University council minutes 25 June 2024

Minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2024 at 9.15 am in BG012/013, Business School, Oxstalls, Gloucester

Membership:

Paige Archer                                                    

Ingrid Barker                                                      

Thomas Chambers                                            

James Cooper                                              

Paul Crichard – A                                               

Ruth Dooley                                                     

Nicola de Iongh (Chair)                                      

Chris Fung                                                     

Steve Gardiner                                                  

Dr Louise Livesey                                              

Dame Clare Marchant                                                  

Pamela Sissons                                                 

Elonka Soros                                                     

David Soutter                                                     

The Rt Revd Robert Springett

Joe Sucksmith – A             

Julie Walkling    

Dr Peter Warry                                             

Ibby Williams                                          

In attendance:

Bobola Ajibola, Incoming Students’ Union Officer

Julie-Ann Brooks, Director of People

Katharine Clough, Chief Marketing Officer

Vanessa Garratt, Incoming Students’ Union Officer

Prof Jackie Labbe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost

Camille Stallard, Chief Financial Officer

Dr Matthew Andrews (Secretary to Council), Chief Operating Officer

Penny Gravestock (Minutes), Assistant Secretary to Council

C.24.59 Prayer

The Rt Revd Robert Springett led the meeting in a prayer.

C.24.60 Welcome and Apologies

Received: apologies for absence from Paul Crichard and Joe Sucksmith.  The Chair welcomed Bobola Ajibola and Vanessa Garratt who were observing the meeting, prior to becoming the new Student Members of Council from 1 July 2024.

C.24.61 Business of the Agenda

Noted: that there had been no request to unstar any item on the agenda, and therefore it was assumed that papers C/37/24 to C/44/24 had been approved or noted as stated. The Chair also noted that:

1. the Senior Chaplain would be giving a briefing immediately after the meeting and that any questions regarding the Chaplaincy Report could be raised there;
2. there were some changes proposed for meeting dates in paper C/40/24, including an additional away day scheduled in May 2025.

C.24.62 Declarations of Interest

Received: a declaration of interest from Dr Louise Livesey as a member of staff.

C.24.63 Minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2024

Resolved: it was agreed that the minutes were an accurate record of the meeting held on 14 May 2024.

C.24.64 Matters Arising

No matters were raised.

C.24.65 Chair’s Business

C.24.65.1 Noted: the important discussion to be held under agenda item C.24.68, and the work that had been undertaken to get to that point.

C.24.65.2 Received: updates from each of the Committee Chairs on key discussions held at the following meetings:

1. Finance and General Purposes Committee, 4 June 2024;
2. Governance and Nominations Committee, 5 June 2024;
3. Council Chairs’ Group, 5 June 2024;
4. Audit and Risk Committee, 7 June 2024

C.24.65.3 Noted: that since the last meeting, there had been no exercise of delegation, nor any use of the Company Seal. There had been one decision made via circulation: following an email sent on 17 May 2024, Council approved the appointment of David Oakhill as a co-opted member of Finance and General Purposes Committee for a term of one year from 4 June 2024.

C.24.66 SU Update Report to Council (C/30/24)

C.24.66.1 Received: the Students’ Union (SU) update, noting in particular:

1. the community cupboard initiative, noting that funding had been received from the Janet Trotter Trust to support its continuation into 2024/25;
2. further funding received to support students taking part in extracurricular activities;
3. achievements of the societies and sports clubs over the year;
4. that the SU was looking for new external trustees and that further detail would be circulated for distribution to Members’ networks.

C.24.66.2 Noted: the recent activities within the Students’ Union.

C.24.67 CONFIDENTIAL: Vice-Chancellor’s Report (C/31/24)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.24.68 CONFIDENTIAL: Cash Update and New Bank Loan (C/32/24)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.24.69 CONFIDENTIAL: Finance Report: 2023/24 Forecast 3; 2024/25 Budget (C/33/24)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.24.70 CONFIDENTIAL: Estates Updates (C/34/24)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.24.71 Plans for Council Away Day

Noted: an update from the Vice-Chancellor on plans for the Away Day being held on 1 and 2 October 2024, which would include a dinner with an external speaker expert in the sector. It was noted that away days would move to the spring in future and that therefore there would be two events in 2024/25. The Vice-Chancellor outlined potential sessions on refreshing the strategy and delivery priorities.

C.24.72 CONFIDENTIAL: Council and Sub-Committee Membership Update (C/35/24)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.24.73 CONFIDENTIAL: Independent Review (C/36/24)

This item was considered under Confidential Business.

C.24.74 Annual Statement – Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (2022-2023)* (C/37/24)

Resolved: Council considered and approved the Annual Statement (Reporting Period 2022-2023) which supported and advanced good practices that would further the work of the University Research Committee and the Concordats Implementation Working Group (CIWG) in promoting the development of researchers’ careers and allow for a comprehensive second annual statement and action plan to be submitted to Universities UK. 

C.24.75 Annual Statement – Supporting Research Integrity* (C/38/24)

Resolved: Council considered and approved the Annual Statement (Reporting Period 2022-2023) which supported and advanced good practices that would further the work of the University Research Committee in promoting research ethics and integrity and allow for a comprehensive second annual statement to be submitted to Universities UK. 

C.24.76 Health and Safety Policy Statement* (C/39/24)

Resolved: Council approved the Health and Safety Policy Statement.

C.24.77 Council and its Committees: revisions to meeting dates* (C/40/24)

Resolved: Council approved the proposed changes for the timing and frequency of meetings over 2024/25 and 2025/26 as recommended by Governance and Nominations Committee.

C.24.78 Annual Review: Scheme of Delegations* (C/41/24)

Resolved: Council approved the Scheme of Delegations for 2024/25 following review by its sub-committees.

C.24.79 Annual Chaplaincy Report* (C/42/24)

Received and noted: the annual Chaplaincy Report.

C.24.80 Annual Report from Integrity and Ethics Committee* (C/43/24)

Noted: the annual report from Integrity and Ethics Committee. 

C.24.81 Council Schedule of Business* (C/44/24)

Noted: the Schedule of Business.

C.24.82 Minutes from Council Committees*

Noted: that the minutes from the following meetings would be available from the University Committees page on the Sharepoint site. 

1. Finance and General Purposes Committee, 4 June 2024;
2. Governance and Nominations Committee, 5 June 2024;
3. Audit and Risk Committee, 7 June 2024

C.24.83 Any Other Business

Noted:

1. that it was the last meeting for Paige Archer and Ibby Williams. Council thanked them for their work over the year;
2. congratulations to the Vice-Chancellor who had received a damehood in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to Higher Education.

C.24.84 Date of Next Meeting

Council Away Day – Tuesday, 1 October 2024 (from 9.15 am – 6 pm, with dinner to follow) and Wednesday, 2 October 2024 (from 9.15 am – 2 pm). This will be held on campus, location to be confirmed.