Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting. The meeting can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/ro2OMEUs0p8

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

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

There were no apologies.

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

2.

Declarations

Minutes:

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.

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

3.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman for 2019/20 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 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.

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

4.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 126 KB

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

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

Minutes:

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

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

5.

Committee Minutes

Minutes:

5a

Minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee pdf icon PDF 136 KB

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

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

Minutes:

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

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

5b

Minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee pdf icon PDF 48 KB

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

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

Minutes:

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

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

6.

Appointment of Co-opted Trustee pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

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.

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

7.

Policies for the Trust pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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:

 

  • Finance Policy;
  • Procurement and Tendering Policy;
  • Gifts and Hospitality Policy;
  • Charging and Remissions Policy;
  • Reserves Policy;
  • Investment Policy;
  • Whistleblowing Policy;
  • Freedom of Information Policy;
  • Data Protection Policy;
  • Records Retention;
  • Code of Conduct;
  • No Smoking policy (new); and

·         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.

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

8.

CoLAT Academies Development Programme - Update pdf icon PDF 108 KB

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

 

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

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

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

9.

School Places Demand Projections pdf icon PDF 117 KB

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

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

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

10.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

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

11.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

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.

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

12.

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 12.

Minutes:

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

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

13.

Non-Public Minutes

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

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

Minutes:

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

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

14.

Non-Public Committee Minutes

Minutes:

14a

Non-Public Minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

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

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

Minutes:

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

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

14b

Non-Public Minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee

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

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

Minutes:

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

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

15.

Outstanding Items

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Minutes:

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

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

16.

CoLAT Academies Development Programme - Update - Non-Public Appendices

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

 

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

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

Minutes:

17.

Appointments to Local Governing Bodies and Appointment of Chairs to Local Governing Bodies

Report of the Town Clerk.

 

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

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

Minutes:

18.

CEO Executive Summary

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

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

Minutes:

Trustees considered an Executive Summary of the Chief Executive Officer.

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

19.

COVID-19 Update and Recovery Plan

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

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

Minutes:

20.

Scheme of Delegation Annual Update

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

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

Minutes:

21.

Strategic Plan Review 2020-24

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

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

Minutes:

22.

Chief Financial Officer's Update

Report of the Chief Financial Officer.

 

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

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

Minutes:

Trustees considered an update report of the Chief Financial Officer.

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

23.

Human Resources Update

Report of the Human Resources Director.

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

Minutes:

Trustees considered an update report of the Human Resources Director.

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

24.

CoLAT Schools Safeguarding Monitoring Update

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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

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

Minutes:

25.

Trust Schools' Calculated Grades

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

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

Minutes:

26.

Pre-Apprenticeship Provision Update

Report of the Chief Executive Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.

Minutes:

27.

ICT Update

Report of the Director of Information and Communication Technology.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 27.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Estates and Facilities Update on Trust Schools

Report of the Director of Estates and Facilities.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

Minutes:

29.

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

Minutes:

There were no non-public questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

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 30.

31.

Confidential Minutes

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 31.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Confidential Committee Minutes

Minutes:

32a

Confidential Minutes of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 32a

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 32a

32b

Confidential Minutes of the Standards and Accountability Committee on 30 April 2020

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 32b

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 32b

33.

Appointments to Local Governing Bodies and Appointment of Chairs to Local Governing Bodies - Confidential Appendices

Report of the Town Clerk.

 

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 33.

Minutes:

34.

Chief Financial Officer's Update - Extract from Non-Public Report

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 34.

Minutes:

35.

CoLAT Schools Safeguarding Monitoring Update - Extract from Non Public Report

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 35.

Minutes:

36.

Human Resources Update - Confidential Staffing Update

Minutes: