Department for the Economy Board minutes 2024 - 28 March 2024

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

No new interests declared.

Agenda Item 2: ODT Agenda

Board members convened a Programme Board meeting.

Agenda Item 3: Minutes of Previous Meetings

Minutes of the February meeting were approved without amendment.

Agenda Item 4: Strategic Issues

Ian Snowden presented.

Programme for Government

• There has been rapid movement on a Programme for Government this week. The Executive wants to discuss this on return from Easter with consultation in Spring and publication in July.
• DfE priorities include developing a globally competitive economy. We can draw on work done on Minister’s 4 priorities.
• We have been asked to show restraint as to what is put in and should be cross-cutting.

Budget

• The budget for next year is incredibly challenging.
• Approx £1bn RDEL available, though bids across Departments total £3.3bn which includes a large amount for Heath and pay awards.
• Possible cuts of 10% with tough decisions for the Executive.

Public Sector Transformation Board

• There is funding of £235m over 5 years for a Public Sector Transformation Board

NICS People

• A 1-year NICS People Plan will be launched on 22^nd April with 4 themes.
• There will be a 5-year People Strategy with a May NICS Board presentation.

Covid Inquiry

• Module 2C hearings will be held the latter part of April. Minister will be making a statement due to his role of Finance Minister during covid.
• Module 1 report will be published middle 2024. Government will get 72 hours’ notice of publication.

Draft Investment Strategy for NI

• The Draft Investment Strategy for NI is nearing completion with SIB putting final touches on it.
• This will be for a 10-year time frame.

Agenda Item 5: Budget Discussion

Sharon Hetherington presented an update on 2024/25 budget information gathering.

• Inescapable pressures have increased by almost £17m since the Board was last updated in February.  This mostly relates to pay pressures, particularly in FE.
• One off funding provided in 2023/24 but required in 2024/25 includes Tourism Ireland and InterTradeIreland, to be funded at the outset as a Ministerial priority.
• Savings from actions taken forward in 2023/24 include £26m from FE Invest-to-Reform.
• Organisations or programmes had been given one-off funding for 2023/24 of some £16m which could be removed going forward as an option to help meet pressures.  However, this is only a scenario at this point.  Options will need to be considered by the Minister once the 2024/25 settlement is known.
• In a flat cash settlement, there are a number of bids to DoF that could not be funded amounting to some £18.5m. These include things that are important to the Executive.
• There is a bilateral tomorrow with the Finance Minister.
• We need to be aware of recurring and increasing pressures, of which FE is the main one for DfE.
• We are trying to minimise RDEL underspends for this year as they will not carry into 2024/25.
• The 2022/23 accounts were certified and laid on 22 March 2024.

Agenda Item 6: Papers for Discussion

City Deals

Paul Grocott presented.

• There is good progress with pressure to deliver.
• There are resourcing issues in resolving problems.
• There has been a conversation with Invest NI about our expectations. They need more involvement and visibility.
• The BREEAM standard was discussed and we should be aiming for BREEAM outstanding.

Contract Register

Alan Russell presented.

• A question had been asked about the process that is undertaken before contracts are extended in relation to contractor performance evaluation. Alan provided a detailed response which was recorded in the online papers.

Agenda Item 7: Any Other Business

There was no other business.