Agenda and minutes

To consider the terms of a resolution of condolence following the death of Sir Roger Gifford, lately Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer.

Resolved unanimously – “That, upon his terribly sad and unexpected death, the Members of this Honourable Court wish to place on record their most sincere condolences, as well as their heartfelt thanks to:

Sir Roger Gifford

for the most distinguished service that he gave to the City Corporation, as Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer from 2004, Sheriff in 2008/09 and as the 685th Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2012/13.

A highly respected and visible senior figure in international banking, Sir Roger’s entire professional life was spent in financial services – a far cry from reading chemistry at Trinity College, Oxford. He started out at SG Warburg in the 1970s before joining SEB, the Nordic banking group in 1982, where he would spend the remainder of his career. He served as SEB’s UK Country head from 2000 to 2017, following a six-year stint prior to that heading up their Tokyo operations. A great love and affinity for Japan was formed during his time there - during the COVID world of virtual meetings we have just experienced, colleagues were regularly treated to Roger sitting in front of a silk screen or other antiquities from Japan! -  and he was a great champion of UK-Japan relations in both business and culture, contributing to deepening the friendship and ties between the City of London and Tokyo.

I must also mention Roger’s selfless and unstinting commitment to his Ward during the 17 years we were privileged to have him as our close colleague and friend. Not only did he strive to make himself available whenever needed to local businesses, but he was also a constant source of support to me and to  Alex Barr, Tracey Graham, George Gillon and Sir Mark Boleat, the current and previous Common Councillors for Cordwainer during

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

There were no additional declarations.

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on Thursday 13 May 2021.

Resolved – That the Minutes of the last Court are correctly recorded, subject to the correction of a minor typographical error at the top of page 8 in the resolution of Item 7, whereby the words “and would” are to be deleted.

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor to report on his recent engagements.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor took the opportunity to update the Court on his recent engagement programme.

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

The Chair of Policy and Resources Committee provided the Court with an update on the Government’s recent COVID Recovery Roadmap announcement, as well as the City’s own recovery activities.

To consider proposals relating to a Pedestrian Priority Programme.

PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

(Deputy Alastair Michael Moss)

1 June 2021

Pedestrian Priority Programme

It was proposed that approval be granted for the Pedestrian Priority Programme, a three-year programme implementing pedestrian priority and pavement widening schemes and projects across the Square Mile intended to enhance the comfort and safety of people walking.

The Chair spoke to introduce the report, outlining the intentions of the programme and referring to the consultation processes that would be undertaken.

Whilst expressing support for the broader proposals, several Members urged that licensed Hackney carriages should enjoy an exemption from the proposed restrictions. In response to related queries, the Chair confirmed that it would be possible to separate exemptions for Hackney carriages from other taxis and noted Members’ observations about the environmentally-friendly nature of the black cab-fleet and the robust safety record of licensed Hackney Carriage Drivers. He reflected on his regular engagement with the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) and cognisance of the strengths of their fleet, in both environmental and safety terms, whilst recognising the concerns of businesses in some parts of the City concerning the difficulty of being dropped-off or hailing a taxi due to transit restrictions.

A number of Members also advocated for the ability of taxis to travel more freely around the City generally, including the unfettered use of bus lanes, observing that the current restrictions required taxis to make potentially unsafe “u-turns” in some areas and that black cabs. It was also noted that they were of fundamental importance from an accessibility perspective, as well as in terms of providing a safe alternative method of travel for those in need.

The importance of policing of any new pedestrianisation schemes was also highlighted, with a Member referencing recent examples of interactions with electric scooters which had caused safety concerns or difficulties

To consider project proposals relating to the provision of social housing at the York Way Estate.

COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMITTEE

(Ruby Sayed)

30 April 2021

York Way Estate Provision of Social Housing

The Court considered proposals in respect of the provision of social housing at the York Way Estate, in the context of the City Corporation’s target for delivering social housing.

Resolved – That the progression of the York Way Estate Provision of Social Housing project beyond Gateway 4b be approved and, in so doing –

1.     The designs which have been developed up to RIBA Stage 3 be endorsed.

2.     The additional budget of £508,177 to further develop the scheme and reach Gateway 5 be approved. 

3.     It be agreed that the project can now progress to the construction stage, subject to the approval of the planning application, for the delivery of 91 new homes.

4.     The total estimated cost of the project at £28,317,157, excluding risk and inflation, be noted. (NB - The total estimated cost including risk and inflation was £32,393,000)

5.     Consideration of future project report approvals be delegated to the Community & Children’s Services Committee and Projects Sub-Committee, and such relevant committees as may be required in respect of any unanticipated funding matters.

To consider the naming of a new Junior School.

