Agenda item

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Comptroller & City Solicitor.  

The Committee considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and the Comptroller & City Solicitor concerning the management of the City Corporation’s three independent schools and the extent to which the parents of current pupils could and should be able to serve as Governors.

During discussion, a wide range of views were expressed in respect of the suitability of Members with children at the School serving as Governors, with comparisons drawn to the situation at other independent schools. The benefits that such Members might bring through their particular experience as parents was noted, as was the increased likelihood of a more active involvement with the daily business of the School. Equally, the challenges of managing conflicts of interest were noted.

The Comptroller & City Solicitor provided clarity in respect of the current position, confirming that such Members were currently eligible to serve as Governors. However, the decision taken by the Court of Common Council to apply the provisions associated with local government legislation to all areas of the Court’s business meant that such parent Governors would have an engaged pecuniary interest through their contract with the School in respect of the child’s education. The affected Member would, therefore, be so conflicted as to severely limit their ability to participate in the majority of business before the relevant Board of Governors. This was at odds with the position at other independent schools. Members would, therefore, need to make a decision in respect of the continued application of local government rules and the provisions of the Localism Act to the business of the independent schools.

Following further debate, the Town Clerk urged caution in respect of unpicking the current arrangements in respect of local government legislation and its application through the Code of Conduct in isolation. It was suggested that the implications of such a step should be considered in the round and that this should, therefore, be looked at as part of the forthcoming governance review. Members agreed that this would be prudent.

RESOLVED: That the parents or guardians of any child currently studying at the City of London School, the City of London School for Girls or the City of London Freemen’s School should continue to be eligible to sit on the Board of Governors for that School; subject to the current provisions of the Code of Conduct and pending the outcome of a review into the application of local government legislation to non-City Fund areas of the City Corporation’s activity.