The School Governance (Procedures) (England) Regulations 2003

Meetings of committees

24.—(1) Meetings of a committee shall be convened by the clerk to that committee who, when exercising this function, shall comply with any direction given by—

(a) the governing body;

(b) the chair of that committee, so far as such direction is not inconsistent with any direction given under sub-paragraph (a).

(2) Subject to any direction given in accordance with paragraph (1), at least seven clear days in advance the clerk shall give to each member of the committee and to the head teacher (whether or not he is a member of the committee)—

(a) written notice of the meeting,

(b) a copy of the agenda for the meeting, and

(c) any reports or other papers to be considered at the meeting;

provided that where the chair of the committee so determines on the ground that there are matters demanding urgent consideration, it shall be sufficient if the written notice of the meeting states that fact and the notice, agenda and reports or other papers to be considered at the meeting are given within such shorter period as he directs.

(3) The proceedings of a committee shall not be invalidated by–

(a) any vacancy among their number; or

(b) any defect in the appointment of any member of the committee.

(4) No vote on any matter shall be taken at a meeting of a committee unless the majority of members of the committee present are governors.

(5) Every question to be decided at a meeting of a committee shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the committee present and voting on the question.

(6) Where there is an equal division of votes the person who is acting as chair for the purposes of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote, provided that such person is a governor.

(7) Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of a committee shall be drawn up by the clerk to the committee or by the person acting as the clerk for the purposes of the meeting; and shall be signed (subject to the approval of the committee) by the chair of the next meeting of the committee.

(8) Subject to paragraph (9) the committee shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, make available for inspection by any interested person a copy of—

(a) the agenda for every committee meeting;

(b) the signed minutes of every such meeting; and

(c) any report or other paper considered at any such meeting.

(9) The committee may exclude from any item required to be made available in pursuance of paragraph (8) any material relating to—

(a) a named person who works, or who it is proposed should work, at the school;

(b) a named pupil at, or candidate for admission to, the school;

(c) any other matter that, by reason of its nature, the committee is satisfied should remain confidential.