{"id":1702,"date":"2020-10-06T08:48:15","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T08:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/?post_type=ht_kb&#038;p=1702"},"modified":"2026-11-04T12:39:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T12:39:56","slug":"finance-and-general-purposes-committee-terms-of-reference","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/knowledge-base\/finance-and-general-purposes-committee-terms-of-reference\/","title":{"rendered":"Finance and General Purposes Committee terms of reference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Committee is responsible for monitoring and advising Council on the financial health of the University, including the financial strategy, and risk management, budget setting, annual accounts, investment activity, and consideration of capital expenditure including estates and infrastructure activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Committee is responsible to Council and has the following remit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">The Committee is authorised to deal with all matters necessary for the conduct of the University except:<br><br>(a) any matters that are expressly reserved for Council by provisions in the Articles of Association, or which Council reserves to itself;<br>(b) matters that are the preserve of other Council Committees or Working Groups, unless Council otherwise directs;<br>(c) matters that are more properly the business of the University Executive.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The Committee had delegated authority from Council to:<br><br>a) approve the Financial Policy and Regulations;<br>b) undertake strategic monitoring of the University\u2019s overall financial position;<br>c) approve business cases for budgeted capital expenditure in excess of \u00a3750K and up to \u00a33M;<br>d) approve leases in excess of 5 years with an annual value in excess of \u00a3250k and up to \u00a3500k;<br>e) write off bad debts in excess of 100K and up to \u00a3750K;<br>f) agree the Treasury Management Policy;<br>g) agree the Investment Policy;<br>h) to appoint investment managers and associated mandates;<br>i) to appoint the University\u2019s insurers and associated insurance arrangements;<br>j) agree the establishment and closure of subsidiary companies, and the arrangements for their constitution and operation;<br>k) approve the opening and closing of bank accounts and bank signatories.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">In fulfilling its remit, the Committee is to monitor on a regular basis:<br>(a) the financial position of the Institution by means of the financial management report, the operating budget and End of Year accounts;<br>(b) the progress (including financial matters) of any capital building or other development project(s) approved by Council;<br>(c) the progress of plans and policies iterated in the Strategic Plan approved by Council;<br>(d) the progress of risk action plans and management controls for risks in the University Risk Plan categorised as Financial Statements, Commerical &amp; Oiperational, and Technology &amp; AI risks;<br>(e) the University\u2019s Endowment Fund Investment;<br>(f) and make any appropriate recommendations on (a) to (d) above to Council.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The Committee monitors and advises on the conduct of the University\u2019s estates and infrastructure activity including:<br>(a) monitoring revenue and capital expenditure;<br>(b) ensuring the production and regular updating of the Estates Strategy for approval by Council and monitoring the progress of plans and works iterated within it and the ten-year maintenance plan;<br>(c) overseeing the progress (including financial matters) of any capital building or other development project(s) approved by Council<br>(d) the progress of plans and works iterated in the Estates Strategy approved by Council and the ten-year maintenance plan<br>(e) and make any appropriate recommendations on (a) to (d) above to Council.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">To consider national benchmarks and recognised good practice in its work including financial, estates, and all other matters covered by these Terms of Reference.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">To consider equality, diversity, and inclusion issues arising from the remit of the Committee.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">To consider Risk Assessment issues arising from the remit of the Committee and to recommend, or implement, action as appropriate.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">To ensure compliance with any regulatory requirements for registration with the Office for Students which fall within the remit of the Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Delegated Authority<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Committee shall exercise such powers and responsibilities as are delegated to it by Council, as set out in the Schedule of Delegated Authority, appended to these Terms of Reference. In the event of any inconsistency, the University\u2019s full Scheme of Delegation and Key Decision-Making shall prevail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Institutional Risk Category Oversight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Committee has oversight for monitoring the progress of risk action plans and management controls for risks in the University Risk Register categorised as: Financial Sustainability; and Commercial and Operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\"><strong>Institutional Risk Category Oversight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Financial Sustainability<br>Commercial and Operational<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\">Mode of Operation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chair<\/strong>: Member of Council appointed by Council<br><strong>Vice Chair<\/strong>: Member of Council<br><strong>Officer<\/strong>: A member of the Governance and Legal team<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\">Quorum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>See after membership<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\">Frequency of Meetings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>5 times per year<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\">Reporting Line<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>University Council<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\">Reporting to Council<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Following each meeting, the Chair (or nominee) shall provide a Key Issues report to Council, highlighting any matters on which Council is advised, assured, or alerted, including any issues requiring Council approval, escalation, or further consideration. Where no such matters arise, the publication of the Committee minutes shall constitute the Committee\u2019s report to Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-4 is-4\">Availability of