THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE FARNBOROUGH
MINUTES OF THE CORPORATION MEETING
MONDAY 6 OCTOBER 2008
Governors had had an opportunity to visit the Phase 6 site before the meeting.
The meeting opened at 5 07 pm.
The Chair welcomed Andrew Quin, Principal of Bellerbys College, London, who had been ‘shadowing’ Dr. Guy and was present as an observer.
William Bagnall had proposed an experimental agenda format for this meeting, whereby Committee information items were grouped later in the agenda, so focusing the earlier debate on successive decision and other major issues.
08/28 Apologies
William Bagnall, Andrew Annette, Adrian Collett, .Linda Montgomery, Mike Philippson, Derek Stroud
Members present
Andrew Needham (Chair), James Bacon, Phyllis Chan, Katrina Cochrane (from agenda item 08/35), Maire Davies, Peter Eyre, Harminder Lelly, Theo McCusker, Nicky Orchard, Harry Ranson MBE, Stuart Rowland, Martin Thomas, John Guy OBE
Clerk
Richard Compton
Also present
Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds, Rosemary Heasman
Andrew Quin (observer)
08/29 Minutes of the 7 July 2008 meeting
The minutes of the meeting were approved and signed by the Chair.
08/30 Matters arising
None.
08/31 Chair’s Business
(a) Harminder Lelly
The Chair formally welcomed Harminder Lelly, who had been appointed as an Independent Governor from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2012, to the Corporation.
(b) Mike Philippson
As Mike Philippson had been unable to attend what would have been his final Corporation meeting as a Parent Governor, he had asked the Clerk to read out this statement on his behalf.
‘I am very sorry not be able to join you at this last Corporation meeting of my two year tenure as a Parent Governor. It has been a pleasure to work with such a talented and committed group of people, who have always kept in the front of their minds that they are there to make young people’s lives better.
Behind the Governors themselves, I have nothing admiration for the way that John, his Vice Principal, Assistant Principals and staff go beyond expectations to make this College a star among sixth form colleges and school sixth forms; in particular, the way that the College sees that educating young people is more than teaching them facts about subjects but, critically, is about developing them personally as confident and able individuals.
I know there are tough times ahead in the education world, but I am confident that this team can bring the College through with flying colours.
Good luck and cheers.
Mike’
Governors welcomed Mike Philippson’s statement and asked the Clerk to pass on their thanks.
(c) Principal’s meeting with the Prime Minister, 13 October
The Principal had been invited to a breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister to brief him on issues of significance in the College sector.
08/32 Annual Declarations of Governors’ personal and financial interests, and of eligibility
The Clerk asked Governors to return their completed personal and financial interests, and eligibility, forms to him.
The Clerk drew Governors’ attention to the statement of their duties contained in para. 1 of the revised Standing Orders:
‘All members of the Corporation are required to act in the best interests of the College at all times. They are not and cannot be mandated by any nominating or electing organization’
and to the continuous disclosure obligation contained in para.9 of the revised Standing Orders:
‘It is an obligation that a member who has financial interests in the supply of goods or work, contracts, or any other matters concerning the institution, should declare their interests to the Corporation or any relevant Committee at the earliest opportunity.’
ACTION BY ALL
Governors were asked to return any remaining forms to the Clerk as soon as possible.
08/33 Search Committee
Andrew Needham introduced the proceedings of the immediately-preceding meeting of the Committee.
(a) Appointment of a Staff Governor, 1 October 2008 - 30 September 2012
James Bacon had been re-elected as a Staff Governor after an election conducted on the single transferable vote system. There had been three candidates.
The Committee had recommended that he continue to serve on the Policy and Resources and Curriculum and Quality Committees
DECISIONS
The Corporation appointed James Bacon as a Staff Governor from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2012.
It assigned him to the Policy and Resources and Curriculum and Quality Committees.
8/34 Remuneration Committee
Andrew Needham introduced the minutes of the 18 August meeting of the Committee.
Gordon Dodds confirmed that there was sufficient budget coverage for all the recommended College settlements.
(a) Teaching Staff
The Remuneration Committee had recommended that the Chair of the Corporation and the Chair of the Remuneration Committee be given delegated authority to determine whether to implement the 2008 settlement once recommended by the SFCF and ratified by the trade unions.
Dr. Guy confirmed that a settlement of 2.45 % had now been agreed. Trade union ratification was awaited. It was noted that the recommended percentage increase would be applied to the Farnborough Scale which was already 0.5% above the SFCF negotiated scale.
The Corporation gave delegated authority to the Chair of the Remuneration Committee and the Principal to implement the 2008 teaching staff settlement once trade union ratification had been received.
DECISION
(b) Support staff
The Remuneration Committee had likewise recommended that the Chair of the Corporation and the Chair of the Remuneration Committee be given delegated authority to determine whether to implement the 2008 settlement once recommended by the SFCF and ratified by the trade unions.
