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Executive Committee

Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 18 April 2007

1. Actions arising from the Strategic Executive Committee of 21 March 2007

   The Vice-Chancellor presented a tabulated summary of actions arising from the Strategic meeting of the Committee. These were either underway or planned, or were still to be addressed. Lead and support staff responsible and a timeframe were also outlined. The Committee would monitor and review actions according to the timeframes specified.

2. Research Funding
   

   Following the oral report given at the last meeting, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) confirmed that the quanta for mainstream QR had been reduced to enable earmarking of £60M for the new Business Research Income stream. Projected net impact on non-pay operating budgets was small. It was therefore thought that BRI should be distributed to departments at the levels it had been earned. Separate compensatory measures had been put in place in respect of some departments, in order that they would not be disadvantaged in the next budget round.
   
   This left the Real Terms Supplement of £296K, which was intended to maintain the value of the QR income stream. Given that the Supplement was a one-off payment, it was thought that this should be used to support further strategic investment in research. A small number of awards of circa £100K would therefore be made to projects identified from the current Annual Planning Cycle as showing demonstrable potential. Such projects should normally seek to boost business income and not incur recurrent costs without the clear prospect of becoming self-financing. The University Research Committee would be asked to review possible projects. A similar level of QR funding would be earmarked for strategic investment in future years.

3. Proposed Consultancy Incentives Scheme
   

   The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) introduced a proposal for a pilot scheme aimed at obtaining a better understanding of how incentives affected the volume of consultancy undertaken by academic staff, and the resulting income generated for both the staff and the University. The focus was on academic and private consultancy, rather than that associated with research grants. Increasing volume should yield benefits for the University as a whole, given that consultancy was likely to remain a key metric for the HEIF income stream.

4. Environmental Management
   

   Based on the discussion at the previous meeting of the Committee, the Director of Human Resources outlined a proposed range of responsibilities for environmental management that would be vested in the Safety, Health and Environment Unit. These focused on environmental performance, proving advice on environmental matters, directing enquirers to appropriate sources of information, providing training and auditing compliance with internal and external standards. Such tasks were to be distinguished from responsibility for operational matters, such as energy use, which rested squarely with the Estates Department.
   
   The Director of Estates endorsed the outline of responsibilities, believing that they would provide a suitable framework for addressing the University's statutory obligations. Endorsement was also provided by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design, in his capacity as chairman of the Sustainability and Low Carbon Advisory Group.

5. Smoking Policy

   The Director of Human Resources said that the University would need to review its policy on smoking in light of legislation coming into force on 1 July 2007. This would make smoke-free all workplaces, work vehicles and all enclosed and substantially enclosed areas to which the public had access. Following consideration by the Health and Safety Committee, it was recommended that the whole of the Parade area should be designated smoke-free, other than two areas for which exemptions had been sought: the open terrace adjacent to the Parade Bar (2 West), where smoking would be permitted at any time; and the entrance to the Students' Union bar (1 East), where smoking would be permitted only outside normal working hours (principally for the Elements nightclub). An exemption had also been sought for the overhang outside Dolce Vita, but it was recommended that this be declined. Clear signage would need to be produced for all buildings entrances and enclosed areas.
   
   It was also recommended that Accommodation Services should be permitted to designate individual student/conference bedrooms smoke-free or not, according to their own priorities. These areas were viewed as private 'homes', to which the legislation did not apply. Common residential areas were viewed as public though, and therefore would need to be smoke-free.

6. Capital Projects - Quarterly Update April 2007
   

   The Director of Estates summarised a number of projects from those currently on site, at design or tender stage, and under consideration.
   
   
   The following items were received without comment:

   Notes of the Faculty of Science Executive: 6 February and 6 March 2007
   
   Notes of the Faculty of Engineering and Design Executive Committee: 27 February 2007
   
   Notes of the Space Management Committee: 1 February 2007