The Court of Common Council meeting scheduled for 15 January 2026 was set to cover a range of important operational, financial, and governance matters. Key discussions were expected to include a strategy for integrated facilities management, proposed increases to charges at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, and the appointment of external members to the City of London Police Authority Board. Additionally, the meeting was scheduled to review the City Bridge Foundation's annual report and financial statements.

Integrated Facilities Management Strategy to 2033

The Finance Committee was scheduled to present proposals for an integrated facilities management (IFM) strategy for the City of London Corporation's non-housing property portfolio, extending to 2033. The report outlined the success of the current 10-year contract, which began in 2022, and recommended not exercising the break clause at the five-year mark. Instead, the proposal suggested further consolidating disparate facilities management contracts, including Building Management Services (BMS) and Lifts and Escalator Services, into the existing IFM contracts. This consolidation aims to deliver financial and operational efficiencies through economies of scale. The recommendation was to approve the continuation of the six IFM contracts and the associated increase in contract value to incorporate the additional services.

Heathrow Animal Reception Centre Charges

The Port Health and Environmental Services Committee was set to propose an increase to the Schedule of Charges for services provided at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC), effective from April 2026. The report highlighted that HARC operates in a competitive environment and that the current fee structure does not fully recover the costs associated with processing all species of imported animals. To address this, the proposal included a fee increase of between 5% and 20% for all services. Furthermore, higher fees were proposed for airlines that do not use HARC for their entire live animal throughput, effectively charging a premium for services used by airlines that primarily utilise alternative Border Control Posts (BCPs) for their animal imports. The Court was asked to approve these revised byelaws and associated fees.

City of London Police Authority Board Appointments

The City of London Police Authority Board was scheduled to seek approval for the appointment of two individuals as External Members to the Board. Following a recruitment process, Randall Anderson was proposed for appointment for a four-year term expiring in April 2029. Additionally, Andrew Lentin was recommended for re-appointment for a third and final term, also expiring in April 2029. This re-appointment would necessitate a waiver of the existing two-term limit for External Members as stipulated in the Board's Membership Scheme. The report indicated that officers would be undertaking a review of the Membership Scheme to address inconsistencies.

City Bridge Foundation Annual Report

The City Bridge Foundation Board was scheduled to present its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The report detailed the Foundation's activities, including the maintenance of five Thames bridges – Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Millennium Bridge, and Blackfriars Bridge – and its grant-making activities aimed at addressing inequality in London. The report noted that the financial statements had been scrutinised, approved by the CBF Board, and audited with an unqualified opinion. The Court was asked to note the presented report.

Other Scheduled Business

The agenda also included several other items for discussion and decision:

• Minutes: To agree the minutes of the meetings held on 9 October 2025 and 12 December 2025.
• Mayoral Engagements: The Right Honourable The Lady Mayor was scheduled to report on her recent engagements.
• Policy Statement: A statement from the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee was anticipated.
• Appointments: Consideration of various appointments to committees and boards, including the Markets Board, Pensions Committee, The Honourable The Irish Society, and Dr Johnson's House Trust.
• Freedom of the City: A circulated list of applications for the Freedom of the City was to be considered.
• Legislation: A report outlining measures introduced into Parliament that may affect the City Corporation's services was to be received for information.
• Policy & Resources Committee: Proposals relating to the adoption of a corporate Conflicts of Interest Policy were scheduled for discussion.
• Corporate Services Committee: Proposals concerning the creation of a Grade I post were to be considered.
• Urgency Procedures: Reports on actions taken under urgency procedures concerning the Housing Revenue Account and a property transaction were to be received for information.

The meeting also included provisions for motions, questions, ballot results, and resolutions on retirements, congratulatory matters, and memorials. A motion was scheduled to exclude the public from certain parts of the meeting to discuss exempt information.