Agenda item

Report of the Chief Grants Officer and Director of City Bridge Trust (CGO)

The Committee received the regular progress report of the CGO and discussed the updates provided.

Committee Strategic Away Half Day

The CGO thanked Members for attending the event and for their feedback and recommendations arising from it, which had been used to inform much of the strategy proposals presented to the Committee.

Association of Charitable Funders Annual Conference

The CGO advised that the Deputy Chair and officers had attended the conference, focussing on social and environmental justice. The conference coincided with the launch of the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, developed by ACF Members, with a Sustainable Action Plan to be produced in 2020. The Chairman drew the Committee’s attention to the recommendation seeking ‘in principle’ support for the Funder Commitment on Climate Change and instruction to seek the approval of relevant onward committees, with a view to Bridge House Estates becoming a signatory to the pledge.

Whilst Members were supportive of the thrust of the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, there was some concern about inconsistencies with discussion on climate change at other Committees arising from some of the language used in the document. Members were keen that the Court of Common Council be joined-up on this issue, with a consistent message. However, the Committee noted that the Funder Commitment was not a City of London Corporation document and that the wording had been agreed. The Committee was supportive in principle, and noted that with the Committee’s agreement the Funder Commitment would be referred to other Committees for their views.

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee:

a)            Note the report; and

b)            Give ‘in principle’ support for the Funder Commitment on Climate Change and instruct officers to seek the approval of the relevant onward committees so that Bridge House Estates can also add its signature to the pledge.