A governance update from the sector 17 June 2020 3:00pm 4:00pm - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A governance update from the sector

17 June 2020 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Academies Annual Update 2020

Agenda

• Introductions and virtual housekeeping

– Katharine Patel - Buzzacott

• Governance considerations

– Stephen Ravenscroft - Stone King

• A governance update from the sector

– Liz Dawson, Ark

• Q&A

– Chair: Katharine Patel - Buzzacott

Governance considerations

Stephen Ravenscroft Stone King LLP +44 (0)7971 272008 stephenravenscroft@stoneking.co.uk

Governance Considerations: overview

• The Normal

– The usual legal requirements

• The New Normal

– How life has changed! – The legal and practical adjustments

• Key: secure effective governance while ensuring as far as possible

compliance with various requirements

Consider full range of requirements:

• Articles of Association
• Board meetings
• Members’ meetings
• Committees
• Local governing bodies
• Funding Agreements
• Governance requirements
• Local Governing Body and other Committee Schemes of

Delegation

• Terms of reference

Governance Considerations: The Normal

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill

• Draft released on 20th May
• Committee Stage in House of Lords yesterday, so assent should be

imminent (report stage and third reading to follow)

• Range of provisions:
• Insolvencies and moratoria
• Suspension of liability for wrongful trading
• Protection of supplies of goods and services
• Meetings and filings:
• Holding company law meetings
• Extensions with Companies House

Governance Considerations: The New Normal

Holding company law meetings – Schedule 14 of Bill

• Concept of “relevant period” being 26th March 2020 to 30th September

2020

• General meetings:
• Need not be held in a particular place
• Meetings may be held and votes may be cast by electronic or any
• ther means
• No requirement for quorum to be in a particular place
• No member has the right to attend in person, to participate in the

meeting other than by voting or to vote by particular means

• Can be delayed to 30 September 2020
• These provisions override the terms of the Articles of Association

Governance Considerations: The New Normal

Trustee and Committee Meetings

• Bill covers Members’ Meetings only
• It is for companies to determine how best to hold board meetings
• Consider detail of existing requirements and flexibilities:
• Board meetings:
• Method
• Frequency
• Content
• Notice
• Committee meetings:
• Required committees?
• Consider: audit, local governing bodies

Governance Considerations: The New Normal

Other issues for consideration

• Terms of office of trustees and governors
• Effective decision-making
• Role of the board in re-opening process
• Do we seek to retain any of the new ways of working?

Governance Considerations: The New Normal

Filings with Companies House

• Change of address
• Notice of change in directors
• Filing accounts
• Register of people with significant control
• Confirmation statements
• Registration of charge
• Regulations will be made to change filing times:
• Up to 42 days allowed where originally 21 days or less to file
• Up to 12 months where the existing period is 3, 6 or 9 months

Governance Considerations: The New Normal

Liz Dawson Director of Governance

17 June 2020

Introduction

• Frequently asked questions
• The longest May on record
• What next?

12

• Who has the knowledge
• Who can make the decisions
• Who is available
• When to review

13

The response team

Practical considerations

• Permanent exclusion panels
• Complaints
• Local Governing Body meetings
• Data Protection
• Admissions appeals
• Communication

14

Covid – 19 Risk Register

• Quick and dirty, don’t over think
• An overview of the whole organisation
• Use for reflection, consolidation and for focus
• Review and update

15

Communication

• Balance and consistency
• What tools can we use
• Who is the best person to send the

message

• How do we keep maintain it

16

Re-opening the schools

• Liability
• Agreeing the level of risk
• The decision
• Keeping it under review

17

What next?

• LGB meetings
• Permanent exclusions
• Subject Access Requests and FOI
• Communication

18

Holistic governance

• Our pupils
• Our colleagues
• Addressing wider issues
• Our role

19

Thank you Elizabeth.dawson@arkonline.org

Questions and Answers

Chair: Katharine Patel Buzzacott LLP +44 (0)20 7556 1270 patelk@buzzacott.co.uk

0800 111 4336 info@stoneking.co.uk stoneking.co.uk +44 (0)20 7556 1200 enquiries@buzzacott.co.uk Buzzacott.co.uk