Open Government in the Ward

There is a long tradition of the Common Councilmen in each ward meeting secretly behind closed doors, and making decisions on behalf of the ward.

 Our ward has been no different - for a number of years (apart from the annual wardmote) the sitting Common Councilmen, to the best of my knowledge, have held no, or few public open meetings within the ward in their capacity as Common Councilmen, do not appear to have notified residents of their actions in writing, (the monthly ward newsletter technically fulfils this function), published attendance of meetings, etc at Guildhall in an easily accessible manner, and in general, do not engage in what might be called open government.

Ten years ago, when I was last a Common Councilman in this ward, this was how the Portsoken Ward Common Council met.

That might have been acceptable in 1614. It is no longer acceptable in 2014.
(Our local Common Council of Portsoken consists of the sitting Common Councilmen, and Alderman)

My view is that all council meetings of elected officials in the ward should by default be open to the public. When the local Portsoken Common Council meets to discuss ward business among themselves, the public should be allowed to attend as observers.

This is the case for committees at Guildhall. It should also be the case locally within the ward.

If elected, I will hold open public meetings, where residents can bring ward problems directly to their Common Councilmen, and if need be, pass resolutions on matters concerning the ward, which would then be passed on to the Town Clerk, for distribution to the relevant officers at Guildhall. We would then be in a position to follow up the response.

I will also hold women-only ward meetings. This is a matter of particular concern, as we have a significant number of female residents in the ward who will not attend a mixed sex meeting. Their voice is, as a result, not heard. I believe that there is also a need for public ward meetings at the Mansell Street Estate to have a Bengali translator present.

City Constitution and Local Municipal Committees

In 1850, the City's population stood at about the present level - close to 10,000 resident inhabitants. The population dipped down to somewhere around 8,000, before climbing back up to levels not seen in 150 years.

Over this time, due to building works and population movement, the historical memory of local city governance was lost.

The Aldermen and Common Councilmen of the Ward constitute the Common Council of Portsoken Ward.
Over time, the powers of this local Common Council have been taken over by the centralised Court of Common Council and its committees.

Here in Portsoken, and across the City, local municipal democracy disappeared almost in its entirety, legislated out of existence by various Acts of Common Council. The local wardmote council met, but only as an election court and debating forum, all its other functions as a local municipal body had become dormant.

The last record I have of a committee appointed by a Court of Wardmote for local municipal purposes, is 1859.

In Portsoken, no wardmote resolutions had been put for over 150 years, when I first appeared at a wardmote in 2000, armed with some resolutions related to matters affecting the Guinness Estate. Neither the Alderman or Ward Clerk were sure of how to proceed.

Since that date, this dormant aspect of our local municipal government has been revived - not only in our wardmote, but at other wardmotes across the City of London.

The next step to take, in my view, is to revive the formation of local precinct committees of inhabitant householders, which have also become dormant.

Only three of the precincts in the ward still retain inhabitants:
 Tower Hill Precinct - where the Mansell Street Estate and Marlyn Lodge are located.
Barrs Precinct - the area south of Aldgate High Street and north of Little Somerset Street,where there are a number of private flats.
Covent Garden Precinct - where Middlesex Street Estate is located.

These local precinct committees function  as mini wardmotes. Their minimum quorum was usually 3. They can pass resolutions, present petitions (memorials) directly to Common Council (which then get referred to committees at Guildhall). Most local precinct committees stopped being elected by wardmotes sometime in the 1830's.

What could a local precinct committee do? 

What is needed: 
1. Annual scrutiny of the Ward List by a wardmote committee, to ensure it is up to date, and that as many people as possible have the right to vote, who are eligible.
2. To look into nuisances and annoyances in each precinct, and report on these to Common Council, or request the Common Councilmen to act on them.
3. To scrutinise the work of the Common Councilmen and hold them to account.
4. To look carefully at Common Council agendas and minutes, so that the residents of the ward can take a proactive approach to their government, and not a reactive one.
5. To work for better local policing.

Who can vote on wardmote resolutions, or sit on wardmote committees?
While it is clear that anyone who is on the Ward List and a Freeman can stand for election to Common Council at wardmote, it is not as clear that these same people have the right to propose motions at wardmote, or vote on them: the wardmote is a meeting of the resident householders of the ward. Legislation governing the electoral franchise, to my knowledge, does not, and has not, reframed the terms of function of the wardmote as a branch of the municipal government of the City of London for the resident inhabitants of the ward.

Anyone can attend a wardmote nowadays, even non-residents of the ward. In the past, this was forbidden by law and custom.

 I am not convinced, however,  that any non-resident, even if they are a Common Councilman with their name on the Ward List, has the right to propose a motion in the wardmote, or vote on it. I am of the opinion that this right is reserved for resident inhabitants. This matter will need clarification from the Town Clerk.

Freedom of the City of London

By Law, all inhabitants of the City of London with residence of over 12 months, who are on the Ward List (i.e. the City's electoral register) are entitled to become registered Free Citizens of the City.

Unlike non-inhabitants, the Freedom application of a resident is automatic by right of law, and does not need the approval of the Court of Common Council. The application is processed directly by the Chamberlain's Court. There is no fee.

