Download original attachment
(Word document)
This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request
'Governing Body Clerking Service Provided to Community Schools'.
(Word document)
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Children's Services
SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
APRIL 2009
Governor Services
CLERKING
From 1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010
1. CONDITIONS OF AGREEMENT
1.1 Purpose of the Agreement
The Purchaser and Service Provider shall both abide by the terms and conditions set out in this agreement, which exists to provide:
Support to enable the governing body to work effectively by servicing meetings of the governing body
Advice on the appropriate actions to be taken to comply with governance legislation.
Support to enable the headteacher and staff to focus on main task of raising standards rather than on administrative support of governors.
1.2 Length of the Agreement
Provision of the services shall commence from 1 April, 2009, for a period of twelve months until
31 March, 2010.
1.3 Method of Charging
Schools will be charged termly by Journal Transfer against their appropriate ledger code.
1.4 Inflation
The rates and prices contained in the Price Schedule shall be reviewed on each anniversary of the
start date and shall be increased in line with relevant Local Government pay settlements and the RPI.
1.5 Variations
Both parties may jointly agree to omit any part of the service, or provide additional services, or
vary temporarily or permanently any part of the service. Such modifications will be valued
where applicable according to the prices set out in the agreement.
1.6 Indemnity
The Service Provider shall be liable for and shall indemnify the Purchaser against any liability, loss,
claim or proceedings arising under any statute or at common law in respect or any damage to property
or persons.
1.7 Assignment and Subcontracting
The Service Provider shall not transfer or assign this agreement and shall not subcontract the provision
of the service without the prior written permission of the Purchaser, such permission to be not unreasonably withheld.
1.8 Arbitration
A dispute, which the parties cannot resolve, will be referred to the Strategic Director for the
Children's Services. Any decision shall be accepted as final to both parties.
1.9 Monitoring and Liaison
The parties to this agreement will be required to jointly implement and maintain a system for
monitoring this agreement at the commencement. The Head of Governance & Training is nominated as
the Authorised Officer for the Service Provider and the Headteacher will be assumed to be the
Contract Manager for the Purchaser unless the Provider is formally instructed otherwise.
1.10 Notice
Either party may terminate the agreement by giving a period of notice of no less than six calendar
months. All notices to terminate the agreement must be in writing. Neither party shall have claims
against each other arising out of the termination of the agreement.
In the event of termination any particular matter, which is then underway and is the subject of the
services being provided to the school shall continue to be the subject of this agreement. The
agreement shall remain in force in relation to this particular matter until its completion to the
reasonable satisfaction of both parties, or in default of such satisfaction as certified by the
Cabinet Member for the Children's Services.
1.11 Endorsement
The parties hereby agree the Governors of the named school shall, from the school's delegated
funds, reimburse the Council in consideration of the service described in this agreement.
School ____________________________________________________
Signed ____________________________________________________
(Chair of Governors)
Dated: ___________________________________
Signed ____________________________________________________
(For the Strategic Director - Children's Services)
Dated ___________________________________
This agreement should be signed and dated by the Chair of Governors.
The full agreement should then be forwarded to Joyce Kavanagh, Head of Governance & Training, together with the Financial Annex (which is at the back of the SLA) duly completed.
2. SPECIFICATION OF WORK
The law states that a governing body must appoint a Clerk. An effective Clerk is an invaluable resource for the governing body. The Authority provides a pool of Clerks. Individual Clerks are assigned to their own schools so that a good working relationship may be developed to reduce demands on governors, headteachers and their staff.
Governor Services within Sefton received the highest grade available in the most recent OfSTED inspection and staff appointed as Clerks are fully briefed, competent, have a working up to date knowledge of governance legislation and good communication and minute writing skills.
Description of the Service
L.A. Clerk to attend full governing body meetings, to a maximum of 2.5 hours per meeting.
Preparation of agenda, copying and distribution of relevant correspondence
to home addresses.
Provision of procedural advice on difficult issues such as confidentiality and
pecuniary interest.
Assurance that regulations relating to governing body meetings are adhered to.
A record of those meetings to be delivered within 15 working days of the meeting.
Maintenance of a Minutes File.
Monitoring of governor attendance.
Advice and guidance on Instrument of Government.
Referral of minutes to appropriate officers of the Authority for response to Headteacher, Chair of Governors or full Governing Body at a subsequent meeting.
Advice on disqualification/suspension of governors.
3. COST OF SERVICE
Two levels of clerking service are offered:-
Clerking Service Level 1 Full servicing three termly meetings (upto 2.5 hrs per meeting) of the full governing body p.a. £462
Clerking Service Level 2 Taking minutes of three termly meetings (upto 2.5 hrs per meeting) of the full governing body p.a. £267
Non Service Agreement Pricing Structure
Charges for full clerking service* for one full governors'
meeting up to 2.5 hrs £170
Charges for minute taking* up to 2.5 hrs £104
*Provided capacity is available within the service.
4. NEEDS ANALYSIS
The Head of Governance & Training will develop a format to establish the needs of Chairs, headteachers and governing bodies to ensure effective meetings and good communication to establish and maintain good governance.
5. ACCESS TO SERVICE
To access the service the school needs to complete the pro forma at the back of this agreement. Arrangements will be made to attach a designated Clerk to the school and clarify date and time of meetings.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Knowledge of governance procedures
Good minute taking skills
Use of ICT
Liaison with external bodies
Good written/oral communication skills
QUALITY ASSURANCE
The level of service will be maintained by:-
Monitoring by Governor Support & Training Officer and the
Head of Governance & Training.
Assessment against national standards of clerking.
Training of Clerks.
Sharing of good practice.
MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS
Evaluation forms on clerking
Verbal feedback
Questionnaires
EVALUATION ARRANGEMENTS
The monitoring of the service will provide feedback which will be used to judge performance standards. A report will be made to Chairs of Governors once a year and will be used to decide on future service delivery. Consultation will take place with Chairs of Governors and headteachers.
DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS
Dissatisfaction with the service provision should be raised with the Governor Support and Training Officer initially.
In the absence of a satisfactory response and resolution, the Chair of Governors should contact the Head of Governance & Training. An investigation will follow and the findings and proposed remedies will be forwarded to the Chair in writing.
If dissatisfaction continues, there will be further investigation by the Assistant Director (Schools) who will report his findings to the Chair of Governors.
Failure to resolve the concern to the satisfaction of the Chair of Governors may result in a partial or full refund. The Strategic Director and Cabinet Member for Children's Services will make the decision in such circumstances.
RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOLS
Schools will be responsible for ensuring changes in governing body membership are passed to the Training & Governor Services Unit to ensure accurate database for distribution of documentation.
Ensure that all necessary paperwork is sent in good time for distribution with the agenda.
Be willing to accept alternative clerking arrangements if circumstances dictate.
Ensure suitable accommodation for meeting.
Set up appropriate arrangements for clerking Committee Meetings
Deal with any other governance related issues.
FINANCIAL ANNEX
Training & Governor Services Unit
Governor Services - Clerking
Service Level Agreement
1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010
School: …………………………………………………….
From 1 April, 2008, to 31 March 2009, the governing body will require the following level of service:
(Please tick as appropriate)
Level 1 (Full Clerking Service) ……………..
Level 2 (Minuting Service) ……………..
Code to be debited: (Please insert code) ……………..
Signed: ………………………………………………. Chair of Governors
Date: ……………………………………………….
.
4
|
|
|
