University of Glasgow COURT. Minute of the meeting held in the Senate Room on Wednesday 14 November 2001

Transcription

1 University of Glasgow COURT Minute of the meeting held in the Senate Room on Wednesday 14 November 2001 PRESENT: Mr Greg Hemphill (Rector) Dr J H Forbes Macpherson (Chancellor s Assessor) Professor Sir Graeme Davies (Principal) Mr Henry Adams Mr Christopher Anderson (Assessor, Students Representative Council) Mr Norman Berry Professor Graham Caie Mr J Scott Cairns Dr Jocelyn Dow Mr Robert Gemmill Mr Ronald G Graham Mr Alistair J Mack Ms Katherine Milne (Assessor elect, Students Representative Council) Professor Andrew Nash Mr Ian Russell Mr Michael Sandford Professor John Sewell Mr Tim Shand (President, Students Representative Council) Mrs Joy Travers Professor David Watt Dr Judy Wilkinson ATTENDING: Mr Dugald M Mackie (Secretary of Court) Dr Ron V Emanuel (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Professor Peter H Holmes (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Mr Ian Hawkins (Administrative Officer) Ms Jan Hulme (Academic Secretary) Professor Robin Leake (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Mr Ray Lewis (Director of Human Resources) Professor Malcolm D McLeod (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Professor Chris Morris (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Mr Chris Rusbridge (Director, Information Services) Mr Robert Wilson (Director of Estates and Buildings) Mr Michael Yuille (Director of Finance) APOLOGIES: Mr Eamon Fitzgerald Dr Alastair Hunter Ms Kate Phillips Mr Craig Reedie

2 11. WELCOMES The Rector welcomed Mr Ian Russell (Employee representative to Court) and Ms Katherine Milne (SRC Assessor designate) to the Court. 12. MINUTE OF LAST MEETING Court approved the minute of the meeting held on 10 October 2001 save for the amendment of minute 7.13 to clarify that, after the October meeting, Professor Barry Gusterson, Professor of Pathology, Western Infirmary replaced Mr Chris Rusbridge as the University s second representative (alongside Professor Andrew Nash) on the Joint University/NHS Working Group - Medical Illustration. Court noted and agreed this change. 13. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTE 13.1 Agreement with the Warsaw University of Technology (Minute 2.5) Court noted the revised Student Number Sensitivity projections attached as appendix 1 to the Principal copy of the minutes Information Strategy Committee (Minute 4.3) The Principal reported that the University Management Group was well aware of the urgent need for a new library store and expected that a way forward would be agreed before the end of the current academic term Restructuring (Minute 5) Court noted that the Principal should be in a position to submit more substantive proposals on restructuring within the University to the December meeting of Court Memorial Chapel Organ (Minute 6.1) Court noted that the Chapel Organ had failed and that an electronic organ would be installed as an interim replacement. The Principal reported that refurbishing the Chapel organ had been costed at 400,000 and it was expected that the fund raising strategy and upgrading would take at least two years to complete. The Secretary of Court undertook to ascertain when the follow up to the May 2000 Review of the Department of Music would take place. [Note from the Secretary of Court. The formal follow up review of the Department of Music would take place towards the end of the five year period referred to in the original review considered by Court in May 2000 but with an interim review at the beginning of the 2002/03 session] 13.5 Consultation on New Condition of Main Teaching and Research Grants (Minute 6.2) The Principal reported that a recent presentation by the Chairman of SHEFC in Stirling to the Universities senior Lay Members and Principals had revealed that a more flexible position on the part of the Funding Council. In particular it was noted that the suggestion that individual University s Strategic Plans be partly approved by SHEFC was unlikely to be pursued.

