University Executive Board minutes - 1 March 2022

On

Date:

1 March 2022

Present:

Professor K Lamberts (KL) (in the Chair), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), Professor S Hartley (SH), Professor J Litster (JL), Professor C Newman (CN), R Sykes (RS), Professor G Valentine (GV), Professor M Vincent (MV), Professor C Watkins (CW)

In attendance:

Dr T Strike (TS), T Wray (TW), I Wright (IW), V Jackson (VJ) (item 1)

Apologies:

J Jones (JJ), Professor D Petley (DNP)

Secretary:

M Borland (MB) and Dr E Smith (ES)

  1. Quarterly Financial Results to 31 January 2022

    • (VJ in attendance for this item)

    • UEB received and noted the Quarterly Financial Results to 31 January 2022.

  2. Closed Minute and Paper

  3. Report of the UEB IT Sub-Group

    • (Meeting held on 27 January)
    • UEB considered and approved the Report. In particular, UEB:
      • Noted the progress and value delivered to date in Phase 3 of the Technology Enabled Strategic Framework (TESF).
      • Endorsed the revised TESF Phase 3 budget position and the balance between capital and revenue.
      • Noted ITSG’s consideration of the initial budget proposal for Phase 4 of the TESF, pending ITSG’s receipt of the full business case at its next meeting, which would be recommended onward to UEB.

  4. Report of the UEB Information Management & Security Group

    • (Meeting held on 9 February)
    • UEB considered and approved the Report. In particular UEB:
      • Noted IM&SG’s support for information management being identified as a strategic risk and opportunity to the University, with a view to its continued inclusion on the Risk Register.
      • Approved IM&SG’s proposal for departments to be reminded of the Records Retention & Disposal Schedule and following this for the route to compliance being classified by a RAG rating and then audited.
      • Noted that after a successful pilot of the application of the Information Classification and Handling scheme by the University Secretary’s Office to classify committee papers, HR and Corporate Communications would look to apply the scheme to their documents.

  5. Industrial Action: Report from Incident Management Team

    • UEB received and noted a verbal update on industrial action.

  6. Round Table

    • List of Risks
      • UEB received a list of potential risks for the university, students or staff related to the Russian February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
      • The Vice Chancellors’ Advisory Group had considered research connections with Russia. Of the two research collaborations, one had closed and the second did not have any financial aspect.
      • The following was noted:
        • An update from the FVP Arts and Humanities on the current whereabouts within Russia of 10 students from the School of Languages and Cultures.
        • Russian staff and students might also require support at this time.
        • Guidance from the Russell Group had been requested.
        • From a governance perspective, it was noted that a breach of any sanctions could leave members of UEB and Council personally liable.
        • Risk Review Group would consider the risks from a broad institutional perspective.
      • It was agreed:
        • To develop a staff communications package providing as much clarity as was possible.
        • To provide a verbal update at the next UEB/HoDs meeting.
    • Other Round Table items
      • International travel: TW reported that some international students had contacted the University to highlight issues with international flights to the UK.