The University Court, the University’s governing body, met on Monday 5 December and considered a management update on the People and Money system and a proposed response from the Court to the open letter from many elected members of Senate, in addition to the previously published response from the Principal to the letter.
As with the Principal’s response to the open letter, the management update recognised that major disruption has been caused by the implementation of new finance processes underpinned by the People and Money system and apologised to all those affected within and outwith the University community. It emphasised that all colleagues involved are prioritising reducing the backlog and improving support, including adding additional staff to the Finance Operations team, to stabilise the new finance processes as rapidly as possible.
Court acknowledged the impact on the University community and the significant efforts of staff in managing the implementation and supported the work to stabilise the new finance processes as rapidly as possible and the next set of priorities beyond this, as set out in the Principal’s response. In response to the letter from many elected members of Senate, Court agreed that:
a. A timely and rigorous external review should be instigated with a proposal on commissioning, scope, and timescale of the review being brought back to Court for approval, recognising that this needs to be balanced against completion of the stabilisation work currently underway.
b. The outcomes of the external review should help to inform future decision-making and oversight for major change projects and system procurement and implementation. It was noted that the University Executive is actively considering the approach to the future provision of strategic change and continuous improvement support.
c. Consideration will be given by the Remuneration Committee (a committee of Court) to the People and Money planning and crisis response when assessing performance as part of its annual review of remuneration of members of the Senior Leadership Team.
Court and its committees have had active oversight of the People and Money programme since its inception and will continue to receive regular updates on the progress of the stabilisation work coupled with substantive papers to be presented at forthcoming meetings.
Janet Legrand KC (Hon)
Senior Lay Member, on behalf of the University Court