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At a meeting of Bromley College of Further and Higher Education Corporation held on
Wednesday 11 December 2013 at 7.00pm in LG39 at the Bromley Campus there were present:
Angela Hands, Roger Dawe (Chair), David Forty, Caroline Jolliff, Sam Parrett
(Principal), Linda Simpson, Frank Toop, Roger Bristow, Liz Watson, Lisa Judd, Chris
Cook, John Hunter, Marek Michalski
In attendance: Andrew Slade (Vice Principal, Curriculum and Quality), John Hunt (Vice
Principal, Finance and Resources), Robert Gee (Clerk)
519. Apologies for Absence
Apologies had been received from Victoria Whittle and Johnson Soyinka
520. Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were received.
521. Chair ’s Introductory Remarks
The Chair reflected on some of the key messages of the recent AoC Annual
Conference. Funding for 5-16 would be protected but not for 16-19 with an accompanying inference that funding for the FE sector would not improve for some time. There was little difference between the political parties on this. It had recently been announced that funding for 18 year olds was being cut by 17.5% from next year.
The major imperatives were to keep improving quality, English and maths for 16-18 year olds, links with employers and the importance of the Local Enterprise
Partnerships (LEPs) through which capital funding would be distributed (ring-fenced for skills but not necessarily FE).
The 16 hour rule was being ‘reversed’ in that claimants would have to be in training and continuing with English and maths as necessary. There would most probably be an expectation on Colleges to ‘police’ this.
522. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2013, which had been circulated previously, were accepted and signed as a true record of the meeting.
523. Matters arising from the minutes
It was confirmed that there should be 2 members of the Governance and Search
Committee in addition to the Corporation Chair and Vice Chair and that this should be reflected in the revised terms of reference.
524. Academic Progress Report
The Vice Principal, Curriculum and Quality, presented the Academic Progress
Report, Corporation document 145/13, that been circulated previously.
The report focussed on two key performance indicators, retention and achievement.
Learner withdrawals to the end of November totalled 31 compared to 187 in 2012/13 suggesting that the focus on the 42 day period (before students count for statistical purposes) had had a positive impact. This applied across the curriculum with all sector subject areas rag-rated as green. документ1

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Attendance stood at 90.8% which was a 1.3% improvement on last year with efforts continuing to try to maintain the figure above 90%. 2000 students had qualified to win a mini i-pad in a prize draw through virtue of their attendance in November. The
College continued to look for evidence of which strategies were having the biggest impact.
It was confirmed that attendance does not impact directly on funding but was correlated with eventual achievement and success rates and that a count of qualification aims exceeded learner numbers as a student on, for example, an AS programme would be taking 3 or 4 qualifications.
The ‘Advantage Bromley College’ initiative was focussed on progression into sustainable employment and employability skills delivery through the curriculum and would be fully implemented in the New Year.
525. Financial Performance Report
The Vice Principal, Finance and Resources, presented the Financial Performance
Report, Corporation document 146/13, that had been circulated previously.
A considerable amount of work had been undertaken to introduce a new chart of accounts and cost centre structure and the use of these to prepare the detailed budget. However, it had not been possible to complete this for the period 3 management accounts but will be completed for period 4.
The AoC had recommended a pay award of 0.7% although UCU had organised strike action on 3 December in pursuit of a 5% claim. A provision of 1% was budgeted but a lack of information relating to income meant that affordability could not currently be assessed and would need to be considered again in detail in January with a recommendation to the next Corporation meeting.
The October 2013 management accounts showed an adjusted operating surplus of
£112k which was £32k below the budget for the year to date. This reflected the risks faced in meeting income contracts with the funding bodies and tuition fee income, although pay and non-pay costs were also below budget. The balance sheet position was currently strong, with the cash balance having increased by
£2m to £9.2m although this would be impacted by the Sports Hall development which would incur
£2.585m capital expenditure in 2013/14.
Performance agains t the College’s 16-18 contract was satisfactory to date.
Enrolments were a little below target but were compensated by being ahead of the target for learners on full-time study programmes who generate higher funding.
Generation of the loan allocation continued to be a concern for the College and nationally, and further apprenticeship enrolments were forecast through the year.
Problems with the SFA’s Funding Information Software were being resolved and should permit more reliable and helpful information to be available in future.
526. 14-16 Strategy Update
526.1 Feedback on the 14-16 Steering Group Meeting, 11 December 2013
The Chair of the Steering Group reported that the strategy consisted of 5 different initiatives which were all at different stages of development and due to come to fruition between September 2014 and September 2018. Recent developments had provided reassurance and there was a sense of momentum in a number of areas. документ1

