Agenda item

100 Women for the Freedom

Nicholas Bensted-Smith asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the recent initiative to celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage.

In response, the Chair paid tribute to all officers and Members involved in the 100 Women for the Freedom campaign which had celebrated women from all walks of life with links with the City. The Chair highlighted the different ways in which the City Corporation was celebrating the achievements of women; for example, the City Arts Initiative was currently drawing up recommendations to improve the recognition of women across the City’s Public Realm and the Fearless Girl Statue had recently been unveiled in Paternoster Square.

ESG Rating

Anne Fairweather asked a question of the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the steps being taken by the City Corporation to ensure it upheld the highest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.

Responding, the Chair advised that the City Corporation had a Responsible Business Strategy which set out the organisation’s priorities for ESG standards. The priorities within the strategy included responsible procurement, responsible investment, fighting climate change, reducing waste in plastics and packaging, and improving air quality.

The Chair also provided an outline of the different ways in which the City Corporation had reviewed its practices to ensure they continued to be fit for purpose. She referred to a response which the Chairman of the Investment Committee had previously provided to the Court in 2018, which detailed how the City Corporation’s fund managers were ensuring best practise with ESG; she also highlighted how the Economic Development Office was evolving the work of the Innovation, Inclusion and Growth team from corporate social responsibility to an Environment, Social and Governance approach.

Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Ruby Sayed asked a question of the Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee in relation to the issue of air pollution within the City, querying the work taking place to increase the number of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points and the creation of charging hubs within the City to support and encourage both private and commercial EV usage.

The Deputy Chairman advised that the current policy on the provision of EV charging points sought to meet the needs of vehicles serving the Square Mile without generating any additional vehicle trips. The policy ensured that charge points were only installed in locations that had minimal impact on the public realm and were therefore installed in suitable off-street locations.  

He advised that there were 50, 7kiloWatt, standard speed charge points installed in the City Corporation’s public car parks and 22 in the Barbican to meet the needs of residents, small freight vehicles, and private cars.  In addition, work was taking place with TfL to install charging points that would primarily be used by taxis. The Deputy Chairman provided an overview of the different sites were there were plans to install and increase charge points for electric vehicles.

The Deputy Chairman explained that the Transport Strategy would soon be presented to the Court for Members’ consideration and this would include a proposal to produce an EV Charging Action Plan by December 2019. In developing the plan, the City Corporation would consider and consult on the different charging needs of all users and would include a comprehensive timeline and strategy for implementation. 

In response to a supplementary question from Ruby Sayed which asked for a comprehensive timeline and strategy, the Deputy Chairman explained that all the recommended actions in the 2018 Zero Emissions Report, relevant to Transport were currently in progress, and the proposals in the City’s draft Transport Strategy would go further towards achieving a reduction in transport related emissions.  He added that the Policy and Resources Committee had recently approved a new policy on the City Corporation’s own fleet which required Zero Emission Capable vehicles to be considered first when replacement or retrofit of a vehicle was required, therefore accelerating the transition to zero emission of the Corporation’s own fleet. 

Responding a further supplementary question from Deputy John Tomlinson concerning air pollution at Beech Street, the Deputy Chairman gave assurance that active conversations were taking place with the Chairman of Planning and Transportation, the Chair of Policy and Resources, and TfL, looking at work which could be carried out and where improvements could be made.