TU 22.05.15 Item 5.1.1
TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
A meeting of the Board of Governors was held on 20 March 2015
Present: Mr R Bloom Mr P Booth
Mr R Cuffe Mr D Eagle
Mr C Fleetwood Mr J Hogg Professor G Henderson Mr J G Irwin
Mr E Kunonga Mr A MacColl (Chair)
Mr W Ridley Dr M Simpson Mrs A Skelton Mr A Waite
Apologies: Dr J Atkinson Professor T Hart
Mr D Heaton Ms S Khan
Ms S Kiddle Ms L Percy
Mr S Tonks Mr D Winter
Officers: Professor C Hardcastle Professor L Holey (Clerk)
Dr A Mackenzie Professor E Martin
Mr M Page Mr M White (Secretary)
UT 2977 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/LOYALTIES
It was NOTED:
1. That no member has declared a conflict of interest or loyalty in matters on the agenda.
UT 2978 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
It was NOTED:
1. That the Vice-Chancellor has provided members with a report on:
1.1 Possible funding changes after the General Election
1.2 The HEFCE consultation on quality assessment
1.3 The 2016 Quality Assurance Agency Higher Education Review of the University
2. That members will receive a report on the Higher Education Review at a future meeting.
3. That members will receive a briefing on the new ‘Forge’ business branding.
UT 2979 CHAIR’S INTRODUCTION
It was NOTED:
1. That the Chair had outlined the main purposes of the meeting.
UT 2980 MINUTES
It was AGREED:
1. To approve, as an accurate record, the minutes of the Annual General Meeting and the Ordinary Meeting held on 14 November 2014, and the meeting held on 16 January 2015, subject to recording the apologies of Mr J Irwin at the Annual General Meeting, held on 14 November 2014.
UT 2981 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHANCELLOR & CHIEF EXECUTIVE
It was NOTED:
1. That Professor Paul Croney has accepted the Chairman’s offer of employment with effect from 1 May 2015.
It was AGREED:
2. To confirm the action of the Chairman in making an offer of employment, following the extensive selection process.
3. To thank those members who had participated in the selection process.
4. To express the unreserved appreciation of the Board to Professor Graham Henderson for his outstanding leadership as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive.
UT 2982 STUDENT RECRUITMENT
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with overview information on student applications to the University.
2. That a recent news report on growth plans across the higher education section will be circulated to members.
UT 2983 INSTITUTIONAL PLAN
It was NOTED:
1. That the Vice-Chancellor has provided members with a draft Vision of the University in 2020, and a Review of Priority Targets 2015/16.
2. That there will be value in reviewing the draft Vision in terms of its order, to most effectively reflect the primary function(s) of the University.
3. That it will be helpful to express cost reductions in terms of the University being as efficient and effective as possible.
4. That the relationship with partner colleges will be an essential feature of the University over the coming period.
5. That it will be helpful to identify starting points in relation to the Overview of Priority Targets, and possibly to also make use of RAG ratings.
6. That reference to the contribution the University makes to the challenges facing the local community/communities will be a helpful addition.
It was AGREED:
7. To ask the Vice-Chancellor to revise the draft Vision and forward to the Vice-Chancellor Designate for his review.
UT 2984 NATIONAL HORIZONS CENTRE
It was NOTED:
1. That members have previously been advised of potential developments in relation to the National Horizons Centre.
2. That the Centre involves a new capital building on Central Park, Darlington, and is intended to capitalise on existing and new developments, particularly the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre, the Tees Valley Unlimited Innovation Strategy, and national policy on technology sectors and university-business relationships.
3. That the development of the Centre is being led by the University in partnership with the Centre for Process Innovation, Darlington College, and C-STATE, with the active support of Darlington Council and Tees Valley Unlimited.
4. That the Centre will be complete by late 2017 and carry an overall capital cost of £30.5m (including equipment, and subject to final RIBA Stage 3 report).
5. That the Centre has been allocated a Local Growth Fund capital grant of £17.5m over the period 2016-18, subject to due diligence and the submission of a business case in 2015.
6. That, again subject to due diligence, the University has been allocated £7.5m from the HEFCE Catalyst Fund under the strand Universities as Anchors (in the local economy) (£3.5m capital and £4.5m revenue).
7. That the potential University contribution to the £30.5m cost of the Centre comprises £6m.
8. That the due diligence requirements of the Local Growth Fund require the business case including the design concept to RIBA stage 3, be submitted by October 2015 and HEFCE require the full business case for the Catalyst Fund to be submitted by April 2015.