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The College was in a strong position strategically as reflected in a number of the papers to be considered by the Corporation, and the recommendations contained therein.
The resource available to deliver these initiatives was under review and it was agreed to appoint a third Vice Principal with schools experience, in view of a likely
Ofsted inspection of the new provision, to complement the skills of the existing team.
A Finance Director currently being advertised would also be an important contribution to the capacity of the College to manage the new initiatives successfully.
Management capacity would be kept under continuous review by the Principal.
The role of the new Multi Academy Trust (MAT) was very important to the College.
Each entity would have its own local governing body and management but drawing on College expertise.
The recommendations proposed for the Corporations consideration were differentiated to reflect the different current positions of each aspect of the strategy.
526.2 14-16 Direct FE Recruitment
A report, Corporation Document 147/13, had been circulated previously. Direct recruitment had been approved in principle to start last year but insufficient applications had resulted, however, a different approach had already resulted in 80 applications for 2014. A 14-16 manager had been appointed with responsibility for building the curriculum. The GCSE experience of the Orpington campus should be of value, and the ‘readiness checklist’ would be tested at the away-day in May. An
Ofsted inspection would be triggered after one year of operation and results would be compared to schools via the performance tables.
The Corporation approved the recruitment of 14-16 year olds from September
2014 in support of the College’s 14-19 strategy, and in particular:
1. Developing a core GCSE curriculum alongside a vocational offer of construction, engineering, motor vehicle and hair and beauty
2. Developing a dedicated 14-16 area within the College estate and separate
14-16 leadership
3. Reviewing and approving ‘readiness to open’ at the May 2014 Corporation
Strategic Planning Away-Day.
526.3 Sponsorship of an Alternative Provision Academy
A report, Corporation Document 148/13, had been circulated previously. It was the
DfE and local authority view that the College was a strong sponsor. Over 200 sponsors had been approved nationally, with 35/40 Colleges amongst these sponsoring a range of institutions, but Bromley College would be the first to sponsor
Alternative Provision.
The issue of the primary phase at Grovelands was now becoming clearer. The local authority was keen for the College to sponsor Grovelands alongside the secondary provision at Kingswood and believed this would have strategic benefits for the
College in demonstrating 5 to 25 capacity consistent with the provisions of the new
Children and Families Bill and the requirement for an education, health and care plan up to the age of 25. This may also facilitate the College’s possible involvement in supporting the conversion of Borough special schools to academy status.
A head teacher responsible for ‘outstanding’ PRU primary and secondary provision had been recruited as a consultant and Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), with considerable primary expertise, was not intending to establish its own MAT, but документ1

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John Moss, the Dean of Education, was willing to serve on the Trust established by the College.
For all the reasons given, College management was now far more comfortable to proceed with the sponsorship of both Kingswood and Grovelands.
Discussion resulted in the following observations:
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Both schools were currently grade 2 but with performance having dipped since they were last assessed.
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This was a positive opportunity given the College’s developing expertise in special education.
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The performance of the schools would be for the MAT to monitor not the College
Corporation.
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The sharing of services and cost efficiencies would require additional capacity in the College management team.
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A new head would be appointed at Kingswood in place of the current interim who would leave in April.
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Meetings with staff and students had revealed positive attitudes towards the prospective changes.
The Corporation approved proceeding with the work necessary for the sponsorship of an Alternative Provision Academy in the London Borough of
Bromley and engagement with the DfE and Bromley Council to take this forward to secure the future of Grovelands and Kingswood.
526.4 Food and Enterprise Career College
A report, Corporation Document 149/13, had been circulated previously. Hospitality and Catering was a curriculum area always intended for the Orpington campus postmerger and the development costs were approved in principal via the Property
Strategy in 2012.
Gerry Shurman, the consultant engaged to drive forward the initiative, was very well connected in the industry and had already secured interest from a number of high profile contacts including the Dorchester Group and highly place colleagues of
Heston Blumenthal and Michelle Roux.
The estimated cost of £1.7m was £300k inside the budgeted figure and could be reduced further through work undertaken by the College’s Estates team. The ground floor space had already been cleared and was ready for work to commence.
The ‘Permission in Principle’ document (circulated with the meeting papers) had been very favourably received by the Career College Trust (CCT) although the development of a franchise model which included an initial registration fee and annual membership fee (both of £150k) had recently been advised. This was a considerable disappointment and was currently being discussed with the Trust. A modest franchise/endorsement fee would be accepted, (UTCs pay £5k to the Baker
Dearing Trust), but given that eligible colleges already needed to be ‘good’ or
‘outstanding’ a charge attached to securing high quality provision seemed to be excessive. However, it would be possible for the Food and Enterprise College to proceed without the Career College branding, and interest and support from the industry would not be affected by this. The SLT were intending to make a decision on this once negotiations with the CCT were concluded. It was also confirmed that EFA funding would still be available. документ1

