Agenda item

To elect a Deputy Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 30.

Members were invited to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30 and, as immediate past Chairman, Tom Hoffman was elected for the ensuing year.

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

TOM HOFFMAN

for the diligent, knowledgeable and enthusiastic manner in which he has presided over their proceedings since first being elected as Chairman in May 2011.

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 the excellent relations with the Mercers’ side, and his contribution to efforts overseeing the Royal Exchange and Gresham College has always been informed and pertinent.  The Chairman has devoted his expertise and time during the review of the Memorandum of Understanding, and his judgement when negotiating between the City Side, Mercers Side and Gresham College has been invaluable.

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 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 the attendance at lectures remaining consistently high. The ongoing website presence and development of a smartphone app has enabled even more people to benefit from the College’s many assets, with online views doubling to approximately 2 million in 2012/2013.

His continued concern with the welfare of Almsfolk together with the condition of the Gresham Almshouses has been evident throughout his term of office. The annual visits to the residents at the Almshouses during Christmas remain warmly received, and the Chairman has played a key part in ensuring the needs of the residents are met both in the short and long term.

At the conclusion of his service as their Chairman, the Committee wish to thank him for his cordial chairmanship, the intelligent contribution he has made to the accomplishments of the Committee and his generous hospitality, and to wish him good health and happiness in the future.

The Chairman welcomed new Members of the Committee, Deputy Ken Ayers and George Gillon (in his absence), and thanked the outgoing Member, Deputy John Owen-Ward.