University Council Minutes 28 June 2022

Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2022 at 10.45 am in BG012/13 in the Business School at Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester.

Membership:
Ingrid Barker
Paul Crichard
Nicola de Iongh (until C.22.89, Chair for C.22.88)
Chris Fung
Steve Gardiner
Stephen Marston
Steve Mawson A
Stephen Maycock
Charlotte McFarland A
Dr Andrew Misiura
Mehjabeen Patrick A
Daniel Ramsay
Dr Adeela Shafi
Pamela Sissons
Elonka Soros A
David Soutter
The Rt Revd Robert Springett (Chair)
Asha Sutton
Julie Walkling A
Dr Peter Warry

Board Apprentices:
Julia Hopkins X

In attendance:
Eleanor Hill, Incoming Student Member
Professor Jackie Labbe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Lindsey Ingle (for C.22.87), Director of Financial Performance and Analysis
Camille Stallard, Chief Financial Officer
Beth Timmons, Incoming Student Member
Dr Matthew Andrews (Officer) Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Governance and Student Affairs)
Penny Gravestock (Minutes), Assistant Secretary to Council

C.22.75          Prayer
The Rt Revd Robert Springett opened the meeting with a prayer.

C.22.76          Welcome and Apologies

C.22.76.1      

Received: apologies for absence from Steve Mawson, Charlotte McFarland, Mehjabeen Patrick, Elonka Soros, and Julie Walkling.

C.22.76.2      

Noted: that Nicola de Iongh and Dr Andrew Misiura would be joining the meeting via Teams. It was noted that, due to illness, the Rt Revd Robert Springett would chair the meeting on behalf of Ms de Iongh with the exception for item C.22.88.

C.22.77          Business of the Agenda

Noted: that there had been no requests to unstar any items on the agenda and that therefore papers C/54/22 to C/60/22 would be approved or noted as stated. It was also noted that it had been agreed that the agenda would be changed to allow a substantial amount of time to consider the University’s current recruitment position, the impact on finances, and the proposed budget for 2022/23.

C.22.78          Declarations of Interest

Noted: that no interests were declared.

C.22.79          Minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2022    

Resolved: that the minutes were an accurate record of the meeting held on 17 May 2022.

C.22.80          Matters Arising

Noted: that there were no matters arising.

C.22.81          Chair’s Business

C.22.81.1      

Noted: that it had been decided that a second Pro-Chancellor would not be appointed at that time until the new Chancellor had settled into the role. It was noted that this could be revisited at a later stage.

C.22.81.2      

Received: updates from each of the Committee Chairs on key discussions held at recent meetings:

1. Governance and Nominations Committee, 23 May 2022;
2. Audit and Risk Committee, 25 May 2022;
3. Finance and General Purposes Committee, 7 and 17 June 2022;
4. Remuneration and Human Resources Committee, 8 June 2022.

C.22.81.3      

Noted: that since the last meeting, there had been no uses of the Company Seal, no decisions made via circulation, and no exercise of delegation.

C.22.82          CONFIDENTIAL: Students’ Union Update (C/44/22)

This item was considered under confidential business.

C.22.83          CONFIDENTIAL: Vice-Chancellor’s Report (C/45/22)

Received and noted: a paper updating Council on major developments affecting the University since the previous meeting. Council noted the various developments reported in the paper.

C.22.84          Education Strategy (C/46/22)

C.22.84.1      

Received: the Education Strategy for 2022-2027, following discussion by Council as part of its Away Day on 27 June 2022.

C.22.84.2      

Resolved: Council noted the Education Strategy to enable work on it to continue, and it was agreed that the Council Chairs’ Group should be asked to consider how the Strategy would be finalised.

ACTION: Council Chairs’ Group

C.22.85          People Strategy (C/47/22)

C.22.85.1      

Received: the People Strategy for 2022-2027, following discussion by Council as part of its Away Day on 27 June 2022.

C.22.85.2      

Resolved: Council noted the People Strategy to enable work on it to continue, and it was agreed that the Council Chairs’ Group should be asked to consider how the Strategy would be finalised.

ACTION: Council Chairs’ Group

C.22.86          Marketing and Communications Strategy 2022-25 (C/48/22)

C.22.86.1      

Received: the Marketing and Communications Strategy for 2022-2025, following discussion by Council as part of its Away Day on 27 June 2022.

C.22.86.2      

Resolved: Council noted the Marketing and Communications Strategy to enable work on it to continue, and it was agreed that the Council Chairs’ Group should be asked to consider how the Strategy would be finalised.

