Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding possible changes to the constitution and governance structure of the Board; following a recent self-review of governance. The report set out some options to increase the constitution of the Board Governors, as suggested at the previous Board meeting, which Governors were advised would require subsequent consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee and Court of Common Council. Governors noted that a skills audit would be carried out to establish the appropriate membership of the various sub-committees, the terms of reference for which would be considered at a future Board meeting.

The Board considered a Governor’s proposal to increase the constitution of the Board to 20 Governors: by amending the Membership from one to two Aldermen and five to eight Co-Opted Governors whilst ceasing the Ex-Officio status of the Chairmen of the Boards of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School and School for Girls. The Governor’s proposals also included the addition of Finance and Estates and Academic and Education Sub-Committees to meet termly as well as Governance and Senior Appointments and Marketing and Development Sub-Committees to meet as and when required. The Head supported the Governor’s proposals.

The Town Clerk added that a change to the quorum would be required to ensure there would not be a majority of external Co-Opted Governors at any one meeting, if the Board were minded to support the Governor’s proposals. The Deputy Chairman suggested that the quorum could reflect a minimum of five Common Councilmen or no less than the number of Co-Opted Members at any one meeting.

Some Governors noted their concerns at the addition of second Alderman and the termination of the Ex-Officio status of the Chairmen of the Boards of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School and School for Girls. It was agreed that the current number of Aldermen, Common Councilmen and Ex-Officio status of the Chairmen of the Boards of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School and School for Girls would be maintained.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the number of Co-Opted Governors in the Board’s constitution and Terms of Reference be increased from five to eight, for subsequent submission the Policy and Resources Committee and the Court of Common Council; and

b)    the establishment of four Sub-Committees for Finance and Estates, Academic and Education, Governance and Senior Appointments and Marketing and Development, be approved.