LIVERPOOL GOVERNANCE FORUM
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
10:00 am on Tuesday 16 October 2018
Archbishop Blanch CE High School, Earle Rd, Liverpool L7 6HQ

Present: Kathy Desmond (Chair), Frank McFarlane (Vice Chair), David Blythe (Honorary Secretary), Cliff Barton, Dave Cadwallader, Maureen McDaid, Avril O’Brian, Dave Owens, John Thornhill, Rev Michael Morris, Howard Harris
1.	Welcome by Kathy Desmond, LGF Chair:
KD welcomed all to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance.

2.	Apologies: 
Cynthia Carmichael, Mary Donohue, Clive Jervis, Andy Chadwick, Barbara Murray, Amanda Patmore, Pauline Warrington.

3.	Approval of the minutes for the 2017 AGM held on 14 November 2017:
It was proposed by FM, seconded by MMcD and unanimously agreed that the minutes of the AGM held on 14 November 2017 were a true record.

4.	Secretary / Treasurer’s financial report for the academic year 2017/18:
DB noted that this was his third report as honorary secretary / treasurer (see annex A) and extended thanks to Clive Jervis for his advice and scrutiny of the information. 
DB highlighted the following:
Income - Payments from the three head teacher organisations have been received.  This improvement in prompt payment is believed to be due to contact made with the organisations by KD/ DB.  It was noted that the figures represent 100% of affiliated special and secondary schools.   Some primary schools choose not to be affiliated to LGF. DB is to investigate which schools are not affiliated.  
Expenditure – it was noted that the main expenditure for LGF is the delivery of two conferences per year combined with administration costs, website maintenance, room hire etc.
Expenditure was greater than income for the period resulting in a deficit of £226.58.  A small deficit is also expected next year.  DB reported that the current balance is £4622.92 and he was aware that this figure could be open to criticism for being too high.
DB was thanked for his report and continued hard work in this area.

5.	Chairs 2017/18 report and presentation of Annual Review followed by any questions or queries resulting from report:
Archbishop Blanch CE High School were thanked for their hospitality as were all schools that have accommodated the LGF meetings previously.
KD wished to thank Joe Hartley who has stepped down from his role of meeting clerk after also serving so well as the Chair of LGF for many years.  It was noted his contribution has been amazing and he has accepted the invitation to join the LGF committee as Honorary President.
Paula Anderson was welcomed as the new meetings’ clerk.
Appreciation was shown to the committee members who serve on many city bodies, giving their time freely and who are an important link, allowing governors to have a voice in top level decisions which directly involves the education of young people from nursery to 25 years of age.
Dave Cadwallader of School Improvement was also thanked for the support he has provided to the LGF, above and beyond his line of duty.
KD went on to thank David Blythe, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer for his continued work in ensuring LGF functions in an efficient and effective manner, stating that his wonderful administrative skills enables the LGF to truly work as a team.  DB was also thanked for compiling an exciting programme of meetings.
Governors were directed to the Annual Review, which is now on the LGF website and reference was made to the two conferences that were held last year on the subjects of The Touch That Matters Most and Online Safety.  It was noted that the aim of LGF is not to compete with SIL but to provide an opportunity to present topics and speakers which allow deeper discussion.  Governors were reminded of the next conference is to be held on 18 November 2018 on the subject of Governing Body Self-assessment. 
KD highlighted the difficulty in sharing the LGF message with all governors despite information being shared with Head Teachers and a request made for the information to be cascaded down to their governing bodies.
KD stated that she hoped the use of Governor Hub would improve matters of communication. 
It was suggested moving future AGM meetings to the start of forthcoming LGF conferences as it was hoped this would encourage better attendance.

6.	 Election of Officers/ Committee Members for 2018/19:

The following appointments were agreed:
LGF Chair – Kathy Desmond: Proposed by Frank McFarlane, seconded by Amanda Patmore.
LGF Vice Chair - Frank McFarlane:  Proposed by Dave Owens, seconded by Pauline Warrington.
Honorary Secretary/Treasurer - D Blythe: Proposed by Kathy Desmond, seconded Maureen McDaid.

Other member’s previously serving on the LGF committee have agreed to put their names forward, apart from Sharon Cody and Henry Mooney who both intend to stand down and will become associate members.  

Michael Morris and John Thornhill agreed to put their names forward as full committee members and were duly elected together with Cliff Barton, Dave Cadwallader, Cynthia Carmichael, Andy Chadwick,  Maureen McDaid, Avril O’Brian, Dave Owens, Amanda Patmore, Pauline Warrington 
LIVERPOOL SAFEGUARDING BOARD LGF REPRESENTATIVE:
Frank McFarlane:  Proposed by: Avril O’Brian, Seconded by: Cynthia Carmichael 

      Kathy Desmond was thanked for ever moving LGF forward and always promoting the work       
      of the LGF.

The AGM concluded at 10:19

                     Annex A

						2017/18	

	

									

									
									
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST AUGUST 2018	

INCOME & EXPENDITURE STATEMENT	
									
INCOME:	 	         £		EXPENDITURE:	 	      £	
LASH (Secondary schools subscription)	825.00		Secretarial  Services		500.00	
LPHA (Primary schools subscription)	2,750.00		Website Maintenance 		500.00	
ALSSH (Special schools subscription)	300.00		National Association Annual Subscription	585.00	
			3,875.00		Committee Members' Expenses	59.00	
					Meeting Room Hire and Refreshments	292.84	
					October 2017 Conference Expenses	1,042.74	
					April 2018 Conference Expenses 	1,122.00	
									
Excess expenditure over income	226.58					 	
Total 		                      £	4,101.58		Total 		                      £	4,101.58	

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST AUGUST 2018	
									
Opening balance at 1st September 2017:              		Closing balance at 31st August 2018:              	
			£					£	
LGF Funds 				Represented by			
Balance brought forward	4,849.50		Bank balance	4,622.92	
Less excess expenditure over income	-226.58				
									
Total		                      £	4,622.92		Total		                      £	4,622.92	

Date: 	16th October 2018							

									
David Blythe					Kathy Desmond		
LGF Honorary Secretary				LGF Chair