The Corporate Services Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 21 January 2026, was set to discuss the City of London Corporation's Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 and the departmental budget estimates for the same year. The committee was also scheduled to review its own terms of reference and receive an update on People & HR risk management.

2026/27 Pay Policy Statement

The committee was scheduled to consider the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27, as required by the Localism Act 2011. This statement outlines the City of London Corporation's policies regarding the remuneration of its highest-paid staff in relation to its lowest-paid staff. The report, authored by Chris Fagan, Head of Reward and Benefits, detailed the legislative requirements for such statements, including definitions of Chief Officers and lowest-paid employees, and the City Corporation's approach to pay determination, progression, and performance pay. The statement also covered additional pay elements such as London Weighting and Market Force Supplements, as well as policies on termination of employment and the publication of remuneration information. The recommendation was for members to review and agree the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27.

Departmental Budget Estimates 2026-27

A joint report from the Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Comptroller and City Solicitor, Chief People Officer, and Chamberlain was scheduled for discussion regarding the departmental budget estimates for 2026-27. The report sought approval for the proposed revenue budget for 2026/27, which totalled a net expenditure of £13.409 million before recharges. This represented an increase of £2.104 million (15.69%) compared to the 2025/26 budget. The increase was primarily attributed to a 3% inflation uplift, an increase in Chief People Officer budgets for temporary support, and an increase in the Deputy Town Clerk's budget due to staffing movements. A decrease was noted in the Comptroller and City Solicitor's budget, largely due to the movement of election staffing costs. The report included a summary of services by Chief Officer and an analysis of service expenditure by risk. Members were asked to note the 2025/26 revenue budget, approve the 2026/27 estimate for submission to the Finance Committee, and authorise the Chamberlain to revise budgets as necessary.

Annual Terms of Reference Review

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from the Deputy Town Clerk concerning an annual review of its terms of reference. This review aimed to ensure that the committee's terms of reference adequately reflected its work areas and to consider any necessary adjustments to the frequency of meetings. The report noted that a strategy day held on 7 January 2026 had highlighted areas for improvement, with a consensus that the committee's focus should be more strategic rather than operational. Key proposed inclusions for the terms of reference included clearer expectations around workforce planning, oversight of contingent labour, and performance management. The next steps involved collating feedback, drafting amended terms of reference, and seeking necessary approvals from the Grand Committee, Policy and Resources Committee, and the Court of Common Council.

People & HR Risk Management Update

A report from the Interim Chief People Officer, Cliff Morton, was scheduled to provide an update on risk management within the People & HR department. The report outlined plans to develop a new people and HR risk reporting process for the committee. It also noted the de-escalation of a previous corporate risk concerning Recruitment & Retention from the corporate risk register to the People & HR risk register. The report detailed the City of London Corporation's Risk Management Framework, Policy, and Strategy, emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of officers and members in risk management. The committee was asked to note the report.

Risk Management Policy and Strategy

The report pack also included the City of London Corporation's Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Strategy 2024-2029. The Risk Management Policy outlines the overarching approach to identifying and managing risk, ensuring compliance with statutory duties and best practices. The Risk Management Strategy 2024-2029 details four strategic objectives: an agile and effective risk management approach, enhanced risk culture, informed decision-making, and an appetite for risk. These documents provide the framework for how the City Corporation assesses, manages, and communicates risk.