Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk setting out the current practice in respect of the decision-making processes of Livery Companies and Guilds, specifically in relation to the conduct of virtual meetings. The Committee were asked to consider whether certain aspects of the waiver should be made permanent.

The Chairman of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee reported that this matter had already been the subject of some discussion in this forum as well as at previous meetings of this Committee. She added that what was currently in place was a temporary fix introduced as a result of the pandemic and that it was now proposed that elements of this be made permanent. She went on to add one slight correction to the wording of the recommendation, in that it should request that ceremonial business, election, installation or admission of any members or officers conducted by Guild and Livery Companies take place only on a physical basis within the City boundaries.

The Chairman of the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee also reported that she had been lobbied by the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers who had highlighted that since going online during the pandemic, their international and non-City based membership had hugely increased. They would now like the ability to keep in touch with them but reported that it may not be possible for some to travel into the City to physically have their Freedom of the Company bestowed upon them and were therefore now requesting some guidance on this matter and questioning whether there was any flexibility in terms of conducting Freedom Ceremonies of the Company virtually – something which the current recommendations did not address. It was noted that the City of London Freedom Ceremonies had now returned to physical attendance with occasional virtual ceremonies still held in exceptional circumstances and a query was made as to whether this example could also be followed for Livery Company Freedom ceremonies. Alternatively, could this be waived for the Tax Advisers only or a decision that only a significant minority/percentage of these could take place online. Concerns were, however, expressed as to a potential drift towards Livery Companies effectively becoming social clubs which met online only and rarely met in the City.

An Alderman spoke in favour of some flexibility here having now conducted many City Freedom ceremonies online. It was suggested that the position could then be revisited and reviewed in two years’ time to assess how this had worked. Another Alderman stated that, whilst he was not against flexibility, he was of the view that this should very much be the exception and not the norm. An Alderman spoke in praise of the fact that the Tax Advisers had such a global reach and had attracted members from across the world, he was of the view that other Livery Companies should be encouraged to do similar as he felt that this was about projecting the ‘soft power’ of the City abroad and consolidating the emotional and physical connection with the City for Freemen abroad. He concluded that he was therefore less concerned about the physicality of such Freedom Ceremonies given the global nature of networks in today’s world.

The Chairman surmised that the Committee were therefore supportive of insisting on physical attendance for central activities but were happy to see more flexibility introduced in terms of location for conducting Freedom Ceremonies for all Livery Companies who might want to request this.

RESOLVED –

i)                that, insofar as the Ordinances or By-Laws of any Company with Livery, Company without Livery or Guild contain restrictive or prescriptive provisions as to the location and timing of: a) committee meetings; b) social and charitable events; c) the binding of apprentices (subject to the requirement for the indentures to be entered within six months of the decision being taken in the Books of the Chamberlain of London) the Court of Aldermen agrees to allow such provisions to be determined by the Guild or Livery company concerned.

ii)               that it be agreed that ceremonial business, election, installation or admission of any members or officers conducted by Guild and Livery Companies take place only on a physical basis within the City boundaries.

iii)              That, with regard to Freedom Ceremonies, some flexibility be introduced as to how these might be conducted, such that a minority of them may take place virtually if requested.