Minutes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Minutes are held by the Secretary to Council, and published on the University website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Four External members of Council and the Vice-Chancellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Student Council Members shall be invited to attend the annual meeting at which investments are considered (and the Investment Manager is in attendance), for that item only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Membership<\/strong><\/th><th><\/th><th><strong>Appointment Dates<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Member of Council <em>(Chair)<\/em><\/td><td>Ruth Dooley<\/td><td>Nov 23 \u2013 Nov 27<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Member of Council <em>(Vice-Chair)<\/em><\/td><td>Mark Burch<\/td><td>May 25 \u2013 Feb 29<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Member of Council<\/td><td>James Cooper<\/td><td>May 26 \u2013 Nov 27<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Member of Council<\/td><td>Geoff Layer<\/td><td>Apr 26 \u2013 Sept 29<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vice-Chancellor<\/td><td>Clare Marchant<\/td><td>Ex officio<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Co-opted Member (4-year term)<\/td><td>Jaki Meekings Davis<\/td><td>Apr 24 \u2013 Apr 28<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Co-opted Member (1-year term)<\/td><td>Paul Minnis<\/td><td>Jul 26 \u2013 Jun 27<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>In attendance:<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chief Financial Officer<\/td><td>Camille Stallard<\/td><td>Ex officio<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chief Operating Officer<\/td><td>Katharine Clough<\/td><td>Ex officio<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Quorum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Committee shall be quorate when at least two External members are present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where the Committee is, or becomes during the meeting, inquorate, Council will be informed of these circumstances at its next meeting. The Committee Chair shall decide whether:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol style=\"list-style-type:lower-alpha\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">to adjourn with immediate effect with a Special Meeting being summoned as soon as conveniently it may be or,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">to continue to conduct business with decisions only being agreed by correspondence<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Appendix: <strong>Schedule of Delegated Authority<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Relevant Extracts from the Scheme of Delegation and Key Decision-Making*<\/strong><br>*In the event of any inconsistency, the full Scheme of Delegation and Key Decision-Making shall prevail<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table alignwide is-style-plain\"><table><thead><tr><th>No.<\/th><th>Description\/Action<\/th><th>The Delegated Authority<\/th><th>Nature of Delegation and Process<br><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><br><em>It should be stated here whether any other senior bodies\/individuals other than those set out in the \u2018Delegation\u2019 column are involved in the governance process<\/em><br><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1.1<\/td><td>The ultimate oversight of the University\u2019s activities to ensure within charitable purposes\u00a0<\/td><td>&#8211; Audit and Risk Committee;<br>&#8211; Governance and Nominations Committee;<br>&#8211; Remuneration and Human Resources Committee;<br>&#8211; Finance and General Purposes Committee;<br>&#8211; University Executive Committee;<br>&#8211; Academic Board<\/td><td>Please see individual terms of reference for each Committee.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1.5<\/td><td>Development of and amendments to the Terms of References for relevant sub-committees (set out separately below)\u00a0<\/td><td>&#8211; Audit and Risk Committee;<br>&#8211; Governance and Nominations Committee;<br>&#8211; Remuneration and Human Resources Committee;<br>&#8211; Finance and General Purposes Committee<br>&#8211; University Executive Committee;<br>&#8211; Academic Board<\/td><td>All committees review and approve any potential amendments to their Terms of Reference on an annual basis, which are then reviewed and approved by Council (however amendments can be made in-year as required).<br>\u00a0<br>Minor amendments are made by the University Secretary or the Assistant Secretary and noted by the relevant Committee and Council.<br>\u00a0<br>Minor amendments may include, but are not limited to, administrative changes such as updates to reflect revised policies or processes, changes to job titles, changes to committee names etc.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1.5<\/td><td>Terms of Reference: The Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>Any in-year amendments are submitted to The Finance and General Purposes Committee as required.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.1<\/td><td>Approval of Financial Policy and Regulations<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>The process will be supported by Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.3<\/td><td>Determination of detailed budgets and financial forecasts within overall<br>approved framework of the University\u2019s Financial Plan<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be supported by Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.4<\/td><td>Ensuring the University maintains robust systems of internal financial control and accountability, including risk management<\/td><td>&#8211; Finance and General Purposes Committee<br>&#8211; Audit and Risk Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer and the Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee and Audit &amp; Risk Committee may seek assurance from other committees in fulfilling its responsibilities in respect of this action.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.6<\/td><td>Ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources, value for money arrangements, the solvency of the University and for safeguarding the assets<\/td><td>&#8211; Audit and Risk Committee<br>&#8211; Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee involved in relation to the solvency of the University and for safeguarding the assets of the University.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.7<\/td><td>Approval of the Office for Students\u2019 Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) return<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>The Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee is responsible for ensuring that the TRAC process used by the University to produce the TRAC return complies with the TRAC requirements.