Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman The Lord Mountevans, Chris Hayward, Virginia Rounding, Roy Blackwell, Helen Sanson and Veronica Wadley.

There were no declarations.

A register of standing declarations was received.

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

RESOLVED, that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Members agreed to vary the order of items on the agenda so that an Annual Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the Virtual School Headteacher for the Academic Year 2015/16 was considered first.

RECEIVED

At the conclusion of the item, Members moved back in to public session.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 10 November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2016 were approved as a correct record, and a list of actions received.

Matters Arising

Chair of City Academy Hackney

The Chairman noted that the KPMG candidate for Chair of the Governing Body had withdrawn their candidacy and that the City of London Corporation would be notified of a proposed replacement in due course.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2016.

The draft minutes of the Nominations Sub (Education Board) Committee meeting held on 29 November 2016 were received.

The Chairman noted that the minutes would be subject to amendment at the next meeting of the Sub Committee, and that she would update Members on the amendment in non-public session.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2016.

The draft minutes of the Education Charity Sub (Education Board) Committee meeting held on 12 December 2016 were received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk on the annual review of the Board’s terms of reference and frequency of meetings.

A number of Members noted that the current terms of reference seemingly granted the Board wide responsibilities without control over corresponding budgets. Following discussion it was agreed that the current terms of reference be approved but that a more in-depth review take place ahead of the 2018/19 iteration.

Members agreed the principle of five meetings per year provided meetings were distributed equitably throughout the year.

RESOLVED, that

·         The terms of reference be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee and the Court of Common Council for ratification, with any further changes deemed necessary in the lead up to the Board’s appointment by the Court of Common Council delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

·         The Board meet at least five times per year.

To consider a resolution of the Policy and Resources Committee.

Members considered a resolution of the Policy and Resources Committee concerning the appointment of Chairmen of Sub Committees.

Ann Holmes, being the sole objector, noted her opposition to the resolution, to be recorded in the minutes.

RESOLVED, that the convention put forward by the Policy Committee be endorsed, namely

·         When a Chairman does not wish to exercise his or her right to be the Chairman of a Sub Committee and wishes a specific Member to be appointed, the Chairman must submit his or her nomination for Chairman to the wider Committee for approval.

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

Members considered a report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the Education Board’s proposed budget allocation for financial year 2017/18.

A Member noted he would welcome more granular detail in future such reports.

RECEIVED

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the appointment of the Strategic Education and Skills Director and the following comments were made.

·         It was suggested that the Deputy Chairman be added to the proposed membership of the appointment panel.

·         The funding for the Strategic Education and Skills Director post should feature as a single dedicated item on the annual budget.

·         Specific mention of Christ’s Hospital and King Edward’s School Witley should be made in the job description.

RECEIVED

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding school partnership events. A Member noted that the forthcoming Quit Rents Ceremony was a potential filming opportunity.

RECEIVED

Report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

Members considered a report of the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries regarding Barbican and Community Libraries Services for Children and Families.

RECEIVED

Report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces regarding short term funding arrangements for the Open Spaces Learning Programme. In response to a question, the Head of Learning (Open Spaces) confirmed that the Open Spaces Department worked in partnership with London Youth on the department’s Green Talent initiative.

RECEIVED

Report of the Chief Executive Officer, City of London Academies Trust.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer, City of London Academies Trust regarding financial scrutiny of City academies. The Chairman noted that as sponsor of the City academies, the City of London Corporation acting through the Education Board should reserve the right to inspect academy finances.

A Member suggested that it would be a useful exercise to conduct a financial ‘stress test’ of a hypothetical chain of circa twelve academies.

RESOLVED, that Members

·         Endorse the proposal to formalise the central financial scrutiny of the City’s academies as outlined within the report.

·         Request that the City of London Academies Trust Board share with the City of London Corporation any recommendations that they adopt.

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding potential financial risks facing the City of London Academies Trust.

RECEIVED

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

This report was withdrawn.

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the academies risk register and the following comments were made. Members were content with the register subject to financial risks being made more explicit and for any statutory liabilities being made clearer.

RECEIVED

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding examination scrutiny meetings.

RECEIVED

Report of the Chief Executive Officer, City of London Academies Trust.

Members agreed to discuss a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on prioritisation for potential new City academies in non-public session.

RESOLVED, that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

At the conclusion of the item Members moved back into public session.

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on local governing body governance for the City of London Academies Trust schools. The Chairman noted that the City of London Academies Trust had been approached regarding the appointment of Anthony Smythe and Elaine Davis, former LGB governors, to the City of London Academy Southwark local governing body, and sought the Board’s endorsement for their appointment.  

RESOLVED, that Members

·         Note and endorse the governance documentation for the City of London Academies Trust’s LGBs including the appointments process for governor appointments to the Trust’s LGBs;

·         Note that the Trust has approved governance documentation for LGBs of the Trust;

·         Note the City of London Corporation’s role as Sponsor regarding LGB appointments;

·         Note that the Education Unit will provide an update on governor membership to the Education Board as a standing item;

·         Note the current Governors of City Schools;

·         Endorse the appointment by the Trust of Anthony Smythe and Elaine Davis to the City of London Academy Southwark LGB.

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the appointment of a City governor to the City Academy Hackney.

RESOLVED, that Members

·         Approve the appointment of Katie Dowbiggin as a City governor on the City Academy Hackney governing body for a term of four years.

·          

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding mental health in City Schools. A Member noted that the report did not go into as much detail as he had hoped and requested that both parents and staff be featured going forward. The Chairman concurred and requested that safeguarding feature as a standing item on agendas going forward.

RECEIVED

Report of the Chief Grants Officer, The City Bridge Trust.

Members considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer, City Bridge Trust regarding projects designed to support young Londoners into employment. In response to a question regarding what work the City Bridge Trust was doing in anticipation of the future nature of work – i.e. greater automation and use of artificial intelligence – an officer replied that the Trust was currently undertaking a Quinquennial review of its work and would welcome feedback from Members on this issue. A Member added that there was scope to promote greater partnership working with Innovate Finance.

RECEIVED

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding apprenticeships. Members welcomed the report and requested that a more detailed item of work assessing both the future nature of work and the forthcoming Apprenticeship Levy be brought to the Board.

RECEIVED

Report of the Director of Economic Development.

Members considered an update report of the Director of Economic Development on employability. In response to a query from a Member, the Head of Employability confirmed that a further update would be submitted to the May Board meeting.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2016 were approved as a correct record.

To consider a resolution of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen's School.

Members considered a resolution of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School.

RECEIVED

Report of the Headmaster.

Members considered an outreach report of the City of London Freemen’s School.

RECEIVED

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the academies development programme.

RECEIVED

Report of the City Surveyor.

Members considered a report of the City Surveyor regarding the City of London Primary Academy Southwark (Phases 1 & 2) project.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

Nominations Sub (Education Board) Committee Minutes – 29 November 2016

The Chairman updated the Board on a proposed amendment to the draft minutes of the Nominations Sub Committee held on 29 November 2016.