Information items
The NGA have produced guidance which covers business priorities and other business; the work undertaken by panels; taking urgent decisions; and holding virtualmeetings successfully.
Governance - FAQs
Governor Services is receiving enquiries from governing boards on the practicalities of managing the business during this unprecedented situation. Our aim is to ensure that governing boards have the information to proceed with care and diligence, confident that they are supporting their schools and meeting their responsibilities. We have already put advice on virtual meetings on our webpages and in What’s Up Gov?, and can share some advice from the National Governance Association on the FAQs below.
Please continue to contact us at governor.services@gloucestershire.gov.uk You can also ring us during office hours on 01452 427803 or 01452 427802.
Can quorum be suspended during this period?
From a procedural standpoint, it is not possible to agree to hold an inquorate meeting. The regulations are clear that meetings need to be quorate to be valid. Decisions made via email are also invalid.
Nonetheless, we do understand that these are unique times, and as such schools can be justified in taking a reasoned, pragmatic approach. This means following the regulations where possible, but if you cannot then it is important to minute any departures, and explain why the board chose to take those particular steps.
How can the LA Governor Services team support governing boards?
Governor Services can help in an advisory role by supporting governors to have the best arrangements in place. This could be by helping boards consider what they should be delegating during this period. Governor Services could also be a ‘sounding board’ for any actions the board may need to take. For example, if the board needs to deviate from the regulations Governor Services could help them ensure the rationale is solid and all potential options have been considered.
What will happen about parent and staff governor positions ending during the pandemic?
With elected governors, this is difficult as the default position is that once a term of office comes to an end, an election is held. However, it is not reasonably possible to hold an election and so the advice is to acknowledge in the Minutes that terms of office have ended but as it is not possible to hold an election, those individuals are continuing until it is reasonably practicable for an election to take place and so they will continue as governors with full voting rights etc. This is not something that would generally be advised but given that these are unprecedented circumstances that are out of the school’s control, it is preferable that this approach is taken as opposed to not having parent and staff governors on the board for this period of time.
With the ‘normal’ way of working being heavily disrupted we appreciate your plans for the submission of budget plans on 22nd My 2020 may have been affected. However, it is important that where possible we try to proceed with the budgeting process as usual. Formal sign-off at a governors meeting could prove difficult, although email review from The Chair of Governors and Head should still be possible. If necessary we are happy for a draft submission that hasn’t been through full approval to be made, as long as it is clear that it is still awaiting governance sign-off.
If you are unable to meet the deadline and require an extension please contact Victoria.chapman1@gloucestershire.gov.uk.
Please note that a Half Year revised budget may be requested, which will be require full governors sign off. We are hoping that ‘normality’ would have been resumed at this point.
For the latest information that has been sent to schools regarding the Covid-19 crisis, please look at the schoolsnet bulletin board
Please also visit the Community Help Hub pages on the GCC website for frequently asked questions.
As face to face governor training is unavailable at the moment, we wanted to let you know that Modern Governor provides online governor training.
Governor Services offers Modern Governor as one of their traded services packages. So for the price of £166 all your governors will have access to online training until 31st March 2021. (The cost would be £299 if purchased direct with Modern Governor).
Each governor will set up their own login and can access the training as and when they can. For further information on the training available please use the link above.
To purchase Modern Governor please go to: http://www.businesssupportservices.org/
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