The Corporate Services Committee meeting scheduled for 21 January 2026 was set to discuss the council's pay policy for the upcoming financial year, review departmental budget estimates, and consider updates on risk management and the committee's terms of reference. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the previous meeting's minutes and a discussion on the Programme Sapphire ERP update.

2026/27 Pay Policy Statement

A key item on the agenda was the proposed 2026/27 Pay Policy Statement, as detailed in the report from the Executive Director of HR and Chief People Officer. This statement, required annually under the Localism Act 2011, 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, available as the Pay Policy Statement Report FINAL, includes the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 as an appendix. The committee was asked to review and agree this statement before it proceeds to the Policy & Resources Committee and the Court of Common Council for further approval. The statement details the City Corporation's pay structures, recruitment and appointment policies, pay progression, performance pay, and termination of employment arrangements. It also addresses the publication of remuneration information and pay gap reporting.

Departmental Budget Estimates 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to review the departmental budget estimates for the 2026-27 financial year. This joint report, compiled by the Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Comptroller and City Solicitor, Chief People Officer, and Chamberlain, provides an overview of the revenue budgets for operational services directly overseen by the committee. The proposed budget for 2026/27 totals a net expenditure of £13.409 million, representing an increase of £2.104 million (15.69%) compared to the 2025/26 budget. This increase is primarily attributed to a 3% inflation uplift, increased budgets for the Chief People Officer, and a staffing position movement within the Deputy Town Clerk's department. The report, available as the CSC Budget Estimate Report FINAL, details these changes and seeks approval for the proposed revenue budget for 2026/27.

Annual Terms of Reference Review

The committee was also scheduled to review its own terms of reference. This annual review, as outlined in the report from the Deputy Town Clerk, aims to ensure that the committee's terms of reference adequately reflect its current work and strategic focus. A strategy day held on 7 January 2026 identified key areas for improvement, including a greater strategic rather than operational focus, clearer oversight of workforce planning, contingent labour, and performance management. The report, titled Terms of Reference Review Report FINAL, details the proposed next steps for developing and gaining approval for updated terms of reference, which will be presented to the committee at a future meeting. The current terms of reference are available in the CSC - Court Order 2025 Terms of Reference.

People & HR Risk Management Update

An update on People & HR risk management was also on the agenda. This report, available as HR Risk Public2 OP - Final, provides an overview of the plans for reporting risks to the Corporate Services Committee and summarises related corporate risks. It notes the de-escalation of a previous corporate risk concerning Recruitment & Retention. The report highlights the ongoing work to strengthen the departmental approach to identifying and mitigating People & HR risks, in line with the City Corporation's Risk Management Framework. The Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Strategy 2024-2029 were also provided for context.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The meeting was also scheduled to consider the public minutes and summary of the previous Corporate Services Committee meeting held on 3 December 2025, as detailed in the CSC Draft Public Mins 03.12.25. Additionally, there was an item for questions on matters relating to the work of the committee, and a motion to exclude the public for subsequent agenda items due to the likely disclosure of exempt information. The non-public agenda included a discussion on the Risk Appetite Agreement CR09 Health, Safety and Fire Risk Management System and an update on Programme Sapphire (ERP). Finally, the confidential agenda included confidential minutes and discussions on Ambition 25 and an update from the Town Clerk.