Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Rt Hon. The Lord Mayor, George Gillon and Alderman Ian Luder.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 10 October 2014.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 10 October 2014 be approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Livery Company Almshouses

The Town Clerk undertook to put together a list of Livery Companies that ran sheltered housing or Almshouses schemes.

Contingency Increase 2015/16

Members noted the contingency budget increase had been written in, and would be considered by the Finance Committee at their February meeting.  

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members reviewed their current terms of reference.

RESOLVED – That the current terms of reference be approved for submission to the Court of Common Council.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services which gave an update on the Almshouses in Lambeth.

Members discussed the request for funding to equip the communal hall. The Chamberlain confirmed there was enough money left in the budget to cover these costs, and the Chairman asked for a costed list of equipment and furniture required. Members agreed that a donation of up to £5,000 should be made, with details provided on the costed list to be decided via delegated authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

In response to a Member’s query concerning tree roots, officers confirmed that there were ongoing issues that needed to be resolved before the road was resurfaced, and undertook to speak to the City Surveyor’s Department about the remedial works required. A Member reminded officers of a damaged wall at the Almshouses; officers advised that this had been pinned previously so posed no immediate danger, but confirmed that more substantive work on the wall was part of the 30 year programme of works in place.

With regard to the Almshouses gardener, Members noted he came 5 days each week, one of which was dedicated to the Gresham properties.

RESOLVED – That:

(a)  A donation of up to £5,000 be made to equip the communal hall appropriately, with details to be decided via delegated authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman;

(b)  The recommendation made by officers to the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee regarding eligibility criteria for applicants to City of London Almshouses Trust properties be noted and adopted for Gresham Almshouse applicants;

(c)  Housing officers liaise with the City Surveyor’s Department about the remedial works required to the tree roots; and

(d)  The report be noted.

There were no questions.

There was one item of other business.

MOTION - That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

            Item Nos.                                                        Exempt Paragraph(s)

            9, 11                                                                            3

            10, 13                                                                          1

            12                                                                                -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2014.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2014 be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing a decision taken under delegated authority in October 2014.

The Committee considered the various items on the agenda for the meeting of the Joint Grand Gresham Committee that day.

There were no questions.

There was one item of business.