Agenda for a meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee to be held at 2.30 pm on Monday, 2 September 2013 in the Lord Provost Elder Room, Old College (Tea and coffee will be available from 2.20 pm) 1 Minute of the meeting held on 10 June 2013 A 2 Matters Arising 3 Principal's Business 4 Report of the Central Management Group B 4.1 Socially Responsible Investment B1 5 Subsidiary Company Boards - Membership Changes C 6 Any Other Competent Business 7 Date of next meeting Monday, 21 October 2013 at 2.30 pm in the Raeburn Room, Old College. If you require this agenda or any of the papers in an alternative format e.g. large print please contact Dr Katherine Novosel on 0131 650 9143 or email [email protected] Closed Agenda Papers being withheld from open business under stated Freedom of Information exemption. 8 Minute of the meeting held on 10 June 2013 D 9 Matters Arising 10 Summary Research and Commercialisation Report E 11 Bursary Schemes update F 12 Widening Participation G 13 Student Experience H 14 Finance 14.1 Finance Director’s Update I 14.2 Insurance update J 15 Holyrood development - update K 16 Digital Health Institute/NHS 24 Opportunity If you require this agenda or any of the papers in an alternative format e.g. large print please contact Dr Katherine Novosel on 0131 650 9143 or email [email protected] Finance and General Purposes Committee 2.30 pm Monday, 10 June 2013 A MINUTE (Open Business) Present: Professor S Monro (Convener) Vice-Principal Professor J Seckl Dr C Masters Professor A Smyth Mr H Murdoch University Secretary, Ms S Smith Mr P McNaull In attendance: Vice-Principal Mr N Paul Vice-Principal Dr S Rigby Mr A Currie Mrs T Slaven Dr K J Novosel Apologies: The Principal Dr M Aliotta Mr D Bentley Mr L Matheson 1 MINUTE OF THE MEETING HELD ON 29 APRIL 2013 Paper A The open Minute of the meeting held on 29 April 2013 was approved as a correct record. The Committee welcomed Mr Hugh Murdoch EUSA President to this his first meeting as a member of the Committee: Mr Murdoch had been in attendance at the last meeting of the Committee. The Committee further welcomed Mrs Tracey Slaven, Deputy Secretary, Strategic Planning. 2 PRINCIPAL'S BUSINESS In the Principal’s absence, Vice-Principal Professor Seckl reported on: recent visits to the University by Scottish Government Ministers; the continuing success of MOOCs, statistical information on the outcome of the first programmes including completion rates and plans for the next academic year; and the excellent symposium to celebrate the launch of the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic. 3 REPORT OF THE CENTRAL MANAGEMENT GROUP Paper B The Committee welcomed the information on main streaming of the equality duty and the establishment of an Equality Management Group. It was agreed given the remit of the Equality Management Group included both staff and student issues that it was appropriate to include in the membership a representative of EUSA; this would be taken forward and the Vice-President Services invited to become a member of the Group. The Committee further noted the continuing success of the Standing Consultative Committee for Redundancy Avoidance and endorsed the updated Procurement Strategy. 4 SUMMARY RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALISATION REPORT FOR Paper C 9 MONTHS TO 30 APRIL 2013 The information on applications and awards by volume and value was noted and it was confirmed that the College of Science and Engineering was taking action to improve its position going forward. The Committee further noted the University’s reliance on Research Councils and it was confirmed that ERI had been asked to increase support to enable diversification of the current sponsor mix with an emphasis on identifying commercial sector sponsors and opportunities within the EU and taking a more strategic approach to engagement with the charity sector. 5 SUBSIDIARY COMPANY BOARD MEMBERSHIP CHANGES Paper D The Committee approved the appointment of Professor David Fergusson as a Trustee Director of Edinburgh University Press. 6 STRATEGIC PLAN 2008-2012 TARGETS – UPDATE TO THE FINAL Paper E PROGRESS REPORT It was noted that it had not been possible to confirm the final position in respect of three targets as data had not been available at the time of drafting the previous report. The Committee noted that two of the targets had been met and that the final target had been partially met. There had been significant developments in promoting equality, diversity, sustainability and social responsibility and that this challenging agenda would be taken forward by the new Strategic Plan. 7 REPORTING FRAMEWORK ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN Paper F The Committee welcomed and endorsed the proposals to monitor the targets and KPIs in the Strategic Plan 2012/2016 and noted that there would be further refinements as the Plan progressed particularly around the annual milestones. It was confirmed the measurements referred to the position at the end of each academic year and this would be clarified in the document presented to Court with the baseline being taken as the position as at the end of 2011/2012. 