Agenda and minutes

In the absence of both the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, Alderman Yarrow moved that Deputy Robin Eve as most senior Member of the Board and immediate past Chairman take the Chair for this meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Bennett (Chairman), Roger Chadwick (Deputy Chairman), Alderman Alison Gowman, Angela Starling and Alderman John White (ex-officio).

Deputy Eve welcomed John Barradell, the new Town Clerk and Chief Executive to his first meeting of the Freemen’s School Board.

Yvette Dunne

Deputy Eve reported that this would be the Bursar’s last Board meeting as she was due to start a new role at a nearby School in early 2013. Deputy Eve, on behalf of the Board, congratulated the Bursar on her new role and also wished to thank her for her tremendous work in transforming the finances of the School over the past few years.

The Bursar thanked the Board for their kind words and stated that serving as Bursar of CLFS had been a fantastic opportunity. She stated that she had learnt a lot over the past 5 years and grown hugely in confidence but was now looking forward to some new challenges.

Deputy Robin Eve declared a non-pecuniary interest on the basis of his membership of and connections with the Old Freemen’s School Association (OFA).

Councillor Chris Townsend declared a non- pecuniary interest stating that he was currently appointed and serving as an elected representative of Mole Valley District Council.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 5 October 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 5 October 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Chairmanship of the Board of Governors (page 4) – Deputy Eve reminded the Board that Deputy Bennett was now coming to an end of his fourth and final year as Chairman and that he had experienced great difficulty in finding a successor and planning ahead for 2013.

Deputy Eve went on to report that Angela Starling had recently indicated that she was to stand down from the Board and that this vacancy would therefore be advertised and filled at the January 2013 Court of Common Council meeting. Governors were informed that it was expected that a senior Member of Common Council would now be applying to join the Board with a view to becoming Chairman in 2013.

To receive the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7 November 2012 (copy attached).

The Board received the public minutes and summary of its Finance, General Purposes and Estates Sub Committee meeting held on 7 November 2012.

MATTERS ARISING

OFA Discussions re: OFA Clubhouse (page 7) – Deputy Eve was pleased to report that this issue seemed to have been resolved in the interim. He added that the OFA were currently spending funds to upgrade and modernise the existing Clubhouse.

A Governor commented that there was now a four year period in which to decide how best to use the plot going forward. He added that it was important not to lose this plot and simply ‘grass it over’ if the exisitng Clubhouse building were to be demolished. The Headmaster highlighted that this point had been made in the School’s 2008 Conservation Management Plan where the site had been earmarked as the last site available for development.

The Headmaster was pleased to report that the relationship between the School and the OFA was now a much better one.

Deputy Eve reported that the planning permission for the existing Clubhouse was up for renewal in April 2013.

RECEIVED.

To receive the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7 November 2012 (copy attached).

The Board received the public minutes and summary of its Academic and Education Sub Committee meeting held on 7 November 2012.

MATTERS ARISING

Governor Training (page 11) – Deputy Eve drew Governors’ attention to the fact that a three City Schools joint training session would be held at Guildhall on the afternoon of the January Board meeting. He reported that the Chairman had also invited Governors of King Edward’s School Witley to join the session this year. 

RECEIVED.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and the Director of HR (copy attached).

The Board considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and the Director of HR regarding changes to the national disclosure regime brought about by the Protection of Freedoms Act.

The Director of HR reported that the new regime was now a lot less onerous and that checks would no longer be automatically carried out on the basis of the office held.

She went on to report that current members would not be affected by the changes and that officers were still currently awaiting the final criteria from government.

In response to a question, the Director of HR reported that it was her understanding that checks would now be portable both internally and between organisations which was a welcome change for many.

The Director of HR reported that the Board of Governors of the City of London School had expressed some concern about the self-declaration element of the new regime. She reported that this was, however, in addition to Corporate HR reviewing checks centrally.

Governors were informed that a report on this matter would now be presented to the Court of Common Council in January 2013 for approval.

RESOLVED – That, the Board:

i)          note the fact that legislation now requires a CRB check be carried out on any Member whose work with children or adults (through the City of London Corporation) meet the relevant criteria. Automatic checks for all members of previously relevant Committees and Boards would, therefore, cease;

ii)         agree an annual review and self-declaration process should be introduced to ensure relevant Members who are eligible for checks are identified; and

iii)        agree that re-checking is introduced for members requiring an initial check, but only at the point when the streamlined national process goes live. Updating checks will then be made every 4 years from the point

There were no questions.

Alderman John White

Deputy Eve reported that Alderman John White would, today, be stepping down as an Alderman and would therefore also lose his seat as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls and would no longer be able to serve as an ex-officio member of this Board.

To consider the resolution excluding the Public in respect of those items containing exempt information:-

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.

            Item No.                                                          Exemption Paragraph(s)

                10                                                                                1 & 3

                11                                                                            1, 2, 3 & 4

                12                                                                              1, 2 & 4

                13                                                                              1, 3 & 4

                14                                                                                    3

                15                                                                                 1 & 3

                16                                                                                 1 & 3

                17                                                                                 1 & 3

                18                                                                                    1

                19                                                                                    1

                20                                                                                    2

                21                                                                                    -

                22                                                                                    -

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.

            Item No.                                                          Exemption Paragraph(s)

                10                                                                                1 & 3

                11                                                                            1, 2, 3 & 4

                12                                                                              1, 2 & 4

                13                                                                              1, 3 & 4

                14                                                                                    3

                15                                                                                 1 & 3

                16                                                                                 1 & 3

                17                                                                                 1 & 3

                18                                                                                    1

                19                                                                                    1

                20                                                                                    2

                21                                                                                    -

                22                                                                                    -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2012 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

To receive the non-public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7 November 2012 (copy attached).

The Board received the non-public minutes of its Finance, General Purposes and Estates Sub Committee meeting held on 7 November 2012.

To receive the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2012 (copy attached).

The Board received the non-public minutes of its Academic and Education Sub Committee meeting held on 7 November 2012.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen's School and the City Surveyor (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmaster and the City Surveyor providing Governors with an updated projection of the cost of works to be met from the Repairs, Maintenance, Improvements and Major Works Fund over the next 21 years.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmaster relative to the 2012/13 and 2013/14 Revenue Budgets.

Report of the Chamberlain (TO FOLLOW).

The Board considered and approved a late, separately circulated, report of the Chamberlain relative to a new application for a Foundation Scholarship.

Report of the Headmaster (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmaster providing Governors with an up to date overview of activities the School has been involved with in 2011-12, which, in addition to benefiting the education of pupils, are also of ‘public benefit’.

Report of the Bursar of the City of London Freemen’s School (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a report of the Bursar of the City of London Freemen’s School relative to the current Arrears of Fees.

Report of the Head of the Junior School, City of London Freemen’s School (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Head of the Junior School providing Governors with an overview of events in the Junior School since the last Board meeting.

Report of the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School relative to various School issues including the School Roll and Admissions, Staffing Matters, Prize Day 2013 and Marketing and Admissions.

The School’s ‘Physical restraint of Pupils Policy’ and ‘Learning Support Policy’ (copies attached).

The Board considered and approved both the Policy on the physical restraint of pupils and the Learning Support Policy which had previously been seen by its Academic and Education Sub Committee.

There were no questions in the non-public session.

The Town Clerk reported on the Master Plan item signed by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman under Urgency.