STOCKPORT COLLEGE. Minutes of the Resources Committee held on Thursday 20 th June 2013 at 5.30pm in Conference Room A

Transcription

1 STOCKPORT COLLEGE Minutes of the Resources Committee held on Thursday 20 th June 2013 at 5.30pm in Conference Room A Present: Ian Roberts (Chairperson) Mark Deverell Malcolm Winton Sue Haywood Stephen Carlisle (Principal) Bill Gregory Sue Derbyshire Trevor Rees In Attendance: Barry Watson (Clerk to the Corporation) Fiona Fox (Vice Principal Finance & Resources) Ivan Owen (Assistant Principal Finance) Helen Klepper (Vice Principal People Planning & H.E) Minute no: RES/13/13 Election of Chairperson Academic Year 2013/2014 The Clerk to the Corporation sought nominations for the position of the Chairperson for the academic year 2013/2014. Ian Roberts was the sole nomination and it was unanimously resolved that he be elected as Chairperson for the period outlined. RES/14/13 Apologies for Absence The Clerk to the Corporation reported that apologies for absence had been received from Louise Richardson. RES/15/13 Election of Vice Chairperson Academic Year 2013/2014 The Chairperson sought nominations for the position of the Vice Chairperson for the Academic year 2013/2014. Bill Gregory was the sole nomination and it was unanimously resolved that he be elected as Vice Chairperson for the period outlined. RES/16/13 Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest in any of the meetings business items. 1

2 RES/17/13 Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 st February 2013 The minutes of the meetings were approved and accepted as a correct account of the meetings proceedings. RES/18/13 Matters arising from the minutes i) RES/05/13 Report of Vice Principal, People Planning & H.E ( Staff Absence Report) It was noted that this item was covered by the Vice Principals report (Agenda item 9). There were no other matters arising from the minutes. RES/19/13 Minutes of the Finance and Task & Finish Group The minutes of the meeting were received and noted. RES/20/13 Matters arising from the Minutes There were no matters arising from the minutes. RES/21/13 Report of the Vice Principal People Planning and H.E The Vice Principal presented a report which updated the Committee on a range of Human Resources matters as detailed below: Performance Management. The Committee noted that the up-to-date position with regard to staff appraisals and were pleased to note that 82% of appraisals had now been undertaken which represented good progress since the last report and an improvement on last year. The Committee challenged the Vice Principal as to why the percentage of completed appraisals was not higher than 82% and the Vice Principal accounted for the legitimate reasons why a higher percentage had not been achieved to date. The Committee noted that this matter had been made a performance target for managers through the performance management process and that for next year s appraisals a target had been set for managers of securing 100% completion of appraisals for those members of staff that were available. The Committee also noted the up to date position with regard to the observations of teaching and learning outcomes and that 82.9% had been recorded as good or better and that 13 observations had been recorded as unsatisfactory. It was noted that of these 4 members 2

3 were re-observed and graded as good, 5 staff had left or were due to leave and that the remaining 4 staff were receiving further mentoring and coaching and would remain on the Capability Procedure until there is evidenced improvement in their performance. The Vice Principal updated the Committee concerning the current staff absence levels and it was noted that the College was operating at 0.2% higher than the sector average. It was noted that for the period 1 st August st May 2013 the number of day s absence was 8.3days. The Vice Principal commented that short term absence levels were running at acceptable levels but that the College still had high levels of long term absence due the high number of staff with life threatening illnesses. Disciplinary It was noted that one member of staff had been recently been dismissed and that there would be no tribunal claim relating to the dismissal. It was further noted that a member of staff had been suspended from duties and would be subject to a disciplinary hearing. College Organisation and Redundancy The Committee noted the actions that had been initiated by College management to review the staffing structure in order to respond to the changes to the College s funding position. The report identified that following the consultation process it had been identified that a reduction of 13 management posts and up to 60 FTE posts would be required and that details of proposals to restructure the Senior Leadership Team which would be presented to the Board of the Corporation at its meeting on 18 th July The report further identified the Departments/Groups where the reductions would occur, the potential job losses and whether voluntary or compulsory redundancies would be made. The Vice Principal provided the Committee with the up to date figures in this respect since the report had been written. The Committee discussed with the Vice Principal a wide range of issues arising from the report including the following: i) An explanation of the consultation process that had been undertaken. ii) The savings that would be made by the staffing reductions ( 1.5m). iii) The impact on the number of staff reductions that would be made through staff reducing their hours of work. 3

4 iv) How the College would manage with the removal of Chaplaincy and Youth worker posts and the adverse impact that this could have on the student body. The Vice Principal advised the Committee that appropriate measures were in place to ensure that the service to students in this area would not be adversely impacted on due to the staffing changes to the Committee s satisfaction. v) The process that management had undertaken to make sure that there would be no detrimental impact on learners and the quality of the delivery of education and training. A member also asked how work based learning and commercial activities would be managed going forward. The Vice Principal outlined to the Committee that all the staff planning had been undertaken in line with the curriculum planning model and that aspects such as larger class sizes, the use of assessors rather than teachers and structural issues such as moving centrally delivered activities back into the curricular areas had all been part of the determination of resources allocation model. v) The objectives of the restructuring including, achievement of savings to meet a reduced income base, achievement of securing a more flexible workforce and addressing issues of poor performance. Staff Development The Committee noted the management action that had been taken with regard to staff development activities. After due consideration and discussion of the report it was resolved that it be noted. RES/ 21/13 i) Sick Pay Policy and Procedures The Committee considered in detail the proposed Sick Pay Policy and Procedures and after due consideration resolved that it be recommended to the Board of the Corporation for approval. RES/21/13 ii) Redundancy Policy The Committee considered in detail the proposed Redundancy Policy, noted the main proposed changes, and after due consideration resolved that it be recommended to the Board of the Corporation for approval. 4

