[Minutes]
Minutes of the 238th Meeting of the University Council held on Wednesday 17
July 1996.
Dr S C Miller
Mr. R.H.Boissier Professor J.R. Hough (ab)
Dr. W.R. Bowman Professor M. Hutchinson
Professor L.M. Cantor Mr. E. Lodge (ab)
Professor J.V. Dawkins Ms. J. Lynch (ab)
Dr. J.A.W. Deboo Mr. B.W. Manley (ab)
Mr. S. Dorrell (ab) Professor A.J. Meadows
Mr. S. Dragicevic Professor J.N. Miller
Dr. A.M. Duncan Dr. L.R. Mustoe (ab)
Dr. A.S. Durward (ab) Mr. D'A.T.N. Payne (ab)
Mr. D. Eacott Mr. E.G. Payne
Professor M. Evans Mr. W.M.M. Petrie (ab)
Dr. A.N. Fairbairn Professor I Reid
Professor J.P. Feather Sir Denis Rooke
Mr. G.P. Fothergill (ab) Professor M. Shaw
Sir Frank Gibb(ab) Mr. M. Shuker
Mr. S.J. Gorton Mr. N. Slater (ab)
Mr. J.K. Green Mrs. C. Stephens
Mrs. V. Green Mrs. J.A.M. Strong (ab)
Professor N.A. Halliwell Professor A Thorpe
Mr. P.W. Harrisson (ab) Professor D.J. Wallace
Miss J.E.L. Harvatt Professor C. Williams
Professor H Heaney Mr. C.S. Woodruff
Dr. T. Higgins Mrs. H.M. Woodward
Professor J.A. Horne (ab)
By invitation: Professor R. McCaffer (ab)
Professor H. Thomason (ab)
In attendance: Dr J E M Elliott
Dr. D.E. Fletcher
Ms. E.A. Howarth
Mr. N.A. McHard
Mr. H.M. Pearson
Apologies for absence were received from Dr Durward, Sir Frank Gibb, Mr
Harrisson, Professor Horne, Professor Hough, Professor McCaffer, Dr Mustoe, Mr
D'A Payne and Mrs Strong.
It was RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes of the 236th Meeting of the Council held
on 27 March 1996 (COUN 96:M1).
- .1
- Minute 96/2.1 - Corporate Identity
-
- Council noted that the Privy Council had approved the following amendment
to the Charter and Statutes of the University:
- Charter - Article 1: Statute 1 - Definitions
-
- The Loughborough University of Technology has been replaced with
-
- Loughborough University
- .2
- Minute 96/2.2 - Vice-Chancellor's Business
-
- The Vice-Chancellor reported that the local Highway Authority had not
supported the suggestion of an additional entrance for emergency services on
Epinal Way. He was now pressing for official confirmation from the emergency
services that they were happy with existing access from Epinal Way.
- .1
- Council congratulated the Vice-Chancellor on his award of the CBE for
services to parallel computing.
- .2
- Council also congratulated Professor Halliwell and Professor Wakeman on
their election to the Fellowship of Engineering and all those involved in the
seven very successful graduation ceremonies recently held on campus.
The Vice-Chancellor reported that:
- (i)
- The Duke of Edinburgh had opened the new Sports Hall earlier in the week
and had visited facilities in the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive
Engineering and Transport Studies and also the new Virtual Reality Centre. The
visit had been most successful.
- (ii)
- Action on the Chancellor's budget cuts to Universities had involved a
public meeting in the Students' Union building well attended by staff, students
and the public. There had been good publicity and the meeting had served to
increase awareness and strengthen solidarity. A CVCP day of action had also
been held. It was hoped that the review of the Private Finance Initiative in
Higher Education would make clear that the budget cuts could not be made up
through that route.
- (iii)
- A number of other universities were considering the introduction of
additional tuition fees to be charged to students. It might be necessary for
Council to consider this issue at its December meeting, dependent upon the
outcome of the 1997/98 budget announcement.
- (iv)
- The call for proposals for the National Academy of Sport was expected soon.
The University had agreed a memorandum of understanding with the University of
Nottingham and the National Sports Council Centres at Lillishall and Holme
Pierrepont with a view to a joint submission. The appointment of an advisor
from KPMG to assist with the submission was likely.
- (v)
- Notwithstanding the impending Dearing Review, two major consultation papers
had been received from HEFCE on funding models for teaching and research.
Greater change was more likely with the teaching model.
- (vi)
- Loughborough Students' Union was to be congratulated on a very successful
year which had included the establishment of the electronic employment bureau
on the Internet and the raising of over £204,000 for charities through Rag.
Sports achievements had been outstanding, with both the men's and women's teams
winning the BUSA championships. Nine current or former students would be
participating in the impending Olympics.
