Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Michael Cassidy, Stuart Fraser, Marianne Fredericks, Alderman William Russell and Lynne Williams.

At the suggestion of the Chairman, the Board agreed to add items 6, 19, 24 and 27 to the list of items to be noted without discussion at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 18 September 2017.

RESOLVED  - That the public minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2017 be approved as a correct record, subject to an amendment to bullet point 4 on item 5 of page 2 to refer to ‘Centre for Music’.

Matters Arising

Cultural Strategy

A Governor reported that she had met with officers regarding her concerns about the need to capitalise on the unique location offered by the City and engage the important cultural ‘players’ to enable them to feel more a part of the City. It was noted that further work on this would be carried out.

External Auditor

The Chairman referred to the reassuring confirmation of the appointment of an external auditor with suitable expertise and experience in the higher education audit field. 

To receive the public minutes of the Remuneration Committee held on 18 July 2017.

The public minutes of the Remuneration Committee meeting on 18 July 2017 were noted.

RECEIVED.

To receive the public minutes of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 6 November 2017. 

The public minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee meeting on 6 November 2017 were noted.

RECEIVED.

To receive the public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee held on 8 November 2017.  (TO FOLLOW)

The public minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting on 8 November 2017 were noted.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered a report of the Principal and the following matters were raised:-

·         On Under 18s Programme, the Board welcomed the appointments of the external consultant to conduct the under 18 offer review and an Acting and Widening Participation tutor.

·         The Board welcomed with thanks Eversheds Sutherland as its founding corporate partner and noted that the company were holding a pre-concert reception linked to the School’s concert in Carnegie Hall during New York audition week.

·         Members noted the continued delivery of the technical theatre training courses in China, in association with industry partners, and that further courses would be held in Beijing and Shanghai over the coming months.

·         The update on joint initiatives with Barbican staff, launch of Culture Mile and the School’s lead on partnerships, with 40 potential partners identified, was noted and welcomed by the Board. 

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered the 2016/17 Academic Board Annual Report of the Principal and the following matters were raised:-

·           The Chairman of the Academic Assurance Working Group said that the Group had met at the end of October to review the annual report and had made a number of recommendations for future reporting to the Board of Governors on the continuous improvement of the student academic experience; standards of awards (particularly concerning potential ‘grade inflation’); and  the research environment as set out in its report in item 9 on the agenda.

·         On behalf of the Principal, and in response to a question from a Governor, it was confirmed that there had been measurable improvements in Technical Theatre in NSS scores concerning assessment. Action had been taken in respect of academic conventions with the ‘Chicago’ referencing method being promoted as the School standard.  Further work was being undertaken in respect of the area of concern regarding a lack of clarity and consistency in the relationship between language of assessment criteria and feedback. This included the piloting of a banded pass / fail mark, with an emphasis on more context in written feedback, to see if this improved the student experience in respect of assessment. 

·         A Governor raised the matter of the report requiring a more ‘even handed’ description of Brexit which may potentially offer improved outcomes (para 2.4). With regard to this point, and on behalf of the Principal, it was noted that Brexit raised considerable uncertainty for the School with the future fees regime likely to have a significant impact on student enrolments

RECEIVED.         

Report of the Chairman of the Academic Assurance Working Group. 

With the agreement of the Chairman, Governors considered a late report of the Chairman of the Academic Assurance Working Group on Academic Assurances and the following matters were noted :-

·         The Group had sought additional clarification from David Miller, External Examiner for the BA in Technical Theatre Arts programme, on his opinion of the standard of award for the programme.  Subsequently, he had issued a statement which clarified that he considered the standards to be equivalent to or higher than elsewhere.

·         The Group advised the Board that the academic assurances had been met sufficiently and that the Principal should be authorised by the Board to make the necessary academic assurances on its behalf.

RESOLVED – That the Board agreed that the academic assurances had been met sufficiently and that the Principal be authorised to make the necessary academic assurances on behalf of the Board. 

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered a report of the Principal on the appointment of an Interim Director of Advancement, during which Governors noted the circumstances of the retrospective waiver of the usual City procurement code in the instance, the requirement for an urgent appointment to the post and the School being unable to secure the appointment under the corporate contract.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Governors considered a report of the Town Clerk on dates of Board and Committee meetings in 2018 and the following matter was raised.

·         The Town Clerk confirmed that it was proposed to look for alternate dates for the Board meeting in May and also the cycle of meetings in the Autumn to provide a better timescale for the completion of finance papers.

RECEIVED

Report of the Town Clerk.

Governors considered the report of the Town Clerk on outstanding issues.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions on matters relating to the work of the Board.

There was no other business that the Chairman considered urgent.  

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 remaining items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2017.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2017 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Remuneration Committee held on 18 July 2017.

The non-public minutes of the Remuneration Committee meeting held on 18 July 2017 were received.

RECEIVED.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 6 November 2017. 

The non-public minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee meeting held on 6 November 2017 were received.

RECEIVED.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee held on 6 November 2017.  (TO FOLLOW)

The non-public minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting held on 8 November 2017 were received.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered a general report of the Principal.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal. 

With the agreement of the Chairman, Governors considered a late report of the Principal on an update on strategic projects.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered a report of the Principal on Strategic Plan : Board Sponsors.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be approved.

Report of the Head of Finance and Business Administration.

Governors considered a report of the Head of Finance and Business Administration on the HEFCE Annual Accountability Return 2017.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered a report of the Principal on the HEFCE Accounts Direction 2017/18.

RECEIVED.

The Town Clerk asked Governors to consider agenda item 25 (Audited Financial Statements) in tandem with agenda item 34 (Finance Commentary).

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

Governors considered a report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer on the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2017.

RESOLVED – That the reports and financial statements be approved.

Report of the Principal.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Governors considered the late report of the Principal on the finance commentary.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be approved.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

Governors considered the report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer on the Annual Report of the Audit and Risk Management Committee to the Board of Governors and the Principal for the year ended 31 July 2017.

RESOLVED – That the Annual Report of the Audit and Risk Management Committee be approved.

Report of the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management.

Governors considered the Annual Report of the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal.  (Revised version for Board)

Governors considered the revised report of the Principal on the School Finance Review – Period 6.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Principal.

Governors considered the report of the Principal on the School Budget Report 2018/19.

RESOLVED – Thatthe recommendations set out in the report be approved.

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

Governors considered the Projects Update report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

RECEIVED.  

There were no questions.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Governors considered a late report of the Principal on revocation of an Honorary Membership of the School.

RESOLVED – That the recommendation set out in the report be approved.

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

Governors considered a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings on the change programme.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be approved.