Agenda item

Oliver Sells QC declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of the fact that he is also a member of the Capital Buildings Committee and may be perceived, in this capacity, as having predetermined the application. He clarified that he would not, therefore speak or vote on this item.

Judith Pleasance declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she is a member of the Board of Governors of the Museum of London and would also not be speaking or voting on agenda item 6.

Mark Bostock declared a non-pecuniary interest, stating that he is a member of the Markets Committee but that, as that committee had not taken a lead on the plans for the Museum of London, he intended to both speak and vote on agenda item 6.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor advised that participation in Agenda items in which Members have a non-pecuniary interest, needed to be considered by the Member on a case by case basis in accordance with the Code of Conduct (para 14). Whether there is a real danger of bias is a matter for individual Members, knowing all the facts, but if having turned their mind to any previous involvement they might have had in taking decisions on the new museum, they are of the view that they can be impartial and decide the application on the planning merits, then it would seem to be within the range of reasonable decisions for them to conclude there was no real danger of actual or apparent bias and that they are therefore able to speak and vote. It would equally be acceptable for them to decide that they did not wish to participate in the decision on this application.She added that paragraph 34 of the City’s Guidance to Members on the Code of Conduct advises that it is good practise to declare non-pecuniary interests at meetings where they arise, in the interests of transparency.  

The Deputy Chairman, Sheriff Christopher Hayward declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was also a serving member of the Capital Buildings Committee but was satisfied that he had in no way pre-determined this application and would therefore speak and vote on agenda item 6.

Alderman Sir David Wootton, Deputy Keith Bottomley and Deputy Jamie Ingham-Clark also declared non-pecuniary interests as serving members of the Capital Buildings Committee but stated that they intended to speak and vote on agenda item 6.

Finally, Peter Bennett declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of both the Capital Buildings and the Markets Committee but stated that he would also be speaking and voting on agenda item 6.