the
Court
Minutes of the fourth meeting of the 2004-2005 academic year held on
Monday, 14th March, 2005 in the Council Room, Queen Anne Court, Maritime Greenwich Campus, commencing at 5.30pm.
PresentMrsAnne–Marie Nelson (Chair)
Mr Simon AtkinsonMr Denis Heathcote
Mr Richard BaglinProfessor Leslie Johnson
Baroness BlackstoneMr James Loudon
Mr Jim BrathwaiteMr Callum McCarthy
Ms Farrah ChandiaMrs Mary McKinlay
Mr Stuart EtheringtonDr David Quarmby
Dr Les GarnerMr Mike Sharp
Lady Paulette Tomlinson
In attendance:
Mrs Linda Cording (Secretary and Registrar)
Mr Reginald Daly (Director of Finance)
Professor John Humphreys(Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise))
Professor David Wills (Pro Vice Chancellor (Resources))
Apologies:
Dr Alaric Pugh
04/43DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
There was no declaration of conflicts of interest.
04/44ITEM FROM THE CHAIR
There were no items from the Chair.
04/45MEMBERSHIP (CRT 04/49)
On the recommendation of the Nominations Committee and following a ballot,
Mr Ronald Spinney was approved as aCo-opted Governor appointed under Article 7(2)d for the period 1st April 2005 until 31st August 2008.
04/46MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (CRT 04/48)
The minutes of the meetings held on 6th December 2004 and 21 January 2005 were agreed to be a true record and signed.
04/47MATTERS ARISING (CRT 04/49)
47.1Honorary Degrees
Court noted that the following had accepted the offer of Honorary Degrees from the University:
Malorie BlackmanHonDLittFriday 22nd July 2005
Rita Donaghue HonDBAWednesday 20th July 2005
Gillian duCharmeHonDEdThursday 27th October 2005
Dame Kelly Holmes HonDScto be confirmed
Richard Murray HonDBA Wednesday 20th July 2005
Baron Rogers of ChelseaHonDDesMonday 18th July 2005
The Right Hon Lord Puttnam HonDLittTuesday 25th October 2005
04/48AUDIT COMMITTEE (CRT 04/50)
The Chairman of the Audit Committee introduced the report to Court detailing principle items of significance arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 21 February 2005. The following items were noted.
48.1Review of Subsidiary Companies, Contracts, Intellectual Policy and Procedures
The Chairman reminded members of Court that the Committee had asked for a review of existing procedures relating to the operation of subsidiary companies, the signing of contracts and the implementation of the Intellectual Property Policy and Procedures.
The Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) had submitted a paper which made a number of recommendations relating to membership of the subsidiary boards, arrangements for responding to Court, procedures to be followed for the approval of contracts and the need for the University to have up-to-date and comprehensive financial regulations.
The Committee recalled that it had asked that the review of subsidiary companies put in place procedures which adhered to HECFE guidelines including the requirement fora Memorandum of Understanding between the University and each subsidiary companytogether with a named person with explicit responsibility for reporting matters of importance to Court.
The Committee had asked the Pro Vice Chancellor to develop his report incorporating amendments and comments from the Committee and to submit it to Audit Committee and Court at its July 2005 meeting at the latest.
Court resolved:
- to approve the membership of subsidiary companies as set out in Appendix 1.
- to note the resignations from subsidiary companies as set out in Appendix 1.
- that the minutes of all future subsidiary company meetings should be submitted to the Finance Committee.
48.2Arrangements for audit of corporate governance
The Committee had considered what arrangements might be put in place for the audit of corporate governance to ensure that by the end of the financial year the University was complying with all necessary regulations. The Committee of University Chairmen had issued new guidelines for members of Higher Education Governing Bodies in the UK which contained a Governance Code of Practice. An analysis of separate items within the code showed thatthe University was adhering to the guidelines, save for the following items:
a)the production of a full job specification for the Chair
b)the wide publication within and outside the institution of vacancies for the governing body
c)regular effectiveness reviews of the governing body
d)the benchmarking of institutional performance against the key PI’s of other comparitable institutions.
Following some discussion it was agreed to consider methods of publicising, short of advertising in newspapers which was thought to be costly and ineffective, for vacancies as they arose.
The Secretary and Registrar was consulting colleagues on possible methodologies for effectiveness reviews which were neither overly bureaucratic nor overly intrusive for members of Court.