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The Career College would be operated and governed as a department of the College and not through the Multi Academy Trust. The 16-18 student numbers would compensate for withdrawal from Animal Care and had considerable potential for more. The 14-16 numbers would be additional to this. The College was writing to the
LEP to investigate support from them for the capital investment needed.
The Corporation approved the College’s development of Food and Enterprise as an additional area of provision, in support of the 14-19 strategy, and in particular:
1. The required capital programme, as appearing in the Property Strategy
2. The appointment of a governor to join the Advisory Board
3. The continued investigation of the operation of this provision as a Career
College
Marek Michalski agreed to represent the governing body on the Food and Enterprise advisory board.
526.5 Establishing a Multi Academy Trust
A report, Corporation Document 150/13, had been circulated previously. The
Corporation was being asked to approve proceeding with the necessary legal work, and it was clarified that the second recommendation was for the Governance and
Search Committee to draft proposals for the organisational arrangements of the MAT for approval by the Corporation in due course.
A MAT was the most suitable governance structure to accommodate the entities that would emerge from the College’s 14-16 strategy. There would be a relationship between the different bodies constituting the Trust determined by the degree of comembership and the delegation of responsibilities.
Due diligence would be determined by the circumstances of the parties joining the
Trust and would cover such considerations as the submission of the Articles and
Memorandum of Association, the Commercial Transfer Agreement by which all the assets of the predecessor schools were transferred to the Trust, the land transfer arrangements, the novation of contracts and the establishment of the Trust.
Early indications were that this, together with curriculum, quality and financial due diligence would cost £27k to £31k but that the Academy Sponsorship Conversion
Grant would almost entirely offset this.
The DfE were introducing a hybrid model for Trusts taking responsibility for different types of provider which would be investigated as would options for the degree of cross-membership of the bodies forming the Trust.
It was felt that advice was required before conclusions could be drawn and so the Corporation approved proceeding with the necessary legal work and also that the Governance and Search Committee should draw up proposals for the
MAT governance arrangements for consideration by the Corporation.
526.6 Sponsorship of a UTC
A report, Corporation Document 159/13, had been circulated previously. A consultant, with successful experience of the development of a UTC in Reading, was presently working one day a week on the bid. A further meeting with CCCU had taken place and a ‘visioning’ day to discuss the curriculum and other considerations was planned. документ1

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A start date of 2016 was probable which would spread the required work although submission of a bid in May would need to be progressed over the next 5/6 months but this did not require the commitment of significant resources. No financial information was available at this early stage.
The Corporation approved the further work required to submit a bid by May
2014 to the DfE to sponsor a University Technical College.
526.7 Sponsorship of a Free School in Bromley
A report, Corporation Document 160/13, had been circulated previously. This had been a more recent development arising from the local authority’s need for more secondary places which would either be commissioned through, for example the
College, or would go out to tender. The local authority ’s preference was for an 11-16 or 11-18 technical college with a likely start date of 2018. The local authority would progress this with or without the College so it was better to be involved at this early stage of the discussions.
The Corporation approved the further investigation of this opportunity and engagement with Bromley Council to take this forward.
527 College Self-Assessment Report
A report, Corporation Document 151/13, had been circulated previously. All key aspects had been graded ‘good’, (including overall effectiveness and outcomes for learners), with the exception of 6 areas now upgraded to ‘outstanding’ since the report on the 2011/12 year (including the demonstration of an ambitious vision, meeting the needs of learners and safeguarding by College leaders and managers).
Headline points from the Quality Improvement Plan were listed in the report and the full document would be considered at a future meeting.
It was observed that the College was doing well at levels 1, 3 and 4, but less well at level 2. This would be assisted by the further development of KPIs and the supporting data that would enable more robust in-year monitoring.
The Corporation approved the College Self-Assessment Report for the 2012/13 year and the key aspect grades and judgements.
528 Sports Hall Capital Project
A report, Corporation Document 152/13, had been circulated previously.
Presentations had been held on 15 November and the tenders scored, resulting in the unanimous view of the panel that the contract should be awarded to Neilcott
Construction Limited who, at a cost of £2.964m, were inside the budget and were a local company wanting to involve the students in the project.
Due to the date by which the current Hall needed to be handed over to the contractors, Chair’s action had been sought and provided.
The Corporation ratified the decision made by the Chair on its behalf to appoint
Neilcott Construction Ltd to carry out the Sports Hall design, construction and completion works.
It was noted that this could have been achieved by email as allowed for under the new Financial Regulations.
529 Financial Regulations документ1