3 Court agreed the shorter of the two documents submitted (Additional Appendix 1, Paper 2) as the University s response to the consultation Student Unions (Minute 6.3) Court noted that the purpose of the Working Group was to seek ways to prevent unseemly competition for members between the Student Unions as witnessed during this years Freshers Week which was believed to emanate from competition between the Unions for members. One suggestion to be considered was that students make a single commitment and attend whichever Union they choose as a member of that Union rather than the current arrangement joining a particular Union and only being a member of that one Union Draft Code of Discipline (Minute 7.4) Court noted that the revised Code of Discipline would be submitted to its December meeting Appointment of Committees of Recommendation (Minute 7.14) Court agreed that, where an election is required in the process of identifying a new Dean, staff be allowed a minimum of five working days in which to vote for a constituency representative on the Committee of Recommendation. 14 MINUTES AND REPORTS OF COURT COMMITTEES 14.1 Finance Committee VAT Issues Cardiovascular and Biomedical Research Centres - VAT Court noted that the University had received a proposal from the RCB Partnership designed to save VAT on the project management cost of the construction project for these two buildings. Court agreed that the proposal, which was designed to produce savings of 550,000 minus professional fees of 10% (plus VAT), be pursued on the basis of no win-no fee and with advance agreement by HM Customs and Excise. Equipment Leasing Scheme Court noted that the University s advisors, Ernst & Young, had proposed a revised methodology to be put in place which did not involve being part of a VAT group. Court approved the revised proposal and agreed that the proposal be pursued contingent upon it receiving prior approval from HM Customs and Excise.

4 Annual Report of the Purchasing Office Court noted that the increase in the establishment of the Purchasing Office by a sixth member, was seen as an overall reduction of staff members from an establishment of thirteen over the last four years. [Note from the Secretary of Court: The Annual Report of the Purchasing Office is attached for Members of Court] The report was otherwise noted External Relations and Marketing Committee The Vice-Principal (External Relations and Marketing) reported that the University was seeking a single donor to fund the Kelvin Link but had had no success as yet. Court otherwise noted the report of the External Relations and Marketing Committee held on 10 May Health, Safety and Environment Committee Following the report of the recent road traffic accident the Secretary of Court undertook to request the Glasgow City Council Assessor on Court, Mr Eamon Fitzgerald to raise the matter of traffic calming and road safety on University Avenue with the City Council. With regard to the fire at the Bower Building, Court noted that the systems in place to inform staff and students of the imminent loss of electrical power had revealed serious shortcomings. The Vice-Principal (Estates) reported that part of the medium term plan of the Bower Building Recovery Committee s was to rewrite the University s Emergency Procedures which would include proposals of how best to inform students and staff of similar episodes in the future with particular measures being in place to deal with buildings with lifts. Court otherwise noted the report of the Health, Safety and Environment Committee held on 31 October Estates Planning and Strategy Committee Court noted that it did not seem necessary for there to be student representation on the Group overseeing all issues in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act/Special Educational Needs and Disability Act. As this was a co-ordinating group only, the expertise of those dealing with the issues on a day to day basis would more appropriately be employed on the three relevant Sub-Committees. Court otherwise noted the report of the Estates Planning and Strategy Committee held on 15 October 2001.

5 15 MINUTES AND REPORTS OF JOINT COURT/SENATE COMMITTEES 15.1 Education Committee Court approved the remit of the Education Committee attached as Appendix 2 to the Principal copy of the minute. Court otherwise noted the report of the Education Committee held on 10 October COMMUNICATIONS FROM SENATE Court noted the submission of a table paper setting out the Communications from the Senate Meeting held on 8 November 2001 and agreed the draft resolution to update Resolution 138 relating to Honorary and Official Degrees and to transmit it to the General Council. The Communications from the meetings of Senate held on 11 October and 8 November 2001 were otherwise noted. 17 REPORT FROM THE MANAGEMENT GROUP 17.1 Bower Building Fire The Principal reported that the main fabric of the building had, as a whole, survived. The interior would be rebuilt and the listed exterior would be retained. The Undergraduate School and the postgraduate research Plant Scientists had been rehoused on a temporary basis in Western Court and the Robertson Building respectively. Subject to the receipt of Planning Permission the research scientists would be further rehoused in temporary, purpose built, high standard cabins from mid January. The Vice Principal (Estates) impressed upon Court the value of staff photographing their bookshelves as an aide memoire should they need to replace the contents of their offices as the result of a fire or other disaster Faculties of Law and Financial Studies and Social Sciences The Secretary of Court reported that the question of reorganising the two Faculties had first been raised by Deans in the context of budget discussions with the Principal. The Principal clarified the status of the University of Glasgow Business School. He reported that the University of Glasgow Business School operated in a postgraduate sphere which did not impinge upon the undergraduate domain of the School of Business which lay within the Department of Business Studies and the School of Law. The University of Glasgow Business School was a separate entity whose activities were ring-fenced so that it could not draw resource from main stream teaching.

