Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 7 June 2006
-
AUT/UCU pay dispute
The following pay offer had been agreed between the newly formed University and College Union (UCU) and the UCEA:
• August 2006: greater of 3 percent or £515
• February 2007: 1 percent
• August 2007: 3 percent
• May 2008: greater of 3 percent or £420
• October 2008: 2.5 percent or RPI (as at September 2008), whichever is the greater
• Review of the machinery of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff
• An 'independent', retrospective review of HE finance in 2008
UCU members would be balloted on whether or not to accept the offer. As a condition of the offer, the current action short-of-a-strike would be suspended immediately.
- EPSRC Pilot Vacation Bursary Programme
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) reported that the EPSRC had launched a Pilot Vacation Bursary Programme. Under this programme, selected HEIs will receive a total of £17K to cover stipends and research consumables for ten bursaries, each of ten weeks' duration over summer 2006. The aim was to give the most able UG students first-hand experience of research. Several departments had expressed an interest in participating . Although this was a one-off pilot, participation might result in additional funding in future years.
- EQUIS Accreditation for the School of Management
Congratulations were offered to the staff of the School of Management for attaining accreditation from EQUIS. This gave the School worldwide recognition as one of 92 accredited institutions spread across 28 countries.
- RCUK Academic Fellowships
Further checks had indicated that the funding associated with the Academic Fellowships could be counted as research income for RAE purposes.
- Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund Action plan
The Director of Learning and Teaching Enhancement (TQEF) introduced a draft Action Plan for the Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund. This was to be submitted for approval by the HEFCE before 16 June, in order for them to release funding of £293K per annum between 2006/07 and 2008/09 (the third and final year being dependent on the outcome of the next CSR).
Within a framework of national priorities established by the HEFCE, the Action Plan was intended to further the emerging priorities of the new Learning and Teaching Strategy, currently in preparation. The focus was on the development, recording and dissemination of good practice. Significant funding had therefore been earmarked for academic staff development. Allocations were also proposed to continue the Teaching Development Fund, and to support quality assurance and enhancement, both in Faculties/Schools and the central administration. There was no expectation that funding would continue beyond the three-year period of TQEF, other than academic and teaching development, which would need to supported over the longer-term.
- Estates quarterly report - June 2006
The Director of Estates summarised the capital projects currently on site, those at design and tender stage, under consideration and those which had been completed.
- Risk Register and Risk Management 2006
The draft Risk Register for 2006 had been updated to take account of changes in levels of risk over 2005, consolidating improvement actions as key controls where appropriate, and of changes in new Corporate Plan.
It was proposed that the Risk Register should incorporate two emerging risks: the continuing financial impact of very large increases in utility costs; and the ongoing affordability of pay awards, including the increasing levels of the employer's contributions to the USS and LGPS.
- Draft Equalities and Diversity Report, 2005/06
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Developments) presented the draft of the annual report of the Equalities and Diversity Committee required by Council. This had three main sections: key projects and activities, monitoring and looking ahead.
For next year, it was proposed that the Equalities and Diversity Committee should focus more on priority areas. It would also be sensible to move production of the annual report to the autumn, rather than the summer, as this would allow a full review of each academic year.
The Committee commended the report. It was suggested that benchmarking should be differentiated in each area, to ensure that comparisons were made with similar HEIs.
- Strategic framework for the management of Arts activities
Following the discussion about the new strategic framework at a previous meeting of the Committee, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Developments) reported that further consultations had taken place with the Development team and with the student representatives on the Arts Committee, and that the framework had been amended accordingly. It was now proposed that the Arts Complex Fund-raising Support Group should provide advice, advocacy and support for the fund-raising to be undertaken by the ICIA, with professional support from the Development team. The Arts Users Forum would be open to all members of the University, providing an opportunity to discuss and debate about current arts activities and future developments.
Recommendations for the award of prizes for the arts would be made by the Director of ICIA to Senate.
The Committee noted that it may be appropriate for the Director of Marketing and Communications to delegate representation on the Arts Complex Fund-raising Support Group at some point.
- Reports to the HEFCE
The Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor introduced drafts of the Corporate Planning Statement and Annual Monitoring Statement to be submitted to the HEFCE by 28 July.
(a) Corporate Planning Statement 2006
No changes in format had been made by the HEFCE, so the draft simply reported on progress in attaining the objectives outlined in the previous Corporate Planning Statement, and updated strategic priorities as necessary.
The Committee suggested a number of amendments. Any additional suggestions would be relayed direct to the Executive Assistant.
(b) Annual Monitoring Statement 2006
This took the format of 'reporting by exception', identifying where targets had not been met and where there was unspent monies from funding allocations. No exceptions would need to be reported, although it was noted that delayed expenditure on e-learning had now been committed and the section on race equality would need further work before submission.
The following items were received without comment:
Corporate Plan 2006/07 to 2008/09
Notes of the School for Health Executive: 25 April 2006
Notes of the Strategic Planning Group: 2 May 2006
Notes of the 5WL1 Management Committee: 27 April 2006
Notes of the Arts Committee: 9 May 2006
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