<br>\u00a0<br>The TRAC return is subsequently signed off by Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.8<\/td><td>Ensuring compliance with the Office for Students\u2019 Financial requirements and obligations<\/td><td>&#8211; Finance and General Purposes Committee<br>&#8211; Audit and Risk Committee<\/td><td>The Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Office for Students\u2019 Financial requirements and obligations.\u00a0<br>\u00a0<br>Audit &amp; Risk Committee are responsible for reportable events.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.10<\/td><td>Agreement of Treasury Management Policy<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.12<\/td><td>Responsibility for the development and<br>application of an Investment Policy<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>The Finance &amp; General Purposes Committee will make a recommendation to the Council and this process will be led by Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.13<\/td><td>Appointment of investment managers<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.14<\/td><td>Management of endowments and other investments<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.16<\/td><td>Responsibility for approval, ownership, and review of the tax strategy<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.18<\/td><td>Appointment of the University\u2019s insurers<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>The University Executive Committee will make a recommendation to the F&amp;GPC and this process will be led by Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.22<\/td><td>Appointment of the University\u2019s bankers<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.23<\/td><td>Approval for the opening or closing of bank accounts<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.24<\/td><td>Approval of bank signatories<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>This process will be led by Chief Financial Officer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.26<\/td><td>Approval of new arrangements with private student accommodation providers<\/td><td>Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/td><td>The process will be led by the Chief Financial Officer.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table alignwide is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Transaction Type\/Authority Levels \u2013 after co-pilot review<\/th><th><strong>**** \u00a30<\/strong><br><br><strong>\u00a310,000<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>\u00a310,001<\/strong><br><strong>&#8211;<\/strong><br><strong>\u00a350,000<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>\u00a350,001<\/strong><br><br><strong>\u00a3150,000<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>\u00a3150,000<\/strong><br><strong>&#8211;<\/strong><br><strong>\u00a3500,000<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>\u00a3500,001<\/strong><br><strong>&#8211;<\/strong><br><strong>\u00a33,000,000<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Above<\/strong><br><br><strong>\u00a33,000,000<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>&#8211; New Capital Expenditure &amp;<br>&#8211; New unbudgeted revenue spend<\/strong><br><strong>&#8211; Student claims<\/strong><\/td><td>Head of Dept\/Deputy Head of School<\/td><td>UEC Members<\/td><td>CFO or COO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>F &amp; GP<\/td><td>Council<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Capital Expenditure \u2013 approved &amp; budgeted projects*<\/strong><\/td><td>Head of Dept\/Deputy Head of School<\/td><td>Head of School\/Prof Dept Dir + FBP<\/td><td>UEC members<\/td><td>CFO, COO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>F &amp; GP<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Budgeted revenue spend*<\/strong><\/td><td>Head of Dept\/Deputy Head of School<\/td><td>Head of School\/Prof Dept Dir<\/td><td>UEC members<\/td><td>CFO or COO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>UEC<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Procurement from Non-approved supplier**<\/strong><\/td><td>Head of Dept\/Deputy Head of School<\/td><td>UEC member + CFO waiver if over \u00a330k<\/td><td>CFO or COO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>F &amp; GP<\/td><td>Council<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Capital bids\u00a0and<\/strong><br><strong>Research &amp; Commercial income generating contracts (including PIMS)<\/strong><\/td><td>Head of Dept\/Deputy Head of School +FBP<\/td><td>Head of School\/Prof Dept Dir + Dir of Research<\/td><td>Dir of Research<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>VC with CFO review<\/td><td>F&amp;GP (reporting to Council where required)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Payroll \u2013 one-off<\/strong><br><strong>Redundancy\/Settlements\/ Ill health retirements etc<\/strong><\/td><td>CFO\/People Dir<\/td><td>CFO\/People Dir<\/td><td>CFO\/People Dir<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>RHRC<\/td><td>Council<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Bad Debt Write-offs<\/strong><\/td><td>Financial Controller<\/td><td>CFO<\/td><td>CFO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>F &amp; GP<\/td><td>Council<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Leases &amp; Property Commitments***<\/strong><\/td><td>Dir of C&amp;T<\/td><td>Dir of C&amp;T\u00a0<\/td><td>CFO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>F &amp; GP<\/td><td>Council<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Asset disposal<\/strong><\/td><td>Head of Dept\/Deputy Head of School +FBP<\/td><td>UEC member<\/td><td>CFO or COO<\/td><td>VC<\/td><td>F &amp; GP<\/td><td>Council<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This page sets out the roles and responsibilities of the University of Gloucestershire&#8217;s Finance and General Purposes Committee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"schools":[],"campuses":[],"subject_area":[],"ht-kb-category":[],"ht-kb-tag":[160,114,31,157,161,159,54,158,107],"class_list":["post-1702","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_tag-budget","ht_kb_tag-committee","ht_kb_tag-finance","ht_kb_tag-general-purposes","ht_kb_tag-investment","ht_kb_tag-reference","ht_kb_tag-strategy","ht_kb_tag-terms","ht_kb_tag-terms-of-reference"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/1702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1702"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/1702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21836,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/1702\/revisions\/21836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"schools","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/schools?post=1702"},{"taxonomy":"campuses","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campuses?post=1702"},{"taxonomy":"subject_area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject_area?post=1702"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=1702"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=1702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}