Department for the Economy Board minutes 2025 - 26 February 2025

Ian Snowden presented

New Minister

• The Department has a new Minister.
• There has been a smooth handover, and she has been meeting a lot of external stakeholders.
• Her first international visit is to Berlin next week and to USA the following week.

Accounts 2023/24

• We are getting close to signing off these accounts.
• There will be a disclaimer and a press release will issue when finalised which is normal practice.

Cross-Border Activity

• A meeting was held yesterday in Dublin with the Department for Enterprise Tourism & Employment. Options for cross-border working and the Shared Island Fund were discussed.
• There is a meeting in Dundalk in March with DFHERIS and we will meet DECC later.

Risk Appetite Workshops

• These are currently taking place. There has been very positive engagement from all involved and there will be a paper at a future Board meeting.

(Name redacted) presented

A paper was presented to the Board providing financial updates:-

• Resource DEL Budget Final Position 2024/25.
• Financial Position as at 31 January 2025.
• 2025/26 Budget.
• 2023/24 Group Annual Report and Accounts.
• Presbyterian Mutual Society.

Key Points Discussed

• We exited January monitoring in a balanced position.
• Financial position is tight and will be closely monitored.
• Extremely challenging budget position for 2025/26 both in terms of Resource and Capital.  All business areas have been asked to assess the impact of a 7.9% baseline reduction to address the shortfall created once pressures/commitments are met. In terms of Capital all Departments have only been allocated enough to meet their inescapable and pre-committed pressures. Business areas are working to complete impact assessments and other options will need to be considered if savings cannot be delivered by respective areas. AP: To schedule a meeting with Leadership Team and Minister to talk through issues with next year’s budget.
• Presbyterian Mutual Society has now been liquidated, whilst not all the loan is recoverable there is no current or future budgetary impact as this was accounted for in previous financial years. However, formal write-off of the debt is required and will be brought to the Assembly due to its size.

Corporate Risk Register

• There is 1 new risk relating to the ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill which has resource implications. There are also ongoing issues in Energy.
• The Department will consider the overall Risk Management Framework as part of its review of Corporate Risk Appetite. AP: Mitigations need considered and put in a broader piece.
• The Board agreed the quarter 3 updates.

City Deals

• To deliver on a PFG commitment a number of actions have been undertaken to accelerate delivery.
• A table in the Board paper shows where there has been slippage and cost overruns.
• Alignment with Department and wider NI Executive and UKG policies and programmes remains key.

Contracts Register

• There has been a change in presentation of information in this routine paper.
• AP: To investigate if Ordnance Survey and provide services for GPS and GNS cheaper.
• PFI contracts with Colleges are coming to an end and they are working through this.
• 2 public liability property insurance contracts are coming to an end. There is a review and independent assessment for risk and will be savings.
• LPS may be able to help with ‘address look up provision’
• The ODT Programme contract total won’t be spent as it is a call-off contract.

Resourcing & People Committee (RPC)

• The overall position with staffing levels has not changed much.
• Gaps are being filled with permanent transfer opportunities and temporary promotions.
• The RPC recommend carrying out a reprioritisation exercise which could lead to redeployment of staff.
• Declared and undeclared vacancies were discussed.
• AP: To see what data can be gotten on alternative working patterns.

Skills & Education Group (SEG) Review

Moira Doherty presented:

• The Departmental Organisation Design Review recommended a review of the structure of the Group and this commenced in November 2023. This has now moved from a review to mainstreaming.
• Moira discussed what the Group does. This needs to be mapped as work is carried out by multiple organisations.
• Moira described the work, staffing levels, structures and challenges within each of the 6 Divisions.
• The Terms of Reference of the Review set the aim as, ‘To determine the best high-level structure and operating model for SEG. The model should align with DfE culture and values with a focus on ensuring improvements add value and deliver better outcomes. We want SEG to be a great place to work and improve how we operate day to day’.
• There has been a significant change to the operating environment with the restoration of the Executive and having a Minister. Moira detailed new areas of work which include a post-19 Special Educational Needs project and development of a cross-departmental action plan on Careers Services.
• A range of options for change were developed and tested with staff along with a focus on culture and ways of working. It was important to move from the Review to being agile and continuing to evolve. A new Business Development and Delivery Board was established to manage and implement ongoing improvements and develop a framework for measuring impact.
• How silos have been broken down was discussed.
• Staff feedback in the Culture Charter Survey has significantly improved since the review.
• Stakeholder feedback has been very positive but there is some improvement needed.
• A clearance matrix is in place for Machinery of Government work.
• The Group will consider whether there are further KPIs which could be implemented to demonstrate progress and effectiveness.

• AP: Each Group to make

  a similar presentation at future Board meetings to increase understanding and knowledge of Board members.

Review of DfE Board Effectiveness

• (Name redacted) asked that recently issued questionnaires be completed and returned asap. Interviews will follow for a sample and then an analysis will be undertaken.