University Executive Board minutes - 15 March 2022

On

Date:

15 March 2022

Present:

Professor K Lamberts (KL) (in the Chair), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), Professor S Hartley (SH), Professor J Litster (JL), J Jones (JJ), Professor G Valentine (GV), Professor M Vincent (MV), Professor C Watkins (CW)

In attendance:

Dr T Strike (TS), T Wray (TW), I Wright (IW), V Jackson (VEJ) (Item 1), D Lodge (DL) (Item 2), H Morgan (HM) and Professor B Stone (BS) (Item 3), H Barlow (HB) (Item 4), K Lilley (KEL) (Item 7)

Apologies:

R Sykes (RS)

Secretary:

K Sullivan (KS)

  1. Financial Forecasts/Budget Setting

    • (VEJ in attendance for this item)

    • UEB received and noted a presentation on the financial forecasts 2022/23-2025/26 and the associated budget setting process for 2022/23. Particular attention was drawn to the following:

      • The principal changes to the forecast since the submission of the November 2021 forecast to the Office for Students (OfS).

      • Key headlines from the forecast period

      • The major financial risks to the University or the forecast period

      • A series of recommended actions for managing the University’s finances in the coming year.

    • During discussion, UEB raised and/or noted the following points:

      • It would be necessary to explore all available income opportunities in tandem with all areas of the cost base as part of the forecasting process.

      • Given the current inflationary pressures, there would be value in reflecting further on how the University could absorb a national pay award uplift above 2.5%, acknowledging that the projected surplus in a given year might not be sufficient to cover this in itself.

      • With regard to student recruitment, the forecasts were based on the 1 December 2021 census data and factored in Faculty plans and the inflation in tuition fees for overseas students.

      • Once the University’s REF2021 outcome was known, it would be important to make strategic and evidence-based decisions about research investment.

  2. Closed Minute and Paper

  3. Disability Equality Strategy and Action Plan

    • ​​​​​​​(HM and BS in attendance for this item)

    • UEB considered the final version of the Disability Equality Strategy and Action Plan, noting the scope of the Strategy’s ambition and its associated resource requirements. The related paper also drew attention to the consultation process that informed to development of the Strategy, the key priorities being addressed in advance of its roll out, and proposed institutional communications to accompany and publicise the Strategy.

    • During discussion, UEB raised and/or noted the following points:

      • As in other areas of the University’s ED&I remit, executive leadership in championing and spearheading the Strategy and Action Plan would be important.

      • It would be helpful to ensure that the launch of the Strategy and Action Plan was sufficiently high profile, and, ideally, led by UEB Members.

      • It may be prudent to engage more actively the University’s research community in relation to the Strategy and Action Plan.

    • Following discussion UEB:

      • Endorsed the Disability Equality Strategy and Action Plan, noting that detailed proposals associated with specific action areas would be brought to UEB for consideration and approval throughout the delivery period.

      • Noted progress made to date and plans for communicating the Strategy and Action Plan.

  4. Review of Academic Probation

    • ​​​​​​​(HB in attendance for this item)

    • UEB considered proposals emerging from the review of academic probation that a Task and Finish Group had overseen. The review focused on the University’s current use of probation, with the aim of changing practice to improve performance, increase engagement for new academics, and better support those who input into the probationary process through a consistent process. This work mirrored that undertaken to refine the University’s SRDS procedures. Among the stakeholders that had been consulted as part of the review were the FVPs, the VPs for Education and Research, Faculty Directors of Learning and Teaching and Research and Innovation, HoDs and Probationary Advisers, Probationary staff, HR Managers, and the University and College Union (UCU).

    • During discussion, UEB agreed that it was important for Faculties and the FVPs to retain oversight of the probationary process and ensure an appropriate level of support was in place for colleagues on probation for key tasks such as research grant applications.

    • UEB approved each of the recommendations set out in the related paper. 

  5. Russian Sanctions and the Impact of the War in Ukraine

    • ​​​​​​​UEB received and noted a paper setting out the current institutional position and actions in relation to Russian sanctions and the war in Ukraine, as a means of assurance that all relevant issues were under effective control. It was noted that there was no new or additional regulatory requirement resulting from the war or its impact; UUK had established a national response Working Group to coordinate sector level activity and the related paper included a summary of responses from several national organisations. The University was focused on both safeguarding and supporting affected staff and students and ensuring that the necessary controls and processes were in place to comply with UK sanctions on Russia, including close collaboration with the Students’ Union, which had welcomed the University’s action taken to date. 

    • During discussion, it was highlighted that some areas were particularly complex and subject to ambiguous government guidance or policy that was liable to change, e.g. around scientific collaborations.

  6. USS 2020 Valuation Update

    • ​​​​​​​UEB considered the update and:

      • Affirmed the increased employer contributions that UEB had agreed previously, of an extra 0.2% for two years (1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024) as part of the current employer consultation process.

      • Confirmed that it was content for UUK to respond on its behalf based on the University’s previous agreement to the schedule of contributions and subsequent amendments to the UUK proposals, including the increased cost.

  7. Report of the Capital Pipeline Prioritisation Group

    • ​​​​​​​(Meeting Held on 31 January)

    • The Committee considered and approved the Report of the Capital Pipeline Prioritisation Group (CPPG), together with the prioritised list of projects to be advanced during the remainder of 2021/22 and in 2022/23, associated costs and available budget. Clarification was provided that business cases were progressed to UEB Estates and Capital Sub-Group (ECSG) once the CPPG had agreed to recommend them, and that the CPPG had requested further information on three projects proposed at its meeting in January 2022.

  8. Closed Minute and Paper

  9. Report of the UEB Strategic Advisory Group – Student Recruitment and Population

    • (Meeting Held on 3 February)​​​​​​​

    • UEB considered and approved the report.

  10. Report of the UEB Health and Safety Committee

    • ​​​​​​​(Meeting Held on 10 February)

    • UEB considered and approved the report, including:

      • The Health and Safety Report – February 2022.

      • The four Health and Safety policies outlined, including the draft Terms of Reference for a Laser Working Group that would report to the Committee; and:

      • Noted the work outlined in the other sections of the report.

    • During discussion, Members acknowledged the importance of establishing a health and safety culture in which staff and students felt empowered to report accidents and near misses. This was one of Council’s critical indicators of the University’s effectiveness in this area.

  11. Industrial Action: Report from the Incident Management Team

    • ​​​​​​​UEB received and noted a verbal update, which drew attention to the work with FVPs and Departments/Schools to ascertain the local impacts of the action.

  12. Round Table

    • ​​​​​​​Management School: CW provided an update on the recent accreditation visits. The final report and outcome would be ratified and received in June.

    • Senate: TS reported on preparations for the elections, for which each Faculty had vacancies that would be contested. Communications would be shared in due course.

    • Elections: TS reminded UEB of the rules concerning interaction with MPs during periods of Purdah.

    • Council: TS informed UEB of the tragic death of Jonathan Nicholls, the Senior Independent Governor on the University’s Council. UEB expressed its deepest sadness and condolences

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