Agenda item

Reports:- General Purposes Committee of Aldermen

Minutes:

(i)            Extension to the waiver for Guilds and Livery Companies

The Court was advised that, in accordance with the Court of Aldermen’s Standing Orders (urgency provisions), on 28th April 2021, the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen approved an extension to the waiver for Guilds and Livery companies to conduct their business virtually due to on-going Coronavirus-related restrictions. The Court noted that the Guilds and Livery companies had been advised of the decision in April and it was anticipated that, subject to a review by the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen in October, the conduct of all Guild and Livery company business shall revert to normal practice as the 2021/2022 Mayoral year commences.

 

NOTED.

 

(ii)          General Purposes Committee of Aldermen – access to meetings and meeting-related documentation

The Court of Aldermen considered a recommendation of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen following its consideration on 5th July 2021 of a proposal to provide public access to meetings of the Committee and the public disclosure of Committee related documentation (agendas, reports, minutes). It was recommended that the business of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen should be accessible to the public henceforth subject to where exemptions to disclose could be reasonable, as directed by a Disclosure Arrangement to be adopted by the Court of Aldermen and with relevant revisions made to the Court’s Standing Orders. In approving the recommendations, it was recommendedthat the Disclosure Arrangement should be appended to the revised Standing Orders and placed on the City Corporation’s webpages; and the new arrangement should apply to all future meetings and future business of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen, but not that which was historic.

 

Resolved: - That –

(i)            as of 7th July 2021, a Disclosure Arrangement be adopted by the Court of Aldermen and all relevant revisions be made to the Court of Aldermen’s Standing Orders to reflect the arrangements in respect of access to meetings of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the disclosure of meeting-related information;

(ii)           as of 7th July 2021, all meetings of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and all documentation (agendas, reports, minutes) in relation to those meetings shall be accessible to the public except where any of the exemptions set out in the Disclosure Arrangement can be reasonably applied;

(iii)          the Disclosure Arrangement shall be appended to the Court of Aldermen’s revised Standing Orders and placed on the City Corporation’s webpages; and

(iv)          the new arrangement shall apply to all future meetings and future business of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen, but not that which was historic.

 

 

(iii)         Notice of Death – Ward of Cordwainer

The Town Clerk reported, formally, the death of Alderman Sir Roger Gifford, Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer, on 25th May 2021 and gave notice of the arising vacancy in the Ward.

 

NOTED.

 

 

(iv)         Act of Common Council – postponement of Aldermanic elections where vacancies arise from death in Office

The Court was advised that, following the death of Sir Roger Gifford, a Bill for an Act of Common Council was sought in accordance with the Court of Common Council’s Standing Orders. The new Act of Common Council, which was approved by the Town Clerk under delegated authority in accordance with the Court of Common Council’s Standing Order No.19 on 1st July 2021, shall postpone any election to fill a vacancy in the Office of Alderman, arising from the death of the incumbent, until a date to be determined in accordance with these provisions and no earlier than March 2022.

 

NOTED.