Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Neil Constable, Paul Hughes, Jeremy Mayhew and Nicy Roberts.

Sir Andrew Burns declared a personal interest as Chairman of the Hestercombe Gardens Trust. This was a standing declaration.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7 September 2015.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2015 were considered and approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (page 2) – The Principal reported that the Prevent duty was being taken forward by the School and that the actions taken to date had been discussed with HEFCE at their visit which had taken place last week. Governors were informed that, particularly in light of the recent atrocities in Paris, the Prevent duty and acts of terrorism would now be re-visited and re-profiled as specific risks on the School’s Risk Register.

The Principal went on to report that the School had made contact with all 32 of its French national students over the weekend and had offered them any necessary assistance following the events of Friday evening.

The Chief Operating and Financial Officer informed the Board that the Barbican Centre had, this morning, undertaken a wholesale security review and that there would now be a greater physical security presence in the Centre’s public spaces. Staff had been briefed accordingly and the Centre were now awaiting further guidance and advice from the Metropolitan and City of London Police as to any further steps that should now be taken.

In response to questions, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer stated that there were no plans to search the bags of all visitors to the Centre at present nor for the introduction of scanners at main entrances.

A Governor highlighted that the City of London Police offered relevant training to security and facilities managers and it was hoped that Departments within the City Corporation would make use of such training.

Awards and Prizes (page 3) – The Chairman reported that, unfortunately, Ashley Fripp had not progressed to the final of the Leeds International Piano Competition after competing

To receive the public minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2015.

The public minutes of the Governance and Effectiveness Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 23 October 2015 were received.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding their terms of reference and frequency of meetings.

A Governor suggested that some thought should be given to the nine year limit of Governors serving on the Board and whether this was sustainable going forward, particularly in terms of nurturing future Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen.

RESOLVED: That the Board:

a)         approve the Terms of Reference of the Board for submission to the Court as set out           in the appendix to the report; and

b)         approve the frequency of their meetings going forward.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk setting out Outstanding Actions.

The Chairman reported that the meeting regarding Sundial Court was postponed and was now set to take place later this week.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board received the Principal’s General Reports updating them on a number of current issues including Awards and Prizes, Open House, CYM Regional Centres and Engagement with China.

Awards and Prizes

In addition to those Prizes and Awards listed, the Principal reported that Guildhall students had recently won three of the four possible prizes in Junior Ferrier and that ten of this year’s twelve 2^nd year Opera students had secured places at Glyndebourne or Garsington next summer.

Current Issues

The Principal reported that the annual HEFCE visit to the School had taken place last week and that a wide range of business had been covered.

With regard to financial provisions, the Principal reported that a lot currently hinged on the Autumn statement due on 25^th November 2015 as this would provide some clarity as to funding for the sector as a whole. Governors were reminded that the School’s submission for RISTA funding was still in progress and that a panel due to consider whether or not they fulfilled the ‘World Leading’ aspect would meet next week. The Principal stated that he felt that the School had every reason to be positive about their submission at this stage.

The Board were informed that both the Chairman and the Principal had attended the HEFCE annual meeting last week at which the Chief Executive of HEFCE had modelled four different scenarios that could heavily impact on the financial health of the sector in the near future. These included a 5% reduction in the teaching grant, a 20% increase in staff costs, a reduction in non-EU Students and ‘Brexit’. The Principal commented that the School were monitoring these developments closely and were engaged in discussions in different ways at various levels.

In response to a question on a possible Brexit, the Principal

Report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board received a report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama listing the activities of the Board during the last academic year including its consideration of two equality-strand analyses of the data for the 2014 entry admissions cycle and the 2013/14 assessment cycle.

The Chairman reminded the Board that the Academic Board had replaced the former Teaching and Learning Board and that this was therefore their first annual report to Governors.

The Vice Principal and Director of Academic Affairs of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama reported that, in academic terms, the past year had been a very positive one. The School had now awarded its first degrees, external examiners continued to be very impressed with the programme offer, there had been a very small number of formal student complaints and some strong degree outcomes.

In terms of student feedback on their learning experiences, the Vice Principal referred back to the fact that the agenda on this would clearly intensify as was highlighted within the Green Paper and proposals around the introduction of a TEF. The Board were informed that the School’s efforts on widening participation here and getting all to understand the importance of such surveys going forward would continue.

In response to questions regarding the various student surveys, the Vice Principal stated that the National Student Survey (NSS) contained a standard set of questions for across the sector. These therefore often have to be interpreted by Guildhall School students to be of direct relevance to their courses. The Whole School Survey (WSS) was, however, an internal questionnaire open to all years to complete.

A Governor questioned whether the School were currently employing the best strategies regarding the employability of its students. The Vice Principal recognised that there was still more work to do

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Board received a report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer containing the HEFCE Annual Accountability Return for 2015.

RESOLVED – That, the Committee note the contents of the report in relation to the 2015 Annual Accountability Return documents for consideration elsewhere on the agenda.

Report of the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management.

The Board received a report of the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management providing Governors with details of the Internal Audit work undertaken at the School during the academic year ended 31^st July 2015 with the intention of providing them with an opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management, control and governance, economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

The Principal reported that, with the agreement of the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Governors, the planned audit of Annual Enrolement would be postponed. He explained that an audit on this area had taken place last year and that its inclusion on the forthcoming plan arose as a result of a misunderstanding in Internal Audit who believed that this had to be undertaken annually. Governors were informed that an audit of Principal Studies would now replace this.

RESOLVED – That, Members note the work that internal audit have undertaken.

There were no questions.

Public Minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

The public minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 5 November 2015 were tabled and received.

RECEIVED.

Public Minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

The public minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 6 November 2015 were tabled and received.

RECEIVED.

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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2015 were considered and approved as a correct record.

Report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama providing Governors with two nominations for honorary fellowships for the 2015/16 session.

Report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board received a report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama regarding the HEFCE Accounts Direction for 2015/16.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Board considered and approved the Audit Committee Annual Report.

Report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board received a report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama summarising the arrangements currently in place to achieve best value for money and the initiatives being undertaken to improve them.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Board considered and approved the Guildhall School’s Accounts, to be submitted to HEFCE, for the year ended 31 July 2015.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Board received a report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer providing a financial review of September 2-15 (Period 6 of the 2015/16 Financial Year).

Report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board received a report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama detailing the School’s budget for 2016/17.

Non-public report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Board considered a report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on Strategic Issues.

Report of the Vice Principal and Director of Academic Affairs, Guildhall School.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Vice Principal and Director of Academic Affairs, Guildhall School against the Enterprise 2013 Five Year Plan.

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

The non-public minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 5 November 2015 and the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 6 November 2015 were tabled and received.