-
- (Secretary's note: The actual sum raised by Rag was £212,588.39. The nine
Atlanta participants returned with two silver medals and one bronze
medal).
- .1
- Council considered the recommendations of Resources and Planning Committee
to approve expenditure on the Capital Programme. It was noted that the Faculty
of Engineering and the Business School and Department of Economics had accepted
in principle the requirement for their contribution to the specific projects.
It was requested that in future Council be provided with illustrations of
proposed buildings when asked for approval of expenditure for such projects.
- .2
- It was RESOLVED to approve the construction of a new floor level on the
roof of the existing Civil and Building Engineering teaching building and the
modification of the ground and first floors at an estimated total cost of
£1,754,895 (phase one of the new engineering building complex). This
recommendation would be conditional on the Faculty of Engineering meeting 25%
of the total costs of the scheme within a timescale to be agreed.
- .3
- It was RESOLVED to approve that the construction of the LUBS/Economics
Building proceed at a maximum cost of £3,900,000. This recommendation would be
conditional on the Business School and the Department of Economics contributing
£900K towards the cost of the project within a timescale to be agreed.
- .1
- Council received a proposal from the Registrar that, subject to the Board
of Governors of Loughborough College of Art and Design requesting that the
University enter into merger negotiations, Council authorise such negotiations
to begin with a view to firm proposals coming forward for consideration by
Council at its December meeting.
- .2
- Members welcomed the proposals but highlighted four issues of particular
importance:
- (i)
- The need to preserve the identity of Loughborough College of Art and Design
and thereby its excellent reputation
- (ii)
- The need to keep staff and students informed of discussions, which
themselves should be transparent, and to undertake full negotiations with Trade
Unions.
- (iii)
- The need to involve the Students' Union in the discussions.
- (iv)
- The need for consideration by Council of a detailed independent financial
appreciation of merger.
- .3
- The need was identified to allay staff fears on the potential threat of
redundancy. However, it was pointed out that the University and Council were
in no position to lay down the policies of LCAD. It was suggested that the
full KPMG report commissioned by HEFCE to consider the question of merger
between the University and LCAD should be made available over the World Wide
Web, but recognised that this could not be done by the University as the
document was not its property.
- .4
- Council noted that the proposed timetable for discussions was extremely
tight and there was a lot of work to be achieved. It was suggested that the
timescale might make the process of informing staff and students of
developments more awkward and the importance of transparency in discussions was
re-emphasised.
- .5
- Council was reminded that similar concerns about the identity of the PE
Department had been expressed during the merger of the College of Education
with the University. That merger had worked well and the identity of the PE
Department had survived and since flourished. It was in the University's best
interest to ensure such an outcome for LCAD. It was RESOLVED, subject to a
formal invitation from the Governors of Loughborough College of Art and Design,
to authorise the commencement of merger negotiations.
- .1
- Council received the University's Operational Plan for 1996-97 and a tabled
paper on the Summary Budget for 1996/97. Attention was drawn to the reduced
budget for the support services for 1996/97 and to the cut in HEFCE grant for
1996/97 of £1.4M. The reduction in transfers to the Building Fund was
highlighted as a measure to ensure a balanced budget, and the repercussions of
this in the long-term were recognised.
- .2
- In regard to the Operational Plan and the Alumni Office targets, Council
was informed that progress had been good since the formation of the Alumni
Association and the support of the Students Union in this was to be
acknowledged.
- .3
- It was RESOLVED to approve the University's Operational Plan for
1996-97.
It was RESOLVED to approve recommendations for changes to the Constitution,
Terms of Reference and Membership of the Health, Safety and Environmental
Committee.
It was RESOLVED to approve a Report of the Nominating Committee.
- .1
- Council considered a paper from the Registrar on behalf of the Nominating
Committee proposing amendments to Statute XIII in regard to members of Council
elected by Court, deletion of the member nominated by the Secretary of State
for Education and Science, and a corresponding increase by one of co-opted
membership.
- .2
- The eight current members of Council elected by the Court included three
former staff of the University and the proposal presented was that no more than
two members of Council in this category should be former members of staff of
the University. Considerable discussion ensued as to the definition of lay/
independent members, the knowledge and independent judgement that former staff
can bring to the Council and the proposed move to restrict Court's freedom of
choice in elections where there was no evidence of the need for change. The
Vice-Chancellor referred to the Nolan Report on Governance and the need to
ensure a balance on Council and the opportunity for diversity of external views.
- .3
- Council was assured that the proposals were in no way suggesting that the
contribution of former members of staff to Council was neither significant nor
appreciated, but under present rules there was a danger that former staff could
predominate in this category. It was suggested that former staff were at an
advantage in the election from Court to Council by virtue of their number and
their familiarity to other members. It was AGREED that in future nominations
for election to Council from Court should include a brief CV of the candidate.
