Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Apologies:
Reference No.
Ken Franklin
Steve West
Gary Collins
Neil Pilsworth
Toni Monks
01.12/13
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
3.1 None received
05.12/13
06.12/13
FINANCE
6.1 Chris Burnell, Chair of the Finance Committee, informed the GB that the FC had met. The Finance Committee Terms of Reference were amended removing the requirement that the Chairman of Governors must be a member of the Finance Committee; the Finance Committee will consist of three Governors and the Headteacher. The review of the Personnel and Pay Policy was delegated to the Finance Committee and its control extended to cover a review of the staffing structure, the Pay Policy and pay-related awards. The requirement for governors to present a Best Value Statement annually has been abolished so the Financial Management Policy was accordingly updated to remove this obligation. AP asked what replaced the Best Value Statement; school was expected to be aware of best value and look at life cycle costing value rather than just cost. RESOLVED: That, having been recommended by the Finance Committee, proposed and seconded, the amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Finance Committee be accepted. The Financial Procedures Manual was updated to reflect current practice and guidelines. RESOLVED: That, having been recommended by the Finance Committee, proposed and seconded the amendments to the Financial Procedures Manual and the Financial Management Policy be accepted. The OOHC Policy was reviewed with an amendment stating: The main school budget should not subsidise the OOHC fund. In the event of an operating loss the school will be liable to find funds out of its revenue budget to subsidise any shortfall. RESOLVED: That, having been recommended by the Finance Committee, proposed and seconded the amendments to the Out of Hours Clubs Policy be accepted. HS asked what is the difference between the Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) and the School Development Plan (SDP). The Head advised that they are essentially the same; the LIP has a sharper focus whilst the SDP is an all encompassing document. CB presented the Private Fund Accounts for the year 1 Sept 2012-31 Aug 2013. The reserve account is shown to be reducing year on year but it was agreed that this was money to be spent on pupils during the year.
It was decided that the surplus of 4 per pupil for the Tregoyd 13 trip would be held in a surplus account on the accounts system and a letter sent to parents informing them of the over-charge. The money would then be offset against future trips for these pupils. CB informed the Governors that two debts from OOHC pupils for the year 2012/13, 300 in total, had been agreed by the FC that they may be written off. One parent had been made redundant; the other family was suffering financial hardship. SB asked if the children were still attending the ASC the SBM confirmed that neither pupil currently attends any of the clubs. A Sports coach had been appointed as of 1 December 2013 for ten hours per week, payment from the new Sports Premium fund. Budget virements and correcting journals had been presented to the FC. Of significance to note was a journal to move the budgeted 20k from revenue budget into DFC Capital (for the Year 2 BLIP Project) reducing the Fund 01 contingency by 20k. RESOLVED: That, having been approved by the Finance Committee, proposed and seconded, the virement of 20,000 be accepted. The Chair of the FC informed governors that it had been agreed that the school will buy into SIMS Agora, Capitas online payment solution for parents. Period 6 Reports There is a 117k balance in the Main school budget (Fund 01) indicating that the school is currently under budget and expects to have a 2-3 %( 70k) surplus at year end. However this will be needed for the next year when the budget is tight. The SBM explained that schools can carry forward up to 8%, any amounts over this limit will be clawed back. She also informed the GB that FB buys into the WB services for maternity cover so that the imminent maternity pay will be covered by the WBC parental insurance. Fund 76 (Capital) has a balance of 3,854 following the front entrance works. Fund 13 is the new Sports Funding. Fund 99 (OOHC) The OOHC shows an overspend as there are no funding allocations and salary commitments are included whilst income is received in arrears. Expenditure is shown to be well controlled midway through the financial year. Staffing costs were shown to be just under 50% of the staffing expenditure budget spent. Contingency will be reduced when the transfer of 20k to Capital has been undertaken. The transfer has been ear- marked for any classroom enhancements required as part of the Year 2 Blip project. The SBM reminded the Governors that the OOHC have to maintain a contingency to cover any redundancies and maintain the ratio of staff to children. The Governors agreed that because of the social aspect; providing support for parents, the expenses had to be accepted.
07.12/13
and to tell parents everything they needed to know about school. The current diary would run January 2014 until July 2015; future copies would be for the academic year. Children would be charged for replacements. The governors liked the diary. Home School Partnership pages to be added 7.2 BLIP Project. Beards had won the contract, having given an under budget quote. The intention was to start work at Easter, building the new classroom and then completing the modest alterations to the current classrooms during the Summer holidays. The work has to be completed by September 2014. The original plan was to start in October and work through, this new plan will be much less disruptive to staff and children.
08.12/13
POLICIES
8.1 The Homework policy had been amended to show the days that homework is set. RESOLVED: That, having been proposed and seconded, the Homework policy be approved. 8.2 The Financial Management policy and Procedures was presented to the Governors and approved in Section 6 Finance. 8.3 The Out of Hours Clubs policy was amended and approved in Section 6 Finance 8.4 The Attendance policy had been updated following the legislation relating to authorised/unauthorised Planned Leave of Absence and the instigation of fines at the Headteachers discretion. RESOLVED: That, having been proposed and seconded, the Attendance policy be approved.
09.12/13
10.12/13
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ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS 10.1 The OOHCC had met prior to this meeting and amended the Terms of Reference, removing the requirement of Chair or Vice Chair of the Full Governing Body to sit on the committee plus the election of the Chair and Vice Chair does not need to be solely from the voting members of the committee. RESOLVED: That, having been recommended by the OOHCC, proposed and seconded, the amended OOHC Terms of Reference be accepted. 10.2 The Chair had noted that in the December issue of the Governor Newsletter it listed statutory tasks for Finance: agree the Budget, submit the completed SFVS and the good practice of the Financial Health Check. The SBM informed him that the Health check is done annually with WB; the SFVS is due 31 March 2014. The budget had to be agreed in January 2014. New model policies for Finance and Children Protection were mentioned. Clerk to investigate we have the up to date model policies. DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS
Wednesday 15 January 2014 Wednesday 12 February Wednesday 12 March Wednesday 21 May Wednesday 25 June Wednesday 16 July CLOSE OF MEETING There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.00pm
11.12/13
12.12.13 Appendix