Minutes

3        SCHOOL GOVERNORS – INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT THE RIVERVIEW FAMILY OF SCHOOLS – The Director Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval of the instrument of government to allow the governing bodies of Castledyke Primary School (Community) and Baysgarth School (Community) to form a federated governing body, to be effect from 1 September 2022.

The governing boards of Castledyke Primary School and Baysgarth School agreed at a special meeting on 29 March 2022 to consider forming a hard federation of the two schools.

A formal proposal was subsequently produced by the governing boards confirming the nature of the hard federation.  This led to a statutory consultation being undertaken to seek stakeholders’ views regarding the proposal.

On 7 June Castledyke Primary School and Baysgarth School governing boards considered the consultation responses and agreed to form a hard federation of the two schools from 1 September 2022 in line with The School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012.

In order for the federated governing board to be formed a new instrument of government was required confirming the constitution.  A draft instrument of government had been submitted to the local authority for approval at Appendix 1 to the report.  The appendix set out the constitution of the federated governing body, as requested by the governors of the Riverview Federated Governing Body.

Resolved – That the new instrument of government for The Riverview Family of Schools Federation be approved, as set out in the report and accompanying appendix.

4        RECONSTITUTION OF WESTCLIFF GOVERNING BODY AND PRIORY LANE GOVERNING BODY – The Director Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval of the instruments of government to allow the governing bodies of Westcliff School and Priory Lane Community School to be reconstituted, to be effective from 1 September 2022.

At the full governing body meeting of The Westcliffe and Priory Lane Federation held on 23 June 2022, the governors voted to defederate the governing body in line with the School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012  and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and form separate governing boards for each school.

The regulations set out the requirement for the Local Authority to issue an instrument of governance for each of the new governing bodies of the former federation, in line with the constitutional requirements.

The constitution of each governing body was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government.  A governing body may at any time request changes to their constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying their instrument of government.

Where changes are proposed, a maintained school’s governing body must prepare a draft instrument of government and submit it to the local authority for approval.

Appendix 1 of the report set out the constitution of the governing bodies in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of Westcliff Primary and Priory Lane Community Schools.

Resolved – That the new instruments of government for Westcliff Primary School and Priory Lane Community School be approved, as set out in the report and accompanying appendices.

5        RECONSTITUTION OF BARTON ST PETER’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY – The Director Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval of the instrument of government to allow the governing body of Barton St Peter’s Church of England Primary School with immediate effect, from the date of decision.

At the full governing body meeting of Barton St Peter’s Church of England Primary School held on 23 March 2021, the governors voted to reconstitute the governing body in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

The constitution of each governing body was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government.  A governing body may at any time request changes to their constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying their instrument of government.

Where changes are proposed, a maintained school’s governing body must prepare a draft instrument of government and submit it to the local authority for approval.

Appendix 1 to the report set out the constitution of the governing body in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of Barton St Peter’s Church of England Primary School.

Resolved – That the proposed instrument of government for Barton St Peter’s Church of England Primary School be approved, as set out in the report and accompanying appendix.

6        RECONSTITUTION OF JOHN HARRISON CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY – The Director Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval of the instrument of government to allow the governing body of John Harrison Church of England Primary School to be reconstituted, with immediate effect, from the date of decision.

At the full governing body meeting of John Harrison Church of England Primary school held on 25 March 2021, the governors voted to reconstitute the governing body in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

The constitution of each governing body was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government.  A governing body may at any time request changes to their constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying their instrument of government.

Where changes are proposed, a maintained school’s governing body must prepare a draft instrument of government and submit it to the local authority for approval.

Appendix 1 of the report set out the constitution of the governing body in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of John Harrison Church of England Primary School.

Resolved – That the new instrument of government for John Harrison Church of England Primary School be approved, as set out in the report and accompanying appendix.

7        RECONSTITUTION OF THE WINTERTON FEDERATION GOVERNING BODY – The Director Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval of the instrument of government to allow the governing body of The Winterton Federation Governing Body to be reconstituted, with immediate effect, from the date of decision.

At the full governing body meeting of The Winterton Federation held on 8 November 2021, the governors voted to reconstitute the governing body in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 in order to reduce the number of vacancies.

The constitution of each governing body was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government.  A governing body may at any time request changes to their constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying their instrument of government.

Where changes are proposed, a maintained school’s governing body must prepare a draft instrument of government and submit it to the local authority for approval.

Appendix 1 of the report set out the constitution of the governing body in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of The Winterton Federation.

Resolved - That the new instrument of government for The Winterton Federation Governing Body be approved, as set out in the report and accompanying appendix.

8        FOSTERING ALLOWANCES – The Director Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval to increase the allowance rates paid to foster carers to include the Government’s National Minimum Allowance and to reflect increases in the cost of living.

The government published the National Minimum rate for foster carers.  These were reviewed each year and the rates updated were effective from April.

The council adhered to the minimum rates for all carers (level 1) and in addition to these, paid enhancements to carers based on their training and development and specific allowances to care for children with complex needs (level 2).  

Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) had substantially increased their recruitment activity in North Lincolnshire and virtually.  This was due to the high demand in the region and nationally. 

Resolved – That Option 1, for the council to increase the fostering allowances paid to foster carers, as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report, be approved.