Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

Roy Blackwell declared that he was the Chair of the Local Governing Body of the City of London Academy Highgate Hill.

Tijs Broeke declared that he was the Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of the City Academy, Hackney.

Dawn Elliott declared that she was the Chair of the Board of Governors of the City Academy, Hackney.

Lucas Green declared that he was the Chair of the Local Advisory Board of Galleywall Primary City of London Academy.

Caroline Haines declared that she was the Chair of the Local Governing Body of Newham Collegiate Sixth Form.

Ann Holmes declared that she was the Chair of the Local Governing Body of the City of London Primary Academy Islington.

To elect a Chairman for 2019/20 in line with Article 82.

An election for Chair was conducted in line with Article 82. Tijs Broeke, being the only Trustee willing to serve, was elected Chair for the remainder of the academic year.

The Chair led the Board of Trustees in thanking Andrew McMurtrie, the outgoing Chair, for his outstanding leadership of the City of London Academies Board of Trustees.  Ann Holmes would also be standing down as a Trustee shortly and the Chair offered his thanks for her excellent contribution.  It was noted that Caroline Haines was attending the meeting as an Observer with a view to becoming a Sponsor Trustee for the 2020-21 academic year and would bring a wealth of experience of education to the Board of Trustees.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 March 2020.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the public minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on 1 July 2020 (To Follow).

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the public minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee meeting held on 30 April 2020.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Trustees considered a report of the Clerk regarding the reappointment of a Co-opted Trustee for a four-year term.

Trustees noted that the Trustee had made an excellent contribution to the Board of Trustees during her four-year term and served as the Chair of the Board of Governors of the City Academy, Hackney which was anticipated to join the City of London Academies Trust for the 2020-21 academic year.

RESOLVED, that Dawn Elliott be reappointed as a Co-opted Trustee of the City of London Academies Trust for a term of four years commencing 9 July 2020.

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Financial Officer presenting policies for the Trust for approval and the following point was made:

• The Finance, Audit and Risk had considered the proposed finance policies for the Trust at its meeting on 1 July 2020 and had requested that the new Expenses Claim Policy be re-drafted and presented to the meeting of the Board of Trustees on 3 September 2020 for approval.

RESOLVED, that:

·         The following updated policies be approved:

·         Policy for Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions.

·         The Expenses Claim Policy be re-drafted and considered at the meeting of the Board of Trustees on 3 September 2020 for approval.

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

Trustees are asked to note five non-public appendices at Agenda Item 16.

Trustees considered a report of the Director of Academy Development on the Academies Development Programme and the following points were made:

• Arrangements for the transfer of the City of London Corporation’s two co-sponsored academies, the City Academy, Hackney and the City of London Academy Islington to the City of London Academies Trust were underway and the following points were made:

·         A Trustee reported that the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee had discussed outstanding matters on property and pensions issues at its meeting on 1 July 2020, and had been advised that work was underway to resolve these, including the transfer of the schools’ leases to the Trust.  The freeholders of both schools had given consent for the transfer of leases and this work was on target to be completed by the end of July 2020, when the Department for Education would be approached for final sign-off.  The pension scheme liabilities of the two academies would be underwritten by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.  Updates on agreeing the transfer of the leases would be reported to the Chairs of the Board of Trustees and the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee when available.

·         Condition surveys of the two schools had identified that they were in generally good condition, but a separate fire risk assessment would be completed for both academies.  The Trust’s School Condition Allocation funding would increase for future years to fund capital works across the Trust’s increasing number of academies. 

·         In considering the size of the Local Governing Body of the City of London Academy Islington, Trustees noted how this varied from the Trust’s recommended model.  The Chief Executive Officer suggested that the Trust put its case for a smaller Governance model at the annual meeting with the strategic partners.  A Governance Self-Review was underway across the Trust which

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

Trustees considered a report of the Director of Academy Development on school places demand projections and the following point was made:

• The demand for school places was projected to be variable across the geographical area covered by the City of London Academies Trust in the short to medium term but it was anticipated that demand would continue to be strong for schools judged to be an “Outstanding” provision.

RESOLVED, that the demand for school places for primary and secondary schools in relation to existing City of London academies, and potential further academy expansion be noted.

There were no questions.

There was one item of other business.

The Chair expressed gratitude to Trustees and the CoLAT Central Team for the excellent work undertaken over the 2019-20 academic year.  The Chair gave particular thanks to both teaching and support staff within the Trust’s academies for their work in keeping schools open and helping both pupils and their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MOTION – That the public be excluded for the remaining items of business as they are likely to involve discussion on matters deemed commercially sensitive to the City of London Academies Trust.

RESOLVED, that the public be excluded from the following items of business.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2020.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on 1 July 2020 (To Follow).

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on 1 July 2020 be received.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee meeting held on 30 April 2020.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee meeting held on 30 April 2020 be received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Trustees considered a report of the Clerk setting out outstanding actions from previous meetings.

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

Non-Public appendices to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 8.

Trustees considered non-public appendices for Item 8: CoLAT Academies Development Programme – Update.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Trustees are asked to note five confidential appendices at Agenda Item 33.

Trustees considered a report of the Clerk setting out proposed appointments to Local Governing Bodies and appointment of Chairs to Local Governing Bodies.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees considered an Executive Summary of the Chief Executive Officer.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer providing a COVID-19 update and proposed recovery plan.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer setting out the annual update of the Scheme of Delegation.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer presenting the Strategic Plan Review 2020-24.

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

Trustees are asked to note two confidential appendices at Agenda Item 34.

Trustees considered an update report of the Chief Financial Officer.

Report of the Human Resources Director.

Trustees considered an update report of the Human Resources Director.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees are asked to note confidential information at Agenda Item 35.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer providing an update on safeguarding monitoring.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer on Trust Schools’ calculated grades.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer presenting an update on the proposed Pre-Apprenticeship provision.

Report of the Director of Information and Communication Technology.

Trustees considered an update report of the Director of Information Communication and Technology.

Report of the Director of Estates and Facilities.

Trustees considered a report of the Director of Estates and Facilities Management.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other business.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2020.

RESOLVED, that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the confidential minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on 1 July 2020 (To Follow).

RESOLVED, that the confidential minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on 1 July 2020 be received.

To receive the confidential minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee meeting held on 30 April 2020.

RESOLVED, that the confidential minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee meeting held on 30 April 2020 be received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Confidential appendices to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 17.

Trustees considered confidential appendices for Item 17: Appointments to Local Governing Bodies and Appointment of Chairs to Local Governing Bodies.

Confidential appendices to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 22.

Trustees considered a confidential extract from Item 22: Chief Financial Officer’s Update.

Confidential information to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 24.

Trustees considered a confidential extract from Item 24: CoLAT Schools Safeguarding Monitoring Update.

Trustees heard an update of the Human Resources Director.</AI41>

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