Minutes of the East Durham College Full Board Meeting held on 15th October 2020

D Butler (Chair), J Bromiley, L Crichton, M Curry, S Duncan, M Etherington, G Field, R Harrison, V McFarquhar, J MacIntyre, S Nicholson, E Oughton.

B Fitzgerald – Vice-Principal Finance and Business Planning C Tomlinson – Vice Principal Curriculum and Performance J Owen – Assistant Principal Curriculum S Pritchard – Clerk to the Corporation J Maughan – Committee Secretary

R Woodhouse

Potential conflicts of interest were declared from the Chair at item 5.3 (e) and item 6.1 and for J MacIntyre at item 5.1 (b) and 6.1 and were dealt with appropriately at each agenda item.

AGREED 
That the minutes of the Full Board meeting held on 2nd July 2020 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chair.

No matters arising were raised.

This included:

This item was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivities. The Principal’s report provided an update on college operations, cybersecurity, Landex membership, progress against the strategic targets, senior team appointments and staff and student success stories.#

NOTED
The Board noted:
a) The updates on College operations at the start of the new academic year;
b) The renewed Landex membership;
c) Progress on strategic targets;
d) The student recruitment and retention comparisons with a national data set (MiDES reports). APPROVED The Board approved:
e) The structure of the senior team;
f) The external advertisement of a senior post and agreed the Governors involved in the interview panel and appointment process.

This item was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivities. J MacIntyre declared a conflict and left the meeting. D Butler declared a conflict and the Clerk outlined a proposal to the Board for appropriately managing that conflict which was agreed.

These included:

(J McIntyre re-joined the meeting).
Confidential report presented by the Vice Principal Curriculum & Performance The report provided student outcomes information for 2019/20

NOTED
Governors noted the student outcomes to date for 2019/2020

Confidential report presented by the Vice Principal Curriculum & Performance  who informed of the positive 2020/21 recruitment position. 

NOTED
The Board noted the enrolment and recruitment data to date.

These included:

This item was regarded as confidential for reasons of staffing sensitivities and was presented by the Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning. The report informed of staffing matters.

NOTED
The Board noted the updated information and activities in relation to Human Resources.

This item was presented by the Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning and was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity. The July Management Accounts informed of the Colleges financial position as of 31st July 2020 and form the basis of the draft financial statements.

NOTED
The Board noted the contents of the report.

This item was presented by the Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning and was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivities.

NOTED
The Board noted the contents of the report 

This item was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivities and was presented by The Vice Principals Finance and Business Planning who provided an update on the Colleges Estate.

APPROVED
The Board approved the Learning for life Contract on the same basis as the previous year, for one year.
NOTED
The Board noted the contents of the report.

This item was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivities and was presented by The Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning who provided an update on the College’s Estate.

NOTED
The Board noted the contents of the report.

This item was regarded as confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivities. The Principal provided a report for the Board to consider the judgement of College Leadership Group that the College was fully compliant with the recommendations of the Turnbull Committee.

Those Governors who were under consideration for committee positions left the meeting and it was noted that the meeting remained quorate 

The Clerk referred to a Governance report previously circulated. The Board considered the minor amendments to the recruitment and succession policy and the proposed committee appointments. Governors were invited to volunteer for a vacant position on the Audit Committee. Following a Governor’s question the approach to Governor recruitment was explained and it was highlighted that in assessing candidates for the vacancies on the Board, their backgrounds would be taken into consideration with the aim of further diversifying the Board to better represent the spectrum of the local community and to ensure fresh perspectives could contribute to Board decision making. In particular the advert welcomed applications from those with experience of diversity and inclusion and those from the BAME community who were underrepresented on the Board.
 

APPROVED
The Board approved and adopted the Recruitment and Succession Policy COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Approved the appointment of R Woodhouse to Search and Remuneration Committee and to be appointed as Chair of F&GP Committee.
Approved the appointment of G Field to Link Governor for Apprenticeships and Distance Learning
Approved the appointment of G Field to the F&GP Committee.

The minutes of the CQ&S Meeting held on 28/11/2019 were received and approved by the Board. (J MacIntyre left the meeting)

This item was discussed prior to item 6. Documents previously circulated for approval were considered by the Board.

(a) APPROVED:
The Board approved the Approved Supplier Procedure; Supply Chain Fees and Charge Policy and the Safeguarding Policy.
Received: The Board received the Strategic Plan 2019/22.

(b) The Chair proposed that the four remaining Committee/Board meetings planned prior to the end of term be held remotely with Governors attending the premises if preferred. The situation was to be reviewed next term.

(c) Conflicts of Interest
This item was regarded as confidential The Chair declared a conflict of interest and left the meeting. The Vice Chair took the Chair.

(d) The Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning sought Board approval under item 5.3 (d) September Management Accounts that the College contract with Learning for Life for one year on the same basis as last year.