlechild, J.P.                                                 65¬

*Jeremy Lewis Simons, M.Sc.                                      77¬

e) Establishment Committee (four vacancies for four year terms expiring in April 2019, with one vacancy to be filled by a Member with fewer than five years’ service on the Court).

Votes

*John Alfred Barker, O.B.E., Deputy                             52

*Nigel Kenneth Challis                                                    69¬

*Richard David Regan, O.B.E., Deputy                        59¬

*Elizabeth Rogula                                                           85¬

#Philip John Woodhouse                                                66¬

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

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment

# denotes less than five years’ service on the Court

¬ denotes appointed.

a) Policy and Resources Committee (five vacancies for four year terms to expire April 2019).

Votes

*Douglas Barrow, Deputy                                              62¬

*Mark John Boleat                                                         74¬

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst                                 50¬

*George Marr Flemington Gillon                                    47¬

*Charles Edward Lord, O.B.E., J.P.                              59¬

Alastair Michael Moss, Deputy                                      37

*Stephen Douglas Quilter, B.Sc.(Hons).                        22

Thomas Charles Christopher Sleigh                              46

James Richard Tumbridge                                            25

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Doug Barrow, Mark Boleat, Henry Colthurst, George Gillon and Edward Lord to be appointed to the Policy and Resources Committee.

b) Social Investment Board (two vacancies for one year terms expiring April 2016, with one vacancy to be filled by a Member with fewer than five years’ service on the Court).

Votes

#Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst                               75¬

*The Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley                                       37

#*Wendy Marilyn Hyde                                                  84¬

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Henry Colthurst and Wendy Hyde to be appointed to the Social Investment Board.

c) Police Committee (three vacancies for four year terms expiring in April 2019 and one for the remainder of a four year term expiring in April 2018).

Votes

*Douglas Barrow, Deputy                                              75¬

Nicholas Michael Bensted-Smith, J.P.                          42

*Mark John Boleat                                                         67¬

*James Henry George Pollard                                       84¬

James Michael Douglas Thomson, Deputy                   72¬

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Doug Barrow, Mark Boleat, Henry Pollard and Deputy James Thomson to be appointed to the Police Committee.

d) Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (four vacancies for three year terms expiring in April 2018).

Votes

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the Policy and Resources Committee, the Community and Children’s Services Committee, the Gresham (City Side) Committee and the Mitchell City of London Charity & Educational Foundation.

a)  Policy and Resources Committee (one vacancy for the balance of a term expiring in April 2016).

Nominations received:-

John Alfred Barker, O.B.E., Deputy

Alistair Michael Moss, Deputy

Jeremy Lewis Simons, M.Sc.

Read.

The Court proceeded, in accordance with Standing Order No.10, to ballot on the vacancies.

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

Resolved – That the votes be counted at the conclusion of the Court and the result printed in the Summons for the next meeting

b)Community and Children’s Services Committee (one vacancy for a term expiring in April 2016).

Nominations received:-

James Richard Tumbridge

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared James Tumbridge to be appointed to the Community & Children’s Services Committee.

c)Gresham (City Side) Committee (one vacancy for the balance of a term expiring in April 2018).

Nominations received:-

John George Stewart Scott, B.A.(Hons.)

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared John Scott to be appointed to the Gresham (City Side) Committee.

d)Mitchell City of London Charity and Educational Foundation (two vacancies for five year terms expiring in March 2020).

Nominations received:-

John William Fletcher, B.Sc.

Joyce Carruthers Nash, O.B.E., Deputy

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared John Fletcher and Deputy Joyce Nash to be appointed to the Mitchell City of London Charity and Educational Foundation.

European Union

Oliver Lodge asked a question of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the forthcoming referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

In response, the Chairman agreed that it was a priority for the Corporation to engage with City businesses and government to help shape EU reform, outlining the bodies the Corporation would work with and the mechanisms through which this would be achieved.

There were no motions.

City Information Centre: Visitor Information Award

Report of the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

“The City Information Centre is pleased to announce that they have won Gold in the category Visitor Information Provider of the Year at the recent VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015.

This award puts the Centre in the number one spot for tourist information in the country. It is well deserved and an accolade that recognises the significant body of work the Centre has done for the industry - leading a national Tourist Information Centre (TIC) exchange programme, training staff for London's ambassador schemes, for the GLA and TfL amongst others, for leading London's TIC network and for delivering £3.55m in additional spend to London's tourism economy per annum.

I hope you will join with me in congratulating all those at the Centre for their tireless work and ambitions to place the City in such a positive light.”

City Information Centre: Visitor Information Award

Report of the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

“The City Information Centre is pleased to announce that they have won Gold in the category Visitor Information Provider of the Year at the recent VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015.

