Minutes of Council 14 March 2008
Present: Mr Foulds (Chair), Mr John Bailey, Mrs Alison Bernays, Mr John Bramhall (session 1 only) Mr Chris Curling, Mr Denis Burn, Professor David Clarke, Councillor Terry Cook, Mr Robert Dufton, Mr Stuart Goldsmith, Mr Colin Green, Professor Len Hall, Ms Hannah Isaacs, Professor Selby Knox, Dr Stephen Lyne, Mr Tony Macdonald, Mr Robert Massie, Mrs Dinah Moore, Mr Bob Morton, Mr George Morton, Mr David Ord, Mrs Cindy Peck, Mr Tim Ross, Mr Tim Stevenson, Mr Tim Thom, Professor Eric Thomas, Mr James Wadsworth, Mrs Cathy Waithe, Professor Avril Waterman-Pearson, Mr Tobin Webb and Ms Sarah Weeks.
In Attendance: Mr Derek Pretty, Mr Simon Britton, Ms Alison Allden, Mr Ian Crawford, Ms Helen Galbraith, Ms Kelly Archer, Mr Guy Gregory and Ms Jane Bridgwater.
Apologies: Professor Rosemary Deem.
Session 1
Council received two presentations. The first was given by Professor Guy Orpen, Dean of Science, who outlined the Faculty of Science’s key achievements and objectives. The second presentation was on the University’s Information Strategy and the opportunities and challenges that Information Technology presented to the University. This presentation was delivered by Alison Allden, Deputy Registrar and Director of Information Services, and Mr Tim Philips, Director of Information Systems. Both presentations were extremely well received. The Chair thanked the presenters for an informative account of the University’s achievements, objectives and challenges, and asked them to take back Council’s congratulations and thanks to relevant colleagues.
Session 2
1. Apologies for Absence / Announcements
1.1 The Chair welcomed colleagues to the meeting and noted the apologies received. The Chair congratulated Tobin Webb on his re-election as the President of the University of Bristol Union (UBU) for a further year.
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2.1 CONFIRMED: The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2008.
3. Matters Arising and Actions Register
Matters Arising
3.1 There were no matters arising which would not be covered elsewhere on the Agenda.
Action Register
3.2 Members had previously received a copy of the Action Register which had been updated to incorporate actions agreed at the Council meeting on 8 February 2008.
3.3 NOTED: That the Action Register items marked with an asterisk had either already been completed or were being dealt with accordingly. There were no outstanding items that were not being satisfactorily pursued.
4. Chairman’s Report, Council Matters and Correspondence
Council Awayday, Thursday, 13 March 2008
4.1 The Chair thanked Council members for the valuable contributions that they had made to the awayday that had taken place the previous day.
4.2 CONSIDERED: A report outlining a proposed process and timetable for recruiting a new lay member of Council, previously circulated, copy in the minute book, reference CN/08/317. An appointment panel, consisting largely entirely of members of the Nominations Committee of Court, would be convened to shortlist and interview candidates. A final recommendation would then be made to Court for approval at its meeting in December 2008. Council was supportive of the proposal outlined within the report.
Format of University Council Meetings
4.3 The Chair informed members that the May 2008 Council meeting would include a presentation and a debate on the issue of environmental sustainability. The purpose of this would be to encourage Council to consider the opportunities and challenges that the sustainability agenda might present for the University of Bristol. This part of the meeting would be hosted by the Engineering Faculty and would include a presentation from the Dean of Engineering together with staff from Geographical Sciences and Research and Enterprise Development. The day would begin at 9.30am and would end at 4.00pm.
5. Matters for Discussion
Vice-Chancellor’s Report
5.1 CONSIDERED: The Vice-Chancellor’s Report, reference CN/08/297 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book).
5.1.1 The Vice-Chancellor updated Council on the following issues:
(i) Recruitment of a new Pro Vice-Chancellor
The panel that had been appointed to oversee the recruitment of a new Pro Vice-Chancellor, to fill a vacancy that will arise later in 2008, had interviewed a number of candidates and RECOMMENDED to Council that it APPROVE the appointment of Professor Len Hall, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Dean of Medical and Veterinary Sciences. Professor Hall would take up the post on 1 September 2008, at which point Professor David Clarke would take up the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
APPROVED: The appointment of Professor Len Hall as Pro Vice-Chancellor from 1 September 2008.
