Department for the Economy Board minutes 2022 - 24 February 2022

Minutes from the Departmental Board meeting on 24 February 2022.

Attendees:

Mike Brennan (Chair)
David Malcolm
Heather Cousins
Shane Murphy
Sharon Hetherington
(name redacted)
Paul Grocott
Alan Russell
Michelle Bell
Joe Reynolds (deputising for Richard Rodgers)
Colm McKenna (Non-Executive Board Member)
Fiona Keenan (Non-Executive Board Member)
Michael McKavanagh (Non-Executive Board Member)

In attendance:

(name redacted) (Permanent Secretary’s Office)
(name redacted) (Secretariat)
(name redacted) (Boardroom Apprentice)
(name redacted) (For ODT only)
(name redacted) (For ODT only)

Apologies: Richard Rodgers

Agenda Item	Actions Arising From Discussion	Action Owner and Current Position (to be completed prior to the next Board Meeting)
Agenda Item 1:Declaration of Interests	None
Agenda Item 2:Minutes 27/1/22 Board Meeting	Agreed without amendment.
Agenda Item 3: Strategic Issues	There was discussion on a number of areas:- A lack of an agreed budget is causing increasing difficulties for the Department and ALBs. Practicalities and constraints imposed on Ministers due to the current political situation.
Agenda Item 4: Monitoring Round and Finance Update	Sharon Hetherington presented. The new legislation that allows Ministers to stay in place restricts the Secretary of State from giving a budget framework. Looking forward for a comparison, previous year’s expenditure can’t be considered typical as it contains covid expenditure. DfE opening agreed baseline for Resource DEL is circa £11m less than in the draft budget which wasn’t sufficient. Contingencies will need to be considered. The draft budget does not contain funding for DfE strategies. Concern about the ability to use money next year if work slows too much with budget uncertainty. Concern of an underspend this year due to slowing of work. Viable alternatives are being considered to minimise this. The Permanent Secretary has now signed the Accounts following confirmation from the Audit Office that he may do so. C&AG is expected to sign the Accounts on 1^st March with a laying date of 4^th March and possible slight slippage. The Economy Committee will then be immediately briefed.
Agenda Item 5: Questions on Papers to Note	HR Update Ongoing work on recruitment activity and changes to policies. End to end review slightly delayed. Absences comparable to other Departments are on a par with pre-covid. AP: Quarterly reports provided by NISRA on sick absence will be supplied for March Board NI Protocol Update There is currently unfettered access selling to GB but no long-term regime. Trade & Investment Update Focus is currently on the export side. Vocational Qualification Reform Scotland and Wales not going down the ‘T’ level route. We are looking at their systems. Portability of qualifications is a consideration. Risk Register The Board agreed the closure of 2 risks and the de-escalation of 2 risks. Business Plan The Board agreed Q3 progress updates. Next year’s business plan - we are clear what our strategic aims are but budget is a challenge. People Survey Results Good results, though a couple need looked at. Further details in March. Vision for a 10x Economy Refocus within Department and ALBs to prioritise 10x. Performance Mgt – In Year Reviews Difficulties improving compliance include long term illness and system problems. (name redacted) advised she is preparing guidance to address the system problems.	(name redacted)
Agenda Item 6: Organisational Delivery & Transformation Programme	Board members convened a Programme Board meeting for the rest of the available time.
Agenda Item 7: AOB	Media Article re Spend Local Scheme The Irish News ran an article this morning saying there is an external body to evaluate this scheme. AP: Detail of this to be provided to Board. HR Key Facts Document (name redacted) will produce a key facts document at DfE level for next Board for consideration. It will be similar to that provided to NICS Board.	Paul Grocott

Date of next meeting – Thursday 31 March at 10.30am