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City of Glasgow College Annual Report & Accounts 2020-21
The Art Foundation:
Following its inaugural year as a Committee of the Board
of Management in 2016-17, the College Art Foundation
has continued with its remit to advance the charitable
purpose of the City of Glasgow College to include the
advancement of education in the arts, by making grants
and providing support for educational projects, activities,
and initiatives being carried out by and supported by City
of Glasgow College. This includes the promotion and
provision of exhibitions, and the collection and display
of works of art and design to complement and enhance
the public space and learning and teaching environment
of the City of Glasgow College and surrounding civic
landscape.
Operation of the Board of Management
In 2020-21 an open round of recruitment was undertaken
in consultation with GCRB, and as a consequence, two
new Board members were appointed in June 2021. Two
new Student Board members served on the Board in
2020-21, with one of these continuing into 2021-22 as
Student President and Board member.
The Board Chair was appointed by the Glasgow
Colleges' Regional Board in 2016, and along with three
other non-executive Board members who concluded
their first periods of tenure at 31 July 2020, has had his
period of tenure extended to 31 July 2024.
Board Evaluation
Following the Board's first externally directed Review of
Governance Effectiveness, published in 2017, the Board
undertook a second external review in 2021, following
guidance from the Good Governance Steering Group
that the compliance period had been extended to April
2021 in the light of the Covid emergency.
This was a very successful review which referred to the
Board as: "A very professional and high performing Board
that is passionately committed to the College and its
students, with a desire to take the College forward." and
"a high level of scrutiny and a healthy level of challenge
by the Board, particularly at Committee level, with the
Board acting in a 'critical friend' role to Principal and
Executive Team". (City of Glasgow College External
Effectiveness Review 2021, p4).
The Board Committee self-evaluation was undertaken
from June 2020, and completed in October 2020.
The Board Chair undertook individual appraisals with
all Board members, and reviewed the membership
and Convenership of all Board Committees. The skills
base of the Board was referenced to ensure optimum
deployment of Board members across the Board
Committees.
Compliance with Best Practice
The Board of Management has formally endorsed and
adopted, in its entirety, the Code of Good Governance for
Scotland's Colleges 2014, and subsequently the revised
Code of 2016, which, along with the Code of Conduct,
forms a key instrument of guidance and probity for Board
members. We can confirm, therefore, that the Board
seeks to comply fully with the Code of Good Governance
2016, and associated guidance, as well as the Corporate
Governance Code so far as its provisions apply to the
college sector.
Corporate Strategy
The matters reserved to the Scottish Funding Council
for decision are set out in the Financial Memoranda
issued by the Council. The Board is responsible for the
strategic direction of the College, approval of major
developments and policy changes, and for the review
and commissioning of regular reports from the SMT on
the day-to-day operations of its business.
The College Strategic Plan (2017-25) was significantly
revised in 2021-20, with the full involvement of the Senior
Management Team, as well as the faculty and directorate
teams for which SMT has responsibility. This revision
was informed by the two Board Planning events held in
2020-21, and the new College Strategic Plan 2021-30
was finalised, approved, and launched in time for the
2021- 22 session. The Board planning events included a
review of progress against measures and targets relating
to the Strategic Plan via the five College Supporting
Strategies, and a review of the College's strategic context
and direction.
Risk Management
The College Risk Management strategy is embodied in
the following Documents:
• Risk Management Policy
• Risk Management Procedure
• Risk Management Guidance
• Risk Register
• Risk Management Action Plans
The College Risk Management Policy outlines the
College's approach to risk management and internal
control and the roles of the Board of Management
and senior management, while the Risk Management
Procedure outlines how this is delivered.
The Audit Committee received regular reports from the
senior management via Risk Management reviews in
2010-21. All significant changes to risk assessment