CONFIRMED
The Bournemouth and Poole College
MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON 16 MARCH 2017
Members Present:
James Hampton / Chair / In Attendance:Roger Blaber / Vice-Chair / Marianne Barnard / Clerk to the Corporation
Diane Grannell / Principal - Apologies / Michael Johnson / Vice Principal Finance & CD
Caroline Foster / Apologies / Jacqueline Page / Vice Principal Curriculum
Tom Millar / Apologies / Ken Roberts / Exec Director of Resources
Gail Ninnim / John Parker / Exec Director of HR
David Ford
John Taylor / Apologies
Craig Jamieson
Shane Munford / Staff Member - Apologies
Francis Davis / Student Member - Apologies
Ed Hynes / Student Member
PART A
1/17 / SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT
i)The Board approved the appointment of Craig Jamieson and AngelaRowley as
new Board members for a first 3-year term, from 16 March 2017 to 15 March 2020. Both appointments would be subject to satisfactory DBS checks.
ii)The Board approved the re-appointment of James Hampton as a Board member
for a second term from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2020 and the extension ofhis term of office for the role of Chair for a second term from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2019.
The Board approved the re-appointment of Gail Ninnimas a Board member for a second term from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2020.
iii)The Board noted that the Senior Post Holder reviews had been completed.
RESOLVED: To approve the appointment of new Board members and re-appointment of current Board members as noted above.
2/17 / APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and accepted from Diane Grannell, Caroline Foster, Tom Millar, John Taylor, Shane Munford and Francis Davis.
3/17 / DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared.
STRATEGIC DISCUSSION
4/17 / INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY
The VP Curriculum confirmed that following detailed discussion amongst the Executive, the College had recently registered its interest in becoming an Institute of Technology(IoT). It was noted that The College was based in a town with two universities, and that to be successful The College would need to provide a distinctive HE provision.
A site at Bournemouth Airport had been identified by the Skills Escalator Group (SEG), a group made up of local businesses from the aerospace and engineering sector along with other local stakeholders and run by Christchurch & East Dorset Council. It was felt by SEG that the College did not currently have the appropriate facilities in a location that could serve the whole community. The VP Curriculum confirmed that £170 million was available for IoTs and that the funds available would not be sufficient for all IoTs to have completely new builds. It was noted that a number of other colleges around the country already had a presence at airport sites and a visit could be arranged for Executive members to visit one in due course.
Board members were in agreement that the IoT was a great opportunity for the College, but there was some concern about the most appropriate location, it was agreed that pubic transport links to and around the large Bournemouth Airport site were very poor. It was felt that a number of hubs around the Bournemouth & Poole area would be more appropriate to cater to employer needs, for example Engineering at the Bournemouth Airport site, Digital in the Lansdowne area and Marine in the Poole area. It was agreed that that the College Employer Advisory Boards (EABs) could undertake some work to look at employers in the different sectors and where they were currently located.
Board members considered whether the College would want to work collaboratively with other colleges on the project, the VP Curriculum felt that regarding engineering and marine, these were our speciality and we would be well placed to lead on the project, although it was noted that the College would need to work with a University and schools as key partners.
It was noted that a space for an IoT could be set up fairly quickly, as the STEM centre at North Road was already in place and could provide appropriate space in the short term.
The Chair asked Executive membershow the Board could support the project as it was acknowledged that Executive members were currently incredibly busy with a number of activities. It was noted that the Board fully supported the proposal and agreed that if spending for an external resource to support the bid was needed, this should go ahead.
5/17 / PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
The Chair noted that the Collegehad beenunsuccessful in its initial application to the Skills Funding Agency to appear on the newly published Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. It was extremely frustrating not to have not been included in the initial release of the Register and the Executive had been doing everything they could to urgently rectify the situation.
The Principal’s report was presented for information and well received by the Board. The VP Curriculum highlighted the following:
The Government has published its Industrial Strategy Green Paper on 23 January 2017.
Performance Review 2 had been completed, and there had been a strong focus on retention, assessment and progress.
The VP Finance & CD noted the negotiation with Dorset County Council regarding pension payments contributions being phased over three years.
RESOVLED: To note the report.
6/17 / COLLEGE IMPROVEMENT PLANS UPDATE
The Director of Quality joined the meeting at 18.15
Some key items from the College Improvement Plan were presented to the Board. This included the improvements seen on the placement of students onto appropriate levels and the inconsistent use of the disciplinary policy which would be addressed through further training.
RESOVLED: To note the report.
The Director of Quality left the meeting at 18.30
7/17 / EQUALITY & DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT
The Equality & Diversity Annual Report was received and approved by the Board.
RESOLVED:To approve the Equality & Diversity Annual Report.