This award puts the Centre in the number one spot for tourist information in the country. It is well deserved and an accolade that recognises the significant body of work the Centre has done for the industry - leading a national Tourist Information Centre (TIC) exchange programme, training staff for London's ambassador schemes, for the GLA and TfL amongst others, for leading London's TIC network and for delivering £3.55m in additional spend to London's tourism economy per annum.

I hope you will join with me in congratulating all those at the Centre for their tireless work and ambitions to place the City in such a positive light.”

Read and received.

(Mark John Boleat)

30 April 2015

Bridewell Royal Hospital: Constitutional Changes

The City of London Corporation has long established links with Bridewell Royal Hospital (incorporating King Edward’s School Witley), a registered charity (311917), with some trustees drawn from the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen. Since 2013, following a number of changes to Bridewell Royal Hospital’s Constitution in order to modernise and improve its administration, The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor has also been the Bridewell Charter Patron. 

The Bridewell Royal Hospital submitted a revised Constitution to the Charity Commission in April 2015 for its consideration following the announcement of a merger in early March 2015 between King Edward’s School Witley and Barrow Hills School Witley, a preparatory school in close proximity to King Edward’s School Witley.  The merger, with effect as of September 2015, is intended to realise efficiencies across both schools and generate long term benefits, financially and academically, for both King Edward’s School Witley and Barrow Hills School Witley. 

The revised Constitution to accommodate the transfer of Barrow Hills School Witley (which has been amended by resolutions of the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital) provides for a smaller trustee body. There is currently provision for twelve members of the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital to be drawn from the Court of Common Council but the revised Constitution reduces the number of appointments to seven members. It should be noted that there have been on-going vacancies on the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital and both your Education Board and the Policy & Resources Committee, when considering this matter, welcomed the reduced number of Common Councilmen trustee appointments and suggested that, at some future date, a further reduction in the number of trustees be considered by the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital. 

Following

(Mark John Boleat)

30 April 2015

Bridewell Royal Hospital: Constitutional Changes

The City of London Corporation has long established links with Bridewell Royal Hospital (incorporating King Edward’s School Witley), a registered charity (311917), with some trustees drawn from the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen. Since 2013, following a number of changes to Bridewell Royal Hospital’s Constitution in order to modernise and improve its administration, The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor has also been the Bridewell Charter Patron. 

The Bridewell Royal Hospital submitted a revised Constitution to the Charity Commission in April 2015 for its consideration following the announcement of a merger in early March 2015 between King Edward’s School Witley and Barrow Hills School Witley, a preparatory school in close proximity to King Edward’s School Witley.  The merger, with effect as of September 2015, is intended to realise efficiencies across both schools and generate long term benefits, financially and academically, for both King Edward’s School Witley and Barrow Hills School Witley. 

The revised Constitution to accommodate the transfer of Barrow Hills School Witley (which has been amended by resolutions of the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital) provides for a smaller trustee body. There is currently provision for twelve members of the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital to be drawn from the Court of Common Council but the revised Constitution reduces the number of appointments to seven members. It should be noted that there have been on-going vacancies on the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital and both your Education Board and the Policy & Resources Committee, when considering this matter, welcomed the reduced number of Common Councilmen trustee appointments and suggested that, at some future date, a further reduction in the number of trustees be considered by the Court of Bridewell Royal Hospital. 

Following

(Deputy Billy Dove, O.B.E., J.P., Chief Commoner)

(William Harry Dove, O.B.E., J.P., Deputy, Chief Commoner)

13 April 2015

(A)   Applications for the 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:-

13 April 2015

(A)   Applications for the 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:-

Read and received.

13 April 2015

(B) London Bombings 10^th Anniversary

It is proposed that that the City of London Corporation host a lunchtime reception at Guildhall following a Service of Commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 7 July 2015 to mark the 10^th Anniversary of the London Bombings.

This event will provide an opportunity for the City to mark the anniversary and remember those who lost their lives or suffered injuries. It is proposed to provide light refreshments for bereaved families and survivors who are attending the Service at St Paul’s.

We recommend that appropriate hospitality therefore be granted and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

This would be a Full Court event.

13 April 2015

(B) London Bombings 10^th Anniversary

It is proposed that that the City of London Corporation host a lunchtime reception at Guildhall following a Service of Commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 7 July 2015 to mark the 10^th Anniversary of the London Bombings.

This event will provide an opportunity for the City to mark the anniversary and remember those who lost their lives or suffered injuries. It is proposed to provide light refreshments for bereaved families and survivors who are attending the Service at St Paul’s.

We recommend that appropriate hospitality therefore be granted and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

This would be a Full Court event.

Read and agreed.

