Agenda and minutes

The apologies of those Members unable to attend this meeting of the Court were noted.

Deputy Robert Merrett declared an interest in respect of Item 21 noting that his daughter was a pupil at the City of London School for Girls.

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 6 December 2018.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded.

Resolved unanimously – That the sincere congratulations of this Court be offered to

John Alfred Bennett, MBE

on his recent appointment by Her Majesty the Queen as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of service to the City of London Corporation and to education.

In response, Deputy Bennett thanked his family, friends and colleagues.

The Chief Commoner congratulated William Upton on his upcoming appointment as QC.

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor to report on his recent overseas visits.

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor reported on his recent visits to Vancouver, San Francisco and Mexico City.

To receive a statement from the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.

There was no Policy Statement.

There were no docquets for the seal.

To consider a circulated list of applications for the Freedom of the City.

The Town Clerk drew Members' attention to an error on p34, David James Thompson to be replaced with Deputy James Thomson, Citizen and Grocer.

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:-

To receive a report setting out measures introduced into Parliament which may have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation.

The Court received a report on measures introduced by Parliament which might have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation as follows:-

To consider the following appointments:

(A)         One Member on the Establishment Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2021.

Nominations received:-

Christopher Michael Hayward

(B)         Four Members on the Barbican Residential Committee, one for the balance of a term expiring in April 2022 and three for the balance of terms expiring in April 2019.

Nominations received:-

James Richard Tumbridge

Mark Raymond Peter Henry Delano Wheatley

(C)         One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls, for the balance of a term expiring in July 2021.

Nominations received:-

Dhruv Patel, O.B.E.

(D)         One Member on the Standards Appeals Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2019.

Nominations received:-

Mark Bostock

The Court proceeded to consider appointments to the following Committees and outside bodies:-

(A)  One Member on the Establishment Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2021.

Nominations received:-

Christopher Michael Hayward

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Christopher Michael Hayward to be appointed to the Establishment Committee.

(B)  Four Members on the Barbican Residential Committee, one for the balance of a term expiring in April 2022 and three for the balance of terms expiring in April 2019.

Nominations received:-

James Richard Tumbridge for a term expiring in April 2019

Mark Raymond Peter Henry Delano Wheatley for the term expiring in April 2022

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared James Richard Tumbridge and Mark Raymond Peter Henry Delano Wheatley to be appointed to the Barbican Residential Committee.

(C)  One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls, for the balance of a term expiring in July 2021.

Nominations received:-

Dhruv Patel, O.B.E.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Dhruv Patel, O.B.E to be appointed to the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls.

(D)  One Member on the Standards Appeals Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2019.

Nominations received:-

Mark Bostock

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Mark Bostock to be appointed to the Standards Appeals Committee.

Pet Cleaning Stations

Alderman Tim Hailes asked a question of the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee concerning whether consideration could be given to providing pet cleaning stations within the City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces.

Responding, the Chairman of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee advised that the Corporation’s Open Spaces were already very dog friendly with initiatives such as the Great Hampstead Bark Off, Hounds on the Heath, sponsored dog walks, and events to encourage microchipping of dogs. Following the recent introduction of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Act 2018, the Corporation can now licence commercial activity within its Open Spaces and can pursue amenities such as that suggested by the Alderman. The Chairman advised that consideration at Committee would be given as to whether pet cleaning stations could be included as part of the proposals to enhance the service provided to visitors to the Open Spaces.  

Renovation for Crescent’s House windows

William Pimlott asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee seeking a commitment for renovations to Crescent House be carried out prior to those at Mansion House.

In response, the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee confirmed that ensuring the quality of living arrangements for tenants was a priority for the City Corporation. The Chair explained that the responsibility for the works at Crescent House resided with the Community and Children’s Services Committee and she was therefore unable to provide the Member with the commitment sought. However, the Chair advised that she had taken a personal interest in the Golden Lane Estate and one of her early actions as Chair was to visit the Estate where she had been concerned by the lack of progress with regards to the renovations. The Chair had subsequently kept

(A)      To consider a Motion, submitted by Sir Mark Boleat, in relation to a second referendum concerning membership of the European Union.

(B)      To consider a Motion submitted by Munsur Ali, concerning the revocation of an Honorary Freedom.

Motion – “Given –

• That the terms for Britain’s departure from the European Union negotiated by the British government seem unlikely to be approved by Parliament.
• That those terms are far removed from what was proposed by the official Leave campaign during the Referendum and ministerial statements after the Referendum.
• That the Prime Minister has indicated that if the exit terms that have been negotiated are not accepted the alternatives are exit without a deal and no Brexit.
• That opinion surveys show growing support for a referendum on whether to approve the deal or remain in the European Union.
• That while the financial services industry is well placed to handle Brexit it is doing so only by moving functions from London and the rest of the country, which will mean a significant loss of jobs and tax revenue in the longer term, and substantial damage to London’s position as an international business centre.
• That the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and a number of London boroughs have indicated support for a referendum.

