A briefing to enable the committee to provide assurance on the adequacy in regards of the risk framework on the measure the council is taking as the accountable body for the new model in technology & engineering (NMiTE) and the milestone payments from the Department for Education (DfE).

It was noted that the council were being reimbursed for the engagement costs which included officer time. 

A member of the committee expressed surprise at having to find out from the newspaper about the principal leaving his post.     It was noted that the level of communication from the university appeared not to be very good which could hamper progress and erode confidence. 

It was noted that the committee needed to assure itself that the council  in its role as accountable body for the DfE funding, were satisfied that the university were complying with the set range of criteria.   The committee requested a breakdown of the public funding that the council is accountable for in respect of its role as accountable body.  It was confirmed that there would be transparency between the council’s role as accountable body and any negotiations with the university re any sales or leasing of land or property to the university.

The committee noted that the whole picture needed to be taken into account and the chief finance officer confirmed that the chief executive is talking to the university about reputational management. 

The head of corporate governance confirmed that the cabinet member for economy and communication represented the council at a member level on the joint university delivery board.    There were also a number of university sub committees which also had council representation. More broadly consideration of the impact of the university on development of the city was being taken forward through the Hereford Area Plan process led by the cabinet member for infrastructure. 

A member of the committee queried whether an overview of the NMiTE project, e.g. how it is being project managed, could be provided which would give assurance that the work was joined up.     It was suggested that, as an item of interest to all members, the cabinet member economy and communication, with support from relevant officers, be asked to arrange an all member briefing.

It was noted that the wider elements in connection with the university would sit within the functions of the General Scrutiny Committee.    The committee could consider that there was sufficient risk within the university project to refer the issue to the General Scrutiny Committee and request that the project be scrutinised.     It was agreed that when the risk registers were presented to the committee in September, the committee would check to see where the university sat on the registers.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.