Council on 23 May 2005
Dear Colleague,
Vice-Chancellor's Office
The principal item of business for the meeting was consideration of the University's Annual Financial Statements for 2003/04. Lord Sharman, the chairman of Council's Audit Committee, attended for this agenda item, and also to present the Audit Committee's annual report to Council. The preparation of the Financial Statements had been delayed by almost six months because of the difficulties experienced following the implementation of Osiris, and Council had been kept updated on progress throughout the earlier part of this year. Lord Sharman said the Audit Committee (which had met that morning) believed that Osiris, once fully functional and embedded properly, ought to enable the production of the Financial Statements in a much more timely manner, and endorsed the Independent Auditor's view that the Financial Statements give a true and accurate record of the University's accounts.
Council also considered a review of the new graduate admissions process that had been considered by EPSC a few days earlier. The review had established that the total number of offers made was at approximately the same level as the previous year (with reasonable numbers on waiting lists or being re-evaluated), and in discussion it was proposed that such variations as there were in individual courses could be the result of several factors. The review made a number of recommendations on changes to the process that would either be implemented immediately or be considered further.
I reported on a recent meeting with Estates Bursars to consider the College Quantum settlement - that portion of the HEFCE recurrent grant that is passed to the Oxford undergraduate Colleges following the College fee settlement in 1998. The Director of Finance, Giles Kerr, will be working with representatives from the Estates Bursars Committee to produce a paper that can be considered by College governing bodies.
Other business for the meeting included a report from an India Strategy Working Group, which had been established to consider a range of issues such as collaborative research, student recruitment and scholarships, alumni and their role in profile raising, postdoctoral links, and Indian Studies in Oxford. Council also approved a paper on the University's insurance provision, which would, for next year, significantly reduce the cost of such provision, and set in train further consideration for the establishment of a mutual insurance fund.
There is a number of items from Council on which I should report following the meeting of Congregation on 17 May. The first of these is the development of the University's Corporate Plan, which is to be submitted to HEFCE by the end of July. Following Congregation's clearly expressed reservations over the adoption of one part of the personnel section of the Academic Strategy, Council members agreed that those proposals within the Academic Strategy that have not yet been adopted as University policy should be clearly identified as being for further discussion, development, and subsequent approval. Council also agreed that the Corporate Plan, containing a modified version of the Academic Strategy, should be submitted to HEFCE in July, on the understanding that the Plan would be put to Congregation for adoption in Michaelmas Term.
Council has decided not to hold a postal vote on the resolution and amendment on a joint contribution review that were discussed at Congregation on 17 May. Council's Personnel Committee will reflect further on the points made in the debate, and will consult widely about the further development of a scheme that would be appropriate for the collegiate University.
Council also considered that it would be valuable to consult widely on the draft terms of reference of the task force on academic employment that was established at the end of Hilary Term (reported in the note of the Council meeting on 14 March), to ensure that there is an accurate perception of the full range of issues and concerns in this general area before the task force begins its detailed deliberations. This consultation will be taken forward later this term.
Finally, Council noted that there is concern over proposals contained within the green paper on Oxford's Governance Structure. It has therefore asked the Governance working party to produce a schedule for discussion and consultation on this issue, which will include the preparation of a revised paper and a meeting of Congregation on 1 November.
John Hood
24 May 2005