It was noted that a review of Key Performance Indicators would form part of a discussion at the meeting of the Strategy Committee to be held in April 2005.
48.3Appointment of Internal Auditors
The Chairman reported that the Internal Auditors were now approaching the end of their contract and a timetable for the tendering process for the provision of Internal Audit services as from 1st August 2005 had been agreed.
Courtresolved that an Evaluation Committee be established to oversee the process comprising:
The Chairman of Audit Committee
Two Members of the Audit Committee
The External Non Governor of the Audit Committee
Secretary and Registrar
Director of Finance
Director of Procurement (Secretary)
48.4Membership
On the recommendation of the Committee.Court resolved to appoint Mr Steve Davie as independent member of the Audit Committee with expertise in Finance, Audit or Accountancy.
04/49FINANCE COMMITTEE (CRT 04/51)
The Chairman of the Finance Committee introduced the report to Court dealing with principal items of significance arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 20th February 2005:
49.1Management Accounts
Court was pleased to learn of the increase in the forecast outturnfor the year to 31st July 2005. Court also thanked the staff in the Finance Office for the provision of Management Accounts in the contribution format which was thought to be clear and informative.
49.2NRI Strategic Review
The Chairman of the Committee reported that the Committee had considered a report on NRI setting out measures to be taken to ensure its long term sustainability. The new DFID Research Strategy would be published in June/July 2005 and the University would then be in a position to take an informed view of NRI’s future. In the interim, the University had put in place a series of efficiency measures to ensure that losses were kept to a minimum.
49.3London Pension Fund Authority
The Court was concerned that the performance of the London Pension Fund had continued to deteriorate mostly because of the under performance of the scheme investments. The consequence of the deficit was a doubling of the employer’s contribution rate from 11.4% to 22.3% effective from 1st April 2005. The Director of Finance was in consultation with other, Universities in the scheme and it was thought that an approach to HEFCE for assistance might be made.
Members of Court recalled that the scheme had been poorly performing for some time and that Court had previously expressed concern that universities were not represented on the scheme’s governing board. The Court asked the Director of Finance to check in three months’ time whether the Fund Managers for the scheme were still in post.
49.4Estates Issues
49.4.1Thomas Spencer Hall
The Chair reported that an offer for the University’s leasehold interest with vacant possession had been received for Thomas Spencer Hall and that the University’s professional advisors had recommended acceptance.
Court resolved to accept the offer of purchase of the Leasehold for Thomas Spencer Hall.
49.4.2SRIFIIIntegrated Engineering Centre
The Court noted that the University had been successful in its bid to the Wolfson Foundation for £200,000 funding towards the cost of establishing theintegratedresearch centre at Medway. Variations required to the building plans now meant that the overall budget for the building work would be increased by an estimated £70,000.
Court resolved that the budget for the Integrated Engineering Centre be increased by £70,000 from University funds to a total project expenditure of £854,000.
49.4.3Five Year Long Term Maintenance Plan 2004-05 to 2008-09
The Committee received a five year maintenance plan for the University’s Estate and noted that relatively small sums of money had been committed for the maintenance of buildings.
Court resolved that in the light of the University’s healthier financial position
1)the Director of Estates should review the programme of long term maintenance work scheduled for the current year and that the level of expenditure be increased by around £0.5M
2)delegated authority be granted to the Chairman of the Committee until the next meeting of the Committee to approve orders for any additional long term maintenance projects within the budget and exceeding £150,000 to be undertaken in the current year.
49.5Inland Revenue Dispute
Court noted the satisfactory outcome of the dispute between the Inland Revenue and Greenwich Property Limited which had been resolved in the University’s favour. The long standing provision of £3.3M would be written back to the University’s reserves once the formal vacating of the assessments had been made.
04/50EXTERNAL EXAMINERS REPORT 2003-2004 (CRT 04/52)
A summary of External Examiner comments which had been reported to Academic Council was received. The Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) reported that throughout the UK External Examiners were appointed for all student programmes as part of quality assurance procedures. This system ensured that standards were maintained andthat the quality of degrees was comparable across the country.
Court noted that there was a generally high level of satisfaction with the University and its processes and that Academic Council would ensure that the major recommendations from the reports would be adopted throughout.
Court members asked that in future papers submitted should take account of the audience and explain issues more clearly.
