Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Catherine McGuinness, Wendy mead and Alderman Sir Alan Yarrow.

There were no declarations.

To elect a Chairman for the year ensuing.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman for the year ensuing.

The Town Clerk read a list of those eligible to stand and Marianne Fredericks, being the only Member indicating her willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chairman for the ensuing year. The Chairman thanked the Committee for their continued support.

To elect a Deputy Chairman for the year ensuing.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman for the year ensuing.

The Town Clerk read a list of those eligible to stand and Deputy Henry Pollard, being the only Member indicating his willingness to serve, was duly elected as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year. Deputy Pollard stated that he would be looking to hand the Deputy Chairmanship over to a new candidate in 2018.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 20 March 2017.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2017 were considered and approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Vacancies on the Committee (page 2) – The Chairman reported that there were currently seven vacancies on this Committee which would now be advertised at the May Court of Common Council meeting. The Chairman went on to propose that it would also be timely to consider another trip to the School this Summer with an invitation issued to the full Court to attend and better Members’ understanding of the work and history of Christ’s Hospital. It was suggested that train travel should be organised for all Members wanting to attend on this occasion.

A Member suggested that any newly appointed Members of this Committee should also be invited to the School separately for a short induction. He questioned whether the forthcoming Speech Day might be an appropriate time for this. The School’s Director of Development reported that this year’s Speech Day was due to take place on 27^th May and undertook to look into the possibility of inviting any new Members of the Committee along to this at relatively short notice.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, also wished to publicly record her thanks to Deputy John Barker, Dennis Cotgrove, Lucy Frew and Ann Pembroke all of whom had not returned to the Committee. She went on to state that Dennis Cotgrove, in particular, had had a huge involvement with the School having served as both a Donation Governor and as a past Chairman of this Committee.

To appoint three Donation Governors as follows:

a) One Donation Governor in the room of Sophie Fernandes/Dennis Cotgrove for an existing presentee at Christ’s Hospital (2013-2020);

b) One Donation Governor in the room of Lucy Frew for an existing presentee at Christ’s Hospital (2015-2022); and

c) One Donation Governor for the City's 2017 presentee at Christ’s Hospital (2017- 2024).

RESOLVED – That, Donation Governors be appointed as follows:

a) Wendy Mead in the room of Sophie Fernandes/Dennis Cotgrove for an existing presentee at Christ’s Hospital (2013-2020);

b) Deputy Henry Pollard in the room of Lucy Frew for an existing presentee at Christ’s Hospital (2015-2022); and

c) Randall Anderson for the City's 2017 presentee at Christ’s Hospital (2017- 2024).

Contact with Presentees

A Donation Governor questioned the most effective and appropriate ways for Donation Governors to contact their presentees. The Director of Development advised that it was best to contact presentees initially via their house parent and to also ensure that the house parent was sighted on/copied in to any correspondence.

Several Donation Governors reported that they had taken this approach and had found the School to be very helpful in terms of encouraging contact and presentees to respond to their Donation Governors.

The Chairman suggested that it would be useful for the School to provide the Committee with a list of house parents and their contact details for all of the City’s existing presentees. It was also requested that a list of all forthcoming events/concerts would be helpful to see to help improve contact between Donation Governors and their presentees/families.

Director of Development

In response to questions, the Director of Development took the opportunity to explain a little about his role at the School. He summarised by stating that his role was primarily focused on the future development of Christ’s Hospital and ways in which the School could raise funds in order to increase its charitable impact and the number of bursaries offered. He added that he and his staff were also tasked with looking after all of the School’s Alumni (‘Old Blues’) – many of whom were very supportive of and often ‘gave back’ to the School – as well as external engagement with various organisations at partnership, funding or policy level.

The Director of Development went on to touch upon Child Protection and its importance stating that this was an ever evolving area of work which Christ’s Hospital ensured was applied with rigour. He added that House Parents played a vital role in

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

                        Item No.                                              Exemption Paragraph(s)

                            10                                                                   1 & 3

                            11                                                                      3

                            12                                                                   1 & 3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2017.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2017 were considered and approved as a correct record.

The Committee received a report from Christ’s Hospital updating Members on their Restructure Proposals.

The Committee received a report from Christ’s Hospital regarding the School’s historic links with the City of London Corporation and updating Members on the progress of the City’s presentees at the School – past and present.

There were no questions raised in the non-public session.

The Committee discussed items including Donation Governor allowances, DBS checks and the annual Committee/Presentee Luncheon.