Agenda and minutes

The following declarations of interest were made –

Councillor D Thompson – personal interest in agenda item 4 (Local Authority Appointments to School Governing Bodies) on the basis that she was acquainted with some of the applicants, named at the meeting.

Personal and prejudicial interest in respect of Bollington St John’s/Pott Shrigley Federation on the basis that she was a personal friend of one of the applicants.

Councillor P Findlow – General personal interest in agenda item 4 on the basis that he was acquainted with any applicant who was a current or former Councillor.

Councillor T Jackson – Personal interest in agenda item 4 on the basis that she was acquainted with some of the applicants, named at the meeting.

Councillor C Tomlinson – Personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 on the basis that she was an applicant for the vacancy at Hursdfield Primary, Macclesfield.

Personal interest in the same item on the basis that she was acquainted with some of the applicants, named at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item, pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

The Local Authority School Governor Appointments Panel considered the report of the Strategic Director People, which informed Members of current Local Authority Governor vacancies within Cheshire East maintained schools.  Subsequent to issue of the papers, further applications had been received, and these were tabled for consideration at the meeting.

The Panel noted that there were currently 366 LA Governor positions across Cheshire East’s 151 maintained schools, with 78 of those being vacant (21.3%).  The most-up-to-date benchmarking information (2008) indicated that 10.8% of all LA Governor positions were vacant and 11.1% of all Governor positions (all categories) were vacant nationally.

In accordance with agreed procedures, nominations to vacant positions had been invited from schools and local Members.  Any individuals who had contacted the School Governance Service directly, or via the School Governors One Stop Shop (SGOSS) had also been considered against appropriate vacancies.  It was noted that nominations received from local Members had priority.

Nominations as detailed in the report, together with the additional applications were considered by the Panel.

RESOLVED:  (a) That appointments be made for a 4-year term of office commencing 2^nd May 2009, with the exception of Mrs Sheila Evans, whose appointment to Pebble Brook Primary School, Crewe would commence 10^th May 2009 to coincide with her termination of office as a parent governor;

(b) That vacancies at Scholar Green Primary School, Congleton; Springfield Special School, Crewe; and The Dingle Primary School, Haslington, be deferred to a future meeting; and

(c) That the following appointments be approved –

(Notes: (a) Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in No. 16 (Hursdfield Primary, Macclesfield) Councillor C Tomlinson withdrew from the meeting during discussion and voting on the item; and

(b) Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in No. 3 (Bollington St John’s/Pott Shrigley Federation) Councillor D Thompson declined to participate in the discussion and did not vote on the item.)

The Panel considered the report of the Strategic Director People which outlined proposed arrangements for meetings of the Panel during 2009/2010.

RESOLVED:  (a) That the scheduled meetings for 25^th September, 22^nd January 2010 and 21^st May 2010 be approved;

(b) That, subject to availability, the meetings be held in the Capesthorne Room, Macclesfield Town Hall, commencing at 10.00 am; and

(c) That a special meeting be held on 10^th July 2009 to consider the list of Local Authority Appointed Governors whose term of office would expire before the next scheduled meeting of the Panel.