(Michael Welbank, M.B.E)

12 May 2015

Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy

In July 2014, approval was granted to review the scope of the existing discrete Cheapside Strategy and Guildhall Area Strategy, to provide a more comprehensive plan for the wider area and address those streets and spaces that were not covered by the original strategies. Following a public consultation exercise, a new combined Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy has consequently been developed which will:-

·      better connect transport nodes, the retail centre and cultural attractions;

·      improve accessibility and way-finding to create easy-to-navigate and pleasant walking routes;

·      introduce more greenery and create more public space for pedestrians to enjoy, away from traffic and pollution; and

·      improve road safety, particularly for vulnerable road users.

A separately printed and circulated report is submitted thereon and we recommend the adoption of the Strategy accordingly.

(Michael Welbank, M.B.E)

12 May 2015

Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy

In July 2014, approval was granted to review the scope of the existing discrete Cheapside Strategy and Guildhall Area Strategy, to provide a more comprehensive plan for the wider area and address those streets and spaces that were not covered by the original strategies. Following a public consultation exercise, a new combined Cheapside and Guildhall Area Enhancement Strategy has consequently been developed which will:-

·      better connect transport nodes, the retail centre and cultural attractions;

·      improve accessibility and way-finding to create easy-to-navigate and pleasant walking routes;

·      introduce more greenery and create more public space for pedestrians to enjoy, away from traffic and pollution; and

·      improve road safety, particularly for vulnerable road users.

A separately printed and circulated report is submitted thereon and we recommend the adoption of the Strategy accordingly.

Read and agreed.

(James Henry George Pollard)

29 April 2015

Appointment of an External Member

The constitution of your Police Committee allows for the recruitment of two external individuals (i.e. not Members of the Common Council) onto the Committee, through an open process. 

In 2013, a recruitment process was carried out with Helen Marshall re-appointed to serve a four year, non-renewable term and Don Randall re-appointed for a two-year, non-renewable term. In making this recommendation it was hoped to achieve a balance of change and continuity by making two separately-timed appointments. The secondterm of office of Don Randall expires on 16 May 2015 and therefore a recruitment process has been undertaken to fill this position.

A Selection Panel was set up to oversee the process comprising the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Lucy Frew, and Elizabeth France, Member of the British Transport Police Authority. The vacancies were advertised in the press and publicised in innovative ways using interest-group websites, social media and email networks to ensure that a diverse group of eligible people was reached. All applications were considered by the Panel for the purposes of short-listing and three applicants were interviewed. Following deliberations, the panel is pleased to recommend Lucy Sandford to be appointed to the position.

Lucy works in the voluntary sector for a charity called ‘Partnership for Young London’, where she assesses the impact of the Government’s agenda and is engaged in a significant amount of community engagement, promoting improved services for Children & Young People in London. Lucy graduated in Politics from The University of Liverpool and first worked in the personnel and then finance department of Specialist Crime, later the Central Operations Department, at Kent County Constabulary. Lucy left to undertake a post-graduate course in Advertising and Marketing and worked various roles at advertising and

(James Henry George Pollard)

29 April 2015

Appointment of an External Member

The constitution of your Police Committee allows for the recruitment of two external individuals (i.e. not Members of the Common Council) onto the Committee, through an open process. 

In 2013, a recruitment process was carried out with Helen Marshall re-appointed to serve a four year, non-renewable term and Don Randall re-appointed for a two-year, non-renewable term. In making this recommendation it was hoped to achieve a balance of change and continuity by making two separately-timed appointments. The secondterm of office of Don Randall expires on 16 May 2015 and therefore a recruitment process has been undertaken to fill this position.

A Selection Panel was set up to oversee the process comprising the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Lucy Frew, and Elizabeth France, Member of the British Transport Police Authority. The vacancies were advertised in the press and publicised in innovative ways using interest-group websites, social media and email networks to ensure that a diverse group of eligible people was reached. All applications were considered by the Panel for the purposes of short-listing and three applicants were interviewed. Following deliberations, the panel is pleased to recommend Lucy Sandford to be appointed to the position.

Lucy works in the voluntary sector for a charity called ‘Partnership for Young London’, where she assesses the impact of the Government’s agenda and is engaged in a significant amount of community engagement, promoting improved services for Children & Young People in London. Lucy graduated in Politics from The University of Liverpool and first worked in the personnel and then finance department of Specialist Crime, later the Central Operations Department, at Kent County Constabulary. Lucy left to undertake a post-graduate course in Advertising and Marketing and worked various roles at advertising and

“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 Finance Committee on the pay award at the Museum of London; and

B) action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School relative to the construction of a swimming pool?”

At this point in the proceedings, an Alderman took the opportunity to speak about the destruction of significant cultural artefacts in the Middle East, praising the work of the Museum of London in safeguarding the City’s treasured antiquities.

Resolved – that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business 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 Finance Committee on the pay award at the Museum of London; and

B)                noted action taken under urgency procedures approving recommendations of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School relative to the construction of a swimming pool.