University Council Minutes 30 June 2026

WEB Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2026 at 9.15am via MS Teams

Membership:
Becki Albrighton
David Ashton
Ingrid Barker
Mark Burch
James Cooper
Ruth Dooley
Nicola de Iongh (Chair)
Steve Gardiner
Tracey Harrison
Bianca Holland
Prof Geoff Layer
Dame Clare Marchant
Freya Rowley
Prof Adeela Shafi
Pamela Sissons
Elonka Soros
Rt Revd Robert Springett
Julie Walkling
Dr Peter Warry – A

Board Apprentices:
Eleanor Hill

In attendance:
Julie-Ann Brooks, Director of People
Jo Charles (for C.26.52), Director of Commercial and Transformation
Katharine Clough, Chief Marketing Officer, Acting Chief Operating Officer
Adrian Crompton (Observer), Incoming External Member of Council
Debbie Forster (Observer), Incoming External Member of Council
Prof Cathia Jenainati, Executive Dean – Partnerships (Head of School – Business, Computing and Social Sciences)
Dr Graham Parton, Executive Dean – Teaching Innovation (Head of School – Education, Health and Science)
Prof Angus Pryor, Executive Dean – Research (Head of School – Arts, Culture and Environment)
Camille Stallard, Chief Financial Officer
Steph Base (Minutes), Senior Governance and Secretariat Officer

C.26.61
Prayer
The Rt Revd Robert Springett led the meeting in a prayer.

C.26.62
Welcome, Apologies and Quorum
Received: apologies for absence from Dr Peter Warry and noted that it would have been his last meeting of Council, and that he was thanked for his contributions to Council as External Member and previously as Senior Independent Governor, during the Council Strategy Away Day, the day prior.

Noted: the meeting was quorate.

C.26.63
Business of the Agenda
Noted: the following:

1. That there were three reserved items of business at the end of the agenda, and that all staff (except the Vice Chancellor and University Secretary), all students, attendees, and future Council Members would need to withdraw from the meeting.
2. that there had been no request to unstar any item on the agenda, and therefore it was assumed that items C.26.80 to C.26.87 had been approved or noted as stated.
3. As a member of the Governance and Nominations Committee, the Academic Board Member of Council, could remain for the first two reserved items but would need to withdrew for the third item concerning the appointment of the new University Secretary.
4. The Chair would need to withdraw for the first two reserved items, while the Senior Independent Governor would need to withdraw for the second reserved item.
5. The Vice-Chair of Council would chair the meeting for the first two reserved items, after which the Chair would return and resume chairing the meeting for the remainder of the agenda.
6. That although the Annual Chaplaincy Report was starred and therefore would not be discussed, Council noted that the Senior Chaplain, Simon Witcombe, would be leaving the University and recorded its sincere thanks for his significant contribution and dedicated service to the University over many years.

C.26.64
Declarations of Interest
Noted: none were raised.

C.26.65
Minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2026

C.26.65.1
Resolved: Council approved the minutes as an accurate record of the meeting held on 28 April 2026.

C.26.66
CONFIDENTIAL: Matters Arising (C/38/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

Section A: Main Items for Discussion

C.26.67
Chair’s Business including Key Issues Report (C/39/26)

C.25.67.1
Received and Noted:

1. the Key Issues Report from the Committee Chairs on the key points discussed at the following meetings:
   
   i. Audit and Risk Committee, 12 June 2026
   ii. Finance and General Purposes Committee, 9 June 2026
   iii. Governance and Nominations Committee, 17 June 2026
   iv. Remuneration and Human Resources Committee, 3 June 2026

C.25.67.2
Noted: since the last meeting:

1. No decisions had been made via circulation:
2. No exercises of delegation had been made.
3. One use of the Company Seal:
   1. On 12 May 2026: Nomination Agreement between Arlington Student Holdings (No. 3) Limited; University of Gloucestershire; and Collegiate AC Ltd in respect of the Upper Quay House student accommodation.

Section A: Main Items for Discussion

C.26.68
Student Union Report to Council (C/40/26)

C.26.68.1
Received: the Students’ Union (SU) update, which was taken as read. The following were noted in particular:

1. a number of new initiatives for 2025/26, including free society membership for all undergraduate students and a 50% discount on sports memberships for postgraduate students to encourage engagement.
2. that Racheal Iperepolu, the incoming Welfare and Diversity Officer for 2026/27, would formally commence in post the following day, having undertaken shadowing activities during the previous week, including attending the joint meeting of Academic Board and Council.
3. That the current Students’ Union officers would continue their membership of Council for a further year.
4. an increase in democratic participation, with strong attendance at SU Council meetings. An update was provided on a recent campaign, which had achieved limited success, and the need for a Community Access Fund was noted.
5. Council welcomed support provided to student entrepreneurs through Jolt Gloucestershire memberships and received an update on collaborative work with local partners to support businesses through student-led services.
6. feedback from a recent Office for Students (OfS) roundtable, including positive external recognition of the University’s digital and AI curriculum developments.