6 17.3 Hospitality Services Court agreed that its representative on the Working Group to review Court policy on catering should be Mr Norman Berry and that the Group be established as follows: Professor Robin Leake (Convener) Mr Norman Berry (Lay Member of Court) SRC Representative Professor Malcolm McLeod Mr Michael Yuille Advisors from other Universities The Report from the Management Group was otherwise noted. 18. REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY OF COURT 18.1 Appointments Headship of the Department of Celtic Studies Court noted that the process of seeking a new Head of Department of Celtic Studies was not yet complete as the Appointing Committee had not yet made its recommendations. Nevertheless Court agreed that should the Appointing Committee recommend that the most likely candidate in the Department succeed Professor Cathair O Dochartaig, Court was amenable to the suggestion that were that candidate to take up a fellowship in Professor O Dochartaigh would carry on as Acting Head of Department for that year during which time the candidate s appointment as substantive Head would be deferred Division of Earth Sciences - 3 rd Annual Report and Appointment of Follow up Review Court agreed to the establishment of the following Committee of Review to undertake a follow up to the 1998 Review of the Department of Geology: Professor Robin Leake (Vice Principal (Estates) - Convener) Professor David Saxon (Department of Physics and Astronomy) Professor Geoff Webb (Department of Chemistry) Professor Jack Sewell (Senate Assessor) Emeritus Professor Anthony Harris (formerly Liverpool University) 18.2 Resolutions of Court Following the receipt of comments from the General Council and no comment having been made by Senate, Court ratified the following Resolutions: RESOLUTION NO FOUNDATION OF THE CHAIR OF CREATIVE WRITING RESOLUTION AMENDMENT OF RESOLUTION 457 (ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CATHOLIC BOARD OF EDUCATION)

7 18.3 Annual Committees of Review Court approved the membership of the annual Committees of Review as set out in Appendix 3 attached to the Principal Copy of the minute Gifts Benefactions and Bequests Court noted the following bequests: 1. The late Professor Thomas Stevens: 12,000 to the University of Glasgow, the first instalment of a larger legacy. Professor Stevens graduated from the University in His distinguished career in Chemistry, culminating in the Chair of Chemistry at the University of Sheffield, was recognised by the award of a honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Glasgow in Professor Stevens had been interested in student welfare and Court therefore approved the use of the funds in this area. 2. The late Lindsay Halliday Bauchop: 30,000, the yearly income to provide a bursary for studies in electrical and mechanical scientific subjects. This is the first portion of a legacy of a tenth of the estate Appeal Against Promotion Decision Court noted the report (attached as Appendix 4 to the Principal copy of the minute) of its Appeals Committee which met on 9 and 15 October 2001 and the conclusion that there were procedural irregularities in the way an application for promotion from a member of staff in the Faculty of Acts was considered in the promotion round. The Committee had concluded that, while the allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination within the Department had yet to be decided upon through formal procedure and rightly could not be considered by the Committee/Board of Review, the issues of sex discrimination raised in the 1998 Court Review of the Department should have been part of the deliberation in relation to this particular application for promotion. In this respect the Appeals Committee upheld the appeal that there were procedural irregularities in the consideration of the application for promotion and agreed that it should be reconsidered in conjunction with the Appeals Committee s report and the 1998 Court Review of the Department. Court noted that this reconsideration was to be undertaken on the basis of correspondence with the members of the Board of Review rather than at a reconvened meeting and that this process had now been initiated by Human Resources. The Appeals Committee had made a number of recommendations and Court noted that these would be considered by the Director of Human Resources, the Vice-Principal (Staffing) and the Secretary of Court with a view to submitting a report to a future meeting of Court Appeals by Students Court noted that the appeal by a student in the Faculty of Law and Financial Studies found guilty of plagiarism by the Senate Disciplinary Committee had been dismissed by its Appeal Committee. Court noted that the appeal by the student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine against the decision of the Senate Appeals Committee that she be not permitted to continue her studies on the BVMS had been considered by its Appeal

