Brindishe Schools

Resources Committee

TERMS OF REFERENCE 2023/2024

1. Purpose

The purpose of the Resources Committee of the Brindishe Schools is to consider all strategic matters appertaining to finance, staffing and premises as delegated by the full Governing Body.

2. Processes and procedures

The committee will consist of:   

• at least four governors - including the Executive Headteacher
• the Federation Business Manager

The committee will elect a Chair from amongst its number on an annual basis. 

Quorum for the committee will be three governor members of the committee. 

The committee shall meet once per term or more often if required.

The Committee meetings will not be open to the public but minutes shall be made available. Information relating to a named person or any other matter that the committee considers confidential will be minuted in ‘part 2’ and does not have to be made available for inspection. 

In the absence of the chair, the committee shall choose an acting chair for that meeting from amongst their number. 

The committee will be minuted by the Federation Clerk (Lewisham LA). In the absence of the clerk the committee shall choose a clerk for that meeting from amongst their number (someone who is not the Executive Headteacher)

The draft minutes of each meeting will be circulated with the agenda for the next ordinary meeting of the full governing body and will be presented at that meeting by the chair (or in his/her absence another member of the committee). 

Any decisions taken are by the consensus of the committee.

3. Functions

To act on matters delegated by the full governing body (see further details below)

To contribute to the School’s Community Development Plan, which are directly related to finance, staffing, premises

To consider safeguarding and equalities implications when undertaking all committee functions

To review and agree the School Financial Value Standard (SFVS)

To undertake any remedial action identified as part of the SFVS

To receive and act upon any issues identified by a local authority audit

3.1 Functions: Finance 

To support and underpin the strategic decision making of spending within the schools finances preventing each school from moving into a long term deficit

To understand the impact of reactionary spend on future budgets enabling strategic decision making

To strategically scrutinise and propose to the governing body for adoption an annual school budget taking into account the priorities of the School Development Plan

To oversee and maintain an ‘up to date’ three year financial plan, taking into the account priorities of the School Development Plan, roll projection and signals from central government and (if applicable) the LA regarding future years’ budgets, within the constraints of available information.

To ensure that the school operates within the Financial Regulations of Lewisham Council 

To consider a budget position statement including virement decisions at least termly and to report significant anomalies from the anticipated position to the Governing Body 

To monitor the income and expenditure throughout the year of all delegated and devolved funds against the annual budget plan

To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body

To receive at least termly budget monitoring reports from the FPM/Executive Headteacher

To report back to each meeting of the full governing body and to alert them of potential problems at an early date

To review, adopt and monitor policies relating to finance, which include the local scheme of delegation for spending and budgetary adjustments (virements) for the committee, Executive Headteacher and other nominated staff, as well as charging and remissions policy

To make decisions in respect of service level agreements

To ensure that sufficient funds are set aside for pay increments as set out in the Pay Policy and as recommended by the Executive Headteacher

Subject to the local scheme of delegation, to approve any budgetary adjustments that will from time to time be necessary in response to the evolving requirements of the school. 

1. 2. Functions: Premises and IT

To provide support and guidance for the governing body and the executive headteacher on all matters relating to the maintenance and development of the premises and grounds, assets including Health and Safety and statutory legal requirements

·       Support in the strategic approach of key projects across the school

·       Discuss and consider the quotes put forward

To inform the governing body of the report and set out a proposed order of priorities for maintenance and development, for the approval of the governing body. 

 

The Executive Headteacher is authorised to commit expenditure up to £10,000 without the prior approval of the committee in any emergency where delay would result in further damage or present a risk to the health and safety of pupils or staff. In this event the Executive Headteacher would normally be expected to consult the committee chair at the earliest opportunity.

3.3 Functions: Staffing        

To review KPIs of staffing levels in-line with DFE guidance and strategically challenge to ascertain alternative ways of working whilst keeping the Federation’s core values at the forefront

To annually review, in consultation with the Head Teacher, the school staffing structure in line with DFE guidance (KPIs)

The Pay Committee establishes the operation of the school's Performance Management/ Appraisal Policy - including the arrangements and operation of the school's performance management/ appraisal procedures for the Headteacher. 

To establish a Pay Policy for all categories of staff

To be responsible for the administration and review of the Pay Policy

To ensure that staffing procedures (including recruitment procedures) follow equalities legislation

To recommend to the governing body staff selection procedures, ensuring that they conform with safer

recruitment practice, and to review these procedures as necessary

In consultation with staff, to oversee any process leading to staff reductions

A specific appeals committee would be set up to consider any appeal against a decision on pay grading or pay awards

3.4 Functions: Policies delegated for approval by Resources Committee

·       Acceptable use of IT

·       Allegations of abuse against staff- statement of procedures

·       Best Value Statement

·       Business Continuity Management Plan

·       Critical Incidents policy

·       Governors allowances

·       Health and Safety (inc. risk assessments)

·       Manual of Internal Financial Procedures (MIFP)

·       Safer recruitment and selection

·       Scheme of Financial Delegation

·       SFVS

·       Statement of Internal Control

·       Whistleblowing

The Resources Committee will also review and recommend for approval by FGB the following: 

·       Staff absence and management

·       Staff discipline, conduct and grievance procedure

·       Equality at work