Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from John Scott.

Deputy Catherine McGuinness declared a non-pecuniary interest as her daughter was studying at the School.

Deputy Catherine McGuinness and Deputy John Chapman declared non-pecuniary interests as Members of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Sir Andrew Burns declared a non-pecuniary interest as Chairman of the Hestercombe Gardens Trust.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 13 May 2013 (copy attached).

The public minutes and non-public summary of meeting held on 13 May 2013 were approved.

To receive the public minutes of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 30 April 2013 (attached) and 5 September 2013 (to follow).

The public minutes and non-public summary of the Finance and Resources Committee meetings held on 30 April and 5 September 2013 were noted.

To receive the public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee of the meeting held on 1 July 2013 (copy attached).

The public minutes and non-public summary of the Audit and Risk Management Committee held on 1 July 2013 were noted.

To receive the public minutes of the Remuneration Committee held on 8 July 2013 (copy attached).

The public minutes and non-public summary of the Remuneration Committee held on 8 July 2013 were noted.

The Chairman noted that there was a vacancy to be filled on the Finance and Resources Committee of the Board of Governors and therefore sought expressions of interest from the Board.

Jeremy Mayhew being the only Governor indicating his willingness to serve was therefore elected to serve on the Finance and Resources Committee for the remainder of the corporate year.

RESOVLED – That Jeremy Mayhew be appointed to the serve on the Finance and Resources Committee of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Report of the Principal.

The Board received a report of the Principal updating the Board on the following areas:-

Quality Assurance Agency (QQA) Report

The Principal tabled the executive summary of the QAA report regarding the application by the School for the grant of degree awarding powers, which had arrived on the morning of the Board meeting. He advised that the language used to describe the School was very positive and that the School's application (which would be considered later in the Autumn) was well-positioned and cautious optimism was appropriate regarding a positive outcome before the Privy Council, the decision-making body.

Milton Court

The Principal advised that snagging was underway on the project with a total of 6098 issues having already been reduced down to 734. He expected the majority of those outstanding matters to be resolved prior to the official opening on 26 September.

Some Members expressed concern that there had been no arrangements put in place to compensate the School if the project was delayed.

National Student Survey

The Principal reported that the most recent results of the National Student Survey were less impressive than in earlier years. The view expressed in the Principal's report, that it was essential to identify the reasons for the fall in student satisfaction, were endorsed by the Chairman. 

Recruitment

The principal reported that the School had been a little over-optimistic in hoping it could fill places on the new Orchestral Artistry course in 13/14 but reported that four vacancies in the music department were now filled. Overall student recruitment was on target except for postgraduate music, nearly all being vacancies in the Orchestral Artistry course.

Joint report of the Principal and the Town Clerk (copy attached).

The Board considered a joint report of the Principal and the Town Clerk seeking approval to a revised Safeguarding Policy for the School.

The Board agreed a proposal put forward by the Chairman that Christina Coker and Marianne Fredericks be appointed as lead governors on safeguarding and vulnerable adults.

In response to a Member’s question the Principal responded that vulnerable adults were discussed as part of the policy but in the interests of expediting the children’s policy it was agreed that an adult policy would follow.

In response to another question, the Principal confirmed the School needed to adopt a proactive approach to educating students and current staff on safeguarding issues.

The Chairman reported that all governors would receive training, with lead governors receiving additional training on a date to be arranged near the end of October 2013.

RESOLVED – That,

a) the Child Safeguarding Policy be approved; and

b) Christina Coker and Marianne Fredericks be appointed lead governors for Child Safeguarding and Vulnerable Adults.

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 Paragraph 3 of 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:-

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2013 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2013 were approved.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 30 April 2013 (attached) and 5 September 2013 (to follow).

The non-public minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee meetings held on 30 April and 5 September 2013 were noted.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Audit & Risk Management Committee of the meeting held on 1 July 2013 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting held on 1 July 2013 were noted.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Remuneration Committee held on 8 July 2013 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the Remuneration Committee meeting held on 8 July 2013 were noted.

Report of the Principal (copy attached).

The Board approved a report of the Principal.

Report of the Assistant Principal (copy attached).

The Board approved a report of the Assistant Principal.  

Report of the Principal (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Principal.

Report of the Assistant Principal.

The board received a report of the Assistant Principal.

Report of the Head of Development (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Head of Development.

Report of the Head of Development (copy attached).

The Board approved a report of the Head of Development.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Board received a report of the Chief Operating and Financial Office.

There were no questions.

There was one urgent item relating to a Tenancy at Will agreement.

Governors Only

Oral update by the Principal.

The Board received a verbal update of the Principal.

Report of the Principal (To Follow).

The Board received a verbal update of the Principal.