Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Benjamin Murphy (Mr Murphy attended the meeting virtually).

Deputy Shravan Joshi declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 20 and his role as Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 20 October 2022

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 20 October 2022 were approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

·       John Griffiths’ name was added to the attendance list.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk setting out its outstanding actions.

In response to a query, the Board was informed that Officers would explore making training available to stakeholder organisations.

RESOLVED - That the outstanding actions be noted.

The Chair to be heard

The Board received a verbal update from the Chair regarding the role of Lead Member for the Environment. The Board was informed that Alderman Robert Howard had expressed his interest in the role and was the only Member who had done so. The Board was therefore invited to approve the appointment of Alderman Howard.

RESOLVED – That Alderman Robert Howard be appointed as Lead Member for the Environment for a term of one year.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services setting the strategic priorities for the City Corporation to ensure that children and young people who live or study in the Square Mile, or access its services, live the best life that they can.

In response to a query, Members were informed that the City Corporation has safeguarding responsibilities for children in relation to the performance of its functions, and that the local authority in which the children reside is responsible for their social care. The Board requested further clarity about the responsibilities the City Corporation has to its children residents attending schools in other local authorities.

The Board was informed that the City of London’s Children’s Partnership Board was driving the plan and that it meets every three months to deliver a quarterly progress report. It was noted that these reports are available for interested Members or Committees upon request.

Officers explained that they were striving to achieve a balanced approach to consultation and engagement as they have found that currently cohorts feel over consulted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services providing any updates on governor appointments to the Local Governing Bodies of the City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT) and a list of the current governing body membership of the City Family of Schools.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services and the Chamberlain

The Board considered a joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the Chamberlain containing the annual submission of the revenue budgets overseen by the Education Board.

RESOLVED, that Members –

a)    Review the provisional 2023/24 revenue budget to ensure that it reflected the Committee’s objectives and approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee;

b)    Authorise the Chamberlain to revise these budgets to allow for further implications arising from the agreement by this Committee of specific allocations of funding to Academies and Central Support Services;

c)     Agree that minor amendments for 2022/23 and 2023/24 budgets arising during budget setting be delegated to the Chamberlain.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services updating Members on recent events and activities delivered across the three strategies overseen by the Education Board: Education, Cultural and Creative Learning, and Skills.

The Chair invited Members to recommend guests for the Education Board dinner before the end of January.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services updating Members on the recent Annual City Schools’ Conference and providing insights on the evaluation feedback from the event.

In response to a query from a Member, the Board was informed that once a theme for the events of 2023 has been decided, promotional information will be circulated to Members so that they can promote the events to their networks.

On behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of CoLAT, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of CoLAT informed Members that a follow-up meeting to drive the social mobility agenda across London was being arranged for January.

The Board discussed the need to develop an action plan arising from discussion points at the conference and agreed that developing partnerships across London would be fundamental to driving progress.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Museum of London

The Board received a report of the Director of the Museum of London providing the quarterly update on the Schools Visits Fund.

A Member suggested connecting the Gardeners Livery Company with Culture Mile Learning to provide extra resource and opportunities for the School Visits Fund. The Board requested data on the uptake of the fund by CoLAT schools.

In response to a question from a Member, the Board was informed that the funds accrued during the Covid-19 pandemic had been repurposed to increase capacity now.

The Board discussed the requirement for at least 35% of pupils at the school applying for the fund to be eligible for pupil premium. A Member stated that a more nuanced approach to providing access to the scheme would ensure that disadvantaged children in school with more affluent peers could still receive the benefits of the fund. The Board was informed that Officers would explore options for allowing more pupil premium children to access the scheme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Principal of Guildhall School of Music & Drama

The Board considered a report of the Principal of Guildhall School of Music and Drama reviewing the City Corporation’s payment of £30,000 per annum to the school and demonstrating the impact of the funds.

The Board considered a report of the Principal of Guildhall School of Music and Drama reviewing the City Corporation’s payment of £30,000 per annum to the school and demonstrating the impact of the funds.

Noting the City Corporation’s Social Mobility Strategy (2018 – 2028), the Board agreed that the report did not contain sufficient detail about how social mobility is considered in the awarding of scholarships. The Chair noted that she had previously requested that the Guildhall School of Music & Drama work with the City of London Academies so that these pupils might benefit from scholarship opportunities.

RESOLVED – Members authorise the Director of Community and Children’s Services to request evidence on how social mobility is embedded in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s scholarship program.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services

The Board received an update on the progress of the Connecting Communities programme.

In response to a query from a Member, the Board was informed that the programme concludes in June 2023 and that the evaluation of the programme would be conducted by Central London Forward. The Board discussed the learning points from the programme so far and the importance of embedding these in future programmes.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Director of Community & Children’s Services to be heard

The Board received a verbal update from the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the London Careers Festival (LCF).

The Chair invited Members to contact the Lead Partnerships Officer if they would like to be involved in the LCF.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

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 20 October 2022

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

RESOLVED – That the non-public outstanding actions be noted.

The Chairs of the City Junior School, CoLAT, CLSF, CLS and CLSG to be heard

The Board received verbal updates in relation to the City Junior School (CJS), City of London School for Girls (CLSG) and CoLAT.

RESOLVED – That the updates be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services detailing the findings of the scrutiny meetings of 1 and 4 November 2022.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services

The Board considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services providing Members with a summary of the impact evaluations of City Premium Grants (CPG) funded projects delivered during the 2021/22 academic year.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chair raised a discussion point for confidential session.

The Town Clerk noted that the meeting was inquorate and therefore, in line with Standing Order 36 of the Court of Common Council, the formal meeting was dissolved. Several Members agreed to remain to discuss this item informally.

Members discussed a question that had been raised for the next Court of Common Council.