Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor, Alderman David Wootton, Simon Duckworth (Deputy Chairman), Deputy Anthony Eskenzi, Deputy Robin Eve, Brian Harris, Deputy John Owen-Ward.

The Chairman, Mr Hoffman, declared an interest stating that he was a Member of the Council of Gresham College.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 25 May 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 25 May 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community & Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services detailing the Revenue Outturn for 2011/12.

The Chamberlain highlighted that the Revenue Outturn detailed a ‘better than budget’ position of £45,000. Members were informed that this was due to net income on the City Moiety being £27,000 higher than expected and net expenditure on the Gresham Almshouses being £13,000 lower than budgeted primarily due to a reduced requirement for repairs and maintenance.

A Member questioned the fact that less money than originally anticipated had been spent on repairs and maintenance at the Gresham Almshouses. He suggested that there should be a clear programme of works scheduled for each year and that any repairs and maintenance should not be carried out ‘reactively’. The Chamberlain reported that a programme of Repairs and Maintenance works was in existence and that officers did have sight of this when producing the budget each year.

The Chairman suggested that the City Surveyor raise this matter with Community and Children’s Services and look to circulate a note on the repairs and maintenance programme for the Gresham Almshouses before the next meeting of this Committee.

RECEIVED.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services submitting the revenue budgets overseen by the Committee and seeking approval to the provisional revenue budget for 2013/14, for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.

The Chamberlain reported that, overall, the 2013/14 provisional revenue budget totals £149,000, an increase of £9,000 compared with the final budget for 2012/13. He reported that this was due to making provision for RPI within the Memorandum of Understanding.

The Chairman highlighted that the service overview at Annexes ‘B1’ and ‘B2’ was to be revised and updated before re-submission to the Committee by email before its next meeting. It was agreed that this would reflect the most up-to-date position and would also include reference to the capital sum received by the City following the sale of the Royal Exchange lease.

RESOLVED – That, the Committee approve the provisional 2013/14 revenue budget for submission to the Finance Committee.

Any questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee.

There were no questions.

Any urgent items of other business that the Chairman may decide are urgent.

Almshouses Estate Walkabout

The Town Clerk reported that Gresham residents were keen for Gresham trustees to visit the Almshouses Estate before Christmas to meet with them and observe the work that has been done in the Gresham communal gardens. The dates of 1^st, 2^nd, 8^th and 9^th of November were presented as options. The Town Clerk undertook to liaise with Members on this matter and schedule a date after this meeting.

CoL and Gresham Almshouses Christmas Hamper Visit

The Town Clerk reported that the Community and Children’s Services Department were keen to schedule a morning in mid-December for the annual Almshouses Christmas Hamper Visit. The Town Clerk undertook to liaise with Members on this matter and schedule a date after this meeting.

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.

Item Nos.                                                         Exempt Paragraph(s)

               9                                                                                          1, 2 & 3

              10                                                                                               3

              11                                                                                        1, 2, 3 & 4

              12                                                                                               -

              13                                                                                               -

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                                                                                          1, 2 & 3

              10                                                                                               3

              11                                                                                        1, 2, 3 & 4

              12                                                                                               -

              13                                                                                               -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2012 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

Provost’s draft paper (Private and Confidential – copy attached).

The Committee considered a draft paper from the Provost of Gresham College relative to a review and strategy for the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding.

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

There were no questions raised in the non-public session.

There were no additional, urgent items of business raised in the non-public session.