8 Committee which had not yet come to a view. It was expected that it would reach a decision by the end of the week Research and Enterprise - Report on Activities in and Proposals on Operational Delegations Court agreed the updated proposals on operational delegations as set out in Appendix 4 attached to the Principal copy of the minute. Court agreed to note the report on the activities of Research and Enterprise and re-visit the matter following its consideration by the Advisory Board on Research and Enterprise. The Secretary of Court saw no objection to increased representation of research active, full time members of staff on the Advisory Board if such individuals indicated a willingness to serve on that body Calendar of Actions Court noted the report Banking Arrangements Renewal The Secretary of Court advised Court that the current agreement with the University s bankers, the Clydesdale Bank was due to end in March On the basis of the bank s current performance Court agreed to extend this agreement by two years and undertake a formal reprocurement process in FINANCING THE RESIDENCES Court noted the following points raised by the Lay Members Advisory Committee: 1. There was no mention in the report of the level of the likely final buy-back by the University at the end of the thirty year period and the Lay Members considered the fact that it would be a nominal sum (e.g. 1) should be emphasised. 2. With regard to the question of alternative tenants it was noted that there could not be a mix of students and non-students in any one residential block due to Council Tax implications. There could however, as there could be under the current arrangements, a mixture of students from different Higher Education Institutions. 3. Concerns about a potential conflict of interest, where the University Staff would maintain the residences whilst also assessing what standard of maintenance was required, were alleviated as the future arrangements would reflect those currently in operation. At present there was a contractual relationship between the staff of the Director of Accommodation (who required the maintenance to be undertaken) and the staff of Estates and Buildings (who undertook the maintenance). There was no existing requirement for this contract to be placed with Estates and Buildings and that would also be the case under the proposed arrangements with the SVP. The student representatives sought clarification on various matters and Court noted: a) that rent increases would be at a minimum level of 3.5% p.a. for the first 5 years then at 4% for the following 10 years. Rents would otherwise reflect the prevailing increase in the Retail Price Index. b) The final agreement would identify which office would appoint an independent arbitrator e.g. on the University side the Faculty of Law would identify the arbitrator. c) The revenue streams generated by the proposal would be dependant on the occupancy rates achieved by the Special Purpose Vehicle. The University and its

9 advisors were comfortable that the anticipated void rate of 2.5% growing to a maximum of 10% by 0.5% per annum would achieve the necessary revenue streams. Court noted that the Director of Finance would produce a covering report to accompany the contracts which would document in clear terms the history of the transaction and Court agreed that the points raised by the Lay Members Advisory Committee set out above be referred to in that report. Court agreed that the University proceed to Full Documentation and completion of the transaction on the basis that the transaction would: 1. finance the construction of the new Queen Margaret Hall 2. repay existing loans raised in earlier years for residence financing 3. create a quasi endowment to produce annual income for the long term benefit to the University 4. transfer some of the risk associated with operating the residences to a third party while guaranteeing rental levels to students and the maintenance of the residences to a high standard 20. HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW: DR JOHN GODDARD Court agreed the request from the Hunterian Museum and Gallery that Dr John Goddard be made an honorary research fellow in Classical Coinage for the period 1 December 2001 to 30 November Dr Goddard, a Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University until his recent early retirement, had a long standing interest in numismatics which had culminated in a two volume catalogue of the Hunterian s coin collection, the first volume of which was soon to be published. 21. THANKS Court joined the Rector in expressing its thanks to Mr C J Anderson, the SRC Assessor on Court for the past two years, who would demit office prior to its next meeting. Court also expressed its best wishes to Mr Anderson for his future studies and career. 22. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of Court would be held on Wednesday 12 December at 3pm. The earlier start time reflected the cancellation of that day s meeting of the Lay Members Advisory Committee with the Management Group.