04/51BOARD OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL (CRT 04/53)
Court received a paper from the Director of Student Affairs giving information about the report of the Assessment Task Group established by Academic Council.
The Secretary and Registrar reported that the Assessment Task Group had been asked to revise the Degree Regulations which had become inconsistent because of a series of minor changes over a number of years, and as a consequence of the transfer to three terms. The Task Group also took into account a number of recommendations relating to assessment policy and regulations which had been made in the Institutional Audit Report earlier in the year.
Academic Council had approved the revised regulations to be implemented in the current session. Court noted the report and requested a more detailed report on assessment be submitted to the meeting to be held in July 2005.
04/52RISK MANAGEMENT (CRT 04/54)
The Court received a report from the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) relating to Risk 8 on the Institutional Risk Registerfailure to meet increased 3rd stream funding targets.
The Pro Vice Chancellor reported that the task of meeting the 3rd stream funding targets involved the Schools as the main points of delivery, and the Research,Enterprise, and Regional Affairs Office as a primary point of access for new business.
The University had been successful in its bid to the Higher Education InnovationFund and was working on the implementation of the Academic Enterprise Strategy which had been reported to Court in June 2004. The Pro Vice Chancellor reported the need to establish more explicit milestones and targetsto assign responsibility for achieving the targets. The current head of RERA, Pauline Forrester had resigned from the University and the new post of Director of Enterprise and Regions had been advertised.
Some Members of Court were concerned that despite mitigating actions taken by the University, the residual likelihood score had not been reduced although the score for the residual impact had come down by one point. It was noted that these scores would be reviewed when the Institutional Risk Register was reviewed by Audit Committee and Court at their next meetings.
FORMAL AGENDA
04/53COURT ELECTIONS PROCEDURES (CRT 04/55)
The Court resolved to approve a change to the procedures for elections by and from staff for co-option to the University Court to allow postal voting.
The change to voting procedures was approved with immediate effect.
04/54COURT AND COURT COMMITTEE DATES (CRT 04/56)
The Court approved the timetable of Court and Committee dates for session 2005-2006 which is attached as Appendix 2.
04/55FUNDRAISING (CRT 04/57)
The Court noted that Mr Phil Chambers had been appointed as Director of Development and Communications as from 4th April 2005. A discussion on fundraising strategic priorities would be held in the autumn.
04/56STUDENT CONSTITUTION (CRT 04/58)
Court approved the amendments to the Students’ Union Constitution as agreed by the Students’ Union General Meeting held on 30th November 2004 as noted below:
Sabbatical Officers of the Union
0.44Expansion of this clause to read:
“The President shall be the Union Nominee for Student Governor, and ex-officio leader of the Union’s NUS delegation.
The Vice-Presidents Education and Campaigns and Communications shall be ex officio a member the NUS delegation.
The Vice President Services shall be ex officio the senior student representative to NUS Service Ltd.
The Vice President Sports and Societies shall be ex officio the senior student representative to BUSA”.
04/57MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT TO 31ST JULY 2005 (CRT04/59)
Court received:
ii)Universityof GreenwichManagement Accounts to 31st July 2005
iii)University of Greenwich Management Accounts Contribution Format.
iii)Balance Sheet as at 31 January 2005.
04/58COURT REVIEW DAY (CRT 04/60)
Court received the notes of the Review Day held in the Council Room on Friday 25th February 2005.
04/59COURT COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes of the following Court Committees were received:
i)Audit Committee Meeting held on 21st February 2005 (CRT 04/61)
ii)Finance Committee Meeting held on 28th February 2005 (CRT 04/62)
04/60ACADEMIC COUNCIL
Court received the minutes of the meetings of Academic Council held on
24th November 2004(CRT 04/63) 26th January 2005 (CRT 04/64).
04/61PROFESSORIAL AND READERS APPOINTMENTS 2003-2004(CRT 04/65)
Court noted the awards of the title Professor, Reader, Visiting Professor, Visiting Fellow and Emeritus Professor made by the Professorial and Readers Appointments Committee (Appendix 3).
04/62REGISTER OF INTERESTS (CRT 04/66)
Court noted that Registers of Interests for the period August 2003 to July 2004 had now been received from all Senior Managers and Members of Court.