(ii) HEFCE Grant Letter
The Vice-Chancellor had received the HEFCE recurrent grant letter for 2008-09 on 3 March 2008. This year the grant had been very much as expected. The only major changes to the funding formula had been:
(a) The creation of new targeted allocations to replace premiums in the main teaching funding method.
(b) The withdrawal of funding for students with equivalent or lower qualifications. However, the impact of this policy change was mitigated by the exception of strategically important and vulnerable subjects and, in the short term, by the allocation of transitional and ‘safety net’ funding.
The University had received a total grant of ca. £109 million, an increase of 3% on the comparable figure for 2007-08. This was slightly higher than the estimate used in the budget to date.
(iii) National Pay Negotiation Framework
In 2006, following industrial action by the then Association of University Teachers (AUT) and National Association of Teachers in Higher and Further Education (NATHFE) (now the merged University and College Union (UCU)), national negotiations concluded with a 3-year pay deal running to 2009. A key part of the settlement was agreement to modernise the negotiating arrangements. It was reported that negotiation on this matter had concluded with agreement of all support staff unions but that UCU had put the proposed changes to members in a ballot and the proposals had been rejected on a low turn out. UCU were resisting a single table negotiating forum and rejected the proposal for an agreed annual negotiating timetable because they believed it would restrict their options for taking industrial action. The employers, represented by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), had made an initial response that they saw no room for manoeuvre on these central reform issues. The impasse represented a significant risk to national negotiations and raised the risk of industrial action in relation to the proposed new negotiating arrangements, but more likely by linking this issue to the reopening of pay negotiations once the current pay deal had concluded in 2009.
(iv) Residential Rent Setting for 2008/09
The context for setting rents for 2008/09 had been explored in some detail by the Residential Planning and Rent Review Group. The Group’s objective had been to set rents at a level that would achieve sustainability. The Group had, therefore, recommended that rents be increased by 3.9%. This recommendation had been endorsed by the Student Affairs Committee and included within the draft budget. The President and Vice-President of UBU confirmed that the Union had been pleased with the outcome of the review.
(v) Undergraduate Admissions Update
NOTED: The information contained within the Vice-Chancellor’s update. 41,184 applications had been received, a change of -2.6% compared with the 2007 cycle, but an increase of 12.9% compared with the 2006 cycle.
(vi) NOT AVAILABLE
(viii) Recent Grants/Awards
NOTED: That since Council’s last meeting in February 2008, the University and its staff had secured a number of high-profile grants and awards, including:
(a) The University’s Language Centre had been selected by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to take part in a project funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to design and deliver an innovative new language-learning programme. Entitled ‘Gateways into the Professions’, the project connects students with employers and professional bodies while they are still at university. Working with Airbus UK and the Department of Aerospace and Avionic Engineering at the University, the aim is to inform the next generation of aerospace engineers about the importance of developing language and intercultural skills for their future careers and to equip them with the relevant linguistic skills set to get ahead in the aerospace industry.
(b) Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Eglinton FRS, of the University’s School of Chemistry and Senior Research Fellow in Earth Sciences, had been named as one of the winners of this year’s Dan David Prize, which annually awards three prizes of US$1m each. Professor Eglinton had been recognised in the Geosciences category for his study of organic chemical fossils, which reveal the inhabitants and climates of ancient worlds.
(c) Professor Stephen Sparks FRS of the Department of Earth Sciences was to receive the Thorarinsson Medal for 2008 by the International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI). This is the top international award in volcanology and is given every four years. Dr Joachim Gottsmann was to receive IAVCEI’s Wager Medal for 2008, which is given to mid-career volcanologists under the age of 40.
(d) Dr Fiona Steele, Reader in Social Statistics at the Centre for Multilevel Modelling, was to be awarded the Guy Medal in Bronze from the Royal Statistical Society. The medal recognises a series of statistical papers produced over several years and Dr Steele’s methodological and practical contributions to multilevel modelling, to demography and to social statistics in general.
