Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Paul Martinelli, Greg Lawrence and Oliver Sells in advance of this meeting. James Tumbridge also provided his apologies but attended this meeting virtually.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 July 2024.

The Town Clerk informed the Board of one correction to the minutes, to record Suzanne Ornsby KC apologies for July’s meeting.

RESOLVED, that - The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 July 2024 were approved as a correct record, as amended.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Chairman advised the Board that this report had been deferred to the next meeting of the Board scheduled for Wednesday 22 January 2025.

Report of the Markets Director.

The Board received a report of the Markets Director concerning the introduction of a zero-tolerance policy aimed at ensuring compliance, improving safety and culture, and promoting appropriate, professional behaviour within the City of London Corporation’s wholesale markets.

The Markets Director advised the Board that this report sought to ensure professional conduct, safety and organisational integrity within the markets division and to reinforce that discriminatory and negative behaviour would not be tolerated. A Member asked if zero-tolerance staff training had taken place, and it was confirmed that training was underway. The Deputy Chairman asked for the Markets Board to receive an update in six months’ time to review the implementation of this policy to which officers agreed, however qualitative data would be provided.

It was also agreed that officers would share the report with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED, that – the Board approve the introduction and implementation of the zero-tolerance policy across all three City of London Corporation wholesale markets.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain in respect of the annual submission of the revenue and capital budgets overseen by the Markets Board.

The Chairman raised a question in relation to inflation and its impacts on the revenue and capital budgets. Officers explained that service charge at Smithfield had been capped and that the Court of Common Council had previously recognised that the Board should not bear the costs of service charge caps it arose in line with inflation.

RESOLVED, that – the Board approve a request to RASC for the budget adjustment relating to the budget shortfall of £698k in 2025/26 at Smithfield Market and agree that any amendments for 2024/25 and 2025/26 budgets arising from changes to recharges, energy costs and any other minor changes be delegated to the Chamberlain in consultation with the City Surveyor.

To receive updates from the General Managers of Smithfield, New Spitalfields and Billingsgate Markets.

The Board received an update from the General Managers of Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields Markets.

RESOLVED, that – the report and its contents be noted.

Report of the Markets Director.

The Board received a report of Markets Director in respect of the actions taken in the Markets Division to monitor, and manage effectively, risks arising from its operations.

RESOLVED, that – the report and its contents be noted.

There were no questions.

The Chairman thanked Stephen Dolamore, Ali Sajedi and Peter Barlow for their work in support of the Markets Board and the Markets Division, and wished them the all best in their future endeavours.

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 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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024.

RESOLVED, that - the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the note of the inquorate meeting held on 3 October 2024.

Members took note of the inquorate meeting of the Markets Board held on 3 October 2024.

Market Tenant Association Chairs to be heard.

The Board received an update from the New Spitalfields Chair of the Tenants Association and General Manager for Smithfield Market.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board received a report of The Chamberlain in respect of the New Spitalfields & Billingsgate Markets Waste Management & Market Cleansing Procurement Stage 2 Award.

RESOLVED, that – the report and its contents be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

To approve the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024.

RESOLVED, that – the confidential minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 July 2024 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the confidential note of the inquorate meeting held on 3 October 2024.

Members received the confidential note of the inquorate meeting held on 3 October 2024.

Report of the SRO and Comptroller & City Solicitor.

The Board received a report of The Board received a report of the SRO and Comptroller & City Solicitor, Deputy Chief Executive in respect of the Markets Co-Location Programme.

RESOLVED, that – the report and its contents be noted.