8 March 2005
Board ofScrutiny
Noon, Tuesday 8 March 2005
Chadwick Room,
Present: Stephen Cowley, NickDowner, Nicholas Holmes,John Little,TimothyMilner,Saskia Murk-Jansen,David Phillipson (Chairman, agenda items 1-5), Nick Pyper, John Spencer (Chairman, agenda items 6-9), Helen Thompson
Inattendance: Tessa Payne
1.Apologies
MargaretGlendenning, Jennifer Rigby
2.Minutesof previous meeting
Thesewere agreed.
3.Mattersarising
Therewere no matters arising, other than those already on the agenda.
4.Letterfrom Colin Saunderson
TheBoard considered the letter dated 17 February received from Colin Saunderson.
Itwas noted that the letter raised a number of issues about which the Board wasalready aware, and has under consideration.It was agreed that NH would respond to Mr Saunderson on behalf of theBoard.
5.Shortlistof topics for Annual Report
Itwas agreed that the following topics should be considered further for inclusionin the Annual Report, in addition to the required responses to the Universityaccounts, the Allocations Report and the Council’s Annual Report:
§RAM and the expansionof UAS, and the outcome of the reviews of Personnel and RSD.It was agreed that further information wasrequired urgently on these matters, which would inform whether they wereincluded in the Annual Report.
§The way in which thereview of the Pay and Grading structure is being handled
§The continuingconcerns about the transitions from CAPSA to CUFS.
§Committee structurein general, University governance, the roll of the PVCs, and how they fit intooverall system.
§Finance – the deficit,pension projections, and the financial implications of the bursary scheme.
Overridingall of these issues will be the theme of internal communication, withparticular emphasis in the area of governance.The following actions were agreed:
NHto arrange for BoS representatives to meet with Professor Minson soon afterEaster, and to ask to be sent any relevant information prior to the meeting.
SCto request a meeting with Andrew Reid.
SC/DPto draft a letter to the Registrary requesting information in definitive termson the outcomes of the two reviews, and a breakdown of staff numbers within theUAS
6.Confirmationof meeting with Vice-Chancellor
Itwas agreed that JS should confirm the meeting with the Vice-Chancellor onThursday 28 April, and advise her that the Board would like to discuss thefollowing issues:
Structureand PVCs
Handlingof pay and grading scheme
Deficit
Progresson developments in internal communications
PR/bursaries
Itwas also agreed that JS should also ask the Vice-Chancellor if she would letthe Board see a copy of the Annual Report she presented to the Council.
7.Responseto Charles Larkum
Itwas agreed that ND would draft and circulate a slightly shorter version of theresponse to be sent to the Council, and depersonalise it where appropriate.
8.Dateof next meeting
Thenext meeting will be held on Thursday 28 April, and fortnightly thereafter.
9.Anyother business
TheBoard agreed the proposed schedule for elections to the Board received fromSusan Bowring, to be held during the Easter term.