Agenda item

Report of the Chamberlain (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain relative to a review of current Freedom fees.

In introducing the report, and in response to a question raised in advance of this meeting, the Chamberlain reported that the Comptroller and City Solicitor had advised, unequivocally, that it was perfectly legal for the City Corporation to charge a separate administration fee in addition to the standard freedom fees.

Governors went on to discuss the report at length and were disappointed to see no substantial increase in the fees due to the City of London Freemen’s School, given that these had not been reviewed for some 18 years. Many Governors were of the view that the large majority of any proposed increase should, morally, be retained by the School’s Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Governors went on to refer to the huge publicity generated by various high-profile/’celebrity’ Freedom ceremonies in past years and highlighted the advantages for the City of London Corporation as a result of these. It was felt that an increase in fees solely to cover administration would be counter-productive.

In response to questions, the Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court stated that he felt that the proposed level of increase to the freedom fees was relatively modest and that, as such, he did not feel that this would deter people from applying for the Freedom of the City in similar numbers in future years.

Governors suggested that the ‘separating out’ of the freedom fees and an additional administration fee would be ‘bemusing’ to applicants and stated that, instead, just one figure should be shown to those applying, with the Chamberlain then claiming a certain amount back from the School as a ‘recharge’ each year. The point was also made that all future literature and freedom application forms would have to be amended to highlight the fact that the full fee was no longer donated to the Freemen’s Foundation Scholars and that there was now a separate administration charge. 

The Deputy Chairman stated that the School would receive an additional £3,400 per annum from the proposed increases and also reminded Governors of the contribution made to the School by the City of London each year which was in the order of £1.5 million. He highlighted that what was being proposed by the Chamberlain was not a saving but rather a recovery of costs. He agreed that presenting just one figure to future applicants with the Chamberlain then ‘recharging’ the School for costs incurred in the administration of future ceremonies would be a better approach.

The Board noted that, whilst the proposed increase would have some benefit for the School, it was disappointing that more could not have been allocated to the Foundation Scholarship Fund. It was therefore proposed that the Finance Committee be asked to consider ‘rounding up’ the proposed freedom fee increase from £42 to £45 for redemption through a company, patrimony through or without a company and servitude through or without a Company with this additional £3 all attributed to the City of London Freemen’s School.

The Board wished to place on record their disappointment with this report and the proposed minimal increase to the City of London Freemen’s School.