Dr. Guy confirmed that a settlement of 2.45%, with 3.6% for the two lowest points on the pay scale, had now been agreed, at an overall cost of 2.5%. Trade union ratification was again awaited. It was noted that the recommended percentage increase would be applied to the Farnborough Scale which was already 1% above the SFCF negotiated scale.
DECISION
The Corporation gave delegated authority to the Chair of the Remuneration Committee and the Principal to implement the 2008 support staff settlement once trade union ratification had been received.
(c) Designated senior postholders (the Principalship)
Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds and Rosemary Heasman left the meeting.
The Remuneration Committee had proposed that the salaries of the designated senior postholders and the Clerk should be rebased from 1 September 2008. The rebased salaries would recognize performance over the past two years and include any cost of living provision, recognizing the high calibre and increasing size of the College. The rebased salaries would also take account of market testing, benchmarking and comparative salaries from detailed information made available to the committee.
Governors affirmed their continuing agreement that two years was an appropriate timescale against which to judge performance, one year being liable to over-influence by specific events.
Governors concluded that statements of individual percentage increases were liable to misinterpretation; these were two year performance-related awards and included an inflation element.
DECISION
The Corporation decided that:
(i) senior postholders’ and the Clerk’s salaries should be rebased from 1 September 2008 (ii) the Remuneration Committee should conduct a further rebasing review in 2010, recognizing that the size of the College was unlikely to increase significantly in the future.
(iii) Assistant Principals
Governors considered the Committee’s recommendations for the Assistant Principals with further clarification of their achievements from the Principal.
Dr Guy and Andrew Quin left the meeting
DECISION
Governors approved the committee’s recommendations for the salaries of the Assistant Principals.
(iv) Principal
The recommendation for the Principal had been based on a performance appraisal conducted by the Chair of the Corporation and the Chair of the Remuneration Committee. During discussion, the Chair also amplified the written appraisal of the Principal.
DECISION
Governors approved the committee’s recommendation for the salary of the Principal, noting that there would be no increase in his car allowance.
(v) Vice Principal
DECISION
Governors agreed that the automatic link between the Principal’s and the Vice Principal’s salary should cease from 31 August 2008; they approved the committee’s recommendation for the salary of the Vice Principal.
Dr. Guy, Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds, Rosemary Heasman and Andrew Quin returned to the meeting.
The Clerk left the meeting.
(d) Clerk to the Corporation
The Principal reported on the Clerk’s appraisal conducted by him and the Chair of the Corporation.
DECISION
Governors approved the committee’s recommendation for the salary of the Clerk.
The Clerk returned to the meeting.
08/35 Estates Committee
Dr. Guy introduced the minutes of the 17 September meeting of the Committee.
(a) Phase 6 - redevelopment of Scola building
Governors had received a full report from Stewart Poole (Knight Frank), the Project Manager, at the 7 July Corporation meeting.
Dr. Guy reported that progress with Phase 6 remained close to schedule. The steel had been delivered and installation of the concrete flooring would begin soon. The work had as yet had little impact on the College’s operations. The 54 week contract period had a completion date of 10 July 2009.
DECISION
Governors endorsed the Estates Committee’s actions and future proposals.
(b) Phase 6 – cashflow
Governors received the Strategic cash flow to 2014 (revised 30 September).
Dr. Guy and Gordon Dodds clarified the reconciliation between the July and September financial position, which demonstrated the current strong financial situation. The situation had improved since the June forecast, with a £238k net increase. Operational cashflow in 2014 would increase from £6.959 to £8.71m. Important items were an increase in the student intake to 3100, and thus enhanced income, and tight cost control. It was not feasible to factor in at this stage any future effects of the wider credit crisis.
The Estates Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee had both endorsed the revised financing package consisting of a combination of a provisional bank loan of £1.75 m and overdraft of £1.5m. This would ensure a prudential and more flexible approach to ensuring liquidity, a positive cash flow, and achievement of the required capital finance ratios.
The actual amount of borrowing required would be kept under continuous review. Gordon Dodds had conducted some positive discussions with the LSC on their treatment of bank overdraft facilities in assessing an institution’s liquidity. A meeting would take place with Lloyds TSB on 25 October.
Summing up a full discussion, the Chair concluded there was a consensus that the September strategic cashflow forecast, which presented a more positive scenario than its June predecessor, provided a positive and prudential financial basis for proceeding with Phase 6 and the maintenance of sufficient liquidity; and that the revised financing package endorsed by the two Committees should be approved.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the September strategic cashflow forecast and the revised financing package.
08/36 Policy and Resources Committee
Andrew Needham introduced the minutes of the 25 September meeting of the Committee.
(a) Accommodation Strategy, Phase 6 cashflow
This had been covered under agenda item 08/35(b).
(b) Draft statutory accounts 2007/08
The Committee received the draft statutory accounts for the year ending 31 July 2008, following confirmation of the 2008/09 allocation from the LSC. The finalized statutory accounts would be presented to the Corporation at its 8 December meeting after consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee.
Dr. Guy and Gordon Dodds summarized the draft accounts. Two specific items, for discussion with the external auditor were a write off of various items in 2007/08 thus reducing the surplus which now stood at £1.7m, and provision for pensions liabilities.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the draft statutory accounts for 2008/09 as a basis for the final accounts.
