7 November 2002 Minutes

Board of Scrutiny

Minutes of the Meeting Held at Noon on

Thursday 7 November 2002 at Selwyn College

Present: Stephen Cowley,David Howarth, Robin Lachmann, Susan Lintott, Jack MacDonald, Timothy Milner,Christopher Forsyth, Elisabeth Leedham-Green (arrived late), Oliver Rackham,Jennifer Rigby, John Spencer, Helen Thompson.

1)The Minutes of the meetings of 24 October 2002 were agreedafter minor amendments.

Mattersarising (not covered elsewhere):

i)CAPSA/CUFS.Correspondence concerning possible continued problems with the research grantsmodule was noted.

ii)Discussion of Seventh Report. The Board noted with regretthat no remarks (other than the Board’s own) were made on the deficit.

iii)Buildings. It was agreed to investigate the question ofwhen, in the case of a new building project, approval of Regent House should inprinciple be obtained.

iv)Conduct of ballots. It was reported that the ballot ondiscussions had been cancelled.

v)Electronic journals. It was reported that an acceptablesolution had been reached with Elsevier.

vi)Administrative help. It was reported that the advert was inhand.

2)Visits to the Central Bodies. A report was made of the visitby the Chairman and Susan Lintott to see Pro-Vice-Chancellor Malcolm Grant (whohad indicated that he would prefer that the Secretary did not attend).The meeting, it was felt, had beenconstructive and useful.

3)Remit of the Board. Both the Registrary (in a letter) andProf Schofield (in a Discussion) had raised the question of the remit of theBoard. The Board noted that, according to its Statute “theBoard shall have the right to examine the policies of the University and thearrangements made for the implementation of those policies” in its scrutiny of“the Annual Report of the Council (including the Annual Report of the GeneralBoard to the Council), the accounts of the University, and any Report of theCouncil proposing allocations from the Chest”. The Board felt that it had notoverstepped its Statute in being concerned in the conduct of ballots or in contributingto the governance debate.

4)University policy towards the disabled. It was agreed toraise this issue in the forthcoming meeting with the Director of Personnel.

5)Ownership of copyright (RSD email). An email exchangebetween the secretary and a member of the RSD about ownership of copyright wasnoted. It was agreed to raise the matter next time the Board met with theDirector of the Research Services Division (RSD).

6)Any other business.

a)Varioushealth and safety issues were discussed (including the grey water tanks on theDowning site). The Board were concerned that decisions made in the currentperiod of financial distress might have disastrous long-term consequences. TheBoard resolved to ask the Director of the EMBS about the tanks and other issues.

b)Itwas reported that the search for a new Vice-Chancellor was progressing.

c)It was reported that there had been problems with graduate admissionsthis year. The Board agreed to investigate.

d)It was reported that the Director of Finance wanted to splitthe Abstract of Accounts into two Parts. The Board had no objection to this aslong as it was made clear that both Parts made up the Abstract of Accounts.

e)The Board noted with concern a matter raised in Discussionon 30 October about a statement allegedly made by the Press Office in relationto a particular case of intellectual property rights.

7)Date of next meeting.The next meeting will take place on 21 November at Selwyn College.