Name of the New JunioBOARDS OF GOVERNORS OF THE CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL AND CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

(Tim Levene)

(Nicholas Bensted-Smith)

3 June 2021

Name of the New Junior School

It was proposed that the new joint co-educational three-form Junior School of the City of London School and City of London School for Girls, be named “City Junior School”, with “a City of London School” to be used in headings and wherever appropriate.

Resolved – That the joint co-educational Junior school be named City Junior School and that the additional line of ‘a City of London School’ be used in headings and wherever appropriate.

To consider recommendations concerning the provision of hospitality.

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Deputy Brian Desmond Francis Mooney, Chief Commoner)

18 May 2021

Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Showcase Reception

The Northern Ireland Office, working with the Department of International Trade and Invest NI, were planning to hold a major business event promoting Northern Ireland businesses at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London on 15th September 2021, as one of a number of events to mark the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland.

It was proposed that the City Corporation would host a reception at Guildhall on the evening preceding the launch of the Showcase at which business representatives, particularly from the Finance and Professional Services sector, including FinTech, would be able to meet with representatives of Northern Ireland-based small and medium-sized companies.

It was, therefore, recommended that hospitality be granted and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Policy and Resources Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash within approved parameters.

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an evening reception preceding the Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Showcase, with arrangements made under the auspices of the Policy and Resources Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

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

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 consider the following appointment:

One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London School, for the balance of a term expiring in July 2023.

Nominations received:-

Deputy Robert Allan Merrett

The Court proceeded to consider the following appointments:-

One Member on the Board of Governors of the City of London School, for the balance of a term expiring in July 2023.

Nominations received:-

Deputy Robert Merrett

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Deputy Robert Merrett to be appointed to the Board of Governors of the City of London School, for the balance of a term expiring in July 2023.

There were no motions.

Engagement with China

Graeme Harrower asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the City Corporation’s engagement with the People’s Republic of China, given ongoing human rights concerns, calling for a Motion to be brought to the Court’s next meeting for discussion.

Responding, the Chair suggested that it would be procedurally unusual for the Chair of a Committee to bring a matter to the Court in such a way and, in any event, felt it would be inappropriate to do so. She emphasised the condemnation of human rights abuses around the world, wherever they were found, observing that there were many countries with such concerns, including several with which the UK traded. The Chair stressed that it was the role of the national government to lead on foreign affairs and the role of City of London Corporation to support the City. As an organisation, the City Corporation had made clear for many years that this was one of its core purposes and, as part of that role, had engaged with many varied business partners across the world and throughout the years. It was a matter for Members to decide whether that role in standing up for the City should continue; however, it would reflect a radical change of direction were the Corporation to move from this position and would, she suggested, significantly limit its ability to play an impactful role. 

The Chair added that the City Corporation had a distinctive place on the international stage as a supporter of the jobs and growth that came from the Financial and Professional Services (FPS) industries and related sectors. In doing this, the City took its lead from the Government, which pointed to where the City should be focussing its efforts in order to support UK growth and

To receive an update on the City Corporation’s Corporate Parenting responsibilities.

COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMITTEE

(Ruby Sayed)

1 June 2021

Corporate Parenting Annual Report 2019/20 and Corporate Parenting Strategy Update

The Court was recommended to note the Corporate Parenting Annual Report 2019/20 and Corporate Parenting Strategy Update, which advised all Members of the Court of Common Council of their responsibilities as corporate parents.

Resolved – That the report be received and its contents noted.

To receive the annual report of the Committee’s activities.

AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

(Alexander Robertson Martin Barr)

27 May 2021

Annual Report

The Audit and Risk Management Committee presented to the Court of Common Council a report of its activities covering the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. Providing this report to the Court of Common Council on an annual basis was in line with Chartered Instituted of Public Finance & Accounting (CIPFA) guidance on best practice for audit committees in order to effectively support the organisation; for the Court to understand the work of the Committee; and, for the Court to hold the Committee to account.

Resolved – That the report be received and its contents noted

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:-

There were no docquets to be sealed.

There was no report.

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.

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:-

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting of the Court held on Thursday 13 May 2021.

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

To consider project proposals relating to a new Junior School.

Boards of Governors of the City of London School and City of London School for Girls

The Court approved recommendations relating to a project to establish a new Junior School.

To note action taken under urgency procedures in relation to the acquisition of a lease.

Finance Committee and Boards of Governors of the City of London School and City of London School for Girls

The Court noted action taken under urgency procedures relating to the site of a new Junior School.

To note action taken under urgency procedures in relation to the disposal of a long-term lease.

Property Investment Board

The Court noted action taken under urgency procedures relating to the disposal of a long-term lease.