8/17 / KPI MONITORING
The Board received and reviewed the Performance Dashboards to February 2017 for:
i)Academic Dashboard
The VP Curriculum presented some key items including attendance and retention which were both on target.
RESOLVED:To note the report.
ii)Finance Dashboard
The VP Finance & CDnoted that the College had not recruited to the HE targets and that adult funding levels were down, these had both impacted on the budget and the worst case scenario would be a deficit of £340k. There were some opportunities around apprenticeship recruitment and training contracts which would have a positive impact on the budget.
It was reported that the capital budget had been frozen again.
Staff costs were reviewed. It was noted that the data presented did not include the contribution the College made to WESS, which if added, would push the percentage up.
RESOLVED:To note the report.
iii)Resources Dashboard
The Executive Director Resources noted that all Resources KPI’s were currently compliant.
RESOLVED:To note the report.
iv)Human Resources Dashboard
It was reported that some work has been undertaken with learning Managers around sickness management.
RESOLVED:To note the report.
The Chair noted that the revised formats were an improvement and it was agreed that a number of the KPI’s would continue to be reported monthly, but others would move to annual reporting.
9/17 / RISK MANAGEMENT 2016-17
The Vice Principal Finance & CD provided an update to the Board for information. Following the debate at Audit Committee in July 2016, the VP Finance & CD had undertaken some work with TIAA (internal auditors), looking at best practice within their client base. The work was undertaken between January and March 2017, and outcomes presented to the Audit Committee on 9 March 2017. It was noted that of the twelve risks on the Risk Register, eleven were academic risks and already being closely monitored through the College Improvement Plan.
The Chair of the Audit Committee reported that a discussion had taken place at the Audit Committee on 9 March, and that the VP Finance CD would continue to progress the activities. It was noted that unfortunately two Audit committee members were unable to attend on 9 March 2017, and therefore further discussion would happen in June 2017.
RESOLVED:To note the report. / VP Finance & CD
REGUALR BUSINESS
10/17 / REVIEW OF BOARD IMPROVEMENT PLAN
The Board noted the updated Board Improvement Plan, it was requested that the impact/evidence was added to the table.
The Chair had commenced the 1-1’s with Board Members and the Clerk would be organising the remaining meetings during May.
RESOLVED: To note the report. / Clerk
Clerk/Chair
11/17 / STUDENT VOICE
The Chair noted the very positive Student Voice Conference that he, The Principal, and David Ford had attended on 15 March 2017.
The Board noted the Student Voice report, the Chair requested that the VP Curriculum follow up on the comments about getting feedback on assessments.
RESOLVED: To note and approve the report. / VP Curriculum
12/17 / COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP GROUP
It was reported that an appointment had been made to the Director of Sales & Marketing,joint appointment with Brockenhurst College, and that it was hoped that the new appointment would be able to commence after the Easter holiday.
RESOLVED: To note the appointment.
13/17 / CLERK’S REPORT
i)Review of Governance process Policies EL0 – EL8
The Board noted that the Governance Process Policies EL0 – EL8 had been reviewed and remained fit for purpose.
ii)Approval of Area Review Final Recommendations
The Board formally ratified the approval of the Area Review Final Recommendations.
iii)Approval of the Self-Assessment Report 201/16 and Quality Improvement Plan 2016/17 for Residential Provision.
The Board formally ratified the approval of the Self-Assessment Report 201/16 and Quality Improvement Plan 2016/17 for Residential Provision.
iv)Minutes of the last meeting
The Board approved the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2016 as anaccurate record.
v)Matters Arising & Board Tracker
The Board reviewed and noted The Board Tracker.
vi)Audit Committee Report
The Chair of the Audit Committee provided a verbal update on the Audit Committee meeting which had taken place on 9 March, the Board were asked to formally ratify the appointment of new external auditors KPMG, following a tender process and selection day held in January 2017.
RESOLVED: The Board approved items as listed above.
14/17 / CHAIR’S ACTIONS
There were no items to report.
15/17 / ANY OTHER BUSINESS
i)Suggested items for future meetings
A number of areas were highlighted for consideration at future meetings:
- Higher Education
- Industrial Strategy
- Marketing
The Chair confirmed that he had undertakena recent learning walk in Construction. It was agreed that a learning walk would be organised ahead of the next Board meeting on Thursday 4 May, details would be circulated when available.
iii)Verbal feedback from conferences/events attended
The Chair had attended the AoC Principal’s and Chair’s meeting on the morning of 16 March 2017.
16/17 / DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 4 May 2017,16.00 – 19.30 at North Road
17/17 / EVALUATION
It was agreed that the meeting had generated some useful debate.
PART B - CONFIDENTIALITY
18/17 / CONFIDENTIALITY
No items were noted.
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