(e) Professor Hannes Leitgeb of the Department of Philosophy had been awarded a Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Up to 25 such awards are made annually and are conferred on scientists and scholars, internationally renowned in their field, who completed their doctorates less than 12 years ago and are in future expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements which will have a seminal influence on their discipline. The award is worth 45,000 euros.
Financial Report
5.2 RECEIVED: The financial results for the half year to January 2008 and the full year forecast, reference CN/08/298 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book).
5.2.1 – 5.2.7 NOT AVAILABLE
6. Matters for Discussion and Approval
University of Bristol Union Governance Review
6.1 RECEIVED: A report from the President of the University of Bristol Union summarising progress made in relation to the Union’s Governance Review, reference CN/08/299 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The report included the following items:
(a) A copy of a report outlining the proposed changes to UBU’s governance. This report had been debated and endorsed at the recent UBU AGM.
(b) A copy of UBU’s Vision, Mission and Values.
(c) An overview of the work being undertaken by the various groups such as the Charities Act Planning Group and the Financial Review Group.
(d) The revised UBU Constitution. A number of further amendments had been made to the Constitution since it was approved at the UBU AGM. The final version would, therefore, need to be reviewed by Student Council before it could be formally adopted.
6.1.2 The key changes proposed related to the Constitution and terms of reference of the Union’s governing body were noted. It was proposed that the Student Council would assume responsibility for representing students, setting policy and campaigning. A new Trustee Board would be established in place of the current Management Committee and this Board would determine the Union’s strategy and vision in consultation with Union members. This Board would approve and monitor service provision and budgets; ensure sound risk management processes are implemented; and appoint and appraise the Union’s General Manager.
6.1.3 The Board would have a majority of students and would consist of: four Sabbatical Trustees; four Elected Student Trustees; four Co-opted Trustees; and one Nominated Trustee (a lay member of the University Council). Council expressed some concern that the proposed new Trustee Board only provided for one University representative – the lay member of Council. The UBU President brought to Council’s attention Article 15 of the Constitution, which permitted the appointment (jointly by the Board of Trustees and the University Council) of a Legal Adviser and a Financial Adviser, both of whom would have the right to attend all meetings, to inspect the records and accounts of the Union and to receive all official papers.
6.1.4 Council was concerned that paragraph 6.15 of the revised Constitution would require the Board of Trustees to approve (and if it so wished, to refuse) the appointment of the University’s Nominated Trustee. It was suggested that this might run counter to the spirit of openness and transparency that both the Union and the University were trying to build their relationship upon.
6.1.5 Members suggested that the wording of paragraph 5.3 “No member [of the Union] is under any financial liability by reason of their membership” could be misleading to student members of the Trustee Board and that the wording of this paragraph should be clarified and expanded as appropriate.
6.1.6 It was AGREED that the Governance Review Group would re-consider the wording of the relevant sections of the Constitution in light of Council’s comments as outlined in minutes 6.1.3 –6.1.5 above.
6.1.7 Council noted that the work of the Charities Act Planning Group was being undertaken in parallel with the governance review. Part of this Group’s work was to consider the appropriateness of various Students’ Union governance models and structures. The Group’s findings and conclusions would be reported back to Council in due course.
Election and Appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair of Council
6.2 CONSIDERED: A report outlining proposed amendments to Ordinance 3, to clarify and update the process for electing the Chair and Vice-Chair of Council, reference CN/08/301 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The changes were produced following Council’s agreement, at its February 2008 meeting, that Ordinance 3 be amended in relation to the timing of elections and the staggering of the terms of office of the Chair and Vice-Chair in order to recast them as statements of best practice.
6.2.1 RESOLVED (by a two-thirds majority of members present, in accordance with Ordinance 3): the following amendments to Ordinance 3 (deletions marked with strikethrough, additions with underscore):
Ordinance 3
Chairman and Vice-Chairman
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be elected by Council from among the lay members of Council. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall usually serve for an initial period of three years but their terms of office shall whenever practicable be staggered to avoid their terms expiring at the same time. They may be considered for re-appointment re-election for two further periods of up to three years each. The election of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall normally take place no later than the first Council meeting of the academic year in which the term of office of the current Chairman or Vice-Chairman as the case may be is due to expire but the appointment will not take effect until immediately following the annual meeting of Court in that academic year. The role of the Vice-Chairman is to chair meetings of Council in the Chairman’s absence, and to provide other assistance to the Chairman as required. Where necessary for the good of the University, the Chairman may take decisions on Council’s behalf between meetings and will report such decisions to the next meeting.