(c) July, August and September Finance and Management Reports
The Committee had commended the July and August reports. Gordon Dodds confirmed that the September report (tabled) did not contain any substantive changes and commented on some points in the covering narrative.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the July, August and September 2008 finance and management reports.
SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
(d) Funding 2008/09
Governors received a copy of the 2008/09 funding agreement from the LSC showing revenue funding of £15,294,724.
(e) Funding 2007/08
Governors noted that the College’s fundable activity 2007/08 exceeded its total funding by approximately £300,000.
08/37 Corporation self-assessment
The Clerk introduced the 2007/08 Corporation self-assessment. The strategic questions had been completely rewritten to take account of important Corporation business during the year such as the Governor Recategorization, the new Quality Strategy, and Phase 6.
The following points were made during a discussion of the collective form:
(a) The Corporation had fully preserved its customary ethos and democratic style of debate;
(b) It had equally retained its collective firepower by drawing on its ongoing arsenal of skills and experience;
(c) Governors had been fully and properly involved in the big picture issues of their own Recategorization and adoption of the new Instrument and Articles of Government;
(d) Governors were equally and strategically involved in the high plateau finance and other issues of Phase 6 (redevelopment of the Scola Building);
(e) the Principal’s briefings on major national issues were particularly apposite;
(f) the narratives were sufficient to enable lay Governors to interpret the monthly finance and management reports and other numerical data;
(g) the Clerk’s minutes were particularly suitable for enabling auditors or other external readers to appreciate how the Corporation conducted its business
DECISION
The Corporation approved its 2007/08 collective self-assessment.
08/38 Proceedings of other Committees
The Audit and Curriculum and Quality Committees had not met since the last Corporation meeting.
08/39 Principal’s Business
(a) Summer 2008 AS and A2 results
Dr Guy and Simon Jarvis summarized another excellent set of results for the taught AS and A2 programme. These would be considered in detail by the Curriculum and Quality Committee. There were again serious marking problems; one third of the College students’ Sociology marks would be increased by a grade, and 25% of the Geography marks might need to be similarly increased.
(b) College A* initiative – national coverage.
Dr. Guy gave an illustrated presentation on the plethora of national publicity for the College’s initiative. This included an extract from a TV programme of a visit to the College including an interview with the Principal.
(c) College IT Diploma, 2008
The College’s Level 3 IT diploma had been launched, the only one offered by the Rushmoor and Hart partnerships. Seven students were taking this diploma.
(d) Visit to College, 23 September
Dr. Guy briefed Governors on a visit by two civil servants who wished in particular to discuss the Diplomas. They had been very impressed by their visit and hoped to arrange for the chairs of the Diploma Development Partnership to visit the College.
(e) Strategic HR report, 2007/08
Dr. Guy summarized some of the main constituents of this annual report.
(f) Compliments and Complaints, 2007/08
There had been 54 compliments and 13 complaints, Governors noted that, as in previous years, complaints were followed up very quickly, often by the Principal in person.
(g) Summary of Student Disciplinary Action, 2007/08
Governors received the summary.
(h) College events and ongoing programme of Farnborough Music Society concerts
Governors received copies. Dr. Guy commented in particular on the traditional service of carols and readings at the Royal Military Chapel, RMA Sandhurst, on Friday 19 December.
(i) Press reports
Governors received copies of the very positive coverage.
08/40 Information items considered by Committees
The Corporation received these items:
Chair’s Business
(a) Letter to colleges from the Secretaries of State for Universities, Innovation and Skills and for Children, Schools and Families. The letter congratulated the FE sector on its progress to date and set out what Ministers considered to be some of the key challenges facing it over the next twelve months.
(b) a letter from a parent to David Bell, Permanent Secretary, Department of Children, Schools and Families, about the very high quality of his child’s two years’ education at the College, and the response. It was hoped that David Bell would be able to visit the College soon.
Search Committee
(a) Appointment of a Parent Governor at 8 December Corporation meeting
Estates Committee
(a) Completed 2008 summer works programme
(b) Green transport issues including improved arrangements for parking in local roads
(c) Environment, Health and Safety Committee minutes (there were no incident reports)
(d) Temporary closure of Prospect Avenue carried out, as requested, during the College’s summer break
Policy and Resources Committee
(a) Joint letter from the Chair of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and the Chair of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Forum
This letter confirmed the developing harmony in response to the Machinery of Government changes, which would transfer responsibility for sixth form college funding from the LSC to local authorities.
(b) 2008 admissions
Rosemary Heasman amplified the report. The total number of students present on the second day of lessons was 3079, compared with the projected 3060. Comparable figures for new students were 1750 compared with the projected 1729, a reflection on the success of the College’s demand management operation.
08/41 Any other business
(a) Restructuring of agenda
Governors favoured the restructured agenda and agreed that it should be maintained.
DECISION
The restructured format should be adopted for the 8 December Corporation meeting.
The Chair closed the meeting at 7.12 p.m.
