Agenda item

Governance of the Court of Aldermen – Amended Standing Orders

The Court of Aldermen considered recommendations of its General Purposes Committee on amended Standing Orders for the Court of Aldermen (together with additional guidance on the Pre and Post Mayoral Election period) and proposed Terms of Reference for the General Purposes Committee.

Resolved: - That the amended Standing Orders of the Court of Aldermen (including the appended Supporting Guidance for Immediate Pre and Post Mayoral Periods piece) and the Terms of Reference of the General Purposes Committee be approved to come into immediate force and be made publicly available, replacing any past such versions.

Trusteeship of the Samuel Wilson Loan Charity

The Court of Aldermen considered recommendations of its General Purposes Committee concerning accepting trusteeship of the Samuel Wilson Loan Charity (noting that this was also contingent on a concurrent decision by the Policy and Resources Committee regarding resource allocation).This historic Aldermanic charity, provides business loans to disadvantaged young people aged 18–39, and is currently overseen by individual trustees - the Chamberlain (ex officio) and five Aldermen. The most recent Corporate Charities Review again recommended transferring trusteeship to the City of London Corporation acting by the Court of Aldermen, a proposal supported by the Charity’s trustees. If approved, a new sub-committee under the Court of Aldermen would be formed, mirroring the Emanuel Hospital structure, with aligned meetings and a proposed core group of Aldermen serving across both sub-committees to enhance and reinforce understanding of charity trustee regulation and compliance obligations, as well as to otherwise improve efficiency and oversight.

Resolved: -  That this Honourable Court, subject to the concurrence of the Policy & Resources Committee regarding resource allocation:

•       accept the transfer of trusteeship to the City of London Corporation, acting by the Court of Aldermen, for Samuel Wilson Loan Charity;

•       appoint a sub-committee of the General Purposes Committee to undertake the management of the charity with wide discretion to consider and agree the governance and operational arrangements which should be adopted for the charity’s effective administration accountable always to the General Purposes Committee and ultimately the Court of Aldermen in its capacity as charity trustee of the Samuel Wilson Loan Charity;  and

•       agree that the governance of the new sub-committee be aligned to that of the Emanuel Hospital sub-committee and that a core group of Aldermen should serve across both sub-committees. 

Emanuel Hospital Charity

The Court of Aldermen considered recommendations of its General Purposes Committee on the Emanuel Hospital Charity’s financial position as at the most recent year end (2024/25) and in the period to date (5 months to 31 August 2025), with a forecast for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year alongside a cash flow forecast from 2025/26 up to 2026/27.

Resolved: -  That, the Aldermen, acting collectively for the City of London Corporation as the charity trustee and only in the best interests of Emanuel Hospital:

i.          Approve the contents of the financial update report and Appendices.

ii.         Approve the draft Trustee’s annual report and financial statements which have now  been independently examined, and direct that they be signed by the Chairman of the Emanuel Hospital Management Sub-Committee and the Chamberlain under delegated authority.

iii.         Note the likely required drawdown from investments held, to take place in April 2026.