Finance, Premises and Staffing Committee (including the pay committee)
Membership (appointed annually)
A minimum of 3 members of the Governing Body:
June Lowther – Headteacher
John Hooson – Chair
Logan Thom
Jen Armitstead
Lauren Dixon
The governing body may also appoint ‘associate members’ to this committee. An associate member is not a governor and does not have voting rights.
Governance Professional: Sian Taylor
Quorum: 3 voting members
Terms of Reference
Committee Task
The main purpose of this committee is:
- To support the Governing Body in fulfilling their responsibilities by ensuring that its members undertake close and continuing interest in all financial aspects of the school.
- To provide advice, support and guidance to the Headteacher and Governing Body on all matters relating to school finances.
- To consider appropriate arrangements to ensure that the school meets the requirements of the Schools Financial Value Standard on an ongoing basis.
- To recommend internal financial regulations for the financial management of the school.
- To consider appropriate levels of reserves and balances
- Prepare plans for the year, working within Development Plan guidelines
- Identify problems relating to school buildings and premises, both internally and externally, and recommend action to the governing body where appropriate
- Establish and review the Health & Safety policy
- Work within the framework of all appropriate legislation and policies (internal, professional, governmental etc)
- Monitor quality, progress and performance of contracted work
Delegated:
In these areas the committee has the power to act on behalf of the governing body and will give progress reports:
- Set the school budget plan for the year
- Monitor school budget expenditure
- Monitor ISBQs
- Ensure procedures exist and are adhered to for the payment of monies and banking receipts and that the appropriate school staff keep clear and accurate records
- Report regularly to the full governing body with particular reference to any significant variance in expenditure levels
- Arrange virement of monies between budget headings to cater for changed needs, priorities and plans
- Ensure that wherever possible overspending does not occur to individual budget lines or to the budget overall
- Ensure that any underspend is allocated to priority areas or held in reserve as agreed by this committee or the governing body, as outline in the development plan
- Plan priorities for school development for agreement
- Ensure that private school funds are appropriately managed and audited
- Ensure that any available monies are invested to give the best possible return
- Review and implement all appropriate policies on finance and staffing issues
- Work within the framework of all appropriate legislation and policies (internal, professions, governmental etc).
- Review staff pay
- Monitor staffing levels of teaching and non-teaching staff
- Monitor non-contact time, staff workloads and headteacher’s management time
- Monitor staff absences
- Involvement in the recruitment, selection and appointment of headteacher and teaching staff as appropriate
- Delegate appointment of non-teaching staff to headteacher
- Conduct health and safety audits, risk assessments and fire risk assessments
Non-delegated:
In these areas the committee will make recommendations to the governing body:
- Advise the Governing Body on all finance and staffing matters
- Link with appropriate staff and agencies (both external and internal to school) on finance and staffing issues
- Link with appropriate staff and agencies (both internal and external to the school) on premises issues
- Advise the governing body on all premises and health and safety matters
- Make insurance recommendations
Reporting
The committee will present a report on its activity to the full governing body meeting each term, to include:
- All decisions taken under delegated powers
Minutes
Minutes are to be taken by the governance professional at every meeting. A file copy of the signed minutes to be kept in school.
Agenda setting
Standing items:
- Staffing -current establishment, absences
- Budget – figures to date, %actual against planned expenditure
- Pupil Premium
- Building issues
- Health & safety
Autumn term:
- Review charges and remissions policy
- Performance management
- Review 3-year budget plan
- Monitor ISBQ
- Calendar of meetings for year
- Review Terms of Reference
Spring term:
- Annual SFVS
- Monitor ISBQ
- 3-year budget plan
Summer term:
https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/School?urn=112327
