Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Alderman Ian Luder, Nicholas Bensted-Smith, Christopher Hayward and

Deputy Tom Hoffman.

There were no declarations.

To receive the Order of The Court of Common Council from 27 April 2017.

The Committee received an Order of the Court of Common Council of 27 April

2017 appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference.

RECEIVED.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No.29. The Town Clerk read a list of Members eligible to stand and Deputy Dr Giles Shilson, being the only Member who expressed his willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.

The Chairman welcomed Chris Hayward, Deputy Edward Lord and Nick Bensted-Smith to the Committee, and thanked outgoing Members Brian Harris, Anthony Eskenzi and Ian Seaton for their service.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 30. Simon Duckworth, as the immediate past Chairman, in Common Council and willing to serve, was accordingly declared as the Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: THAT the Members of the Gresham (City Side) Committee express their sincere thanks to:

SIMON DUCKWORTH, O.B.E., D.L.

for the diligent, knowledgeable and enthusiastic manner in which he has presided over their proceedings since first being elected as Chairman in May 2014.

DURING his period of office he has given considerable attention to every aspect of the responsibilities which the City of London Corporation shares with the Mercers’ Company in the joint administration of the Will of Sir Thomas Gresham.

EVERY effort has been made on his part to maintain excellent relations with the Mercers’ Side, and his contribution to overseeing the Royal Exchange and Gresham College has always been informed and pertinent. Simon has been instrumental in commissioning the first biography of Sir Thomas Gresham since 1925, and the Committee thanks him for ensuring funding was in place from the Corporation and for his judgement when negotiating between the City Side and Mercers’ Side.

THE Chairman has shown great interest in supporting the continued success of Gresham College.  He has taken every opportunity to promote the work of the College, working with co-sponsors and other Members of the City of London Corporation to ensure that the College has been supported in its ambitions and vision for growth. During his term of office the College has grown substantially, with attendance at lectures remaining consistently high and the College now looking for larger premises.

AT the conclusion of his service as their Chairman, the Committee would like to thank him for his cordial and humorous chairmanship, the intelligent contribution he

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 10 February 2017.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 10 February 2017 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk concerning the appointment of Members to the Gresham Working Party.

RESOLVED - That:

a)    the Terms of Reference of the Gresham Working Party be noted;

b)    the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Deputy Edward Lord and
Mr John Scott be appointed to the Gresham Working Party; and

c)    the delegated authority procedures detailed in the report be endorsed.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk concerning the appointment of Members to the Gresham Working Party.

RESOLVED - That:

a)    the Terms of Reference of the Gresham Working Party be noted;

b)    the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Deputy Edward Lord and
Mr John Scott be appointed to the Gresham Working Party; and

c)    the delegated authority procedures detailed in the report be endorsed.

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

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Gresham Almshouses. Members discussed the report, noting the recent improvements work that had been carried out. In terms of the ongoing Improvement Plan, Members were advised that the Sheltered Housing Manager was due to meet with the City Surveyor later in the month.

With regard to vacancies, officers advised that these were advertised on all social housing estates within the square mile and, if no suitable applications were received, officers approached residents in the City of London Almshouses who had expressed interest in moving. The Town Clerk advised that, as the Almshouses were situated in Brixton, most eligible residents did not want to move there as they wanted to remain within the City.

Members noted the result of the recent review of the Pets Policy and expressed their disappointment that there were not enough residents in favour of a change at this time. Members discussed the benefits of pet ownership, for mental health and for companionship, and agreed that, although the current Pet Policy would remain in force for the meantime, it should be reviewed again in the near future.

In response to a question regarding the summer garden event, officers advised that said a date had not yet been set, but Trustees would be notified within the next couple of weeks.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There was no 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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2017.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2017 be approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendment.

‘RESOVLED’ should be amended to read:  RESOLVED

There were no matters arising.

The Committee considered the various items on the agenda for the meeting of the Joint Grand Gresham Committee  to take place following this meeting.

There were no questions.

There was one item of Any Other Business.