Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk setting out amendments requested from various committees to their compositions or terms of reference.

Introducing the item, the Town Clerk advised of a minor issue with the proposed amendment to the Community & Children’s Services Committee’s terms of reference, in relation to new public safety responsibilities. It was observed that the proposal specified that the Police Authority Board Chair/Deputy Chair would serve as the SaferCity Partnership Deputy Chair; however, that Board had, in fact, agreed that it should be a Member of that Board, not necessarily the Chair/Deputy. Subject to the wording being amended to reflect this revised position, Members were supportive of the change.

A late request from the Markets Committee was also brought to Members’ attention, which sought an addition to their terms of reference to provide for “input into the design and management elements of the new consolidated market at Dagenham Dock.” Members discussed the proposal, noting the various discussions in recent years in relation to responsibilities around the re-location programme, including the establishment of a protocol to clarify definitively such matters. The Committee questioned the necessity of such an amendment but, on balance, was not opposed to one if it helped add greater clarity. However, it was cautioned that it would need to be re-worded sufficiently to make clear the respective responsibilities of the two Committees; in particular, the ownership of the programme by the Policy & Resources Committee must be respected, so it was clear that the Markets Committee was simply providing views and not making decisions. It was agreed that authority should be delegated to the Town Clerk, in conjunction with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, to consider final wording.

The Committee was also advised of a prospective amendment to the Barbican Centre Board’s arrangements, which the Board was set to consider at its next meeting. If approved, this would provide for a second Deputy Chair, selected from amongst the external membership, in a manner akin to that in place for the Audit & Risk Management Committee. Members noted the prospective proposal and agreed to delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in conjunction with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, to consider such a proposal in due course.

RESOLVED: That Members:-

1.    Approve the minor changes to the terms of reference of the Policy and Resources Committee (Appendix E)

2.    Support the proposed amendments to the composition of the City of London Police Authority Board, together with amendments to its terms of reference (Appendix A)

3.    Support the proposed change to the composition of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School (Appendix B)

4.    Support the proposed additions to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee’s terms of reference in relation to Aldgate Square and the Blue Plaque Scheme (Appendix C)

5.    Support the proposed addition to the Terms of Reference of the Community and Children’s Services Committee to provide oversight of the new responsibilities of the of that service area in relation to public protection (Appendix D), subject to an amendment in respect of the Police Authority Board’s representative on the Safer City Partnership

6.    Delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in conjunction with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, to consider proposed amendments to the Markets Committee’s Terms of Reference in relation to the new co-located market

7.    Delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in conjunction with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, to consider proposed amendments to the Barbican Centre Board’s constitution, concerning a second Deputy Chair

8.    Delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in conjunction with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, to consider any further changes requested by Committees which might arise unexpectedly in advance of the next meeting, to facilitate their submission to the Court through the White Paper