Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting. The meeting can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/ilHfc_qhDHg

Contact: Kerry Nicholls  Email: Kerry.Nicholls@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Clare James.

 

The Chair led the Board in welcoming Caroline Haines and Deputy Edward Lord who had recently become Trustees and Clare Verga, Chief Standards Officer to their first meeting of the Board.

 

The Chair was pleased to announce that the City of London Academy Islington and The City Academy, Hackney had now joined the City of London Academies Trust.  The Chair led the Board in thanking officers of the City of London Corporation and the City of London Academies Trust as well as leaders and Governors of the two schools for their excellent work in supporting the transfer.  The Chair noted that the City University, London and KPMG, would continue to support the City of London Academy Islington and The City Academy, Hackney as strategic partners, respectively.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Declarations

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Election of Chair

To elect a Chair for the 2020-21 academic year in line with Article 82.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

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 ensuing year.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Election of Vice-Chair

To elect a Vice-Chair for the 2020-21 academic year in line with Article 82.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

An election for Vice-Chair was conducted, in line with Article 82. Roy Blackwell, being the only Trustee willing to serve, was elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 171 KB

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

In considering Minute 8: CoLAT Academies Development Programme – Update, the Chief Executive Officer confirmed that condition surveys of the City of London Academy Islington and The City Academy, Hackney had been completed prior to the schools joining the Trust.  Work was underway to arrange fire risk assessments for both academies and an update would be provided to the Board when available.

 

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020 be approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Appointment of Committees 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 307 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

Trustees considered a report of the Clerk regarding the appointment of the Board’s committees for the 2020-21 academic year.

 

Trustees approved the proposed terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee and Finance and Operations Committee and the terms of reference for the Standards and Accountability Committee, Academy LGB Pay Committees and City of London Academies Trust Executive Team Pay Committees.  Trustees agreed the terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee subject to the below amendment:

 

Remuneration Committee

 

·         Amend the composition of the committee membership to include the Chair of the Standards and Accountability Committee.

 

The Chair noted that a clear structure was in place to support decision making around remuneration and that pay awards should not be communicated to affected staff before final approval.

 

Trustees were advised that the election of Chairs to these committees would be undertaken at the first meeting of each committee convened during the 2020-21 academic year.

 

RESOLVED,

 

·         That the proposed terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee and Finance and Operations Committee be approved.

 

·         That the terms of reference of the Standards and Accountability Committee, Academy LGB Pay Committees and City of London Academies Trust Executive Team Pay Committees be approved;

 

·         That the terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee be approved, subject to the above amendment;

 

·         That Peter Bennett, Edward Benzecry, Tijs Broeke and Dawn Elliott be appointed to the Audit and Risk Committee for the 2020-21 academic year;

 

·         That Peter Bennett, Edward Benzecry, Tijs Broeke, Dawn Elliott and Deputy Clare James be appointed to the Finance and Operations Committee for the 2020-21 academic year;

 

·         That Edward Benzecry, Roy Blackwell, Tijs Broeke, Caroline Haines and Deputy Edward Lord be appointed to the Standards and Accountability Committee for the 2020-21 academic year; and,

 

·         That Roy Blackwell, Tijs Broeke and Deputy

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

COLPAI Waste Management Consultation: Update

The Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

Trustees heard an update of the Director of Academy Development (COL) on the waste management consultation at the City of London Primary Academy Islington and the following points were made:

 

·         A webinar on planning conditions had taken place on 27 August 2020 which a number of stakeholders had attended, including local residents.  A range of suggestions had been made to ameliorate waste management concerns, including the installation of retractable bollards; however, in the short term it was anticipated that the current planning conditions for the permanent site of the City of London Primary Academy Islington would go forward unchanged. The Director of Academy Development confirmed that planning conditions must be discharged before the permanent site could be brought into use.

 

·         It was anticipated that build works on the City of London Primary Academy Islington would be completed in late May 2021, and that the school would transfer to its permanent site for the Summer 2021 term.

 

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Policies for the Trust pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED, that the following updated policies be approved:

 

·         Expenses, Travel and Subsistence Policy; and,

·         Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

In response to a question from a Trustee, The Director of Academy Development confirmed that following the transfer of the City of London Academy Islington and The City Academy, Hackney to the City of London Academies Trust, work would be undertaken to close down the schools existing academies companies. 

 

Trustees were reminded to notify the Clerk that they had read and understood Part 1 of the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance following the meeting, as this was an annual requirement.

 

The Chair observed that it had been an extraordinary year and that learning loss was a concern, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.  The Chair led the Board in thanking all leadership teams, teachers and other staff for their hard work during the pandemic and in preparing for the return to school.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020 be approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

12a

Delegated Actions Digest

Minutes:

Trustees considered a summary of the Clerk providing details of three actions taken under Delegated Authority since the meeting of the Board of Trustees on 9 July 2020.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12a

12b

Annual Attendance Register

Report of the Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12b

Minutes:

Trustees considered the annual attendance register for the 2019-20 academic year.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12b

13.

Outstanding Actions

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Appointments to Local Governing Bodies

Report of the Town Clerk.

 

Trustees are asked to note two confidential appendices at Agenda Item 24.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

ICT Update

Report of the Director of Information and Communication Technology.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Estates and Facilities Update on Trust Schools

Report of the Director of Estates and Facilities Management.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

Trustees considered an update report of the Director of Estates and Facilities Management.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

CEO Executive Summary

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

Trustees considered an Executive Summary of the Chief Executive Officer.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Unvalidated Examination and Test Results 2019-20 (To Follow)

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

Minutes:

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Executive Officer providing an update on examination outcomes for Trust schools for the 2019-20 academic year which were based on the best outcome between centre assessed grades and calculated grades by the examination boards.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

CFO Update

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Trustees are asked to note two confidential appendices at Agenda Item 25.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

Trustees considered an update report of the Chief Financial Officer.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Human Resources Update

Report of the Human Resources Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

Trustees considered an update report of the Human Resources Director.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Non-Public Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

Minutes:

There was one non-public question.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Any Other Business that the Chair considers Urgent and Trustees agree should be considered when the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There was no other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

22a

Human Resources Update - NJC Update

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 22a

Minutes:

Trustees considered a report of the Chief Financial Officers providing a National Joint Council update.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22a

23.

Confidential Minutes

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 23.

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020 be approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Appointments to Local Governing Bodies - Confidential Appendices

Report of the Town Clerk.

 

Confidential appendices to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 14.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 24.

Minutes:

Trustees considered confidential appendices for Item 14: Appointments to Local Governing Bodies.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

CFO Update - Confidential Appendices

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Confidential appendices to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 19.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 25.

Minutes:

Trustees considered confidential appendices for Item 19: CFO Update.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.