Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Timothy Hailes, Deputy Brian Harris, Clare James, Hugh Morris, Ian Seaton, and Gilly Yarrow.

Governors also noted that Adam Richardson had now resigned from the Board of Governors so the vacancy would be advertised from the Court of Common Council meeting in January 2017.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 3 October 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 3 October 2016 be approved.

Matters Arising

Financial Statements

Governors noted that a report regarding proposals to invest part of the Bursary and Charity Funds cash balances into the City of London Charities Pool by 1 April 2017 would be considered at the next Board meeting.

To note the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2016.

RESOLVED – That the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2016 be noted.

To note the draft public minutes of the inquorate meeting held on 14 November 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the inquorate meeting held on 14 November 2016 be noted and endorsed.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk setting out its Terms of Reference and frequency of Board of Governors meetings. Due to recent quorum issues at Sub-Committee meetings, the Board agreed to combine the membership of both Sub-Committees to allow Members of the Academic & Education Sub-Committee to count towards to quorum of the Finance, General Purposes & Estates Sub-Committee, and vice versa. Governors also noted that there were now two vacant positions on the Board for Common Council Governors. Current Common Council Governors would encourage Common Council Members to apply for these vacancies at the upcoming Court of Common Council meetings.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    The Terms of Reference of the Board of Governors be approved;

b)    The current frequency of meetings be approved;

c)    Up to eight other Governors be appointed to the Sub-Committees by the Board of Governors (two of whom must be Common Council Governors); and

d)    Nicholas Goddard be appointed to the Sub-Committees.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Board considered a Director of Human Resources that sought approval to the City of London Corporation’s Managing People Policy, the Disciplinary Procedure, and the Grievance Procedure. In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Human Resources advised that the Managing People Policy would formalise the appraisal process for all Managers and that she would clarify how this would affect procedures within the School with the Member.

RESOLVED – That the Managing People Policy, the Disciplinary Procedure, and the Grievance Procedure be approved.

In response to a Governor’s question, the Board agreed that a verbal update on safeguarding matters be added as a separate agenda item for each future Board meeting.

There was none.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business 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.

RESOLVED – 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 Section 12A if the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2016.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2016 be approved.

To note the draft non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2016.

RESOLVED – That the draft non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2016 be noted.

To note the draft non-public minutes of the inquorate meeting held on 14 November 2016.

RESOLVED – That the draft non-public minutes of the inquorate meeting held on 15 November 2016 be noted and endorsed.

Joint report of the Headmaster and the City Surveyor.

The Board considered a joint report of the Headmaster and the City Surveyor that sought approval to a project proposal regarding the City of London Freemen’s School 2016 Masterplan.

Report of the Headmaster.

The Board considered a report of the Headmaster that provided updates regarding matters relating to the School’s operational activities. The Board also gave close scrutiny to the Safeguarding Policy that had been updated following a recent safeguarding audit of the School commissioned by the Town Clerk’s Department.

Report of the Headmaster.

The Board considered a report of the Headmaster that sought approval to restructure in the IT Department at the City of London Freemen’s School following the Business review conducted in 2015/16 by ISQ.

Report of the Headmaster.

The Board received a report of the Headmaster that provided an overview of events in the Junior School since the last meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED – That the Head of Junior School’s report be noted.

Report of the Headmaster.

The Board received a report of the Headmaster that provided Governors with an update regarding the fees in arrears as at 31 October 2016.

RESOLVED – That the arrears of fees be noted.

Report of the Headmaster.

The Board received a report of the Headmaster regarding the School’s outreach office.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Board received a report of the Headmaster that provided an update regarding health and safety matters for the autumn term 2016.

RESOLVED – That the Health and Safety report be noted.

Report of the Headmaster.

The Board received a report of the Headmaster that contained the City of London Freemen’s School risk register.

RESOLVED – That the risk register be noted.

There were none.

There was one item of urgent business.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Human Resources.