Department for the Economy Board minutes 2022 - 24 November 2022
Minutes from the Departmental Board meeting on 24 November 2022.
Present:
- David Malcolm (Chair)
- Heather Cousins
- Shane Murphy
- Paul Grocott
- Sharon Hetherington
- (Name redacted)
- Alan Russell
- Chris McConkey
- Richard Rodgers
- Fiona Keenan (Non-executive Board member)
- Colm McKenna (Non-executive Board member)
In attendance:
- Name redacted (CMB)
- Name redacted (CMB Secretariat)
- Name redacted (CMB Secretariat)
- Lisa Morgan (for ODT)
- (Name redacted) (for ODT)
- Michelle Scott (for Invest NI)
Apologies:
- Mike Brennan
- Michael McKavanagh (Non-executive Board member)
Agenda Item | Actions arising from discussion | Action Owner and current position (to be completed prior to the next Board meeting) |
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Agenda Item 1:Board Register of Interests/ Conflicts | No new interests declared. | |
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Agenda Item 2:Minutes of meeting 27 October | Agreed without amendment. | |
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Agenda Item 3: Strategic Issues | A number of areas were discussed: Further education review - The first workshop with the FE sector is being held tomorrow.
Good Friday Agreement anniversary - A series of events have been planned, including an investment conference which could take place later in the year.
Energy Support Scheme - The £400 payment and that for alternative fuels and non-domestic side were discussed.
- Arrangements from April 2023 were discussed.
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Agenda Item 4: Finance update | Sharon Hetherington presented: - The DoF proposal to switch Capital funding to Resource to address the NI Block overspend has not been agreed by HMT.
- As a result, Capital was available at a NI Block level for 2022/23 and DfE has asked for £4m.
- Secretary of State is due to make an announcement on the 22/23 budget.
- HOCS to consider how to split a shortfall in funding in 2023/24 between departments.
- There is budget uncertainty going into next year.
- Prioritisation of resources will become more important.
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Agenda Item 5: Invest NI – Independent Review and Board Effectiveness Review | Michelle Scott presented: - The Independent Review of Invest NI is reaching its final stages, with publication of a final report likely in January 2023.
- A draft Board Effectiveness Review report in respect of Invest NI has been completed.
- Interim findings from the Independent Review, and the Board Effectiveness Review, have identified concerns.
- The Invest NI Board and Executive Leadership Team are holding a workshop on 30 November to include considering roles and responsibilities, refreshing the code of conduct and reviewing the role of the Secretariat. There will also be a range of 1 to 1 sessions.
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Agenda Item 6: Papers to Note | HR update - There is a new structure and G5 in NICS HR.
- New G6/7 and AO recruitment competitions postponed.
- Need to understand the relationship between short and long term sick absence.
- Need a breakdown of sick absence by G3 command.
- Need to know how many inefficiency warnings under consideration result in a warning/final warning.
- COVID and non-COVID absences need separated.
10x update - The Board noted initial arrangements for a small 10x stakeholder group and that further work will be done on external engagement on 10x.
Assurance statements Corporate Risk Register - Quarter 2 updates agreed.
Business Plan - Quarter 2 progress updates agreed. These will be published on the department’s website.
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Agenda Item 7: Organisational Delivery & Transformation Programme | Board members convened a Programme Board meeting for the rest of the available time. | |
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Agenda Item 8: AOB | There was no AOB. | |
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Date of next meeting: Thursday 15 December 2022 at Ulster University in York Street, Belfast.