UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
COUNCIL
13 OCTOBER 2003
(2.15 – 5.05 pm )
MINUTES
UNRESERVED BUSINESS
Chair
Mr Melville-Ross
Present
Mr Blundell, Professor Busfield, Mrs Cardew, Ms Colston, Professor
Crewe,
Professor Dowden, Dr Elston, Professor Foweraker, Mr Harker, Mr
Hayman, Mr Hughes, Mr Jones, Mr Jordan, Mr Lewis, Mr Mack,
Professor Massara, Professor Millard,
Sir Robin Mountfield, Professor Muthoo Professor Nedwell, Mr
Pertwee, Mr Rainbird, Professor Richmond, Mr Shamsaddini,
Professor Sherer, Dr Steel, Ms Stevens, Dr Venn, Professor Wright
Apologies
Mr Burrow, Mrs Haynes, Ms Hodges, Mrs Macmillan, Lord Newton
Secretary
Academic Registrar
In attendance
Registrar and Secretary, Director of Finance, Director of Personnel
Services, Director of Information Systems, Planning Officer, Ms
Starling, Mrs Corcoran (Item 9), Dr Perkins (Item 7)
Agenda
item
1
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Noted
2
215/03
Council was the first of the University’s formal committees to adopt the
new format for presentation of committee papers. The Chair invited
members to let the Academic Registrar know after the meeting if they had
any comments.
216/03
STARRING OF AGENDA ITEMS
Noted
3
The Chair welcomed new members of Council elected by Senate and the
new student member, Mr Shamsaddini, Vice-President (Finance and
Services).
No additional items were starred for discussion in addition to those
indicated on the agenda. The unstarred items of the agenda were then
deemed to have been received or noted and approved by Council as
appropriate.
217/03
The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2003 (Unreserved business)
were signed as a correct record.
218/03
MINUTES
Approved
4
5
MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES
None.
219/03
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT (C/03/41)
Received
The Vice-Chancellor’s Report covered developments in South East Essex
and Suffolk and progress on the Capital Buildings Programme.
220/03
Student Recruitment 2003/4
Noted
6(a)
The Vice-Chancellor reported that he had been more optimistic about
student recruitment in his report (written two weeks earlier) than had
proved to be the case. A much larger than expected proportion of overseas
students had not taken up their places. It was too early to know whether
this was specific to Essex or was more widespread. On the positive, side
the University would meet its contracted student numbers and there would
be no financial clawback from the Funding Council. Home and EU
numbers were about 2% up for undergraduates and the numbers of
students enrolling on University schemes at South East Essex College
were well up on last year. It was too early to have firm figures, but
registrations appear to be about 9% below target for overseas postgraduate
students. If there were 90-100 fewer overseas students than had been
budgeted for, there would be a shortfall of approximately £¾m on tuition
fee income. This would entail trimming some expenditure this year in
order to ensure that the University had a reasonable surplus for 2003/4.
Further information would be available when Budget Sub-Committee had
the opportunity to consider the details.
221/03
Noting concerns about the University’s plans for continued expansion, the
Vice-Chancellor indicated that it was too soon to know whether the
shortfall in overseas students was a one year blip, signalled a plateau in
recruitment or was the beginning of a decline. If it were to be viewed as a
blip then the University would not intend to change the strategy for
expansion, but if it was believed that overseas recruitment was likely to
decline, then there would be serious implications for planning.
222/03
REPORT OF FINANCE AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE (C/03/42)
(i) Strategic Plan 2003/04-2007/08
Noted
The Strategic Plan would be submitted to HEFCE in November. It had
two main purposes: it was required by HEFCE and other external agencies
and was also it served an important internal function. It was reviewed
periodically but revised annually. The latest version had adopted a more
concise style than the previous plan, concentrating on performance
indicators rather than detailed targets. The University’s broad strategic
aims remained essentially unaltered, although their order had been revised
to reflect a more outward-looking approach.
223/03
Resolved
that the University Strategic Plan be approved, subject to minor
amendments.
224/03
(ii) Capital Building Projects Update
Resolved
that the following amendments to project costings be approved:
225/03
a net increase of £194k on the cost of the University Quays footpath;
a net increase of £120k on the cost of refurbishing the John Tabor Building
(CPD Centre);
the £90k increase on the notional cost of providing the Lakeside Theatre
Rehearsal Space.
(iii) Merger with East 15 Acting School
Resolved
7
that the report summarising East 15 Acting School’s progress since merger
in September 2000 be circulated with the minutes.
RESEARCH PARK AND STUDENT RESIDENCES (C/03/43)
COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
8
Report on capital building projects completed or in progress.
