Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Sir Charles Bowman, Ruby Sayed, Mandeep Thandi, Henry Colthurst, and James Tumbridge.

Apologies for lateness were received from Florence Keelson-Anfu and Catherine McGuinness.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 27^th April 2023 appointing the committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

The Committee received an Order of the Court of Common Council dated 27 April 2023.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

Deputy Alastair Moss, being the only Member expressing their willingness to serve, was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year. The Chairman took the opportunity to thank Members for their continued support in re-electing him, welcomed new Members to the committee, and also conveyed his thanks to those who had previously served on the committee.

The Chairman notified the committee that he had reordered the agenda such that item 16 would be taken in confidential session after item 22 on the published agenda.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

Florence Keelson-Anfu, being the only Member expressing their willingness to serve, was duly elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year. The Deputy Chairman thanked  Members for their continued support in re-electing her.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 1 March 2023.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2023 be approved as an accurate record.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 19 April 2023.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 April 2023 be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The committee received a report of the Town Clerk regarding the appointments, composition, and terms of reference of the committees and bodies to which the Corporate Services Committee has appointing rights.

In discussion, it was proposed that the appointments to any committees which have more expressions of interest than vacancies be delegated to the Town Clerk to allow all members of the Corporate Services Committee, including those joining remotely, to be able to vote on the appointments. This was put to the committee by the Chairman and agreed.

RESOLVED:

1.    To note the Finance Committee appointment of Steve Goodman as its representative to the Corporate Services Committee for the 2023-24 civic year, as agreed at its meeting of 16 May 2023.

2.    To appoint to the Joint Consultative Committee:

a.    The Chairman of the Corporate Services Committee.

b.    The Deputy Chairman of the Corporate Services Committee.

c.     The Finance Committee representative to the Corporate Services Committee.

d.    Four other Corporate Services Committee members:

                                          i.    Deputy Randall Anderson

                                         ii.    Gregory Lawrence

                                        iii.    Deputy Charles Edward Lord

                                       iv.    Deputy Philip Woodhouse

3.    To appoint to the Senior Management Joint Consultative Committee:

a.    The Chairman of the Corporate Services Committee.

b.    The Deputy Chairman of the Corporate Services Committee.

c.     The Finance Committee representative to the Corporate Services Committee.

d.    Four other Corporate Services Committee members:

                                          i.    Deputy Randall Anderson

                                         ii.    Gregory Lawrence

                                        iii.    Deputy Charles Edward Lord

                                       iv.    Deputy Philip Woodhouse

4.    To appoint to the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Sub Committee:

a.    The Deputy Chairman of the Corporate Services Committee.

5.    To delegate authority to the Town Clerk to appoint two other members of the Corporate Services Committee as members of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Sub Committee, to be determined through a vote shared with all members of the Corporate Services Committee

Report of the Town Clerk and Chief Operating Officer.

As the Forward Plan had been submitted late, the Chairman proposed that the committee not consider the item. This was put to the committee and agreed.

Report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The committee received a report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The committee discussed the calculation of averages within the paper, the use of anonymised recruitment and the risk that this did not address the cultural issues which may prevent fair and equal recruitment practices, and the prospect of further investigation of the data through future reports.

RESOLVED: to note the report.

Report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The committee received a report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The committee expressed its concern that its previous decision to implement the practices of the Ban The Box campaign had not been effect and the importance of supporting young people into work placements.

An amendment to the recommendation was moved by Florence Keelson-Anfu and seconded by Deputy Chris Hayward such that a private session would be held to allow for further discussion of the campaign and its implementation at the City of London Corporation.

RESOLVED: to note the report and agree that a private session for members of the Corporate Services Committee is organised to brief members more fully on the campaign and discuss the City of London Corporation’s responses to it; and that invitations to this session be extended to all members the Court of Common Council.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The committee received a report of the Chamberlain.

RESOLVED:

1.    To endorse and approve Digital Services Committee as the lead committee for the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.

2.    To endorse the continuation of the ERP Member Steering Group, comprising of members from each Committee/Board for strategic oversight of the responsibilities undertaken by the ERP Project Board.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, 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 Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meetings held on 1 March 2023 and 19 April 2023.

RESOLVED: that the non-public minutes of the meetings held on 1 March and 19 April 2023 be approved.

Report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The committee considered a report of the Chief Operating Officer.

RESOLVED: to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to take decisions on behalf of the Corporate Services Committee, subject to members of the committee being invited to provide their comments on the report in the coming days.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

The committee considered a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor.

RESOLVED: to consider the report and instruct officers to take such further action as the Committee considers appropriate.

Report of the Barbican Centre CEO.

Report of the Chamberlain.

Report of the Chief Operating Officer.