Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor.

There were no declarations.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council on 16 July 2020 appointing the Committee and approving its terms of reference.

The Committee received the Order of the Court of Common Council on 16 July 2020 appointing the Committee and approving its terms of reference.

The Town Clerk advised that the Committee would ordinarily consider a report reviewing the Committee’s terms of reference at this meeting, and proposed that in order to avoid duplication, the Committee consider its terms of reference as set out in the Order of the Court of Common Council. The Committee did not propose any amendments to be made to the terms of reference at this time.

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 Sheriff Christopher Hayward, being the only Member who expressed his willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.

The Chairman thanked Members for their confidence in him and expressed his excitement at leading the Committee, before paying tribute to the outgoing  Chairman, Deputy Dr Giles Shilson,

The Chairman then welcomed new Members Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley and Deputy Keith Bottomley on their first meeting of the Committee. The Committee then gave thanks to outgoing Members Alderman Ian Luder and Deputy John Bennett, for their valued service and contributions to the Committee.

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

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No.30. In accordance with Standing Order 30, paragraph 3a, Deputy Dr Giles Shilson, as the immediate past Chairman and being willing to serve, was duly elected as Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.

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

Dr Giles Robert Evelyn Shilson, Deputy

for the enthusiastic, capable, and astute manner in which he has presided over their proceedings since his election as Chairman in June 2017.

During his term of office, the Chairman has been a strong advocate for Gresham College and has been instrumental in supporting its continued success: in particular, through the agreement of a historic new five-year funding arrangement and associated business plan,  which will transform the College’s present and future. The new arrangements have provided a substantial improvement to the College’s operating model, putting in place key performance indicators and business reporting mechanisms. Supported by the appointment of a new Chairman, Provost, and Chief Executive, they will allow the College to begin income generating activities and partnership activities with City businesses in earnest, whilst also allowing for Gresham College to play a larger and more innovative role in deepening and widening the City’s own educational activities, cultural mission, and social impact. Truly, it has been a period of fundamental change for the College, and we owe Giles an enormous debt of gratitude for his efforts in supporting them to a position fit for the 21^st century and beyond.

Under Giles’ Chairmanship, the Committee has also continued to build on excellent relations with the Mercers’ Side and, as a consequence, the period has seen an increasingly productive, co-operative and fruitful Joint Grand Gresham Committee. His tenure has seen

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 15 May 2020.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 15 May 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services presenting the annual submission of the revenue budgets overseen by the Committee.  The report also sought approval for the 2020/21 latest revenue budget and the proposed revenue budget for 2021/22, as shown in the report, for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee. The Chamberlain introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points, also highlighting the changes between the two financial years.

RESOLVED – That the Gresham (City Side) Committee:

i)      Review the latest 2020/21 revenue budget to ensure that it reflects the Committee’s objectives and, if so, approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee; and

ii)     Review the proposed 2021/22 revenue budget to ensure that it reflects the Committee’s objectives and, approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee.

Report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services presenting the 2019/20 revenue outturn for the Gresham (City Side) Committee for information. The Chamberlain introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chamberlain

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain providing Members with a copy of the draft Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2020 for The Sir Thomas Gresham Charity (charity number: 221982) for information.

A Member proposed that going forward, the Members of the Gresham (City Side) Committee be listed in the annual report, in the interests of transparency, and this was agreed.

The Committee gave thanks to the Chamberlain for the financial work undertaken for the Charity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services giving Trustees an information update on the Gresham Almshouses, in Lambeth. Some of the information in the report related to the City of London Almshouses on the same estate.

The Director of Community and Children’s Services introduced the report and confirmed that the Almshouses residents were currently all well, with no confirmed cases of COVID-19, and officers continuing to monitor and support residents during this challenging period. The Director of Community and Children’s Services added that outside works on the Gresham Almshouses were underway.

The Chairman advised the Committee that due to the circumstances, the Committee would not be able to undertake its annual Christmas Hamper visit to the Almshouses this year, but that the hampers would still be provided and delivered to residents, with the best wishes of all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk updating the Committee on the Gresham Music Collection conservation project. The Chairman introduced the item and advised that there had been some delay to the project as a result of COVID-19, but that it was hoped the project would be completed by Christmas.

The Town Clerk further advised that there were seven items of the Collection still to be restored, and that the project was progressing on schedule against its updated timescales.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk detailing a decision taken since the last meeting regarding an extension of appointment for the Gresham Professor of Divinity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

The Committee recorded its formal congratulations to Sir Roger Penrose, Gresham Professor of Geometry from 1998 to 2001, on his award of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on black holes. The Committee then paid tribute to the numerous achievements of Sir Roger’s distinguished career.

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 the 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)

16 - 17                                                                         3

18 - 19                                                             -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2020.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2020 be approved as a correct record.

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 no other business.