233/03
REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF HEADS OF DEPARTMENT (C/03/45)
Noted
Resolved
10
227/03232/03
CAPITAL BUILDING PROJECTS – UPDATE (C/03/44)
Noted
9
226/03
Sir Robin Mountfield, Chair of the Working Group established to review
the Role of Heads of Department, introduced the Report. The main
objectives were to increase the incentives/reduce the disincentives for
someone who took on the role of head of department and to facilitate an
appropriate balance between the department and the centre in terms of
strategic management.
234/03
Discussion points:
Concern that the recommendations were too radical was expressed by
some members while others took the view that the proposals were
proportionate to the need to ensure sound management in all departments.
Academic management was not seen as an exclusive activity but could be
woven into an academic career.
It had become increasingly difficult to recruit new heads of department so
it was important to improve incentives, and to provide a career route for
those who wanted to make a contribution over time e.g. as Dean or PVC.
Although the majority of heads did an excellent job it was vital to have
arrangements which would enable appropriate remedial action to be taken
if there were performance issues.
A small number of large departments carried a high balance of
responsibility for the overall financial health of the University.
There were clear parallels with arrangements within the NHS where the
best senior clinical staff took on roles such as Clinical Director, and that
system was reported to work well.
235/03
that Council expressed broad support to the recommendations of the
Report of the Working Party on the role of Heads of Department, noting
that there would be a period of consultation. The Report, impact on
research at departmental level and a proposed change of Ordinance would
be considered by Senate in December; and Council would make a final
decision on the recommendations at its next meeting.
236/03
FUNDING HIGHER EDUCATION (C/03/46)
Received
The President of the Students’ Union introduced a paper setting out the
Union’s opposition to the introduction of ‘top-up fees’ and calling on
Council to approve a public statement to that effect.
237/03
Noted
Council discussed the advisability of the University issuing any form of
public statement, and instead favoured support for the concerted efforts of
influencing groups such as the National Union of Students, the Council of
University Chairmen and Universities UK.
238/03
Council was reminded that the details of the Government’s proposals on
funding and student support were still not known. Although the general
principles were known, including the establishment of the Office for Fair
Access, the details were awaited and meanwhile were the subject of
lobbying. It was possible, for example, that the additional maximum fee
universities would be allowed to charge, currently set at £3,000, might be
reduced to, say, £2,000 when the matter was considered in Parliament.
There might also be an increase in the provision for maintenance grants for
the low-income students. If the eventual package of student support
arrangements did not in fact increase levels of student indebtedness then
some of the arguments against increased fees would fall.
239/03
Many members of Council shared the view that, while they were
personally opposed to the introduction of increased tuition fees, while
there were no alternative funding proposals to produce the additional
income which was a financial necessity for the sector, as responsible
members of Council they would support increased fees for the financial
health of the University.
240/03
There was no general agreement to the SU’s proposal to issue a public
statement but members did favour having a Council seminar after the next
meeting in February, by when sufficient details should have been
published about the new funding arrangements. The Students’ Union
would submit a paper to Senate in December.
241/03
Agreed
11
FINANCIAL COVENANTS (C/03/47)
Resolved
12(a)
that the loan facility in an original principal sum of £7,400,000 arranged
with TSB Bank plc (now known as Lloyds TSB Bank plc and hereinafter
referred to as the ‘Bank’) pursuant to a letter of 13 June 1996 be amended
as proposed in a letter from the Bank dated 14 August 2003.
that Mr Andrew Connolly be authorised to make the necessary
arrangements with the Bank and to sign on behalf of the University the
Letter of Variation which was circulated to Council and its terms and
conditions approved.
244/03
ANNUAL REPORT FROM ALBERT SLOMAN LIBRARY (C/03/49)
Received
12(c)
243/03
RESEARCH INCOME AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES –
2002/03 (C/03/48)
Item deferred to next meeting.
12(b)
242/03
Report from the Albert Sloman Library for 2002/03
SUNDAY TIMES GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE (C/03/50)
245/03
Received
13
246/03
APPOINTMENT OF STUDENT UNION RETURNING OFFICER
Resolved
14
Comparison of the University’s position in the Sunday Times university
league tables over the past four years.
that Richard Walker, NUS Regional Officer, be appointed as Returning
Officer for the Students' Union elections for 2003/04.
247/03
REPORT OF CHAIR’S ACTION (C/03/51)
Approved
Actions taken by the Chair on behalf of Council since the last meeting on
30 June 2003.
248/03
15
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Noted
Monday 2 February 1004 at 2.15 pm.
249/03
RESERVED BUSINESS
17
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 30 JUNE 2003 (RESERVED BUSINESS)
Approved
The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2003 (Reserved Business) were
signed as a correct record.
Moira Collett
Academic Registrar
23 October 2003
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250/03