6.2.2 NOTED: That Council, at its meeting in May 2006, had approved Mr Jim Foulds’ election as Chair of Council. At that time, Mr Foulds had indicated that he was prepared to serve up to a full three-year term and confirmed that he would be willing to serve at least a two-year term to December 2008. Mr Foulds indicated to Council that, subject to Council’s agreement, he would be pleased to serve the full three-year term until December 2009.
7. Matters for Formal Decision or Approval
Capital Priorities
7.1 RECEIVED: A report on Capital Priorities, reference CN/08/302 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book).
7.1.1 NOTED: That funding of £111k had been approved by the Vice-Chancellor on the advice of UPARC to refurbish existing office and laboratory space within the Faculty of Engineering for the AQUATEST 2 programme.
7.1.2 NOTED: That the following cases had been reviewed by Sifting Group at its meeting on 9 January 2008 and were not felt to be at a stage where a positive recommendation could be made:
(i) Physics and Mechanical Glass Workshops [Council were informed that subsequent to circulation of the paper, an alternative source of funding had been found for this project.]
(ii) Queens Road Building Project
(iii) Old Park Hill Refurbishment
7.1.3 NOTED: That the Bursar had been asked to make the following amendments to version 11 of the Capital Programme Review:
(i) Change the Langford Surgery Facilities project from £25 million to £8.3 million.
(ii) List Lifezone as a University and Nucleus project, and confirm the cost with the Deputy Registrar.
(iii) Change the Drama Project and HPC storage to approved projects.
(iv) Include Neuroscience/Experimental Psychology in the capital programme with a budget of £20 million.
(v) Update the unapproved list to reflect any recent changes.
Staff Grievances, Appeals against Dismissal and Employment Tribunal Hearings*
7.2 NOT AVAILABLE
Student Appeals, Grievances and Disciplinary Matters*
7.3 NOT AVAILABLE
*Reserved/Confidential Business
Report of Senate to Council
7.4 RECEIVED: A report from Senate to Council, reference CN/08/306 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book).
Undergraduate Programme Regulations
7.4.1 APPROVED: Provision, with immediate effect, for the award of unclassified, named BSc awards for candidates registered on, but unable to complete, the MB ChB and BDS programmes.
Postgraduate Programme Regulations
7.4.2 APPROVED: (i) Provision, with immediate effect, for the award of MD qualification within the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences.
(ii) Revision to Ordinance 19 to provide for the award of DSc within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
(iii) Withdrawal of the Masters programme in Civil Engineering and the Management of Construction.
(iv) Stage one approval of the following programmes:
(a) MSc in European Governance.
(b) LLM in Law and Globalisation.
(c) MRes in Systems (with Postgraduate Certificate).
(d) MSc in Dental Implantology (with associated Certificates and Diplomas).
Visiting Professors
7.4.3 APPROVED: Appointment of the following Visiting Professors:
(i) Professor A Fielding, Professor of Social and Educational Statistics at the University of Birmingham, as a Visiting Professor in the Graduate School of Education.
(ii) Professor P Head, Director of Arup and Head of Planning and Integrated Urbanism, as a Visiting Industrial Professor in the Faculty of Engineering.
(iii) Professor D Oxenham, Systems Engineer and Senior Programme Leader, DSTL, as a Visiting Industrial Professor in the Faculty of Engineering.
(iv) Professor G Hutchinson, former Head of Engineering for the BP Group and Director of ‘The Learning Grid’, as a Visiting Industrial Professor in the Faculty of Engineering.
7.4.4 NOTED: For information, the items reported in section B of the Senate Report, in particular:
(i) Annual and Deans’ Reports
Senate had received and welcomed the Dean’s biennial presentation on the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law from Professor Evans, the Dean’s annual report on the Faculty of Arts from Professor Fowler and the following Annual Reports for 2007/2008: Communications and Marketing; and Widening Participation and Admissions Strategy Group.