This Court supports the holding of a referendum on the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union with the electorate being given a choice that includes remaining in the European Union.”

Sir Mark introduced the Motion, referencing the resolution approved by the Court at its March 2016 meeting where Members supported the United Kingdom remaining a member of the European Union. Sir Mark explained that following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union in June 2016, there was still no clarity as to what Britain’s relationship would be with the European Union and this would have an adverse impact on London and the rest of the country as a significant amount of business would move away from London.

Sir Mark proposed that a second referendum

There were none.

To consider proposals intended to enhance the Police Authority function within the City of London Corporation.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE

3 December 2018

(Catherine McGuinness., Deputy and Charles Edward Lord., OBE, JP, Deputy)

The Court considered a joint report of the Policy and Resources Committee and Establishment Committee which recommended a base budget uplift to the Police Authority of up to £250,000 within City Fund; and the approval of the creation of a Grade I post within the Chamberlain’s Department. This funding and post would strengthen the capacity and capability of the Police Authority function.

Responding to a question from Mr McMurtrie regarding the annual cost of running the City of London Police force and the proportion of overall expenditure spent on the Police service, the Chair of Policy and Resources explained that the figures vary from year to year but provided the Honourable Member with the gross costs and net costs for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 against the originally budgeted figures. The Chair explained that in future years, the Police Authority was forecasting deficits and work was underway to identify how best to close that gap. The Chair provided further figures to the Honourable Member explaining that Police expenditure was 28.7% of City Fund expenditure and 17.6% of all City Corporation expenditure.

Mr McMurtrie, thanking the Chair for her comments, asked a further question as to the reasons behind why the forecast expenditure was significantly more than budgeted. The Chair of the Establishment Committee in response explained that it was important to ensure the Police Authority had the relevant resources in place and resources would be added to the Town Clerk’s Department and Chamberlain’s Department to assist the Police Authority.

Resolved – That the Court:

·         endorse a base budget uplift to the Police Authority within City Fund of  up to £250,000 with effect from 2019/20 to be considered as part of the annual

To receive a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures relating to the award of a contract.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

16 November 2018

Report of Urgent Taken: Waste Collection, Street Cleansing and Ancillary Services – Contract Award Report

The Court received a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures regarding the award of a contract to Veolia ES (UK) Ltd for the provision of waste collection, street cleansing, and ancillary services.

Resolved – That the action taken under urgency procedures be noted.

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 Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

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:-

Resolved – That the non-public minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded.

Policy and Resources Committee

The Court considered a report which provided an update and sought approval with regards to funding for the Centre for Music.

Policy and Resources Committee

The Court received a report of urgent action taken with regards to the Markets Consolidation Programme.

Establishment Committee

The Court considered a report of the Establishment Committee with regards to the creation of a post.

Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls

The Court considered a report of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls which sought approval to progress a project.

Property Investment Board

The Court considered a report of the Property Investment Board which sought approval of a new ground lease.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting of the Court held on 6 December 2018.

To consider proposals relating to the Centre for Music project.

To receive a report advising of action taken under urgency procedures relating to the Markets Consolidation Programme.

Finance Committee

(Catherine McGuinness, Deputy and Jeremy Paul Mayhew)

11 December 2018

2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy – Amendment

The Court considered a report which recommended Members approve an amendment to the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy Statement to include a borrowing policy for City’s Cash.

At its meeting on 11 December 2018, the Finance Committee considered a report which outlined the financing options for the City Corporation’s ambitious 10-year major projects programme, for both City Fund and City’s Cash.  As part of that report, the Finance Committee agreed to recommend to the Court of Common Council that the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy Statement should be amended to include a borrowing policy statement for City’s Cash, if required.

Based on current plans, the four major projects currently taking place potentially require financing of around £2.3 billion. Some £596m has already been approved  by the Court as a budget envelope for the Combined Courts / Police Accommodation project, together with £332m for the Museum of London relocation project.

As set out in Item 19 of the Court, the City Corporation’s bid of £130m for a bid for the Barking Power Station site was successful and the transaction was subsequently completed in late December 2018.  As part of that approval, the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy Statement would need to be amended to include borrowing for City’s Cash, in order to fund the site purchase and the approval of the Court was, therefore, now sought for the new borrowing policy statement.

Resolved – That the Court approve an amendment to the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy Statement to include a borrowing policy for City’s Cash.

To consider proposals relating to a staffing matter.

To consider a Gateway 4b report relating to a major project at the School.

To consider the grant of a long-term lease.