Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alex Tostedevines.

Nicy Roberts declared a personal interest in matters relating to the Centre for Young Musicians, being a member of the CYM Monitoring Group, editor of CYM's termly magazine UPBEAT, and jointly responsible for the LSSO Alumni Database.  This was a standing declaration.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 16 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 16 November 2015 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee held on 22 January 2016.

The public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 22 January 2016 were received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

Fees Schedule: Whilst this would be the subject of a more comprehensive report in May, the Principal took the opportunity to advise that the average scholarship award for UK and EU students was £2080, compared to £9840 for non-EU students.

Sundial Court: An oral update on this item would be provided in non-public session.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk setting out the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s amended Instrument and Articles of Government, as submitted to the Privy Council.

RESOLVED – That, the Board of Governors assents to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s amended Instrument and Articles of Government as submitted to the Privy Council Office and set out in appendix 1.

Presentation from Dr Cormac Newark, Head of Research, Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Dr Cormac Newark, Head of Research at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, delivered a presentation to the Board providing an update on the School’s research activities. He advised that research helped the School expand into new areas but were developed alongside the existing structure and departments. This made sure curiosity was encouraged and the school remained forward-looking, while continuing to draw links between the ‘sharp’ end and the core to ensure the whole School was involved. In response to Governors’ questions, Dr Newark confirmed that the School was linking with the Barbican and the LMA regarding an archiving project, private funding for research was pursued where possible, and the strong research culture would underpin teaching.

RECEIVED.

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

The Board received the Principal’s General Report updating them on a number of current issues including Awards and Prizes, Sector Funding, Green Papers and the Prevent Duty. With regard to the latter, the Principal advised that the Prevent Self-Assessment had been submitted to HEFCE, and work was underway to achieve an ‘A’ rating in all areas. The Board noted that the grant from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to HEFCE had been delayed by up to two months and, as a result, the HEFCE Board was unable to approve provisional grants to institutions. As such, it was unlikely that the School would receive its own grant letter until after the start of the 2016/17 financial year.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

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 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 as follows:-

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the amendment of three typographical errors, the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2015 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee held on 22 January 2016.

The non-public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama held on 22 January 2016 were received.

RECEIVED.

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

The Board received the non-public report of the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain providing Members with detailed arrangements for the Barbican Centre and Guildhall School of Music and Drama Capital Cap replacement.

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 February 2016 (Period 9 of the 2015/16 Financial Year).

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Director of Human Resources setting out the proposed recruitment process for the Principal’s successor and a proposed timeframe.

As having GSMD staff involved in the appointment arrangements for the Principal Guildhall School of Music and Drama in any substantive way gave rise to an appearance of possible bias, with the exception of the Town Clerk and Director of HR, officers and Staff Governors were instructed to leave the room for discussion on this item.

There were no questions.

The Chairman thanked the Deputy Chairman for his support over the past year, and thanked Neil Constable, Paul Hughes and Kathryn McDowell at this, their last meeting after nine years as co-opted members. Thanks were also extended to John Scott as this was his last meeting, and Mr Scott presented the Principal of the Guildhall School with a number of documents for the archives.

There were no urgent items.