Agenda item

A report of the Private Secretary and Chief of Staff relative to the arrangements for ceremonial officeholders in respect of gifts and hospitality.

The report was considered by the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen on 10^th February 2015. 

The Private Secretary & Chief of Staff will be present at the meeting to update the Committee on the views expressed by the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen.

Alderman Sir David Wootton was present at the meeting during this item.

The Committee considered a report of the Private Secretary and Chief of Staff relative to the arrangements for ceremonial officeholders in respect of gifts and hospitality, which had been considered by the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen on 10^th February 2015.  An extract of the minutes of that meeting were tabled for information.

The Private Secretary and Chief of Staff advised Members that following the discussion at the last meeting of the Standards Committee, the proposal as at paragraphs 4 and 8 of the report had been developed and submitted to the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen for consideration.  It was noted that a positive discussion has taken place at that meeting and the Committee was broadly supportive of the introduction of the proposed arrangements.  Particular interest had been expressed in identifying a method by which reciprocal gifts were clearly identified on the register.

With regards to the receipt of hospitality it was proposed that the same financial thresholds for hospitality apply to the Lord Mayor as for other Members of the Court unless diplomatic, commercial or political sensitivities were a consideration in which case such instances would be brought to the Chairman of the Standards Committee’s attention rather than via the published register.  Some Members queried why only the Chairman would be entitled to view such information and it was therefore agreed that any instances where hospitality was not declared in the public domain would be reported to the Committee in the form of a non-public report.  

A Co-opted Member commented on the current requirements on the Government’s ministers and whilst it was noted that full disclosure about the receipt, retention and value of all gifts might be considered ideal, this did not reflect the unique position of the Lord Mayor of London or the reputational implications if certain sensitivities were not taken into consideration.   As the Lord Mayor of the day funded the provision of some gifts this too had to be taken into consideration.

It was agreed that the proposal would introduce greater transparency about the gifts and hospitality received by ceremonial officeholders such as the Lord Mayor and, in light of its implementation over the coming weeks, it was felt that the Committee should review the arrangements and scrutinise the register in twelve months’ time.  It was noted that the introduction of similar arrangements for other ceremonial officeholders such as the Sheriffs would be progressed henceforth in consultation with the Secondary and Under Sheriff.

Resolved:- That –

(i)  the proposed arrangements for the registration of gifts and hospitality for ceremonial officeholders be agreed;

(ii) the new arrangements, in respect of the Lord Mayor, be introduced as soon as possible and by no later than April 2015;

(iii) the new arrangements for the registration of gifts and hospitality by the Lord Mayor be reviewed in twelve months’ time; and

(iv) the arrangements in respect of other ceremonial officeholders be progressed in consultation with the Secondary and Under Sheriff.