The Court of Common Council of the City of London Council met on Thursday 8 October 2026.

Election of Chief Commoner

Deputy Deborah Oliver TD was elected Chief Commoner for 2027-2028, securing 52 votes against Shravan Jashvantrai Joshi MBE's 44 votes.

Cultural Strategy for the City of London

The Court considered a report proposing the adoption of a new Cultural Strategy for the City of London. The strategy aims to position the City not only as a global financial centre but also as a culturally vibrant, proudly cosmopolitan and historically significant business district. It is built on three key priorities:

• Champion the City's Character: This involves celebrating the unique stories, traditions, and physical attributes of the City to enhance its global identity and competitiveness. It also aims to share a wider range of histories and perspectives, making the City's heritage more inclusive and relevant. A key action is to bring the City's hidden gems into public view through routes, trails, and events.
• Balance the Cultural Mix: This priority focuses on creating space for new cultural ideas and supporting a diverse range of cultural activity. It includes making cultural spaces more accessible and sustainable, building early connections with young people through cultural education, and creating pathways into creative careers by combining hands-on experience with skills development.
• Access Culture with Ease: This aims to make culture more discoverable and accessible for everyone. Actions include coordinating communications and wayfinding, improving essential amenities like seating and toilets, and extending cultural activity into public spaces to make it a visible part of daily life.

The strategy is supported by a Delivery Toolkit and an Audience Playbook, which provide practical guidance for implementation and understanding the City's diverse cultural audiences. The report was agreed upon by the Court.

Reform of Planning Committees

The Court considered a report concerning the reform of planning committees in response to new powers introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. The reforms necessitate changes to the City Corporation's governance framework, including its Scheme of Delegations and committee structures, to ensure continued lawful operation of planning functions. The report was agreed upon by the Court.

Annual On-Street Parking Accounts 2025/26

The Court considered the annual report on the Annual On-Street Parking Accounts for 2025/26. The report detailed a surplus of £12.670 million from on-street parking activities in 2025/26, with £12.178 million applied to fund approved projects. The remaining surplus on the On-Street Parking Reserve at 31 March 2026 was £61.056 million, allocated towards future highway improvements and other projects. The report was agreed upon by the Court.

Questions on Foreign Policy and City Corporation's Role

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to questions and discussions regarding the City Corporation's stance on foreign policy, specifically concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Members debated whether the Corporation had jurisdiction over such matters, with the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee repeatedly stating that the Corporation does not engage in foreign policy and is guided by His Majesty's Government. Concerns were raised about the appropriateness of discussing foreign policy in Court meetings, particularly on sensitive anniversaries, and the potential for such questions to be divisive. The Chairman agreed to discuss with relevant parties how to screen such questions in the future to ensure they are a good use of Court time and within the Corporation's remit.

Other Business

The Court considered a motion for the admission of several individuals to the Freedom of the City by Redemption. The motion was carried. A report on measures introduced into Parliament that may affect the City Corporation was received for information.