Minutes from the Departmental Board meeting on 31 August 2023.
Present:
- Mike Brennan (Chair)
- David Malcolm
- Moira Doherty
- Shane Murphy
- Richard Rodgers
- Michelle Scott (deputising for Paul Grocott)
- Michelle Bell
- (Name redacted)
- Fiona Keenan (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Michael McKavanagh (Non-Executive Board Member)
In Attendance:
- (Name redacted) (CMB)
- (Name redacted) (Corporate Governance Secretariat)
- Ryan White (Board Observer)
- Lisa Morgan (for ODT)
Apologies:
Alan Russell, Sharon Hetherington and Paul Grocott
Agenda items
Agenda items
Agenda Item |
Actions arising from discussion |
Action owner and current position (to be completed prior to the next Board meeting) |
Agenda Item 1: Board Register of Interests/ Conflicts
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No new interests declared.
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Agenda Item 2: ODT agenda
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Board members convened a Programme Board meeting.
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Agenda Item 3: Minutes of the meeting of 29 June
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- AP1 from June meeting – A job forum was discussed, AP – a specific proposition to be developed – ownership to be moved to (name redacted) and Lisa Morgan.
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Agenda Item 4: Strategic Issues
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Mike Brennan presented:-
Retirement of DfE Permanent Secretary
- Mike Brennan will be formally retiring in February 2024 but use of outstanding leave may mean an earlier last day in early December 2023.
- A recruitment competition for Permanent Secretaries may be undertaken to fill this and other vacancies.
- A temporary Accounting Officer will be required.
Enhanced Powers for Permanent Secretaries
- The Secretary of State is proceeding with legislation to giver Permanent Secretaries enhanced powers.
Revenue Raising
- The current situation with revenue raising for possible DfE areas of responsibility was discussed. Political engagement will be necessary.
RHI
- Tariff deadline of 7th November for inclusion in King’s Speech. Business case and legislative clause required.
- Judicial review of statutory process in court this morning. 4 cases need brought into the system.
Covid Inquiry
- Discussion on how normal IT policy in relation to mobile phones and laptops had been applied, resulting in some loss of records.
Kilroot
- The coal plant is unreliable and will close at the end of September. The cost to keep it running is too high.
- A gas plant will come online once the coal plant closes.
- Margins will be tight. SONI will manage the situation.
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Agenda Item 5: Update on the Independent Review on Invest NI
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Michelle Scott presented.
- Steering Group meeting held on Tuesday.
- 35 actions, each with delivery plans. Findings and recommendations agreed. Understanding on how things will change going forward.
- Working on next steps. Will do external calibration.
- Making sure actions in plan have senior buy in.
- CEO applications close next Friday, interviews 11th October. A Chair competition will then launch. Work ongoing on G3 restructuring.
- Will publish an action plan on 5th October which if implemented will deliver profound change.
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Agenda Item 6: Budget Discussion
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David Malcolm presented on the 2023/24 Mid-Year Financial Exercise.
- An overview of the initial financial position was discussed. £29m of RDEL unallocated.
- There was a discussion on NICS and ALB pay.
- Funding to be allocated was discussed with options to utilise the £29m unallocated funding. There have been reduced requirements with a lot of technical easements.
- The budget is difficult and challenging but balanced. There are plans if there are any slippages. There is a need for quick alert if there are any under/overspends.
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Agenda Item 7: Papers for Approval
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Corporate Risk Register
- There are 12 risks, 4 new and 1 recommended for closure.
- AP – wording of a risk on trade policy to be reconsidered.
- The Board agreed the quarter 1 updates.
Commercial Capability Plan
- We are more comfortable that those who require the training have received it. Some have requested the training but do not need it.
- The Board agreed that the reporting on this will transfer to the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee.
- AP - Compliance information will be shared with G3s to take forward at group level.
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Shane Murphy
Alan Russell
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Agenda Item 8: Papers for Discussion
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HR Update
- The change to end-to-end recruitment was explained which was following a review. There will be a single point of accountability rather than it being fragmented.
- In future there will be access to dashboards with real time access to vacancy requests and KPIs.
- Age profile of staff and succession planning was discussed.
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Agenda Item 9: Any Other Business
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Further Education and Finance have a submission to go to Permanent Secretary regarding Public Sector pay.
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Date of Next Meeting – Thursday 28 September, Adelaide House, Belfast