10 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PURCHASING OFFICE Annual Report for the period August 2000 to July 2001 This was a significant year for the Purchasing Office, dominated by three strategic projects all of which have important and long term implications for the University. Procurement of Equipment from Research Grants The first project was externally imposed by the Research Councils and the Wellcome Trust. In the light of a National Audit Office report, which criticised the funding bodies for not getting full value for money from Research Grants all of the relevant funding bodies introduced sweeping changes to the conditions under which they would allocate funds. A central part of their new conditions was to involve University purchasing offices far more closely in the procurement process. Although broadly welcomed in principle by the purchasing community the changes raised serious resource issues as academics - rightly - expected a fast, prioritised service for their particular project. These changes coincided with a increase in the success of the University in the bidding process and, in the past year, the Purchasing Office have issued nine additional European Procurement advertisements (expenditure over 145,000) totalling in excess of 10m. Each project requires an experienced Purchasing Officer to work closely with the academic team in submitting the work to tender, evaluating and contracting for the new equipment. This activity is likely to increase in the years ahead as the University strategy is to secure more research funding. The Use of Purchasing Cards for Low Value Purchases This major project promises enormous benefits for the University. By using a purchasing card to make a low value purchase the University could eliminate the receipt of many hundreds of thousands of invoices and eliminate other laborious administrative tasks such as raising cheques. The project was guided by a small group chaired by the Head of Purchasing and including senior members from Computing Service, Internal Audit, Finance Office and Faculties. The benefits will allow the University to re-deploy staff on to more added value work and/or to take advantage of natural wastage. A small pilot of some eighteen cardholders and deputies has been operating for one year and the response from users has been very encouraging. The Management Group have approved roll-out of the cards pending the resolution of some operational issues in departments and the Purchasing Office will be devising a mechanism for Faculty s to apply for cards. Full training by the Purchasing Office and the Royal Bank of Scotland, the card provider, will be delivered and details are provided in the Operational Plan. Closure of the Purchasing Office Laboratory Supplies Store The Purchasing Office store provided two broad categories of supplies from their store; janitorial and laboratory. All suppliers of janitorial items are able to provide a direct desk-top delivery service for no extra cost. This method of supply speeds the delivery process and prevents the Purchasing Office having to re-charge departments. The main beneficiary of the laboratory supplies activity was the Physical Sciences Faculty. The remit of the Purchasing Office is to provide a purchasing service to the whole university. For this and other technical related reasons to do with the supply of chemicals and other laboratory supplies, it was considered sensible for the Physical Sciences Faculty to assume operational control of the store. One member of staff has taken early retirement as a result of the change and the space - around 200sq m - has been re-allocated to the University estate. There are also potential further savings in salaries and in senior management and accounts staff time in the Purchasing Office.

11 Re-Location to Finance Office The Purchasing Office relocated to the Finance Office, and shortly thereafter effectively became part of the Finance Office. This move, part of the rolling refurbishment of University Management Services offices, will undoubtedly yield significant operational advantages as so much of the Purchasing Office activity interfaces with Finance Office responsibilities. The Head of Purchasing participates in the local Finance Office Management Group meetings and PSIFOM forums. Achievements Some of the years achievements are alluded to above, namely closure of store, progress on cards project and managing Funding Body changes. Other notable events were the total revision of the University s terms and conditions of contract, carried out by the Deputy Head of Purchasing in liaison with Dundas and Wilson. These templates provide a foundation for the Purchasing Office to carry out one of its objectives (see below) to revise and update the Guide to Good Purchasing. The Deputy Head of Purchasing also played an active part in the negotiation of collaborative contracts for recruitment advertising space. The Wider Community The Head of Purchasing continues to represent Scotland and Northern Ireland on the national council of the Association of University Purchasing Officers. He was recently invited to join the national groups for Postal and Distribution Services and the national Higher Education Electronic Procurement Group. In addition the Head of Purchasing represents the University on the national Research Council group for the purchase of equipment. The Deputy Head of Purchasing has joined the regional consortia Computer Commodity Group. Closer to home the Head of Purchasing has joined the Sustainable Development Working Party which reports to the Amenities Committee and continues to represent the Purchasing Office on the Energy Management Committee. He also attends the Equipment sub -committee meetings. The Deputy Head of Purchasing has assisted on a Safety Committee recommendation on the maintenance of microbiological safety cabinets and she provides an interface for the national IT contracts which contributes to the work of the Information Services Committee. Conclusion The full benefits of the above changes are still to work their way through to the bottom line and are more fully explained in the strategic and operational sections to follow. One important factor will be the recruitment of a new ALC graded member of staff - for which funding has been approved - who will manage much of the day to day contract management duties, research new tendering opportunities and generally spread the workload from two professional staff to three. The Purchasing Office continues to represent the University on a number of national and regional fora, to manage a number of key contracts such a legal services and business travel, to tender and negotiate major contracts such as recruitment advertising and temporary staff, to provide training designed and delivered in-house and generally to provide advice to many departments on a wide range of contractual, tendering and other issues. Strategic Plan The Strategic Plan for Central Administration requires every part of the Faculty to demonstrate in what ways it adds value to the core activities of teaching and research. The overall mission of the Purchasing Office is to: Create an environment in which staff demand good all round value for every pound of nonpay expenditure

