Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms, 2nd Floor, West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Julie Mayer  Email: julie.mayer@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Wendy Mead and Brian Mooney.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

ORDER OF THE COURT pdf icon PDF 102 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Election of Deputy Chairman

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Public Minutes pdf icon PDF 151 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

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

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Updates from the General Managers pdf icon PDF 108 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

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.  

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Markets Business Plan Update Period 3 2023/24 (December-March) pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Report of the Markets Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Wholesale Market Risk Update Report pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Report of the Markets Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

                                                                                     

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

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:-

 

Item

Paragraph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Non-Public Minutes

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

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

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

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

New Spitalfields & Billingsgate Markets Waste Management & Market Cleansing - Procurement Strategy Report and Extension of Current Contract

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

General Managers' Updates

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

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Tenancies at Will and Assignments

Report of the Markets Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Markets Director.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Debt Arrears

Report of the Markets Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Markets Director.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Non-Public Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent and Which the Committee Agrees Should be Considered Whilst the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Confidential Minutes

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Markets Co-location Programme Update

The City Surveyor to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Minutes:

The Comptroller and City Solicitor was heard.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.