5 RES/22/13 Human Resources & Staff Development Strategy The Vice Principal People, Planning and H.E presented a report which enabled the Committee to consider a proposed HR & Staff Development Strategy for the period The Committee considered and discussed the draft Strategy in detail and after discussion it was unanimously resolved that it be recommended to the Board of the Corporation for approval. RES/23/13 Budget 2013/2014 and 3 Year Financial Forecast The Vice Principal Finance & Resources presented a report which made proposals for the outline Budget for 2013/2014 and the 3 Year Financial Forecast for the period The report also included the Income and Expenditure Summary, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement for the period The Committee considered in detail the following elements of the proposed budget for 2013/2014 and the three year forecast up to 2016: The risk factors to the budget and 3 year financial forecast. The key drivers and challenges for the College over the period. Assumptions, Financial Strategy, Objectives and Health and Borrowing as a percentage of net assets. Main income streams including income budgets by individual funding streams, sub contacting, tuition fees, commercial activity, other funding contracts, grant income, other income and investment income. Expenditure including pay, non-pay, interest, cash and borrowing, FRS 17 retirement Benefits. Sensitivity analysis. Contingency Planning. In consideration of the proposed budget and forecast the Committee discussed/sought clarification on the following issues: The fact that the Technical School was excluded from the budget and forecasts. The robustness of the income projections in the plan. The position with regard to 24+ loans and the predicted impact on income. The use of the expertise of members of the Governing Body in seeking to improve commercial Income generation. 5

6 The up to date position with regard to the Manchester Airport contract. The position with regard to repayment of the bank loan including level of repayment and a statement to be added to the College s management accounts with regard to capital plans. Communication with staff regarding the College s financial position and their willingness to take ownership of a more commercially focused and entrepreneurial culture. The Board of the Corporation to consider setting up a Group who would meet regularly to monitor in detail the College s financial position more frequently. Action: Vice Principal Finance & Resources/ Board of the Corporation After due consideration and discussion it was unanimously resolved that the Outline Budget for and the 3 Year Financial Forecast for the period be recommended to the Board of the Corporation for approval. RES/24/13 Property Strategy Update June 2013 The Vice Principal Finance & Resources presented a report which updated the Committee on arrange of Property matters as detailed below:.. Heaton Moor Disposal St Thomas Site Purchase of PCT Land SK1 Stockport Technical School. Stockport Sports Village Campus ( Woodley Sports Development) Enhanced Renewal Grant 2 and Grant 3 Art Gallery and War Memorial Future Capital FE College Capital Investment Strategy. The Vice Principal also advised the Committee that following the tendering process AA Projects and BFAW (Architects) had been appointed and were currently working on producing a College Master 6

7 plan which would inform the Property Strategy. The Vice Principal further advised the Committee of the time frame for the process. After due consideration of the report it was resolved that it be noted. RES/25/13 Financial Strategy The Vice Principal Finance & Resources presented a report which made proposals for a Financial Strategy for the period which would replace the current Financial Recovery Plan. The Committee considered and discussed the proposals in detail and after due consideration and debate it was unanimously agreed that the Financial Strategy as detailed in the Vice Principal s report be recommended to the Board of the Corporation for approval. RES/26/13 Management Accounts & KPI s May 2013 The Assistant Principal Finance presented a report which detailed the College s management accounts for the period up to 31st May 2013 along with associated key performance indicators. The report covered the following matters: Summary Overview It was noted that the management accounts had been prepared on a full accrual basis and pre payments basis to provide more transparent reporting and that the position at the end of May showed an income of 24,668K with total expenditure of 25,672K giving an operating deficit of 1,004K. The cash balances and long term borrowing at the end of the month was also noted. Major Income & Expenditure Variances. The Committee noted that income variance for the period was 819k adverse. Pay and Non Pay Expenditure. The Committee noted that both expenditures were showing adverse variances against profile at a total of 352K. Balance sheet and cash flow reconciliations were both also noted. After due consideration it was resolved that the report and the ongoing management actions be noted. 7

8 RES/27/13 Draft Financial Regulations The Vice Principal Finance & Resources presented a report which enabled the Committee to review the College s Financial Regulations. It was noted that there were no major proposed changes to the Regulations and after due consideration it was resolved that the Financial Regulations , as detailed in the Vice Principal s report (subject to a textual change relating to the power to amend the College s Instrument & Articles of Government) be recommended to the Board of the Corporation for approval. RES/28/13 Funding Allocations The Vice Principal Finance & Resources presented a report which updated the Committee on the Colleges funding allocations for The Committee noted the comparison of funding between 2012/2013 and that the variances in funding were as detailed below: EFA - 6.2% SFA - 0.4% SFA Apps -11.5% Total (before HEFCE) - 4.7% The Vice Principal went through each funding stream and accounted for the position within each of the streams. The Committee thanked the Vice Principal for her report and resolved that it be noted. RES/29/13 Any Other Business There were no matters raised under any other business. RES/30/13 Date of Next Meeting It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Thursday 17 th October The meeting closed at 7.15 pm. 8