9. That the cost of such design worth is estimated to be £500,000, being fully recoverable from the Local Growth Fund.
10. That the proposed centre has been considered, and supported, by the Resources Committee.
It was AGREED:
11. To ask the Chairman and the Chair of the Resources Committee to scrutinise all governance and associated legal arrangements ahead of business case submission and to advise the Board at its next meeting.
12. To proceed to a full business case submission to the Local Growth Fund and to the HEFCE Catalyst Fund.
13. To develop plans for an accommodation block as part of the Centre on the basis, in principle, of a University contribution of up to £6m.
14. To commit up to £500,000 to develop building plans to RIBA Stage 3.
15. To ask the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive to ensure that sufficient and appropriate staff and other resources are in place to ensure the success of the project.
16. To ask the Vice-Chair of the Board to monitor developments in respect of the Sedgefield-based National Formulation Centre, and to advise the Board and the VCE as appropriate..
UT 2985 HIGHER EDUCATION CODE OF GOVERNANCE
It was NOTED:
1. That the Chair of the Board is a member of the Committee of University Chairs (CUC).
2. That the CUC has published the Higher Education Code of Governance.
3. That the Board has previously adopted, and complied with, the earlier Code of Governance published by the CUC.
4. That Officers have prepared a mapping exercise identifying the compliance (or otherwise) of the Board against the precepts of the Code.
5. That, of the small number of areas where the Board is not compliant with the precepts of the Code, an associated action to ensure compliance has been identified.
It was AGREED:
6. To formally adopt the Higher Education Code of Governance and to approve the associated actions.
7. To request a progress report at the July 2015 meeting of the Board.
UT 2986 REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING UPDATE
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with the second report of the financial year, updating the Board on financial performance.
2. That the report has been considered by the Resources Committee, which has endorsed the current position, and the continued positive progress to protect and increase the 2014/15 budget surplus.
UT 2987 CAPITAL AND ESTATES PROGRAMME UPDATE
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with the second report of the financial year on capital and estates programme monitoring.
2. That the report has been considered by the Resources Committee and positively received and endorsed.
3. That the Chairman has asked Mr R Cuffe, supported by the Chief Operating Officer, and the Secretary to the Board, to lead an exercise, to propose a name for the new teaching building, following consultation.
It was AGREED:
4. To support the use of the approved student accommodation allocation of £10.9m in the 2014-15 Estates programme for both purchase of Teesside Central and initial essential remedial work/refurbishment.
UT 2988 PRESIDENT’S ITEMS
It was NOTED:
1. That the “Students’ Union on Tour” initiative continues to be highly successful.
2. That the Students’ Union has held a well-attended housing fair.
3. That initiatives on student sleeping patterns, and on student financial management have been held.
4. That the Students’ Union is working with the University on improvements to the current timetabling system.
5. That the Students’ Union is engaged in extensive activity to increase student voter registration.
6. That elections have been held for the 2015/16 student officer positions.
UT 2989 AUDIT COMMITTEE – 12 February 2015
It was NOTED:
1. That the Committee has considered:
1.1 The Risk Management Framework, corporate risk appetite, and the 2015-15 Risk Register.
1.2 The Assurance Framework
1.3 Internal audit reports:
- Risk Management
- International Admissions
- Development Funding
- Payroll
1.4 Students’ Union Financial Statements
UT 2990 RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 25 February 2015
It was NOTED:
1. That the Committee has considered:
1.1 Revenue Budget Monitoring Update (UT 2986 refers)
1.2 Treasury Management Update
1.3 The annual TRAC return to the HEFCE
1.4 Students’ Union Financial Statements
1.5 Capital and Estates Programme Monitoring Update
(UT 2987 refers)
1.6 The National Horizons Centre (Minute UT 2984 refers)
UT 2991 STUDENT EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE – 20 February 2015
It was NOTED:
1. That the Committee has considered:
1.1 The Extra Life (public health) Initiative
1.2 The work of the Students’ Union in the particular context of graduate employability.
1.3 Minor amendments to the constitution of the Students’ Union.
UT 2992 ACADEMIC BOARD – 11 March 2015
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with a report of the meeting of the Academic Board held on 11 March 2015.
UT 2993 GOVERNOR ATTENDANCE RECORD
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with the annual report relating to attendance at Board and Committee meetings.
It was AGREED:
2. To ask the Clerk to review staff and student membership of Board committees and to make proposals, and to enable electronic attendance at meetings.
UT 2994 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS
It was NOTED:
1. That the following dates and times have been scheduled for meetings of the Board:
Friday 22 May 2015 1.30pm
Friday 17 July 2015 1.30pm
Friday 16 October 2015 1.30pm
Friday 20 November 2015 1.30pm
2. The Academic Awards Ceremonies will take place from Monday
23 November 2015 to Tuesday 1 December 2015
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