Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Major Projects, which responded to the recommendations of the Tackling Racism Taskforce, under its Culture workstream, approved at the last meeting. Before the meeting, the Committee had received an alternative set of recommendations in respect of this report, recommending the establishment of a Member/Officer Working Group to look at the statues of Beckford and Cass in more detail.

The Chair acknowledged that, whilst this had been a highly-charged and long-standing debate, the City Corporation’s immediate priorities included recovery from the pandemic, competitiveness, climate action and its own programme of reform. It was noted that a similar motion proposed for the next meeting of the Court would be withdrawn, if this report were to be agreed today with the tabled revised recommendations.

The Chair thanked the Co-Chairs of the Tackling Racism Taskforce and the Deputy Chairman of Policy for their work in presenting a set of revised recommendations, which would allow a way forward and more time to evaluate all options, returning to the Court of Common Council with a full recommendation that would avoid division and protect the City Corporation’s reputation and heritage as a diverse and inclusive organisation.  

The Deputy Chairman endorsed this and applauded the work of the Tackling Racism Taskforce in seeking real and positive changes, and a process that would take account of funding, planning, research, costs and the views of the government. The Deputy Chairman also felt that, ultimately, the will of the Court should prevail in terms of proposals for the Great Hall.

On the proposed composition of this Working Group, there was a point of clarity made that the five vacancies elected by the Policy and Resources Committee could also be filled by Members of the wider Court, rather than just elected from the Policy & Resources Committee. This would enable the Working Party to draw on the Court’s wider pool of experience and willingness to serve.   

In concluding, the Chair stressed the importance of a balanced and objective Working Party that would not focus on just one statue. It was noted that the Co-Chairs of the Tackling Racism Taskforce did not want to be Members of the Working Group themselves but were keen to engage where appropriate.  

The Committee also noted that the Town Clerk was content for two officers to serve on the Working Group and this would be endorsed at the next meeting.

Following the resolution of the Policy and Resources Committee on 21st January and to take this matter forward, it was RESOLVED, that:-

·         A Statues Member/Officer Working Group of 12 persons be established; comprising 5 members to be   elected by the P & R Committee (one of whom should be the Chair of the Culture, Heritage & Libraries Committee) together with a further 5 members elected by the Court of Common Council and 2 Officers. 

·         That the Terms of Reference of the Statues Working Group be as follows:

a)              To consider and fully evaluate a wide range of options for addressing concerns relating to the Guildhall statues of William Beckford and Sir John Cass.

b)        To provide, by the end of September 2021, a full report to the Court setting out the options considered, the evaluations of those options and recommendations to the Court.

·         That until the Court has considered the Report of the Statues Working Group, and agreed how to proceed with these statues, no further action be taken nor commitment made in relation to them.