The Communications & Corporate Affairs Sub (Policy & Resources) Committee of the City of London Corporation was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, to discuss a range of topics, including ward newsletters, a review of the 2025 election engagement campaign, and updates on corporate communications, external affairs, and parliamentary matters. The committee was also expected to discuss memberships and subscriptions, as well as innovation and growth quarterly reports.

2025 Election Engagement Campaign Review

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report reviewing the 2025 Speak for the City campaign. The report noted that the 2025-2026 Ward List achieved a decade-high of 21,011 (+7.2%). The report also included research into the motivations and barriers for prospective candidates.

The report stated that the City faces challenges regarding candidate engagement, including the smallest electorate in Greater London, the largest number of council seats, and the most restrictive eligibility requirements. It noted that, without party structures to recruit or train candidates, the task falls informally to individuals and networks.

The report outlined potential approaches to increase engagement, including:

• Always-on engagement through initiatives like the City Belonging Project¹
• A member mentoring scheme
• A civic leadership training programme
• A candidate recruitment working group
• Delivery of a corporate CRM²
• Addressing structural barriers around time
• Clarifying the role and process
• Improving accessibility and inclusion

Corporate Communications and External Affairs Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a joint report from Dionne Corradine, Chief Strategy Officer, and Paul Wright, the Remembrancer, providing an update on the work of the Corporate Communications and External Affairs team. The report included updates on:

• Strategic communications and messaging development
• The Wholesale Markets Communications and Engagement Programme
• The City of London Police and its National Lead Force for Fraud role
• Political engagement, including meetings with politicians and briefings
• Pan-London engagement, including engagement with London Councils and Central London Forward
• Engagement with external partners

The report also provided an overview of media coverage, including highlights such as the Policy Chairman's visit to mainland China and Hong Kong, and the Financial and Professional Services Dinner at the Mansion House.

The report included a digital communications impact assessment, noting that the City Corporation's digital communications delivered strong reach and impact, with video being a standout success.

Parliamentary Team Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from Paul Wright, City Remembrancer, providing an update on parliamentary engagement. The report included updates on key bills, including:

• The Renters' Rights Bill
• The Employment Rights Bill
• The Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill
• The Crime and Policing Bill
• The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
• The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
• The Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2025, also known as the 'Hillsborough Law'
• The English Devolution Bill
• The Pension Schemes Bill
• The Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill

The report also noted Acts which have received Royal Assent, including the Great British Energy Act, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025, the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act, and the Data (Use and Access) Act.

The report also mentioned the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Liberal Democrat backbench bill.

The report included a forward look and engagement update, noting evidence submitted to a number of select committee inquiries, briefings to peers and MPs, and work on the APPG for Financial Markets and Services³.

Ward Newsletters

The committee was to consider a report from Dionne Corradine, Chief Strategy Officer, regarding ward communications. The report noted that ward newsletters had been suspended for a two-year period, with funds redirected to the City Belonging Project. The report recommended reintroducing the Ward Newsletters as a Ward Annual Report, outside of election years, enclosed with the wardmote letter.

The report stated that communicating regularly with those the council represents continues to present a challenge, particularly in contacting City workers at scale. It highlighted the City Belonging Project and the development of a central organisational CRM as ways to improve communications.

Memberships and Subscriptions Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a joint report from the Executive Director of Innovation & Growth, the Chief Strategy Officer, the Remembrancer, and the Executive Director of Environment, regarding memberships and subscriptions. The report noted that the City of London Corporation engages regularly with third party organisations, financial and professional services organisations, government and policy makers, and think tanks.

The report stated that these relationships are held across the wider City Corporation, predominantly in teams within Innovation & Growth, Corporate Affairs, and the Remembrancer's Office, and further the aims of the overarching Corporate Plan as a whole. The report included a list of organisations with which the City Corporation currently holds memberships or subscriptions, including:

• Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
• British American Business
• OnePolicyPlace
• EU-UK Forum
• British Chamber of Commerce EU & Belgium
• QED Brussels
• The Centre for European Policy Studies
• Industry and Parliament Trust
• The Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC)
• The UK Soft Power Group
• BusinessLDN
• Chatham House
• Centre for London
• International Business and Diplomatic Exchange
• Labour Together
• Local Government Information Unit
• New Financial
• New Local
• Onward
• Progressive Britain
• Whitehall and Industry Group
• Opportunity London
• New London Architecture (NLA)
• UK Cities & Partners
• Stonewall
• Social Mobility Foundation
• HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter
• Progress Together
• London & Partners
• High Streets Data Service
• Central London Alliance

Innovation and Growth Quarterly Reports

The committee was scheduled to receive three quarterly reports from the Executive Director for Innovation and Growth, regarding support for UK-based Financial and Professional Services. The reports covered the periods of July to September 2025, April to June 2025, and January to March 2025.

The reports provided updates on key initiatives and workstreams, supporting the objectives of the Innovation and Growth Business Plan:

• Open & Global: ensuring that the UK is a global gateway for FPS business.
• Sustainable Finance: positioning the UK as a one-stop shop for countries and companies seeking capital and expertise to meet their sustainability goals.
• Innovation in technology: ensuring that UK FPS and the financial system are recognised as globally leading in technology.

The reports highlighted a range of activities, including:

• The Lord Mayor hosting the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England at Mansion House for the annual Financial and Professional Services Dinner.
• The launch of the new Investment Hub, a unified national hub set to unlock £10bn in investment potential.
• The launch of the Employer Pension Pledge, a commitment from employers to select their DC provider using 'expected retirement outcomes net of fees' metrics.
• The publication of the City of London Corporation's report Regulating for Growth: A Cultural Shift for a Competitive UK .
• The Lord Mayor meeting the Saudi Investment Minister.
• The Brussels office hosting the Anglo-French Dialogue with Hogan Lovells.
• The Policy Chairman visiting three key cities in India.
• The incoming Lady Mayor attending Rendez-Vous de Septembre, the leading annual gathering for the global reinsurance market.
• The Lord Mayor's visit to Japan.
• The Lord Mayor visiting China.
• The Transition Finance Council conducting its Showcase at Mansion House.
• The Corporation participating at Ethical Finance Global 2025.
• A roundtable in July with the UK FPS sector, following the report Securing growth: the digital verification opportunity.
• The Technology and Innovation Team continuing to scope a project aiming to help AI startups and scaleups better prepare their business to procure with financial services.
• The publication of ['Unlocking AI Skills in Financial and Professional Services: Synthetic Data Marketplaces'].
• The International Regulatory strategy (IRSG) UK Regulation Committee responding to a FCA discussion paper on regulating cryptoasset activities.
• The delivery of the 3rd annual Innovation and Technology Dinner at Mansion House.
• The Lord Mayor's Quantum Hackathon in partnership with IBM.