The Policy and Resources Committee of the City of London Council met on 12 June 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including the appointment of members to the Income Generation Working Party, the appointment of Lead Members, and the Natural Environment Complementary Land Policy and Assets Appraisal. The committee was also scheduled to discuss resolutions from the Wards of Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Cripplegate and Dowgate.

Natural Environment Complementary Land Policy and Assets Appraisal

The committee was scheduled to discuss the terms of reference for two pieces of work relating to the management of land and built assets outside of the Square Mile owned by the City of London Corporation's (CoLC) Natural Environment Charities (NE). The key aims of the Natural Environment Charities Review (NECR) are to improve the efficiency and align the governance of these charities and to improve their financial sustainability, including by supporting income generation.

One piece of work was the development of an updated Complementary Land Policy, and the other was a Complementary Land Use Appraisal. According to the report pack, land assets managed, used, or occupied by the Natural Environment Charities, but held by the CoLC in a non-charity trustee capacity, would be referred to as Complementary Land.

The aims of the Complementary Land Policy are to set out a framework for the CoLC's governance, resourcing and management of Complementary Land, and to determine the optimum use for each asset, considering the aims and objectives of the CoLC in its roles and responsibilities including as Charity Trustee.

The Complementary Land Use Appraisal would involve appointing a consultant to carry out an independent, detailed options appraisal for each Complementary Land asset.

Appointments

The committee was scheduled to discuss several appointments:

Income Generation Working Party

The Policy and Resources Committee was scheduled to endorse the appointment of members to the Income Generation Working Party (IGWP). The IGWP was formed to oversee and make recommendations to the Policy and Resources Committee pertaining to the City Corporation's income generation options and opportunities.

The report pack indicated that expressions of interest were received from Deputy Tim Butcher, Jason Groves, Madush Gupta, Alderman Timothy Hailes JP, Deputy Caroline Haines, Stephen Hodgson, Shravan Joshi MBE, Deputy Benjamin Murphy, Philip Woodhouse and Deputy Dawn Wright.

The Policy and Resources Committee was scheduled to endorse the appointment of Deputy Tim Butcher, Jason Groves, Alderman Timothy Hailes JP, Stephen Hodgson, Shravan Joshi MBE, Deputy Benjamin Murphy and Deputy Dawn Wright to the working party.

Lead Members

The committee was scheduled to endorse the appointment of Lead Members. Lead Members were formed to support the work of the Policy Chairman, making best use of the talent available across the Court of Common Council.

The Policy and Resources Committee was scheduled to endorse the appointment of Alderman Alison Gowman as Lead Member for Climate Action, Sushil Saluja as Lead Member for Innovation and Technology, Jacqui Webster as Lead Member for Resident Engagement, Shravan Joshi MBE as Lead Member for SMEs, Edward Lord as Lead Member for Sport, and Irem Yerdelen as Lead Member for Sustainable Finance.

Competitiveness Advisory Board

The committee was scheduled to agree the process to appoint new internal members to the Competitiveness Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB was established to provide informal guidance to Innovation & Growth and other officers on the implementation of the Competitiveness Strategy.

Wardmote Resolutions

The committee was scheduled to consider resolutions from the Wards of Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Cripplegate and Dowgate:

• The Ward of Aldersgate sought an independent enquiry into the 'Speak for the City' campaign.
• The Ward of Bishopsgate requested the City of London Corporation to re-introduce Ward Newsletters.
• The Ward of Cripplegate sought an investigation into the process which has failed to deliver a fully democratically elected group of members to Common Council.
• The Ward of Dowgate requested that the City of London Corporation reintroduce Ward Newsletters.