Agenda and minutes

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

There were no additional declarations.

a)    To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 15 April 2021.

b)    To agree the minutes of the special meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 15 April 2021.

Resolved – That the Minutes of the last Court, together with those of the special meeting held immediately thereafter, are correctlyrecorded.

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 Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chair of Policy and Resources Committee provided the Court with an update on the arrangements in respect of Members’ return to Guildhall, on the roll-out of the COVID Business Recovery Fund, and on the ongoing implementation of the Climate Action Strategy.

To consider the following appointments:

Where appropriate:-

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment

(A)         One Member on the Barbican Residential Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2023.

Nominations received:-

Jeremy Lewis Simons

(B)         Three Members on the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee, two vacancies being for four-year terms expiring in April 2025 and one vacancy being for the balance of a term expiring in April 2024.

Nominations received:-

Jason Paul Pritchard

(C)         One Member on the Licensing Committee, for a four-year term expiring in April 2025.

Nominations received:-

Jason Paul Pritchard

(D)         Three Members on Christ's Hospital, for four-year terms expiring in April 2025.

Nominations received:-

*Peter Gordon Bennett

(E)         One Member on the City & Guilds of London Institute, for a five-year term expiring in 2026.

Nominations received:-

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst

*Deputy Kevin Malcolm Everett

(F)          One Member on the Mitcham Common Conservators for a four-year term expiring in 2025.

Nominations received:-

*Anne Fairweather

The Court proceeded to consider the following appointments:-

Where appropriate:-

* denotes a Member standing for re-appointment

(A)  One Member on the Barbican Residential Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2023.

Nominations received:-

Jeremy Lewis Simons

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Jeremy Simons to be appointed to the Barbican Residential Committee, for the balance of a term expiring in April 2023.

(B)  Three Members on the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee, two vacancies being for four-year terms expiring in April 2025 and one vacancy being for the balance of a term expiring in April 2024

Nominations received:-

Jason Paul Pritchard

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Jason Pritchard to be appointed to the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee for a four-year term expiring in April 2025.

(C)  One Member to the Licensing Committee, for a four-year term expiring in April 2025.

Nominations received:-

Jason Paul Pritchard

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Jason Pritchard to be appointed to the Licensing Committee for a four-year term expiring in April 2025.

(D)  Three Members on Christ’s Hospital, for four-year terms expiring in April 2025.

Nominations Received:-

*Peter Gordon Bennett

Read.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared Peter Bennett to be appointed to Christ’s Hospital for a four-year term expiring in April 2025.

(E)  One Member on the City & Guilds of London Institute, for a five-year term expiring in 2026.

Nominations received:-

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst

*Deputy Kevin Malcolm Everett

Read.

Resolved – That, in accordance with the outcomes of the indicative ballot process, the appointment to the City & Guilds of London Institute of Henry Colthurst, for a five-year term expiring in April 2026, be confirmed.

(F)  One Member on the Mitcham Common Conservators for a four-year

To consider recommendations concerning the appointment of Independent Persons, pursuant to the resolution of this Court of 14 January 2021.

The Court proceeded to consider recommendations concerning the appointment of Independent Persons of the new standards regime, pursuant to the resolution of the Court of 14 January 2021.

Resolved – That Ms Miranda Carruthers-Watt, Mr Robert Coyle, Ms Christine Fraser, Mr Tom Ketteley, Ms Amanda Orchard, Mr Gary Rogers, and Ms Atiyyah Younis, be appointed as Independent Members of the City of London Corporation and that once the remaining two Independent Members have been appointed, the Town Clerk be authorised to draw lots to ensure that five of the nine be appointed for an initial two year term and the remaining four for an initial one year term.

To consider the re-appointment of one of the Board’s External Members.

(Deputy James Michael Douglas Thomson)

2 July 2020

Appointment of Independent External Member

The constitution of the City of London Police Authority Board allowed for the recruitment of four external individuals (i.e. not Members of the Common Council) to the Board, through an open process. In August 2017, a selection panel recommended one candidate for appointment to the position – Andrew Lentin. Mr Lentin was subsequently appointed by the Court to the City of London Police Authority Board (then Police Committee) for a four-year term, commencing 21 September 2017.

As the expiry of that first term approached and with the unanimous support of Members of the Police Authority Board, the Court’s approval was now sought for Mr Lentin’s re-appointment.

The Court was now recommended to approve the re-appointment of Andrew Lentin to the City of London Police Authority Board for a four-year term, commencing on 21 September 2021.

Resolved – That Andrew Lentin be re-appointed to the City of London Police Authority Board for a four-year term, commencing on 21 September 2021.

To consider recommendations concerning the provision of hospitality.

(Deputy Brian Desmond Francis Mooney, Chief Commoner)

22 April 2021

Applications for Hospitality

(a)      Emergency Services Day Flag Raising 2021

It was proposed that the City Corporation host a flag raising and breakfast reception on Thursday 9^th September 2021 to mark Emergency Services Day.  Emergency Services Day was a nationally recognized annual event to show public support for those who work and volunteer in the emergency services.

It was, therefore, recommended that hospitality be granted for a flag-raising ceremony followed by light refreshments and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash within agreed parameters.

Resolved – that hospitality be granted for a flag-raising ceremony followed by light refreshments and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash within agreed parameters.

(b)      Reverend Canon David Parrott Retirement Reception

It was proposed that the City Corporation host a late afternoon reception in the Old Library in Autumn 2021 to mark the retirement of the Reverend Canon David Parrott. 