12 All round value in this context includes the total whole life cost of goods and services, the cost of processing the transaction, the fitness for purpose of the good or service, the risk associated with the purchase, environmental aspects, and monitoring the performance of purchases whether they be goods or services.. Appreciation of all of these aspects requires trained intelligent customers in the Faculties and Departments. Operational Plan Objective 1 The Purchasing Office will manage the following contracts with a view to improving service and extracting all round value: the Business Travel contract the Legal Services contract the IT contracts the photocopying contract a number of miscellaneous contracts such as couriers and laboratory supplies. Goals prepare guidance for staff on how to optimise use of the contracts prepare service level agreements for all contracts where there is benefit in doing so prepare a process to allow members of staff to order travel by ensure that the all contract arrangements are communicated to all staff and monitor compliance monitor the performance of the contracts by holding regular review meetings with supplier representatives alert the Director of Finance and/or the Secretary to Court to known overspends (Legal Services and Business Travel) respond promptly and courteously to complaints and comments Objective 2 Roll out the purchasing card project with a view to issuing one hundred cards and increasing expenditure by this method of payment to 1 million per annum. Goals obtain Management Group approval for roll-out of the project (achieved) prepare guidance for staff on how to apply for a purchasing card provide training for new card-holders on the use of the card and their obligations monitor the use of cards by working closely with colleagues in Finance Office prepare a report for Management Group on progress and any benefits conferred by the project prepare procedures to manage all administrative issues arising from the card project.

13 hold regular review meetings with the Royal Bank of Scotland and manage performance as for a contract Objective 3 Assimilate the Research Council and Wellcome Trust changes regarding the procurement of equipment into the Purchasing Office and University procedures and prepare guidance for academics and other departments involved in the process Goals devise a means of obtaining information about all research grants applied for and awarded. prepare guidance demonstrating clearly the responsibility of academics and the Purchasing Office prepare template tender and contract documents for departments prepare a service level agreement detailing what and when academic departments and principal applicants can expect from the Purchasing Office maintain level of up to date knowledge on EU procurement regulations and Research Council, Trust and other Funding Bodies funding rules and regulations work closely with academic colleagues in ensuring all round value within the parameters of funding council, University and statutory rules. Objective 4 Provide a total of four one day training courses - Introductory, Intermediate/Advanced twice per annum - for University staff with buying responsibilities, thereby monitoring and granting the relevant levels of purchase authority. Goals design and deliver exercise based courses tailored to the University requirements keep abreast of University and purchasing developments with a view to keeping courses relevant and updated design and deliver bespoke training when requested by Faculties or Departments or individuals continue to make NVQ training available to motivated individuals who want to study in this manner Objective 5 Revise the University Guide to Good Purchasing to make it more relevant, updated and easier to use for staff in Faculties and Departments. Goals Review the current content of the Guide and delete material which is outdated or otherwise unwieldy to use Decide on the content for the new Guide - for example tender and quotation templates - and prepare easy to follow instructions Make the Guide widely available through publication on the Purchasing Office web-site. Objective 6 Make sustainable purchasing a substantive criteria in purchasing decisions. Goals

14 Transfer as much as possible of the University source of supply for photocopy and laser printer paper to recycled. Work with Estates and Buildings to implement the Sustainable Development Working Party recommendation that all staff be given the opportunity to dispose of paper in bins where the paper can be collected and recycled. Reduce the number of next day deliveries on campus through a programme of training and education for ordering staff. These six specific objectives represent a formidable programme for the Purchasing Office but a programme which can be realistically achieved now that funding for a new member of staff has been approved. In addition to these specific objectives the Purchasing Office will continue to analyse University non-pay expenditure with a view to putting contracts in place and work with the consortia to achieve similar goals, continue to measure the value achieved in each project and major purchase, continue to provide advice to departments on a wide and disparate range of issues and generally seek to add value and eliminate waste wherever possible. Tom McAra Head of Purchasing October 2001