Agenda item

(C)Report of Urgent Action Taken – to note action taken under urgency procedures concerning the provision of hospitality.

For Information

28 March 2017

(C) Report of Urgent Action Taken: State Dinner in Honour of His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain

Members were informed of action taken under urgency procedures concerning the hosting, as part of a State Visit, of a State Banquet in honour of His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI. Members were reminded that this Banquet was originally scheduled to take place at Guildhall on 7 June 2017; however, the State Visit was subsequently postponed, because of the UK General Election, to July 2017. Urgent approval for a State Banquet to take place on 13 July 2017 was required in order to enable the necessary arrangements to be made in good time and for caterers to be appointed. Owing to the City Ward elections which took place on 23 March 2017 and the pause in meetings until after the first meeting of the Court of Common Council on 27 April, it had not been possible for this decision to be considered through the normal committee processes.

Approval had consequently been obtained, in accordance with Standing Order No.19, for an invitation to be extended to His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI, to honour the City of London Corporation by accepting an Address of Welcome and for him to be further asked to accept an invitation to attend a Banquet on 13 July 2017, to be held in his honour in Guildhall.

It had also been agreed that it should be referred to a Ward Reception Committee, to be appointed in accordance with the previously approved rota, to make the necessary arrangements; the cost to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved cost parameters.

Resolved – That the urgent action taken be noted.