8 REVIEW OF FORMAT OF THE UNIVERSITY’S FINANCIAL Paper G STATEMENTS The review of the format and content of the Annual Accounts was noted and the approach being taken forward by the working group was endorsed by the Committee including widening the current information on key corporate Committees. 9 DATE OF NEXT MEETING Monday, 2 September 2013 at 2.30 pm in the Lord Provost Elder Room, Old College. The University of Edinburgh Finance and General Purposes Committee B 2 September 2013 Report from the Central Management Group meetings of 19 June and 21 August 2013 Brief description of the paper, including statement of relevance to the University’s strategic plans and priorities where relevant Report from the Central Management Group meetings of 19 June and 21 August 2013. Action requested The Finance and General Purposes Committee is asked to transmit the report to Court with comments as it considers appropriate. Resource implications As outlined in the paper. Risk Assessment As outlined in the paper. Equality and Diversity As outlined where appropriate in the paper. Freedom of information Can this paper be included in open business? Yes, except for those items marked closed. Originators of the paper Dr Katherine Novosel August 2013 To be presented by Vice-Principal Professor Seckl Central Management Group 19 June 2013 1 ECA REVIEW – REPORT ON PROGRESS (Appendix 1) CMG noted and endorsed the update on the operational recommendations contained within the Court Review of the ECA merger undertaken in the autumn of 2012 at the end of the first year following merger. Overall, the merger had been positive for students and staff and significant progress had been made with a number of the operational recommendations now complete or nearing completion. In particular, it was welcomed that a new dedicated member of staff was taking forward the widening participation agenda and that there was on-going liaison with SRA. It was further noted that the SFC had indicated that it would require an evaluation report in September 2013 at the end of the first two years following merger. The information required and the format of the report were still to be confirmed and consideration would be required around reporting on estate issues. 2 MIGRATION MANAGEMENT GROUP UPDATE The renewal of the Tier 4 license was welcomed and the on-going work to assess compliance across the University of Home Office requirements. The actions taken in respect of visiting students were also fully supported and the development of English language courses particularly on-line programmes was noted. The position with staff was also noted and the opportunities around the exceptional talent category (Tier 1): the Director of HR agreed to circulate information on the criteria of the two elements within this category. The continuing close engagement with the Home Office was commended and colleagues were encouraged to contact the International Office for advice on issues involving students and staff. 3 INTERNAL AUDIT FOLLOW UP REVIEWS CMG noted that the Audit Committee continued to be concerned by the poor performance in implementing agreed actions in response to recommendations in Internal Audit assignment reports. Members of CMG confirmed their commitment to taking forward agreed actions and that this would be raised across Colleges and Support Groups; once agreed, responses to recommendations should be actioned. 4 FEES STRATEGY GROUP REPORT (CLOSED) 5 FEES: CONVENER’S ACTIONS AND ROUTINE FEES (CLOSED) Central Management Group 21 August 2013 1 REPORT FROM STAFF COMMITTEE (CLOSED) (Appendix 2) 2 VALUE FOR MONEY REPORT The range of value for money initiates which had been taken forward in 2012/2013 was commended and CMG approved the report for transmission to the Audit Committee. 3 SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT POLICY (CLOSED) 4 STAFF DATA (CLOSED) (Appendix 3) 5 ESCA EDINBURGH STUDENT CHARITIES APPEAL (Appendix 4) CMG noted and welcomed the report. 6 EUSA VOLUNTEERING ANNUAL REPORT (Appendix 5) CMG noted and welcomed the report. 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT (Appendix 6) CMG noted the 4 reportable incidents to the Enforcing Authorities, endorsed the need to ensure that appropriate refresher training was in place and noted the near misses and the items being taken forward by the Health and Safety Committee. 8 SEAG REPORT The report from SEAG was noted. CMG further noted that Mr David Gorman had now taken up the post of Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability and was providing leadership in taking forward the development of the new Department for Social Responsibility.