At the request of Audit Committee, School Directors of Resources and Deputy Heads of Administrative Offices or their equivalent had now been asked to declare their interests in the same way as senior managers.
04/63AWARDS CEREMONIES 2005 (CRT 04/67)
Court noted the dates of the Awards Ceremonies to be held in July and October 2005.
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich
Monday 18 July 2005School of Architecture and Construction
The BusinessSchool
Wednesday 20 July 2005The BusinessSchool
The Greenwich Maritime Institute
Friday 22 July 2005The School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences
Rochester Cathedral, Rochester, Kent
Tuesday 26 July 2005The Natural Resources Institute
The MedwaySchool of Engineering
The MedwaySchool of Science
Old Royal Naval College, Chapel, Greenwich
Tuesday 25 October 2005The School of Humanities
The School of Education and Training
Thursday 27 October 2005The School of Education and Training
Friday 28 October 2005The School of Health and Social Care
04/64EXECUTION OF DEEDS (CRT 04/68)
(i)Court noted the signing as a Deed of the following “Group A” documents:
(a)DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT re: Site C (CanteenBuilding), Pembroke, Chatham Maritime, Kent between (1) South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and (2) University of Greenwich and University of Kent.
(b)LEASE re: Site C (Chatham Maritime), Pembroke Chatham Maritime, Kent between(1) South England Development Agency (SEEDA) and (2) University of Greenwich and University of Kent.
(ii)The signing as a Deed of the following “Group B” documents.
(a)LEASE DEED re: Unit 62/2, 2nd Floor, Bowater Road, Westminster Industrial Estate, Woolwich for housing the back part of the Brooking Collection between Co-operative Insurance Society Limited and UoG.
(b)BUILDING CONTRACT re: HEFCE Funded Access Improvement Works, Round II- installation of 3 lifts, induction loops and internal modifications to existing buildings over three sites between UoG and Crispin and Borst Ltd.
Linda Cording/smc/March 2005
Appendix 1 to the minutes of the Court meeting held on 14th March 2005
SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES: MEMBERSHIP
UGMT Limited
Directors:Prof. David Wills (Chairman)Prof. Leslie Johnson (governor)
Ian Roger Price (former governor)
Reginald Daly
Prof. John HumphreysCentre for Contaminated Land Remediation
Directors: Prof. David Wills
Alison Yakub (UoG Financial Controller)
Ian Roger Price
DrColinHills (DEES/School of Science)
Prof. John Humphreys
Greenwich Property Limited
Directors: Reginald Daly
Prof. David Wills
London Science Park Limited
Directors:Prof. David Wills
Reginald Daly
SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES: RESIGNATIONS:
a)Professor Mark Cross, w.e.f. 31 December 2004 (from CCLR and UGMT Board)
b)Lady Anne-Marie Nelson, w.e.f. 14 March 2005 (from UGMT Board)
c)Ms Pauline Forrester, w.e.f. 30April 2001 (from UGMT Board)
Appendix 2 to the minutes of the Court meeting held on 14th March 2005
Court and Committee Timetable 2005-2006
COMMITTEE / DAY / DATEAudit / 5.00 pm / Monday / 26 September 2005
Finance / 5.30 pm / Monday / 3 October 2005
Court / 5.30 pm / Monday / 24 October 2005
Staffing / 5.30 pm / Monday / 31 October 2005
Finance / 5.30 pm / Monday / 14 November 2005
Audit / 5.00 pm / Monday / 21 November 2005
Court / 5.30 pm / Monday /
5 December 2005
Strategy / 5.30 pm / Monday / 23 January 2006Finance / 5.30 pm / Monday / 30 January 2006 (if required)
Audit / 5.00 pm / Monday / 20 February 2006
Finance / 5.30 pm / Monday / 27 February 2006
Court / 5.30 pm /
Monday
/ 20 March 2006Staffing / 5.30 pm / Monday / 8 May 2006
Strategy / 5.30pm / Monday / 15 May 2006
Audit / 5.00 pm / Monday / 22 May 2006
Finance / 5.30 pm / Monday / 12 June 2006
Court / 5.30 pm / Monday / 3 July 2006
Pro-Chancellor’s Advisory Group, Nominations Committee and Remuneration Committee meetings to be arranged as and when necessary.
Term Dates
26 September 2005 – 16 December 2005
9 January 2006 – 24 March 2006