Department for the Economy Board minutes 2022 - 27 October 2022
Minutes from the Departmental Board meeting on 27 October 2022.
Present:
- David Malcolm (Chair)
- Heather Cousins
- Shane Murphy
- Paul Grocott
- Sharon Hetherington
- (Name redacted)
- Alan Russell
- Michelle Bell
- Fiona Keenan (Non-executive Board member)
- Michael McKavanagh (Non-executive Board member)
- Colm McKenna (Non-executive Board member)
In attendance:
- (Name redacted) (CMB Secretariat)
- (Name redacted) (Permanent Secretary’s Office)
- Colin Jack (Board observer)
- Lisa Morgan (for ODT)
- (Name redacted) (for ODT)
- (Name redacted) (for ODT)
- (Name redacted) (from EY for ODT)
- (Name redacted) (student observer)
Apologies:
- Mike Brennan
- Richard Rodgers
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 29th September | Agreed without amendment. | |
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Agenda Item 3: Strategic Issues | A number of areas were discussed: Invest NI Review - Nearing end of process.
- Minister will not be able to see final report but has had sight of likely recommendations.
- Will Invest NI be able to deliver on 10x?
Energy Costs - Value for money & potential for fraud is a UK wide consideration.
- Delivery of £400 payment to NI domestic consumers still being worked out.
- Delivery Agent for non-domestic NI customers not connected to energy grid still being worked out.
Position post 28/10/22 - Legal advice has been received re NICS position in the absence of Ministers.
- Depts may be able to exercise more authority than envisaged. Not confirmed.
- A budget bill is necessary.
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Agenda Item 4: Finance Update | Sharon Hetherington presented: - An overspend of £660m is projected at an NI Block level.
- DoF are monitoring cash on a month-by-month basis. DfE were given a cash limit to work within until end November which is not expected to cause any issues.
- There have been no monitoring rounds without an Executive. DfE have had internal ones.
- DfE unallocated funding has increased from £17m to £21m: representing £9m of easement, £5m of pressures and £5m of pressures.
- DfE salary overcommitments have been eradicated, taking account of forecast vacancies.
- Capital overcommitments have reduced to between £3m with a further easement expected following the judgment in the Craigavon FE College new build case.
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Agenda Item 5: Papers to Note | HR Update - Progress is being made on bringing vacancies down. AP – a paper on vacancy rates at G3 level to be provided for November Board.
- A drafting & submissions webinar has been developed.
- AP – an updated timetable to be provided for the G6/G7 recruitment competition.
- AP – a paper showing absence trends pre covid, post covid and now for DfE compared to other Departments to be provided for November Board
10x Update - We need to be more strategic as an organisation – ROI have worked on this.
- Recognition of the importance of expertise.
- Consultation on the Performance Management Framework closed last night. 48 responses have been received. The conversation will continue.
- Preparations will be needed for a returning Executive.
- Resources should be prioritised to priority areas of 10x.
Department’s People Plan with midyear update Update to Major Projects List - A number of projects will need scoped again to deliver more realistic outcomes.
ARAC Minutes 22/9/22 |
(Name Redacted)
(Name Redacted)
(Name Redacted)
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Agenda Item 6: Organisational Delivery & Transformation Programme | Board members convened a Programme Board meeting for the rest of the available time. | |
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Agenda Item 7: AOB | There was no AOB. | |
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Date of next meeting - Thursday 24 October 2022, Adelaide House.