Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Bennett (ex-officio), Deputy Stella Currie, Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley, Dr. Stephanie Ellington (co-opted), Tom Hoffman, Henrika Priest, Richard Sermon (co-opted) and Deputy Sir Michael Snyder.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 17 October 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 17 October 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Appointment of Co-opted Governor (page 1) – In response to a question, the Chairman stated that the matter of co-opting Governors to fill current vacancies on the Board was still under review.

Review of the Governance Arrangements Implemented in 2011 (page 2) – In response to a question, the Town Clerk assured the Board that their comments on the Governance Arrangements implemented in 2011 had been fed into the Governance Review Working Party for consideration.

The Town Clerk went on to report that the recommendations of the Governance Review Working Party had been discussed at yesterday’s informal Court meeting and that a full report would now be put to the Court of Common Council in December. With reference to the ruling whereby a Member could sit on more than one City School Board at the same time, Governors were informed that the Working Party had decided that this was beneficial and would continue to be recommended going forward.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and the Director of HR (copy attached).

The Board considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and the Director of HR regarding changes to the national disclosure regime brought about by the Protection of Freedoms Act.

The Head of Corporate HR Services highlighted that the recommendations had already been approved by both the Policy and Resources and the Community and Children’s Services Committee to date. She went on to comment that the Board of Governors of the City of London School had considered the report earlier this week but had expressed some reservations with regard to the ‘self assessment’ element of the checks referred to within the paper.

The Head of Corporate HR Services went on to address the concerns expressed by the City of London School Board by underlining the fact that it would be the responsibility of both the City of London Corporation and the relevant School to ensure that all adequate checks were in place. The self-assessment element had been introduced to allow Members to notify Officers of any change in the role/level of activity between checks.

In response to a question, the Head of Corporate HR Services stated that the ‘enhanced’ checks previously required for the Chairmen of the City of London School Boards would no longer be necessary.

RESOLVED – That, the Board:

i)          notes the fact that legislation now requires a CRB check be carried out on any Member whose work with children or adults (through the City of London Corporation) meet the relevant criteria. Automatic checks for all members of previously relevant Committees and Boards would, therefore, cease;

ii)         agree an annual review and self-declaration process should be introduced to ensure relevant Members who are eligible for checks are identified; and

iii)        agree that re-checking is introduced for members requiring an initial check, but only at

There were no questions.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

To consider the resolution excluding the Public in respect of those items containing exempt information:-

That under Section 100(A) 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 I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

            Item No.                                                          Exemption Paragraph(s)

                8                                                                                   2

                9                                                                              1, 3 & 4

              10                                                                                1 & 3

              11                                                                                   2

              12                                                                                   -

              13                                                                                   -

RESOLVED – That, under Section 100(A) 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 I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

            Item No.                                                          Exemption Paragraph(s)

                8                                                                                   2

                9                                                                              1, 3 & 4

              10                                                                                1 & 3

              11                                                                                   2

              12                                                                                   -

              13                                                                                   -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 17 October (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls and the City Surveyor (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a late, separately circulated joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls and the City Surveyor providing an updated projection of the cost of works to be met from the Repairs, Maintenance, Improvements and Major Works Fund over the next 21 years.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a late, separately circulated joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls presenting the proposed 2013/14 revenue budget for review and, subject to the decisions of the Board, subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.

The Head of Prep, City of London School for Girls, to be heard.

The Head of Prep, City of London School for Girls, gave a presentation on developments in the Prep School over the past two years and future plans.

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

The Chairman raised various issues relative to the Membership and Chairmanship of the Board.