- .4
- It was pointed out that in terms of a balance on Council the most
significant issue was the lack of female members and members from the ethnic
community, and it was this issue that Council should be addressing. In
response to a suggestion that the membership of Council be increased to
incorporate more lay members, it was considered that such a move would be
resisted by the Privy Council in view of the move towards reducing the size of
governing bodies.
- .5
- Amendments to the first proposal were made, first to increase the
restriction in the number of former staff elected by Court to Council to three
and then to a half. The third amendment to withdraw the proposal for further
consideration in the light of Council's discussions and the Nolan report was
put to the vote, with 14 voting for the amended proposal and 14 against. On
this basis the Chair RESOLVED that all the proposals be withdrawn at this stage
for further consideration as the procedure would have been to convey the mind
of Council to Senate and Council was very clearly not of one mind.
It was RESOLVED to approve the following recommendation referred by the Finance
Committee at its 94th meeting on 20 June 1996.
-
- Travelling and Subsistence Allowances
It was RESOLVED to approve the following recommendation referred by the Health,
Safety and Environmental Committee at its 64th meeting on 28 June 1996:
-
- Health and Safety Policy
It was RESOLVED to approve the following recommendations referred by the
Resources and Planning Committee at its 95th meeting on 7 June 1996:
- (a)
- Establishment Matters
- (b)
- Full-Time Overseas Tuition Fees for 1997/98
- (c)
- Special Fees for 1996/97
It was RESOLVED to approve the following recommendations referred by Senate at
its 307th meeting on 26 June 1996:
- (a)
- Research Committee: Terms of Reference, Constitution and Membership
- (b)
- MSc in Electrical Power Generation, from September 1996
- (c)
- BSc in Retail Management (Automotive), from September 1996
- (d)
- MSc in Geographies of Global Change, from September 1997
- (e)
- MA in Modern and Contemporary Writing, from September 1996
- (f)
- Ordinance VI - Amendment
- (g)
- Ordinance IV - Amendment
- (h)
- Ordinance XXXIII - Amendment
- (i)
- Code of Student Discipline and Definition of Misconduct
- .1
- Council received the Annual Report of the Careers Service Advisory Board
for
-
- 1994-95.
- .2
- It was RESOLVED to approve a recommendation of the Director of the Careers
Service that, in view of changes in the running of the local Careers Service,
the position of Chief Careers Advisor for Leicestershire County Council no
longer be included under ex-officio membership of the Board.
- .1
- Council noted the membership of Council for 1996-97 as thus far determined.
- .2
- It was RESOLVED to appoint to the Chairs of certain Committees for 1996-97.
- .3
- It was RESOLVED to authorise the Chair to take action on behalf of Council
to make appointments to vacancies on Council Committees, Joint Committees with
Senate and other bodies to which Council appoints.
It was RESOLVED to ratify the action of the Registrar in affixing the
University Seal to the documents listed.
Council noted the extended responsibilities of Council.
Council noted the position in regard to the involvement of the University in
the establishment of University education in Peterborough.
Council noted a summary of action taken on the Operational Plan for 1995-96.
Council received the Annual Report of the Equal Opportunities Committee for
1995-96.
Council received the report of the Timothy John Godfrey Memorial Fund Advisory
Committee for 1994-95.
Council received reports of the following committees:
- (i)
- Audit Committee of 6 June 1996
- (ii)
- Finance Committee of 20 June 1996
- (iii)
- Health, Safety and Environmental Committee of 28 June 1996
- (iv)
- Residential and Catering Services Committee of 18 June 1996
- (v)
- Information Services Committee of 31 May 1996
- (vi)
- Research Committee of 12 March and 16 May 1996
- (vii)
- Resources and Planning Committee of 7 June 1996
- (viii)
- Student Services Committee of 5 June 1996
- (ix)
- Senate of 26 June 1996
In regard to the report of the Audit Committee
and the appointment of KPMG as Internal Auditors, Council was informed that the
Chair of that committee had negotiated with KPMG a revised limit of £1M to
KPMG's liability.
The dates proposed for meetings of Council in 1996-97 were noted as follows:
Friday 18 October 1996 at 10.45 am
Wednesday 18 December 1996 at 10.45 am NOTE: Amended to Monday
16 December 1996
at 10.45 am
* Friday 14 February 1997 at 10.45 am
Friday 21 March 1997 at 10.45 am
Wednesday 16 July 1997 at 10.45 am
The starred meeting would take place only if notice is given by a date two
weeks prior to the date scheduled for the meeting.
The Chair thanked retiring members for their services to Council.
Friday 18 October 1996 at 10.45 am
The meeting was intended for the discussion of strategic issues and routine
business would not be transacted.
Next Ordinary Meeting: Monday 16 December 1996 at 10.45 am.
Author - Jennie Elliott
Date - September 1996
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