Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies. The Sub-Committee were advised that Alderman Vincent Keaveny was running half an hour late.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 23 July 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2020 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

NB:- Please note that this item is to be read in conjunction with item 14: confidential appendix.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining the proposed Climate Action Strategy.

The Policy Chair introduced the report and focused on the importance of delivering a hallmark strategy for the future of the City but in the context of huge financial pressures. Deputy Keith Bottomley, Alderman Alison Gowman and Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, who had been working closely on the strategy over the August then gave updates as follows:-

·         This strategy needed to be impactful, deliverable, and affordable. No services would be affected, nor major projects impacted. All decisions on this strategy would be forward-looking.

·         Member engagement was intensified through the Summer and the strategy would be considered by 8 committees in September to confirm their support for the onward development of the action plan. Externally, an engagement campaign has been run, which had received 2,500 responses.

·         In terms of funding, work has been carried out to ensure that the source of funds had been identified before presenting the strategy. There would also be return on investment and cashflow to ensure it could be delivered. This model should be used for future strategies.

Members asked for clarification on the governance process of this strategy, as some felt that more of the Open Spaces Committees should be consulted formally rather than just through a Chairs’ meeting. It was confirmed that the Policy and Resources Committee, at its June meeting, had previously approved that the governance of this strategy would sit with the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 24 September, followed by the Court of Common Council meeting on 8 October. Some Members still felt that this governance structure did not allow committees to “buy-in” from a budgeting perspective.

Following a question, the Director of Innovation and Growth and the Chamberlain agreed that the annual programme of projects

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing action taken in between meetings using delegated procedures.

This report set out the action taken to agree two bids under the Capital Funding Scheme:

1.    Transportation Response to COVID19 Phase 3

2.    The CoLPAI Temporary Accommodation

RESOLVED, that:-

·         The report be noted.

There were three questions:-

Project London

A Member asked a question concerning the City Corporation’s engagement to help promote London’s status beyond Brexit. The Policy Chair asked the Director of Innovation and Growth to provide Members of the Public Relations and Economic Development Sub Committee an update on the work around “Project London”, undertaken in partnership with Oliver Wyman, at its next meeting.

Assistance to Investment Tenants Paper

The Chair of the Property Investment Board asked for an explanation as to why the paper concerning Assistance to Investment Tenants was circulated so late and why it was only marked for information. The Clerk explained that, despite receiving a paper on assistance to operational tenants in time for agenda publication, this particular paper had only been received two working days ago. Following a conversation with the Chair and Depuy Chairman of Resource Allocation Sub-Committee, and following confirmation from the Chamberlain that a delay on decision would not affect the quarter, it was agreed that this paper would be put to the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee for information at this stage with the full decision to be made at its meeting on the 18 September.

Member Return to Guildhall

The Chair of the Establishment Committee advised the Sub-Committee that he had received notice of a question to be put to him at the next Court of Common Council meeting, relating to the lack of Member involvement in decisions concerning their return to the Guildhall. The Town Clerk explained that the situation was fluid, and communication to Members was happening as regularly as possible. He also assured the Sub-Committee that work was being carried out at pace to fit out the committee rooms for hybrid meetings, as well as bringing staff back to the office.

There were no items of urgent business.

MOTION – 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 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Part 2 – Non-Public Agenda

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 receive the note of the informal meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 23 July 2020.

The Sub-Committee received the note of the informal meeting held on 23 July 2020.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor setting out recommendations on how the City Corporation could financially support City of London operational tenants for the September quarter.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the timelines of the various internal reviews.

There were no non-public questions.

There was one item of urgent business:-

·         Assistance to Investment Tenants for the September Quarter

Confidential appendix to be considered in conjunction with the Climate Action Strategy (item 4).

The Sub-Committee considered a confidential appendix relating to the Climate Action Strategy.