The Reverend Canon David Parrott was to retire as Guild Vicar of St Lawrence Jewry Church this autumn.  He was appointed in 2009 and throughout his tenure in office had played an active role in the City and supported both the City Corporation and Livery.   In recognition of his service, it was proposed a reception be held to mark his retirement.

It was, therefore, recommended that hospitality be granted and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash within agreed parameters.

Resolved – that hospitality be granted for a reception and that arrangements be made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to

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:-

Resolved unanimously – That Members of this Court wish to place on record their appreciation for the exemplary service that 

Dr Peter Kane

the City of London’s 80th Chamberlain, has given to the City of London Corporation over the last 7 years.  As Chamberlain, Peter has served in a successive line dating back to 1237, and in accordance with the requirements in ‘A New History of London’, published in 1773, has fulfilled the role with trust and fidelity.

He leaves the City Corporation with a sustainable medium-term financial plan, enabling financing of the City’s three ambitious projects for a vibrant and thriving city. This plan has been delivered during an extremely challenging time for the City Corporation’s finances with reductions in Government funding, alongside economic uncertainty; and most recently pressures from the pandemic. Possibly even more importantly, Peter has delivered a financial plan that is understandable to non-finance people.

Peter’s expertise has extended beyond City financial and ceremonial matters; he is also a Trustee and a member of CIPFA’s Council and serves as a non-executive at the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

Peter has always been a firm believer in leading by example and he was instrumental in embedding responsible business throughout the organisation; signing up our financial investment portfolio to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment. Indeed, the City Corporation’s award from Public Finance in 2017 for an outstanding procurement initiative, relating to the cleaning contract which had social responsibility and environmental awareness at the heart, as well as saving £1.5m over four years, is a measure of the tenacity with which he pursued both savings and social responsibility.

Under his leadership, there has been a step change in IT provision, especially the remote working functionality on which we have depended so heavily during the pandemic; the visibility of both

By Deputy Barbara Patricia Newman, C.B.E.

Motion – That, for the Ward of Aldersgate, Randall Keith Anderson be appointed to the Barbican Residential Committee and Deputy Barbara Patricia Newman be appointed to the Markets Committee, both in the room of Adrian Mark Bastow.

Resolved – That, for the Ward of Aldersgate, Randall Keith Anderson be appointed to the Barbican Residential Committee and Deputy Barbara Patricia Newman be appointed to the Markets Committee, both in the room of Adrian Mark Bastow.

City Corporation participation at COP26

Deputy John Scott asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, seeking confirmation as to the City Corporation’s participation in view of its high profile among local authorities in promoting a green agenda.

Responding, the Chair noted the global importance of COP26, which represented a crucial opportunity to agree ambitious targets to check global warming.  The City of London Corporation, in partnership with the Green Finance Institute (GFI), would be looking to take a proactive role at this event, mobilising private finance to support Net Zero and provide a strong platform for the Financial and Professional Services industry, and working very closely with Mark Carney (the UN climate finance envoy), Her Majesty’s Government, and business stakeholders from all the key City sectors. 

The Corporation was also building on last year’s highly successful Green Horizon Summit and would be launching a Green Horizon Summit at COP26 (GHS@COP26). This would be an ambitious hybrid event over 5-7 days which would be held at and alongside COP26, with a link back to Mansion House and Guildhall and also virtual connections to other global financial centres. This would aim to touch on the big questions facing sustainable finance, key sectors across Financial and Professional Services, and the main themes of COP. 

In the lead-up to COP26, the Corporation would also be running a series of online business-facing events and, underpinning all its activities was the Corporation’s continuing work on green finance, ESG, and its own Climate Action Strategy. In parallel, a Green Horizon Steering Board would be established, chaired by the Lord Mayor with myself as vice-chair, to provide strategic direction to the Green Horizon programme up to and beyond COP26, working with the GFI,

To receive the refreshed City of London Policing Plan for 2020-23.

(Deputy James Thomson)

25 March 2021

Refreshed City of London Policing Plan 2020-23

The City of London Policing Plan 2020-23 informs the community, stakeholders and staff how the City area is to be policed. The Force and Court of Common Council (in its capacity as a police authority) were required to continue to publish a policing plan by the Police Act 1996 due to being exempt from the legislative requirement to publish a police and crime plan.

Policing plans must have regard to any national strategic policing priorities stipulated by the Home Secretary. Such priorities were currently articulated by the Strategic Policing Requirement; the Force’s approach to this appears in the Plan. Additionally, the Plan took account of Government policy statements regarding reducing crime, addressing antisocial behaviours, supporting the vulnerable, accountability and value for money.

The original 2020-23 Plan was approved by the Police Authority Board in March 2020, but there was a requirement to review and republish the Plan annually. In order to inform this year’s version, wide ranging consultation was undertaken, including a Court of Common Council Member Briefing held on 8 March 2021, and the annual community survey. The Plan was refreshed in response to this consultation and was hereby submitted to the Court for information.

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

To note the outcome of the ballot held in respect of a vacancy on the Bridge House Estates Board.

The Court noted the outcome of an indicative ballot in respect of a vacancy on the Bridge House Estates Board, which had been held on the instruction of the Court at its last meeting and resulted in the appointment of Paul Martinelli for a two-year term.

Read.

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 15 April 2021.

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

To consider proposals relating to a project to refurbish and repaint Blackfriars Bridge.

The Court approved recommendations relating to a project to re-paint and refurbish Blackfriars Bridge.