Agenda item

To approve the public minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19^th October 2021.

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19^th October 2021.

The Chairman then took the opportunity to congratulate Alderman Gregory Jones on becoming a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at St Stephen’s House, University of Oxford.

Matters Arising

Electoral Registration and deadline for entry onto the ward Lists All Aldermen were encouraged to profile the registration period and encourage business voters and residents to submit their registration requests in good time ahead of close of play on 16^th December 2021. In response to a question regarding registration levels to date, the Town Clerk confirmed that the data suggested that we were ahead of where we were last year. With regards to non-responder lists which had been provided to each Member, concerns were expressed regarding the data which was significantly out of date and it this ultimately hampered all efforts to enhance registration, particularly amongst City businesses.

A query was raised regarding registration by a business even though the premises was currently vacated due to refurbishment. The Comptroller and City Solicitor advised that if people could demonstrate that their principle place of work (irrelevant of work from home) was in the City, registration was permitted.

Draft Bill for an Act of Common Council

It was noted that the draft Bill, which had been circulated by the Town Clerk ahead of the meeting, would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee on 16^th December 2021 and thereafter submitted to the Court of Common Council in January for it’s first and second readings. As Members were aware, the Bill would address both the issue of eligibility to be an Alderman and also enhance the number of Aldermen who could preside over Aldermanic elections in place of the Lord Mayor, as appointed Aldermanic Representatives. Some concern was raised about the proposed Bill and whether this would result in opening up eligibility to such a degree that any person could stand for election.  The Comptroller and City Solicitor commented that the proposals were intended to formalise the Law Officers’ opinions on these issues, but that further political and policy debate could take place.

In response to a query about potential ambiguity in the Bill around qualification, Mr Remembrancer commented that the Bill confirmed the Law Officers’ opinion on this matter. Following some discussion there was some uncertainty about whether something was being changed or simply clarified in terms of the current legal position.  It was suggested therefore that the following points should be addressed, and clarification provided, by the Law Officers: (i) what are the criteria to be an Alderman and (ii) does that outcome reflect the political will of the Court/City Corporation about who should be eligible?

RESOLVED: - That the minutes of the last meeting of the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen held on 19^th October 2021 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.