(ii) Research Landscape
That it had received a valuable commentary from Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Anderson on the University’s research outlook. Key landmarks for future reference have been identified, and Senate had been given broad guidance on how best to maximise future research funding opportunities.
(iii)Revision of the University Plan
Senate had been advised of the proposed arrangements for revision of the University Plan; and been given the opportunity to comment.
(iv) Incident and Crisis Management Framework
Senate’s attention has been drawn to the significance of the University’s Incident and Crisis Management Framework and has noted that associated guidance for Heads of Departments is being reviewed.
(v) Appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellor
It had appointed the Dean of Engineering, Professor N A J Lieven, and the Head of the Department of Politics, Professor J A Squires, as its representatives on the Appointment Committee for the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor which would fall vacant next session.
8. Committee Reports
Report of the Equality and Diversity Committee
8.1 RECEIVED: The Equality and Diversity Committee’s report of its last meeting, reference CN/08/307 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The Committee had:
(i) Considered six key performance indicators that fell within its remit, agreeing commentary to be provided to University Council.
(ii) Received a progress report on the implementation of equality risk assessments and agreed that a paper setting out this approach should be taken to UPARC.
(iii) Considered and approved amendments to the current Race Equality policy and action plan.
(iv) Welcomed Mr Bill Beaumont as a new member (Trades Union Representative).
Report of the Ethics of Research Committee
8.2 RECEIVED: The Ethics of Research Committee’s report of its last meeting, reference CN/08/308 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The Committee’s discussion had included the following key issues:
(i) Ethics Training.
(ii) Future of the Committee
(iii) Human Tissue Act Working Group
(iv) Faculty Annual Report and Visits
(v) Faculty Ethics Officers
Estates Committee Report to Council
8.3 RECEIVED: The Estates Committee’s report of its last meeting on 8 February 2008, reference CN/08/309 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The Committee had reviewed the following projects:
(i) The Nucleus Project
(ii) Queens Road Building
(iii) 1-9 Old Park Hill
(iv) Residential Estate
Report of the Student Affairs Committee
8.4 RECEIVED: The Student Affairs Committee’s report of its last meeting on 25 February 2008, reference CN/08/309 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The Committee had considered the following issues:
(i) Key Performance Indicators
(ii) The Student Services’ Annual Report
(iii) UBU Governance Review
(iv) The work of the Residences Strategy Board
(v) The recommendations of the Residential Rent Setting Group
(vi) The Student Complaints Action Register
Report of the Personnel and Staff Development Committee
8.5 RECEIVED: The Personnel and Staff Development Committee’s report of its last meeting on 29 February 2008, reference CN/08/311 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The Committee had considered the following issues:
(i) Reward Programme Update
(ii) Equality Risk Assessment
(iii) People Strategy
(iv) National Pay Negotiations
(v) Key Performance Indicators
Faculty of Science, Dean’s Report to Council
8.6 RECEIVED: The Dean’s Report for the Faculty of Science, February 2008, reference CN/08/312 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The report set out an overview of the Faculty and its organisation, a summary of its key achievements and progress over the past year, its financial performance, its goals and challenges (past and future).
8.6.1 The Vice-Chancellor commended the Dean of Science on his and the Faculty’s achievements over the past years. The Faculty was widely acknowledged both inside and outside of the University to be outstanding in terms of both its teaching and research. Council asked that these congratulations be passed on to Professor Orpen, who was not present at the meeting.
Information Services Annual Report
8.7 RECEIVED: The Information Services Annual Report 2006-07, reference CN/08/313 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The report provided an update on Information Services’ activities, functions and key priorities during 2006-07.
Annual Report of the Student Complaints Officer and Student Mediators 2006-07
8.8 RECEIVED: The Annual Report of the Student Complaints Officer and Student Mediators 2006-07, reference CN/08/314 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The report provided a general review of the year’s caseload, statistical information drawn from the cases, and a list of areas of concern that may require further consideration by the University.
