Agenda item

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

The Chairman provided a brief outline of the reasons why the report at Item 12 regarding the West Ham Park Nursery site had been included in the non-public section of the agenda. The Chairman explained that the report contained exempt material relating to the business and financial affairs of the City of London Corporation and the West Ham Park Charity which if made publicly available at this early stage would have seriously detrimental implications. He emphasised that the Nursery site was not part of the Park and there was no public access to it. The Committee also needed to be able to speak openly and candidly about the available options. In addition, the Chairman noted that the Committee membership included a substantial number of Members external to the Court of Common Council including representatives of the local community and reminded Members that they were acting on behalf of the City of London Corporation in its capacity as Trustee of the West Ham Park Charity.

The Chairman moved that the Committee consider the exclusion of the public. The Committee then proceeded to vote on the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the Committee meeting as specified in Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972. Six Members voted in favour and Five voting against the motion, with one abstention. Accordingly, the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the Committee meeting was carried.

RESOLVED- That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the following items of business on the grounds they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.