The Court of Common Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss a range of matters, including proposed changes to the process for removing the Freedom of the City, the establishment of a new Policy Leader position, and the City of London Police's annual report. The meeting also included consideration of applications for the Freedom of the City and updates on parliamentary measures affecting the council.

Bill for an Act of Common Council: Power to Remove the Freedom of the City

A significant item scheduled for discussion was a Bill for an Act of Common Council concerning the removal of the Freedom of the City of London, also known as disenfranchisement. The report pack indicated that the existing process for disenfranchisement was identified as inoperable, prompting the need for new legislation. The proposed Bill aimed to confer the power of removal upon the Court of Common Council itself, to be exercised when deemed appropriate and in accordance with relevant legal principles. This measure arose from previous considerations by the Court regarding the Freedom of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The report recommended approval of the Bill, which would enable the Court to establish a lawful and effective process for addressing disenfranchisement issues.

Motion to Establish a Policy Leader

A motion was put forward by Deputy Ann Holmes proposing the establishment of a Policy Leader position within the City Corporation. The motion suggested that the individual holding this position would be elected by the entire membership of the Court of Common Council and would also serve as the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee. If agreed in principle, the motion called for officers to report on the necessary changes to Standing Orders and other governance adjustments required to implement these outcomes before the elections scheduled for April 2027.

Applications for the Freedom of the City

The Court was scheduled to consider a list of applications for the Freedom of the City by Redemption. The Chamberlain's list, provided in the report pack, detailed numerous individuals who had applied for this honour, along with the names of their nominators. The list included a diverse range of professions and backgrounds, from hotel general managers and project managers to diplomats and academics.

City of London Police Annual Report 2025-26

The City of London Police Authority Board submitted its Annual Report for the financial year 2025-26 for the Court's information. The report detailed the achievements of the City of London Police, covering crime statistics, financial performance, and staff information. It highlighted a reduction in overall crime by 4.9% and a focus on improving victim services, with Victim's Code compliance above 95%. The report also detailed the force's leadership in tackling fraud, economic, and cyber crime nationally, including the launch of the new Report Fraud service. HMICFRS inspections graded the force as Outstanding for crime recording and Good for response and investigation.

Legislation Affecting the City Corporation

A report was scheduled to be presented outlining measures introduced into Parliament that could impact the services provided by the City Corporation. These included the Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026, which would replace the waste carrier registration regime with a new environmental-permitting system. Additionally, the Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026 would permit additional voting methods for trade union ballots, and the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026 would remove the need for planning permission for most solar panel installations on dwelling houses.

Appointments

The meeting agenda included consideration for appointments to various committees. A vacancy on the Culture, Heritage & Libraries Committee was noted as a No Contest, with John Griffiths nominated. For the Central Foundation Schools for London, where no internal nominations were received, a recommendation was made to delegate the authority to consider and approve the City of London Corporation's appointment to the Civic Affairs Sub-Committee.

Mayoral Engagements and Policy Statement

The Right Honourable The Lady Mayor was scheduled to report on her recent engagements. Additionally, a statement from the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee was anticipated, likely addressing the committee's strategic direction and priorities.