Monday 21 July 2025, 10.30am
Board Room, University Street, Belfast
Members Present:
Dorinnia Carville, Chair (C&AG)
Rodney Allen (COO)
Patrick Barr (Director)
Suzanne Jones (Director) – online via Teams
Colette Kane (Director)
Brian O’Neill (Director)
Seamus Wade (Director)
Tomas Wilkinson (Director)
In Attendance:
Jill Aicken (Head of People and OD) – agenda item 1,2 and 3.2
Garry Currie (Audit Manager) – agenda item 3.2
Louise Halligan (Secretariat Support)
Apologies
No apologies were recorded.
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
There were no conflicts declared by members.
Minutes of previous meeting
Matters Arising
Minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 June 2025 were agreed and the matters arising noted as updated.
Corporate Management Team (CMT) Briefing
No CMT meeting took place in July 2025. It was agreed that actions arising from the June CMT meeting would be followed up directly with CMT by the Directors concerned.
People and OD
2.1 People and OD Monthly Report
Jill Aicken presented a report, members were asked to note the following key points:
- Recruitment
Two summer internship placements began on 21 July 2025.
Recruitment for the upcoming Director post is in progress, with the job advertisement expected to go live this week.
- TUS Liaison - The C&AG has approved a final pay offer that was issued to NIPSA on 2 July 2025.
Employee Opinion Survey - Directors are in the process of establishing their teams and will present their theme plans at a steering group meeting scheduled for 27 August 2025.
Strategic Projects
3.1 Accommodation Project
Rodney Allen outlined the ongoing efforts to secure tenants for the vacant office space in the current challenging market. Rodney advised that planned preventative maintenance has been commissioned for the heating/cooling system before any further action is taken to address the ongoing issues.
Workforce Planning
Garry Currie joined the meeting and presented a paper prepared by the Operational Resource Team, outlining resourcing options for a number of upcoming audits. Members considered the options, agreed some proposals but deferred further decisions until the outcome of the NRC audit is known and clarity is obtained on the availability of temporary staff.
- Strategic Performance
Management Information (MI) Report – Financial Audit and Public Reporting
A combined report providing a breakdown of the costs associated with financial audits and the costs and timing for completing public reports was presented. Members noted a significant number of audit costs were in line with targets.
4.2 Position re Backlog Accounts
Members noted the positive position presented with no issues raised.
4.3 SLT Self-Assessment Report 2025
The recent SLT self-assessment exercise concluded that the Team was performing effectively. The following actions were discussed:
Management Information Report - Members acknowledged the improved quality of the information provided in the report. A discussion followed surrounding the level of operational detail reported at monthly SLT meetings, members agreed to consider the suggestion that this level of detail be shared at weekly SLT meetings, with a more streamlined report, focusing on strategic issues, aligned to KPIs, presented at the monthly minuted SLT meeting.
Cover papers - It was suggested and agreed that a standard cover paper be provided for every paper submitted to SLT.
Strategic considerations – Members acknowledged there was scope to further improve the strategic focus in SLT discussions.
Quality Report
5.1 Technical Team Update
Members noted the report presented with no significant issues raised.
5.2 Public Reporting (PR) Update
Patrick Barr provided an update on the following key point:
Practitioner Group – The next meeting of the group will take place on 23 July 2025. The meeting will focus on CIPFA training and the amendments to the guidance. It will also include a detailed stocktake of study proposals and feasibility studies to consider pipeline development and this will inform a specific SLT session in August.
Financial Management
6.1 Corporate Services Report
Finance
- NIAO VAT position – Brian O’Neill advised that a paper was being prepared for consideration by SLT.
- Budget Forecast – An evidence session has been scheduled with the NI Assembly Audit Committee for 17 September 2025. A draft three-year budget is being prepared for consideration by SLT.
- Corporate Governance
Business Support Services Report
A report to update members on Complaints, Procurement, Legal Advice, Information Management, Governance and Assembly Liaison was presented. No significant issues were raised.
7.2 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Guidance Report
A draft guide intended for staff involved in attending and preparing support papers for Public Accounts Committee Inquiries was presented. Members noted the report and after discussion it was agreed to discuss the report in detail at the next weekly SLT meeting on 29 July 2025.
Communications and Engagement
8.1 Communications and Engagement Report
A report to update members on recent media coverage and social media activity was presented.
9. Risk Management
9.1 Corporate Risk Register
Colette Kane advised that only minor amendments had been made to the Register since the June SLT meeting. A date has been confirmed for an SLT Risk Workshop in September, to provide members with an opportunity to review and discuss the proposed updates to the Corporate Risk Register.
10. Papers noted:
Draft minutes of the Advisory Board meeting held on 9 June 2025
Draft minutes of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting held on 30 June 2025
11. Matters for Escalation to Advisory Board, ARAC, RemCom
Papers for escalation to ARAC:
11.1 Internal Audit – Counter Fraud Report
11.2 Updated Internal Audit Strategy
AOB
Members welcomed the invitation from CIPFA for a member of the Directorate to speak at their upcoming Conference.
13. Date of next meeting
No minuted SLT meeting will be held in August. The next monthly meeting will be held on 15 September 2025.