Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Wendy Mead and Brian Mooney.

Mr Gregory Lawrence had been granted a dispensation to speak on all matters concerning the London Central Markets (Smithfield) other than: (i) those in which he has a disclosable pecuniary interest as a shareholder or director of any company which holds a tenancy in the market; and (ii) those which would affect only him personally or his business interests as opposed to the generality of tenants within the market.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 25 April 2024.

RESOLVED, that - the Order of the Court dated 25^th April 2024 be received.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Board proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29 and the Town Clerk advised that the position was uncontested. 

The Chair thanked retiring Member, Ian Seaton and noted that the Board was carrying a vacancy.  The Chair further advised that Tony Lyons had stood down as Chairman of the Billingsgate Market Tenants Association, who would be electing a new Chairman and possibly a Deputy Chair in due course.  

The Board noted that the Chairman and Deputy Brian Mooney would remain on the Capital Buildings Board for 2024-25. 

RESOLVED, that – being the only Member expressing a willingness to serve, Henry Pollard be elected as Chairman of the Markets Board for 2024/25.

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

The Board proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30 and the Town Clerk advised that the position was uncontested.

RESOLVED, that – being the only Member expressing a willingness to serve, Philip Woodhouse be elected as Deputy Chairman of the Markets Board for 2024/25.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary fo the meeting held on 13^th March 2024.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 13^th March 2024 be approved.

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

The Board received the regular updates from the from the General Managers of the three wholesale markets.

The Board noted that officers at Smithfield were working with facilities management colleagues in terms of escalations and penalties were issued to the contractor in the event of non-compliance.

In response to a question about falling electricity charges, the Director advised that he received regular updates from the energy manager and  would provide a report to the next meeting.  

Report of the Markets Director.

The Board received a report of the Markets Director which provided an update on progress made during Period 3 (December-March) of 2023/24 and key improvement objectives outlined in the Markets’ Business Plan 2023/24.

The Director advised that the Town Clerk and Chief Executive had declared the Markets Division as exemplar for staff wellbeing across the City of London Corporation.    The Chair asked for his congratulations to staff to go on record.

In response to a question about staff absence, the Director asked Members to be mindful of confidentiality but updates on policy areas and absence data could be shared with the Board at a strategic level.  However, the Markets Board is not the appropriate forum for policy challenge, as this falls within the remit of the Corporate Services Committee. 

The Chair was concerned about the low response rate to the survey and encouraged the tenants associations to respond, as this would enable Board to consider their views and act accordingly.  The Director confirmed that surveys are the best way for the Division to gather data. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be  noted.

Report of the Markets Director.

The Board received a report of the Markets Director, which sought to provide the Board with assurance that risk management procedures in place within the Markets Division are satisfactory and meet the requirements of the Corporate Risk Management Framework.

Membrs noted that the risk of delay to the Markets Co-location Programme had been adjusted in the Risk Register, which is also reflected in the City Corporation’s Corporate Risk Report.  The Comptroller and City Solicitor, also the Senior Responsible Officer for the project would be providing a further update in the confidential section of this agenda. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

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 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 as follows:-

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13^th March 2024.

RESOLVED, That – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13^th March 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Board received a report of the City Surveyor.

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

The Board received non-public updates from the General Managers.

Report of the Markets Director.

The Board received a report of the Markets Director.

Report of the Markets Director.

The Board received a report of the Markets Director.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 13^th March 2024.

RESOLVED, that – the Confidential Minutes of the Meeting held on 13^th March 2024 be approved.

The City Surveyor to be heard.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor was heard.