Minutes of the East Durham College Full Board Meeting held on 11th July 2024

D Butler (Chair), S Duncan, J Smith, M Curry, M Young, K Tate, S Laverick, R Harrison.

C Tomlinson – Vice Principal Curriculum and Performance

J Mitchelson - Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning 

H McCoy – Assistant Principal Performance 

J Lanagan - Assistant Principal Curriculum Planning and Partnerships 

L Haggis – Campus Director Houghall 

S Pritchard – Clerk to the Corporation

V Bailey – Observer  

Val Bailey was welcomed to the meeting as an observer.

The Chair noted that this was the Principal’s last board meeting before stepping down and asked the board to formally recognise her contributions to the college over the last 12 years, to thank her for everything she has contributed to the College and to wish her well for the future.

G Dullage, G Edmunds, S Robson, A Brennan, J Bromiley 

The chair invited governors to declare any conflicts of interest and the interests of governors in the Governance Report were noted.

AGREED

The minutes of the 9 May 2024 were accepted as a correct record.

No matters were arising that were not part of the agenda for the meeting.

The Principal presented the report.  The report is confidential. 

The Board noted the report.

The Vice Principal Curriculum & Quality presented the report and highlighted that the recent Ofsted report had confirmed that the College’s safeguarding arrangements were effective, that 100% of staff had now completed mandatory training and that this would continue to be a focus, and that changes in My Concern would facilitate more detailed reporting next academic year.  The largest area of concern continued to be mental health.

The Board noted that Prevent referrals had increased but were still low in number overall.  The Board was informed that the previous Designated Safeguarding Lead had resigned, and that Greg Corcoran had replaced him who was very experienced, and that additional capacity was being added to the team.

A member noted the purposeful partnerships the College built with third parties to assist them in safeguarding students and how effectively this was working.

The Board noted the report.

The Vice Principal Curriculum & Quality presented the data on students and the Assistant Principal Performance presented the data on staff.

It was noted that there was a small increase in pluralised student in line with changes in the population of the community the College serves, and that the performance of each group listed in the report would be reported in the Self-Assessment Report (SAR).  

It was noted that the College Leadership Group (CLG) planned to work closely with Maths & English, Engineering and Land-based provision where there was an aging workforce.

A member queried the figures relating to the recruitment of ethnic minority candidates and it was clarified that a high proportion of candidates were from overseas, and the College was not a sponsor for immigration purposes, or the candidates believed they were applying for posts at the University of Durham.  The Assistant Principal clarified that recruitment practices had been put in place to be as inclusive as possible and confirmed that she would consider putting in place EDI recruitment selection training to ensure no unconscious bias.

Action: To add a footnote to the report to explain the context behind these figures.

The Board noted the report.

The Vice Principal Curriculum & Performance presented the report which summarised the outcomes of the last conference. 

Students confirmed they felt safe at the College and would know what to do if they did not, and that they would recommend the College to a friend.  The Board noted feedback on students’ sense of belonging connecting to their course rather than the College and feedback on food in the canteen and travel.  The board noted that the CLG had followed up with attendees to explain what would happen as a result of the feedback.

The Board noted the report.

The Assistant Principal Curriculum and Partnerships presented the presentation on apprenticeships.  The presentation was considered confidential. 

The Board noted the presentation

The Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning presented a verbal update to the Board which was confidential. 

The Board noted the update.

The Vice Principal Finance & Business Planning presented the report. The report is confidential.

The Board noted the report and approved the budget for 2024-25.

The Clerk presented the report to the Board.  Conflicted governors left the room where relevant to their appointment.

The Board appointed:

• Amy Jefferson, Val Bailey and Andy Nesbitt as External Governors, each for a term of 4 years from 11 July 2024, and their appointments to Finance &General Purposes, Audit & Risk and Curriculum Quality & Standards respectively;

• Richard Harrison as Link Governor for HE from 11 July 2024;

• James Bromiley as Chair of the Board with effect from the end of the October Board meeting;

• Stuart Laverick as Vice Chair of the Board with effect from the end of the October Board meeting; and

• Carina Tomlinson as Interim Principal and Accounting Officer for the College on the terms set out in the confidential appendix to the report.

The Board approved the changes in the composition of the committees for the 2024/25 academic year as set out in the report.

The Board adopted:

• the revised Governance Handbook for 2024/25; and

• the AoC’s Code of Good Governance for FE Colleges.

The Board noted the proposed changes to governance support arrangements for the next academic year.

The unconfirmed minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held in June 2024 were noted.  

Following discussion, in particular in relation to the Learner Support Fund policy, the Board adopted the following policies:  

a) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy; b) Fees Policy; c) Learner Support Fund Policy; d) Subcontracting Supplier Procedure; e) Subcontracting Supply Chain Fees and Charges; f) Health and Safety Policy; g) Family Friendly Policy; h) Flexible Working Policy

The Schedule of meetings was noted.

The Principal presented the report which was confidential.

The Board noted the report. 

The Chair thanked the Principal on behalf of the Board and the College for her leadership over the last 12 years.