Student Complaints and Appeals Action Register 2007-08
8.9 RECEIVED: The Student Complaints and Appeals Action Register 2007-08, reference CN/08/315 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The Action Register had been drawn up as a means of following up on concerns raised in the Annual Report of the Student Complaints Officer and Mediators (Document CN/08/314).
Academic Registry Annual Report 2007-08
8.10 RECEIVED: The Academic Registry Annual Report 2007-08, reference CN/08/316 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The report outlined the Academic Registry’s key achievements and challenges over the past year and set out its objectives for the next twelve months.
Chair Appointments Update Report*
8.11 RECEIVED: Chair Appointments Update Report, reference CN/08/305 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book).
8.11.1NOTED: That the following Chair appointment activity had taken places since the previous Council meeting in February 2008:
(i) Chair in the Centre for East Asian Studies (Exceptional Talent)
Professor Jeffrey Henderson had been appointed as Leverhulme Research Professor of International Development w.e.f. 1 April 2008. Professor Henderson was currently Leverhulme Research Professor and Professor of International Economic Sociology in the School of Environment and Development at the University of Manchester.
(ii) Chair in East Asian Studies and Centre Director
The post had been offered and was awaiting acceptance.
(iii) Chair in Statistics
This position was being advertised alongside several other posts that would fulfil the department’s commitment to the EPSRC in relation to their receipt of a Science and Innovation Award in Statistics. The vacancy closing date was 17 March 2008.
(iv) Chair in Cell Biology
The Department of Biochemistry had advertised one post at either Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader or Professorial level and the appointment committee would be interviewing one candidate for a potential Chair appointment on 7 March 2008, with interviews for Lecturer/Reader level candidates to follow.
(v) Chair in Molecular Cell Biology (Exceptional Talent)
The post has been offered and is awaiting acceptance.
Any Other Business
Key Performance Indicators
9.0 CONSIDERED: The Report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), reference CN/08/300 (previously circulated, copy in the minute book). The paper provided background information on the history of the Council KPIs, the approach taken and the continual refinement of the process involved. The overall performance of the University (as described by the KPIs) was summarised in the report. The performance of each individual KPI was outlined in Annex A along with a summary of the traffic light ratings of all the KPIs for 2007 and 2008. Annex B indicated which Council and Senate Committees had reviewed which KPIs. Annex C provided information on four health and safety indicators that the Chair of Council had asked to be drawn to the attention of Council (this information appeared in a separate annex to Annex A because the indicators had not been formally approved by Council as KPIs).
*Reserved/Confidential Business
9.1 The Chair split members present into groups and asked members to consider the KPIs report. The key issues raised / suggestions made by members included:
(i) Recognition of the need for and importance of KPIs.
(ii) Suggestion that some of the current KPIs might lack sufficient qualitative information.
(iii) Suggestion that KPIs relating to students could be expanded.
(iv) Noted the importance of prevention of, as well as the reporting of, problems.
(i) Agreement that the information within the report was comprehensive and helpful and that the current format was adequate for Council’s needs and should, therefore, continue in its current state for the next few years.
(ii) Recognition that the report was a ‘work in progress’ which would continue to be refined and improved.
(iii) Considered that an annual report to Council would continue to be adequate.
(i) The traffic light system seemed to work well for short term issues. Although It was felt that the KPI system was not always subtle enough to accurately monitor longer-term trends/concerns.
(i) Considered that Council sufficiently understood its role in relation to KPIs and that it had not, and would not, stray into operational management.
(ii) Would appreciate more contextual information to allow comparisons, for example, inside and outside of the University, and to highlight any key strategic issues that Council should be focussing upon.
9.2 The Chair thanked members for their helpful comments which would be borne in mind when the University prepared the next KPI report to Council. There was general agreement that it would not be appropriate to make substantial changes to the KPI monitoring process or to the format of the report to Council at this stage. The information collected was considered by Council to be very useful and it was agreed that it would be helpful to build upon this data over the coming years. Minor refinements and improvement would however be welcomed.
Dates of Next Meetings
10.0 The remaining Council meetings in the 2007/08 session had been scheduled as follows:
(i) Friday, 2 May 2008; and
(ii) Friday, 4 July 2008.