Present
- Ian Snowden (Chair)
- David Malcolm
- Moira Doherty
- Shane Murphy
- Sharon Hetherington
- Richard Rodgers
- Michelle Bell
- Alan Russell
- Paul Grocott
- Fiona Keenan (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Michael McKavanagh (Non-Executive Board Member)
In Attendance
- (Name redacted) (Corporate Governance Secretariat)
- (Name redacted) (Corporate Governance Secretariat)
- (Name redacted) (Boardroom Apprentice)
- (Name redacted) (Central Management Branch)
- Dave Foster (Board Observer)
Apologies
None
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
|
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 22nd 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.
|
|
Next meeting
Thursday 25th April, Stranmillis University College, Belfast