Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest on this occaision.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee were informed that the Stafford 14-19 Partnership was a collaboration of five high schools in Stafford offering a large curriculum in wider subjects which were not always available in other schools.

The Committee were requested to approve the Partnership’s revised Business Plan and to consider for approval the funding request from the Staffordshire Education Centre Charity of the amount of £92,516 for 2018/19 and £150,000 for 2019/20.

The Committee were informed that the Partnership had requested an additional £7,516 for the year 2018/19 which would pay for the new GDPR arrangements and allow the Partnership to transfer onto a new server system. The Committee were also informed that the additional monies requested for the 2019/20 academic year would allow the partnership to work with vulnerable groups and offer vocational courses which would prevent an increase in the number of NEET students.

The Committee were also requested to consider giving approval in principle to the Stafford 14-19 Partnership being supported by Staffordshire Education Centre Charity with financial contributions for a further five years based on the production of a new Business Plan for 2020 to 2025, to be produced in May 2019. The Committee were mindful that this request was nearly the whole proportion of monies available to the Charity, and sought assurances that other organisations could access this money through the Partnership.

RESOLVED – (a) - That the Stafford 14-19 Partnership revised Business Plan 2016-2020 be approved.

(b) That the funding request from the Staffordshire Education Centre Charity for 2018/19 of the amount of £92,516 and 2019/20 for the amount of £150,000 be approved.

(c) That it be approved in principle that the Stafford 14-19 Partnership be supported by Staffordshire Education Centre Charity with financial contributions for a further five years based on the production of a new Business Plan for 2020 to 2025, to be produced in May 2019.

(d) That the County Council’s County Commissioner for Skills and Employability be authorised to approve the release of funds set out in resolution (b) above subject to the successful delivery of the 2016-2020v3 Business Plan.

Oral Update

The Committee received an update in relation to the trust land adjacent to Dosthill Primary School known as the Broom. It was reported that the maintenance of the land was the only outstanding issue. The Committee were informed that the Borough Council were currently maintaining the land.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

The Committee were presented with a report regarding the Rugeley Endowment Registered Charity which recommended that the Committee apply to the Charity Commission to alter the existing scheme to alter the definition of “Eligible School” to include an Academy to allow the Charity to support the new Academy in the Urban district of Rugeley.

A member spoke to the Committee as the local member expressing their concern with the proposal.

Following a vote it was:-

RESOLVED – (a) That an application be made to the Charity Commission to alter the existing scheme for the Rugeley Endowment to amend the definition of “Eligible School” to  include an Academy to allow the Charity to support the new Academy in the Urban District of Rugeley.

(b) That it be noted the allocation of charitable income from the Charity is not permanent endowment and the income only can be applied in furthering the objects of the Charity and must not be used to relieve public funds.

(c) – That the Director of Strategy, Governance and Change be authorised to prepare, negotiate, seal and complete all necessary documentation to give effect to the above decision.

Oral Update

Representatives from the Property team at Staffordshire County Council met with the Committee to discuss the property support the Committee requires.

It was reported that the Property team were prepared to assist the Committee with small scale issues, however, in the event that a larger issue arose, the Committee would be required to approve that individual Charities pay for the services that they received from the Property team.

The Committee requested a list of all of the properties and land that they were responsible for.

RESOLVED – (a) That the Committee continue to request the property team at Staffordshire County Council to assist them when required, and that it be noted that the Property Team will levy a charge on individual Charities for larger scale tasks.

(b) – That the Committee be given a list of all the properties and land for which they are responsible as Trustees.

The Committee were presented with a confirmation of the action of the Director of Finance and Resources in relation to Education Endowments.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Chairman to move:-

PART TWO

(reports in this section are exempt)

RESOLVED – That the  public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below.

(Exemption Paragraph 3)

(Exemption Paragraph 3)

(Exemption Paragraph 3)

(Exemption Paragraph 3)