Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor, Munsur Ali and Nicy Roberts.

It was moved by Jeremy Mayhew, seconded by Graham Packham and RESOLVED, that – Deputy David Bradshaw take the Chair until the new Chairman is elected.

There were no declarations.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 15 April 2021, appointing the board and approving its Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED, that – the order of the Court of Common Council dated 15^th April 2021, appointing the Board and approving its Terms of Reference be received. 

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

RESOLVED, that - in accordance with Standing Order 29, and being the only Member willing to serve, Graham Packham be elected as Chairman for 2021/22.

VOTE OF THANKS

The most senior Common Council member present read a vote of the thanks to the outgoing Chairman and it moved by Deputy David Bradshaw, seconded by Graham Packham and RESOLVED, that - at the conclusion of her term of office as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Governors and Colleagues wish to convey to their sincere thanks and appreciation to:

VIVIENNE LITTLECHILD

THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD SUCH A COMMITTED CHAIRMAN FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. Under Vivienne’s chairmanship, the School achieved Gold in the Teaching Excellence Awards and has been recognised as Number One Conservatoire in the UK.

WORKING TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL, BY CHAMPIONING ITS STAFF AND STUDENTS, Vivienne has fought hard to ensure its high level of achievements and ongoing success, as well as seeking the best amenity for performance and study.  Even before Vivienne was Chairman, she offered to be the point of contact between the Student Union and the Board.

VIVIENNE’S ATTENDANCE RECORD AT STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS HAS BEEN ASTOUNDING and she has been a great ambassador for our world-leading community of artists and practitioners.   Her open and friendly demeanour mean that she has always taken time to engage with the students, making these interactions not just formal and official affairs, but ones which touched and related to them on a very personal level.

THE LAST 14 MONTHS OF VIVIENNE’S CHAIRMANSHIP PRESENTED SOME EXTREME CHALLENGES, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Vivienne’s unwavering commitment and support for the Principal and Executive Team has led the School to an ambitious vision for the future.

FINALLY, IN

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

RESOLVED, that - In accordance with Standing Order 30, and exercising the right of the immediate past Chairmen, Randall Anderson be elected as Deputy Chairman for 2021/22.

Report of the Town Clerk. 

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk, which sought to appoint to the various Boards, Sub Committees and Portfolios.   Prior to the meeting, indicative memberships lists had been circulated and the Town Clerk advised that, in the event of ballots being necessary, they would take place immediately after the meeting, with the final appointments being approved under delegated authority by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee.

RESOLVED, that – the Terms of Reference and Appointments to the Committees and Working Parties of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, for 2020/21, be approved as follows:

Audit & Risk Management Committee

                   Geoffrey Crossick (Chairman – appointed by the Board)

·        Randall Anderson – Deputy Chairman

·        Christopher Costigan

·        Michael Herington

·        Paula Haynes

·        Andrew Mayer

                   Finance & Resources Committee

·        Graham Packham (Chairman of the Board)

·        Vivienne Littlechild (Deputy Chairman of the Board)

·        George Abrahams

·        Simon Duckworth

·        Lew Hodges

·        Neil Greenwood

Governance & Effectiveness Committee

                   The membership of the Committee for 2020/21 was as follows

·        Maria Delgado (Chairman – appointed by the Membership of the Committee)

·        Vivienne Littlechild (Deputy Chairman)

·        Graham Packham

·        Lynne Williams

·        Jeremy Mayhew

·        Andrew Mayer

·        Geoffrey Crossick

                   Reference Sub Committee

                  At its meeting on 21^st September 2020, the Board agreed that this be kept in abeyance.

                   Remuneration and Nominations Committee

                   The membership of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee in 2020/21 was as follows:

·        Vacancy (Chairman) -   Neil Greenwood has indicated a willingness to fill this vacancy following the resignation of the past Chairman.  The Chairman is appointed by the Membership of the Committee

·        Graham Packham (Deputy Chairman)

·        Randall Anderson

·        Jeremy Mayhew

·        David Bradshaw   

·        Simon Duckworth

·        Vivienne Littlechild   

·        Andy Taylor

[Note a Remuneration Committee should have a majority of independent members; in this instance this means independent of

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 15^th February 2021.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 15^th February 2021 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the following public minutes:

The public minutes of the recent Committee meetings were approved as follows:

The Chairman had agreed to accept an urgent item of business in respect of an action arising from the last meeting of the Committee:

Board of Governors Co-opted Role: Description and Person specification - Report of the Principal, Guildhall School of Music and Drama

The Board considered a report of the Principal and noted that the Board of Governors was currently holding a vacancy for a Co-opted Governor.   Following a discussion at the Remuneration & Nominations Committee, it was proposed that a revised role descriptor be presented to the Board, to accompany the advertisement for that role. Given current needs within the School, expertise in equality and inclusion would be sought and this was set out in the person specification. The Dean and Secretary advised that recruitment would follow the process as set out in the ‘Recruitment for Co-opted Members - November 2019’ but the position would also be advertised on equality and inclusion related sites, as set out in attachment 1 to the report.

RESOLVED, That – the Role Descriptor and Person Specification for immediate advertising of the role, and selection and recruitment as set out in the process document, be approved.

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

The Board received the Principal’s public report which provided a sector and school update, quality of learning and teaching environment by department (including Music, Drama, Production Arts, Advancement and GYA), and awards and prizes

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted

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

The Board received a report of the Principal which set out the  dashboard showing the projected out-turn for the year to 31 March 2021.  Governors noted that the report had been scrutinised by the Audit and Risk and Finance Committees of the Board.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Board of Governors Co-opted Role description and person specification.

Governors are asked to note an action arising from the Remuneration and Nominations Committee – at item 8 (a) above.

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 15^th February 2021.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15^th February 2021 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the non-public minutes of the following :

The non-public minutes of the recent Committee meetings were approved as follows:

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

The Board considered and approved a report of the Principal.

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

The Board considered and approved a report of the Principal.

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

The Board considered and approved a report of the Principal.

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

The Board received a report of the Principal which had been scrutinised by the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

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

The Board received a report of the Head of Research.

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

The Board considered and approved a report of the Principal.

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

The Board received a report of the Principal.

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

The Board considered and approved a report of the Principal.

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

The Board received a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

There were no questions.