Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report which proposed moving from the political model of nomination for LA Governors to the panel model of nomination for LA Governors. In response to Member’s questions, it was noted that the new system would be implemented as soon as possible, with vacancies being filled and integrating with existing Governors.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to move to the panel model of nomination for Local Authority Governors.

Reasons for the decision:

Governor recruitment across all Governor categories remains a national concern, and within Bury the number of Local Authority Governor vacancies presents a significant challenge. In addition to this, many Local Authority Governors will reach the end of their four-year term of office before the end of September 2023. It is also recognised that the Governance Handbook states that it is inappropriate to link the nomination process to political affiliation.

Other options considered and rejected:

It would be possible to retain the current political model of nomination and appointment, but this was rejected owing to the guidance outlined in the Governance Handbook. It was also rejected as the panel model should enable the LA to support schools to fill LA Governor vacancies more quickly.

Within one LA in the North West of England, an alternative model is in place, where the nomination process is delegated to the Executive Director for Children and Young People (or their equivalent). They may then delegate the responsibility within their team. This option was rejected in order to ensure that Elected Members were able to retain a role in the nomination process.