Estates and Infrastructure Strategy Committee

Reports to Council

• The Vice-Chancellor (Chair)      ex officio
• The Chair of Council       ex officio
• The Treasurer        ex officio
• One Pro-Vice Chancellor appointed by the Vice-Chancellor  ex officio
• The Registrar & Secretary      ex officio
• The Director of Finance      ex officio
• The Director of Estates       ex officio
• Students’ Union Services Officer     ex officio
• One lay member of the Council appointed by the Council on  the recommendation of the Nominations Committee: Vacant (2014)
• Four members of the academic staff, one from each of the four Colleges, appointed by the Senate on the recommendation of the relevant Head of College:
• Professor Mike Lovell
• Dr John Goodwin
• Professor Colin Haselgrove (2012)
• Professor Stewart Petersen (2012)
• Co-opted members:
• Mr John Dean (2012)
• Mr Richard Kenyon (2012)
• Dr Adrian Weston (2012)

Terms of Reference:

1.0  Purpose

To oversee the University’s estate in order that it can support world-class academic, teaching and learning and research activity, together with the necessary non-academic and support functions.

2.0  Composition

2.1 The Committee shall consist of up to 20 members.

2.2 The Vice-Chancellor, the Chair of Council, the Treasurer, a Pro-Vice Chancellor appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar & Secretary, the Director of Finance, the Director of Estates and the Students’ Union Services Officer shall be ex officio members of the Committee.

2.3 The other members of the Committee shall consist of: One lay member of the Council, four members of the academic staff (one from each of the four Colleges) and up to two external co-opted members, as deemed necessary.

2.4 The term of office of lay members and the external advisor will be no longer than their membership of Council unless otherwise determined by Council and shall normally be for a maximum of three years.

2.5 Previous members are eligible for re-appointment up to a normal maximum of two consecutive terms of office.

2.6 Senior Officers of the University may be in attendance at the Committee, in particular the Deputy Directors of Estates.

2.7 Other individuals from within or external to the University may also be invited to attend meetings from time to time, as required.

2.8 All members of the Estates & Infrastructure Committee are expected to declare any interests which may conflict with their responsibilities as members of the Committee.

3.0 Meetings

3.1 The Committee will meet as required to fulfil its remit and meet at least twice in each academic term.

3.2 Five members of the Committee shall be a quorum.  This number must include the Chair, the Director of Estates, the Director of Finance and one lay member of Council.  One of the ex officio members shall be appointed Chair should the Chair be absent for the duration of the meeting.

3.3 Minutes, agendas and papers will normally be circulated to members of the Committee and those in attendance the week before the meeting.  From time to time it may be necessary to distribute/table late papers and this would be at the discretion of the Chair.

3.4 Papers will indicate the originator/s and purpose of the paper, the matter/s which the Committee is being asked to consider and any action/s required.

3.5 A formal minute will be kept of proceedings and submitted for approval at the next meeting of the Committee. The draft minute will be agreed with the Chair of the Committee and in the case of the absence of the Chair at a meeting the Committee member appointed to act as Chair for the duration of that specific meeting.

3.6 The Committee may also function between meetings through correspondence and any decision/s taken will be formally ratified at the next meeting of the Committee.

4.0 Remit

4.1 To oversee estate strategy preparation, review and implementation and links to University corporate and other business plans.

4.2 To advise on all aspects of the strategic development of the estate and its non-academic services

4.3 To oversee property portfolio transactions (acquisitions and disposals) and monitoring implementation of transactions. The Estates and Infrastructure Committee can approve the following transactions;

4.3.1 Acquisitions and disposals of the ownership interest in land and buildings which are included and in line with the University’s budgets and financial plans

4.3.2 Acquisitions and disposals for which additional budgets have been provided by Finance Committee over and above the approved capital programme.

4.4 To oversee matters related to estate developments and make recommendations on their priority and funding.  To receive and consider reports on estate development and their progress.

4.5 To consider and advise on tactical matters for which the Director of Estates wishes advice or support, or where there is judged to be a need to expose the issue to senior managers across the University.