Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk, concerning a high-level executive summary of the work of the Town Clerk and his Executive Leadership Board over the past two years to January 2025. The Town Clerk introduced the report and provided observations and reflections, including achievements, challenges, and future opportunities. Questions were then invited from Members of the Committee.

The Town Clerk was asked how he was addressing silos at the City Corporation. The Town Clerk responded by referencing his Executive Leadership Board, which met regularly and aimed to enable thematic working. The People Strategy and the Corporate Plan were good examples of positive outcomes of working together to break down silos. The work on addressing silos also connected with Ambition25, which was key for redeployment and lateral movement across the City Corporation.

A Member suggested that the report did not properly highlight the importance of the Climate Action Strategy. The Town Clerk reflected that there could be matters of importance that may have been missed or overlooked in the report but were no less important and the Strategy was a strength to the City Corporation. Members would be receiving reports on the progress for net-zero in 2027 to demonstrate its progress against the climate ambitions.

It was noted that paragraph 5(j) in the report spoke to the communication and engagement strategy, and the need to strengthen the visibility of the City Corporation with its wider stakeholders.

The Town Clerk was queried on what the ambitions were for the use of AI. The Town Clerk noted that the City Corporation had agreed its first-ever Digital and Data Strategy, to address the challenge in managing data and ensuring data was robust and properly collected – AI could help address this challenge. The initial stages for using AI at the City Corporation were responses to basic queries such as the trialling and evaluating the use of AI bots for governance, health and safety, and HR-related queries. There were also trials of AI sensors in the Square Mile for matters such as identifying potholes.

It was asked what the Town Clerk envisaged for the outcome of the transformation agenda. The Town Clerk responded that the first year was focused on embedding change initiatives at the City Corporation, such as the new HR / Finance system and Ambition25. The second and third years were not as clear as to determine their agenda at this time. However, the Town Clerk hoped that the transformation agenda would result in a smarter, more efficient organisation that delivered world-class services.

A Member commented that many major sites were to be re-developed and queried the governance behind the ambitions for placemaking in the Square Mile. The Town Clerk directed the Committee to the comments on asset management and its links Destination City and the Culture Strategy. Discussions were already being held at a Committee level to consider the wider picture to ensure the cross-Corporation delivery of strategic intent.

It was asked how the structure and relationships between various bodies (such as Mansion House, the Court of Aldermen, the Office of the Policy Chairman, and the Committees) could be sharpened. The Town Clerk commented that he was pleased to see that Members were working to bring these bodies closer together, and officers were also working to ensure synergies – it was intended that plans for working closely would continue.

A question was raised on the HRA business plan, on when this would be reviewed, and what new partnerships would be developed. The response was that this would be led by the Chamberlain, and reviewed ensure that the HRA would be in balance over the next 30 years. The Town Clerk was aware of the pressures on the HRA and the need to deliver more homes, and work with partners to improve the quality of the housing stock and housing regeneration.

The Town Clerk was asked to speak to the City Corporation’s international offices. The Town Clerk responded that he was unaware of any current plans to expand the international offices. Relating to the growth agenda, it was suggested that the City Corporation needed to think about how it could use its influence and reach internationally, such as in India, USA and China.

RESOLVED: - That the report be received, and its contents noted.