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A report, Corporation Document 153/13, had been circulated previously. The
Financial Regulations had been substantially amended to make them more concise and suitable for use by the College and had been considered in draft at the 13
November Corporation meeting. Few comments had been received, but minor amendments to section 16 regarding gifts and hospitality had resulted and section
26, regarding related party transactions, had been added.
The amended Financial Regulations for 2013/14 were approved.
530 Minutes and Recommendations from the Audit Committee
530.1 Minutes of the Audit Committee held on 26 November 2013
The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2013, which had been circulated previously, would be approved at the next meeting of the Committee.
530.2 Audit Committee Annual Report
A report, Corporation Document 154/13, had been circulated previously and contained the opinion that the risk, financial and governance controls were adequate and effective to manage the achievement of the Co llege’s objectives.
The high priority items identified by the Internal Auditors had been resolved, thanks in significant measure to the efforts of the new Vice Principal, Finance and Resources, and his team. The Financial Statements and Regularity Auditors had made no new recommendations which was a very pleasing outcome. The last time risk had been reviewed by the Committee was in March since when the process had been revised and was now at the point of full implementation. A high net risk remained in only one area; an unattractive curriculum failing to attract learners, but a lot of work was being done to address this and also meet the needs of employers and the priorities of the
London Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The report reflected the fact that although there were concerns regarding financial controls, significant progress had been made by The Vice Principal, Finance and
Resources and his team and they had been congratulated by the Audit Committee on behalf of the Corporation. It was also acknowledged that there was still further work to be done.
The report was received by the Corporation and signed by the Chair of Audit.
530.3 Financial Statements Report
A report, Corporation Document 155/13, had been circulated previously. The
Statement of Corporate Governance had required amendment to clarify content relating to the financial year and the Committee’s year up to the date of the report.
The commentary produced by the Vice Principal and first considered at the
November meeting was tabled and the headline contributions to the actual operating surplus of £471k were discussed.
The College’s share of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) liability had reduced by £2.482m although there could be no guarantees about the future. It was acknowledged that members need to know more about the LGPS and GAAP
(Generally Agreed Accounting Principles) and that this should be addressed at a future meeting.
The Corporation approved the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2013 which were signed by the Chair and Principal. документ1

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530.4 Letter of Representations
A report, Corporation Document 156/13, had been circulated previously. Following discussion at the November Audit Committee, a space for the signature of the Vice
Principal, Finance and Resources, had been added.
The Corporation approved the Audit Representations Letter which was signed by the Chair of the Corporation and the Vice Principal, Finance and Resources.
530.5 Audit Committee Terms of Reference
A report, Corporation Document 157/13, had been circulated previously. Clarification of the Committee’s role in respect of solvency had been added (clause 1.2) as had the approval of additional services to be undertaken by internal and external auditors
(clause 2.8) although the reference to de minimus costs should be removed as these were adequately minuted. The Committee should have the authority and confidence to deal with the internal audit needs assessment and annual fees (clause 4.3) and the scope of the external audit and annual fee (clause 5.4).
The Corporation approved the revised terms of reference for the Audit
Committee.
531 Governance Update
A report, Corporation Document 158/13, had been circulated previously. It contained a summary of the self-assessment exercise conducted by governors with the main points appearing in a Development Plan. The governor Recruitment and Succession
Planning Policy would return to the Governance and Search Committee in the light of recent developments impacting on the skills the corporation would require in the future, and a panel would need to be convened to appoint an additional Vice
Principal with responsibility for Performance and Planning. Roger Dawe, Caroline
Jolliff and John Hunter volunteered to be part of that panel.
532. Any other business
The Chair reflected on the important matters that had been considered at the meeting and that the 14-19 Strategy would form much of the content of the
Corporation away-day in May. Seasons greetings were extended to all.
533. Date and time of the next meeting
Wednesday 12 February 2014, 6.15, at the BROMLEY campus. документ1