ACTION: Council Chairs’ Group

C.22.87          CONFIDENTIAL: 2022/23 Draft Budget (C/49/22)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.22.88          CONFIDENTIAL: Natwest Agreement and Resolution (C/50/22)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.22.89          Risk Management Report: Updated Risk Register and Action Plan 2021/22 (C/51/22)

C.22.89.1      

Received: a report that provided an updated version of the Risk Register and Action Plan for 2021/22 as considered by Audit and Risk Committee at its meeting held in May 2022.

C.22.89.2      

Resolved: Council agreed the Risk Management Report, including the updated Risk Register and Action Plan for 2021/22, as recommended by Audit and Risk Committee.

C.22.90          University Council Modus Operandi – Principles of Engagement (C/52/22)

C.22.90.1      

Noted: that following discussions at the Governance Workshop in March 2022, a series of Principles of Engagement had been drafted for consideration. Governance and Nominations Committee considered the document at its meeting held in May 2022 and recommended them to the Council for approval. The External Members of Council had subsequently considered the Principles as part of the Away Day on 27 June 2022, and made some minor recommendations for improvements. 

C.22.90.2      

Resolved: Council considered and approved the draft Principles of Engagement as recommended by Governance and Nominations Committee, subject to some minor changes recommended by External Members. It was agreed that the Senior Independent Governor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Governance and Student Affairs) should be asked to finalise details.

ACTION: Senior Independent Governor / Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Governance and Student Affairs)

C.22.91          CONFIDENTIAL: Council Membership (C/53/22)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.22.92          Approval of Statement of Primary Responsibilities, Scheme of Delegations, and Council Role Descriptors for 2022/23* (C/54/22)

Resolved: Council approved the Statement of Primary Responsibilities, Scheme of Delegations, and Council’s suite of role descriptors for 2022/23.

C.22.93          Council and Committees Terms of Reference: annual review* (C/55/22)

Resolved: Council:

1. considered its own terms of reference and made no recommendations for change;
2. considered and approved the Terms of Reference documents for its committees.

C.22.94          CONFIDENTIAL: May Finance Report* (C/56/22)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.22.95          CONFIDENTIAL: City Campus Property Progress Report* (C/57/22)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.22.96          Annual Review of OfS Conditions of Registration: May 2022* (C/58/22)

Received and considered: the contents of report and attached compliance review as assurance of how the University ensured compliance with the Office for Students (OfS) regulatory framework.

C.22.97          CONFIDENTIAL: Annual Report from Integrity and Ethics Committee* (C/59/22)

 This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.22.98          Council Schedule of Business* (C/60/22)

 Noted: the Schedule of Business.

C.22.99          Minutes from Council Committees*

 Noted: that the minutes from the following meetings would be available from https://connectglosac.sharepoint.com/sites/UniversityCommittees:

1. Governance and Nominations Committee, 23 May 2022;
2. Audit and Risk Committee, 25 May 2022;
3. Finance and General Purposes Committee, 7 and 17 June 2022;
4. Remuneration and Human Resources Committee, 8 June 2022.

C.22.100        Any Other Business

 Noted: that it was the last meeting for Asha Sutton, Charlotte McFarland, and Julia Hopkins. Members noted their thanks and wished them well for the future.

C.22.101        Date of Next Meeting

 Tuesday, 4 October 2022 at 3.15 pm on campus (location to be confirmed). It was noted that the meeting would be followed by a dinner in the evening.

UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Action list for the meeting held 28 June 2022

Minute number	Action	Responsibility
C.22.84     C.22.84.2	Education Strategy   Resolved: Council noted the Education Strategy to enable work on it to continue, and it was agreed that the Council Chairs’ Group should be asked to consider how the Strategy would be finalised.	Council Chairs’ Group
C.22.85   C.22.85.2	People Strategy   Resolved: Council noted the People Strategy to enable work on it to continue, and it was agreed that the Council Chairs’ Group should be asked to consider how the Strategy would be finalised.	Council Chairs’ Group
C.22.86                          C.22.86.2	Marketing and Communications Strategy 2022-25   Resolved: Council noted the Marketing and Communications Strategy to enable work on it to continue, and it was agreed that the Council Chairs’ Group should be asked to consider how the Strategy would be finalised.	Council Chairs’ Group
C.22.90     C.22.90.2	University Council Modus Operandi – Principles of Engagement   Resolved: Council considered and approved the draft Principles of Engagement as recommended by Governance and Nominations Committee, subject to some minor changes recommended by External Members. It was agreed that the Senior Independent Governor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Governance and Student Affairs) should be asked to finalise details.	Senior Independent Governor / Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Governance and Student Affairs)