For further information on the Freedom of the City email chamberlains.court@cityoflondon.gov.uk or call the Chamberlain’s Court on 020 7332 3055.

Effective Local Governance in the Ward

I am a great believer in effective municipal government.

Many of the shortcomings and defects of Portsoken ward governance have come about because of general complacency by our elected officers,who have, I believe, not fully used the instruments of governance available to them on behalf of the inhabitants of the ward.

Here are some questions:

1. When was the last time a Common Councilman in Portsoken called a General Ward Meeting, (apart from the annual wardmote, which is called by the Lord Mayor) to discuss what he or she is doing with the inhabitants, or to openly discuss policy decisions about to be voted on in Guildhall that might impact the residents of the Ward? I am not referring to a surgery, but a ward meeting, where the inhabitants can vote on resolutions, which can then be referred to the relevant committees and officers at Guildhall to which they may relate?

2. When was the last time Common Councilmen in our ward informed the residents in writing about their activities on their behalf at Guildhall, or within the ward? I do not count the Ward Newsletter, which is too general to be of much use as an instrument of local governance, in its present format.

3. When was the last time a committee of inhabitant residents met together with their Common Councilmen, in a publicly announced meeting, to scrutinise Common Council agendas to look for business that might impact the ward's inhabitants?

4. When is the last time the Ward List was properly scrutinised, to ensure the maximum number of residents are enfranchised,  by the Common Councilmen and inhabitants of the Ward? Officers at Guildhall do not have the minute local knowledge to do this. It is a local municipal responsibility, and it has, to the best of my knowledge,  not been carried out.

I think there is a distinct lack of communication in our ward, and a lack of willingness by the sitting Common Councilmen to use the available ward-level mechanisms of local governance.

Should the inhabitants chose to elect me, I will work tirelessly to reinvigorate democracy at a local level within Portsoken.


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On another topic:  One of my political heroes is Benjamin Disraeli - who in his childhood was a congregant at my local synagogue, Bevis Marks. He also was known for his personal sartorial style, which tended to the flamboyant.

If he were to walk into a Saturday service at Bevis Marks in 2014, he would find little has changed from his time there in the early 1800s:  Congregants still wear top hats at services, and the music and traditions of the service have not changed an iota.

Residents will doubtless have seen me making my way to services at Bevis Marks on Friday nights, and early on Saturday mornings, wearing my topper. I don't like leaving it in my seat-box, as it is an expensive bit of kit.

I attend the daily morning prayer service at Bevis Marks every day of the week, pretty much without fail. 

Full Steam Ahead with local representation on Middlesex Street

The committee of the Middlesex Street Residents' Association has been hard at work, and a newsletter is about to hit the press, informing residents of the past meetings of the Association, and what is upcoming. I have recently attended meetings where we re-worked the wording and content of the newsletter. The Association still needs to hold an AGM, to elect properly constituted officers.

I am a member of this committee. I am also an associate (non-voting) member of the Tenants' Association, which is currently forming. Tonight a productive meeting was held at the Artizan Street Community Centre, where a gathering of long leaseholders went over a final draft of the new Association's constitution.

There were a few small creases to iron out,and a couple of matters that need further clarification - hopefully a final draft of the new constitution will be available soon: all interim documentation can be inspected on the Association's website.

The Ward List

The Ward List is a list of electors in the Ward, that is published annually by the Corporation of London. Only people on the Ward List are entitled to vote at the annual Wardmote, or at local precinct meetings convened by Common Councilmen, which in sum constitute our local mini-council, where resolutions can be passed at Wardmote or at precint-level that have to do with the governance of the ward.

The provisional Ward List is published by Guildhall, and a notice posted on the official Ward Noticeboard - which is outside St Botolph's Without Aldgate Church.

The Common Councilmen for the ward should then meet, to scrutinise the list to see if it is accurate, and to see who has not returned their forms. Residents of the Ward also have a right to view the provisional Ward List, for this purpose.

This year there appear to be a number of problems with the Ward list - they may or may not be - but what is certainly the case, is that prior to today, no Common Councilman or resident from our ward brought these queries to the attention of the Guildhall. 

Some problems seem to arise from duplicated entries.  One business had two names that seemed unfamiliar - I contacted that particular business, and the owner did not know who the people were, whose names were recorded as voters on the Ward list for his business. Thus, this particular business has lost its franchise in this election.

I doubt indeed that any residents in our ward even knew that the provisional list had been promulgated, or that there was a right of scrutiny. 

I propose that we need a committee, to meet annually soon after the date the provisional Ward List is published, to scrutinise the provisional ward List.

The committee could perhaps be chaired by the Ward Beadle, as it is his historic role (now pro forma, as the work is done by other officers at Guildhall) to compile a complete and accurate list of inhabitants of the ward. (Not voters mind you, but inhabitants, including children).

 Also on this committee would be at least one serving Common Councilman, a representative from each residents' or tenants' association, a representative of the Ward Club, and representative from any other group in the ward, for example, the Bengali Ladies' Group.

In this way, proper scrutiny of the Ward List can take place, at ward level. It is important for our local democracy that the Ward List should be accurate, and that as many residents as possible who have the franchise, register, so that they can exercise it.

Printed and promoted by Evan Philip Millner of 19b Petticoat Tower, Petticoat Square, City of London E1 7EF