No 6509
Wednesday 6 June 2018
Vol cxlviii No 33
pp. 661–688
8 June, Friday. End of third quarter of Easter Term.
12 June, Tuesday. Discussion in the Senate-House at 2 p.m. (see below).
15 June, Friday. Full Term ends.
20 June, Wednesday. Congregation of the Regent House at 2.45 p.m. (Honorary Degrees).
25 June, Monday. Easter Term ends.
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Discussions (at 2 p.m.) |
Congregations |
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12 June |
20 June, Wednesday at 2.45 p.m. (Honorary Degrees) |
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19 June |
27 June, Wednesday at 10 a.m. (General Admission) |
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26 June |
28 June, Thursday at 10 a.m. (General Admission) |
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10 July |
29 June, Friday at 10 a.m. (General Admission) |
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17 July |
30 June, Saturday at 10 a.m. (General Admission) |
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20 July, Friday at 10 a.m. |
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21 July, Saturday at 10 a.m. |
The Vice-Chancellor invites those qualified under the regulations for Discussions (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 105) to attend a Discussion in the Senate-House on Tuesday, 12 June 2018 at 2 p.m., for the discussion of:
1. Topic of concern to the University: Grace 3 of 10 May 2018 (proposed University nursery building) (Reporter, 6507, 2017–18, p. 578).
2. Report of the Council, dated 21 May 2018, on the financial position and budget of the University, recommending allocations from the Chest for 2018–19 (Reporter, 6508, 2017–18, p. 632).
The Reports published in this issue (pp. 672, 678, and 679) will be discussed on 19 June 2018.
Further information on Discussions, including details on format and attendance, is provided at https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/governance/decision-making/discussions/.
The Council has received the remarks made at the Discussion on 23 January 2018 (Reporter, 6493, 2017–18, pp. 371 and 373) concerning the above Reports (Reporter, 6489, 2017–18, p. 195).
The Council thanks the Chair of the Board of Scrutiny for his reminder about the ability of members to provide comments to the Board on these Reports. The Council also notes Professor Anderson’s remarks which confirm that the Investment Board has been asked to consider the question of access to information about the University’s investments both for members of the Council and for members of the University.
Professor Evans draws attention to induction materials for new members of staff. The Council agrees with Professor Evans that there should be a link to the governance site included in the online training and this change will be made. The wording of the conditions for booking an online course will also be reviewed. With regard to Professor Evans’s comments on the People Strategy, the Council notes that that document identifies themes for further work and consultation; the approval of the Regent House will be sought, as appropriate, as the strands of the work under the People Strategy are completed.
Dr Rutter asks about the level of staff costs that the University can afford, in the context of the information about its income, and about the information that has been shared with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association in the annual discussions about pay and with Universities UK (UUK) in the recent consultation about the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The information provided to UUK is available on the University’s website at https://www.staff.admin.cam.ac.uk/general-news/uss-pension-valuation. In responding to the UCEA 2018–19 national pay negotiation survey, the University proposed that a 2% increase would be regarded as the minimum and desirable outcome.
The Council is submitting a Grace for the approval of its Annual Report (which includes the General Board’s Report) (Grace 1, p. 681).
The Council has received the remarks made at the Discussion on 1 May 2018 (Reporter, 6507, 2017–18, p. 595) regarding the topic of concern to the University on the standard of proof applied in student disciplinary cases (Reporter, 2017–18; 6496, p. 396 and 6497, p. 413).
The Council acknowledges the remarks made by a large number of speakers, and notes in particular the personal experiences offered by student members in relation to the topic of concern.
The Council notes the ongoing period of consultation regarding proposed changes to the University’s student disciplinary procedure, which included an invitation to comment on the standard of proof to be applied. The Council confirms that all of the remarks made at the Discussion will be provided to its Review Committee on Student Discipline, so that the Review Committee can consider those comments alongside the responses to the consultation before finalizing its recommendations. It is anticipated that, following further scrutiny of the proposals by the relevant University and College committees, a Report proposing changes to the student disciplinary procedure will be published in 2018–19, with changes to take effect by 1 October 2019.
Further information regarding the consultation on the student disciplinary procedure is available at: https://www.studentcomplaints.admin.cam.ac.uk/consultation. The consultation period remains open until Friday, 22 June 2018.
Members of the University can access materials relating to the prevention of harassment and sexual misconduct, the support for those who have been affected, and the reporting of incidents at: https://www.breakingthesilence.cam.ac.uk/.
The Council has received the remarks made at the Discussion on 15 May 2018 (Reporter, 6507, 2017–18, p. 620) concerning the above Report (Reporter, 6504, 2017–18, p. 539).
The Council notes Dr Rutter’s comments on the Grace. The drafting of paragraph (v)(b) is intended to leave all options on the table in considering how best to maintain the total remuneration and retirement package of the University’s USS members, if the negotiations deliver an outcome offering benefits that are materially less than those currently available to members. The timetable given for the Council reporting on those options is the latest date that such a report would be published. The Council agrees with Dr Rutter that there should be no undue delay; if the Council can report earlier, it will do so.
The Council also notes Mr Goode’s request that the Vice-Chancellor take his remarks as a representation under Statute A IX 1(a) that there has been a breach of compliance with the Statutes and Ordinances by the Council in its Report to the Regent House of 1 May 2018 and subsequent submission of a Grace on 2 May 2018. It understands that he has subsequently formally made a representation in writing to the Vice-Chancellor in accordance with the requirements of Statute A IX 1(a).
In order to allow the Regent House to make its determination whether to approve the Council’s decision to withhold authorization of the initiated Grace, the Council is submitting a Grace (Grace 2, p. 681) for the approval of the recommendation of this Report.