City of London

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding the January 23, 2023 meeting of the City of London’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee. The complaint alleged that the Committee meeting was closed to the public when the doors to London City Hall were locked after the meeting had started until the City became aware of the issue and unlocked the doors.

The Ombudsman found that there was no indication that the doors were locked under the Committee’s direction to exclude the public, or that Committee members or City staff were aware that the doors had been mistakenly locked. As the Committee had indicated the meeting would be held in council chambers, and the public was unable to access council chambers for a period of time, the Committee contravened the open meeting rules during the portion of the meeting when the doors to City Hall were locked.

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