Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Marianne Fredericks and Alderman David Graves.

Chairman’s Welcome

The Chairman welcomed Keith Bottomley to his first meeting as Governor and expressed the Board’s thanks to Sophie Ann Fernandes, who had recently resigned from the Board of Governors.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 2 December 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 2 December 2015 be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding possible changes to the constitution and governance structure of the Board; following a recent self-review of governance. The report set out some options to increase the constitution of the Board Governors, as suggested at the previous Board meeting, which Governors were advised would require subsequent consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee and Court of Common Council. Governors noted that a skills audit would be carried out to establish the appropriate membership of the various sub-committees, the terms of reference for which would be considered at a future Board meeting.

The Board considered a Governor’s proposal to increase the constitution of the Board to 20 Governors: by amending the Membership from one to two Aldermen and five to eight Co-Opted Governors whilst ceasing the Ex-Officio status of the Chairmen of the Boards of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School and School for Girls. The Governor’s proposals also included the addition of Finance and Estates and Academic and Education Sub-Committees to meet termly as well as Governance and Senior Appointments and Marketing and Development Sub-Committees to meet as and when required. The Head supported the Governor’s proposals.

The Town Clerk added that a change to the quorum would be required to ensure there would not be a majority of external Co-Opted Governors at any one meeting, if the Board were minded to support the Governor’s proposals. The Deputy Chairman suggested that the quorum could reflect a minimum of five Common Councilmen or no less than the number of Co-Opted Members at any one meeting.

Some Governors noted their concerns at the addition of second Alderman and the termination of the Ex-Officio status of the Chairmen of the Boards of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School and School

There were none.

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 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 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2015.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2015 be approved.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

N.B. Appendix 4A is in the Confidential Agenda

The Board considered a report of the Head that provided an updated regarding the management and operational activities of the School since the last meeting.

Joint report of the Head of the City of London School and the City Surveyor.

The Board considered a joint report of the City Surveyor and the Head that sought approval to the Summer Works Programme to be carried out at the City of London School during August 2016.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls, the Head of the City of London School, and the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School.

The Board considered a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Head of the City of London School, the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls, and the Headmaster of the City of London Freemen’s School regarding the operation of the Bursary guidelines.

There were none.

The Board considered one item of urgent business.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board considered a report of the Head that provided Governors with details of the key risks faced by the School and the controls that were being put in place to mitigate their impact.