C.26.68.2
Considered: the following:

1. Council commended the Students’ Union Officers for their persistence and resilience in addressing complex issues and engaging students. It was noted that increasing student engagement with the Students’ Union had been a key theme throughout the year, alongside continued concerns relating to the cost of living, including travel costs.
2. Council noted ongoing work to engage prospective students, including activity within the Virtual Lounge, and received an update on the University’s Digital Roadmap, which would be presented to Council in the autumn.
3. It was noted that continuity of student representation over multiple cycles had supported greater understanding and engagement. Council also discussed the content of future Students’ Union reports and agreed that further discussion regarding reporting requirements would take place separately with the Students’ Union.

C.26.68.3
Noted: recent activities within the SU.

C.26.69
CONFIDENTIAL: Vice-Chancellor’s Report (C/41/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.70
CONFIDENTIAL: Financial Performance Monitoring Report including Forecast 3 (C/42/26)
C.26.68.3
Noted: recent activities within the SU.

C.26.69
CONFIDENTIAL: Vice-Chancellor’s Report (C/41/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.70
CONFIDENTIAL: Financial Performance Monitoring Report including Forecast 3 (C/42/26)
C.26.68.3
Noted: recent activities within the SU.

C.26.69
CONFIDENTIAL: Vice-Chancellor’s Report (C/41/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.70
CONFIDENTIAL: Financial Performance Monitoring Report including Forecast 3 (C/42/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.70
CONFIDENTIAL: Financial Performance Monitoring Report including Forecast 3 (C/42/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.71
CONFIDENTIAL: Budget 2026/27 (C/43/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.72
CONFIDENTIAL: Academic Board Update for Council (C/44/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.73
CONFIDENTIAL: Diversification and Growth (C/45/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.74
CONFIDENTIAL: Francis Close Hall (FCH) Future Programme (C/46/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.75
CONFIDENTIAL: Policies, Terms and Conditions Negotiations – Final Proposals (C/47/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.76
CONFIDENTIAL: Overview of Pensions Schemes in the University of Gloucestershire (C/48/26)
This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.26.77
RESERVED: Chair of Council – Term of Office (C/49/26)
This item was considered under Reserved Business.

C.26.78
RESERVED: Senior Independent Governor (SIG) Replacement (C/50/26)
This item was considered under Reserved Business.

C.26.79
RESERVED: Appointment of new University Secretary (C/51/26)
This item was considered under Reserved Business.

Section B: Starred Items for Approval

C.26.80
Review of Council Code of Conduct* (C/52/26)

C.26.80.1
Resolved: Council approved the proposed updates to the Council Code of Conduct.

C.26.81
Review of Council Role Descriptors* (C/53/26)

C.26.81.1
Resolved: Council approved the suite of Council Role Descriptors for 2026/27.

C.26.82
Review of Council Standing Orders* (C/54/26)

C.26.82.1
Resolved: Council approved the updates to the Council Standing Orders.

C.26.83
Revised Council & Committee Dates 2026/27 & 2027/28* (C/55/26)

C.26.83.1
Noted: the previously agreed dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, considered the proposed changes to dates as included in the paper, and approved the revised dates as recommended by GNC.

Section C: Starred Items for Information

C.26.84
Apprenticeships Annual Report 2025/26* (C/56/26)

C.26.84.1
Received and Noted: the report.

C.26.85
Annual Chaplaincy Report 2025/26* (C/57/26)

C.26.85.1
Received and Noted: the report.

C.26.86
Review of Council Schedule of Business* (C/58/26)

C.26.86.1
Noted: the Schedule of Business.

C.26.87
Minutes from Council Committees*
Noted: that the minutes from the following meetings would be available from https://connectglosac.sharepoint.com/sites/UniversityCommittees: 

4. Joint meeting of Remuneration and Humanities Committee & Finance and General Purposes Committee, 3 June 2026
5. Remuneration and Human Resources Committee, 3 June 2026
6. Finance and General Purposes Committee, 9 June 2026
7. Audit and Risk Committee, 12 June 2026
8. Governance and Nominations Committee, 17 June 2026

C.26.88
Any Other Business
Noted: this was the final meeting for three attendees, and thanked them for their contributions:

1. Board Apprentice, Ellie Hill, was thanked for her contributions to the University and Council.
2. Pam Sissons was thanked for her considerable contributions to Council during her 10 years as an External Member and also as Chair of Audit and Risk Committee.
3. The Rt Revd Robert Springett was thanked for his considerable contributions to the University and the University Council over his 10 years’ service as Vice-Chair of Council and Chair of Remuneration and HR Committee.

C.26.89
Date of Next Meeting
Noted: the meeting of Council on Tuesday 6 October 2026 in person TBC.