Budget and Planning Group
Remit
The remit of the Group is to:
- Review progress, within year, to meeting financial targets in each of the budget areas through
monthly updates. This will involve monitoring any significant variances, and make decisions on
actions necessary to keep to target as necessary, including in relation to the Access and Participation
Plan and research forecasts (following reviews by Departments and PVC for Research). - Approve assumptions to be used in the Five Year Plan (5YP) (e.g. tuition fee rates, inflation (for non-
specific Other Operating Costs (OOCs)), pay award, USS and UoYPF contribution rates, OOCs, accommodation constraints), corporate assumptions on investments and other Initiatives (with comparison to previous 5YP) and monitor progress against these assumptions. - Approve student number targets at Department level informed by market intelligence and strategic
choices (tariff, changes in demand/investment etc.); review targets in light of feedback from Deans,
deciding whether amendments are appropriate; and undertake further reviews as later in the cycle ,
incorporating additional information such as applications data, amending targets only where material
at the whole-University level. - Review progress on Academic and PS planning to achieve 5YF, and make decisions on actions
necessary to achieve this. This will include responsibility for the the Academic and PS strategic
planning process - including formal review and approval of departments’ plans and SSR improvement
plans, any investment requests, sign-off of exceptions to the staff replacement framework,
exceptional post approvals, planned savings, review of key assumptions, and approval of additional
spend proposed outside budget by the major budget holders, and so on. - Monitor and review the effectiveness of managing the corporate risk(s) and other key risks related to
the Group’s business and advising and assuring the relevant UEB corporate risk owner.
Committee authority, reporting and frequency
Authority
BPG reports to UEB.
BPG has budgetary control and decision-making authority as set down in these terms of reference and
related policy and documentation, including the Scheme of Delegated Authority (SoDA), the Contracts
Framework and the Financial Regulations.
Reporting to UEB
BPG reports:
- Frequently: through the minutes of each of its meetings (monthly) to the next UEB meeting or;
- Periodically: via a summary of key points discussed on a six weekly basis, other reports, plans and progress updates which it reviews and/or recommends for UEB’s approval within the business cycle and its terms of reference or;
- Ad hoc: where urgent University-wide matters require direct escalation to UEB for decision or discussion.
Reporting to BPG
BPG has the following sub-groups/committees reporting into it. The actions of the sub-groups/committees (or updates drawn from these in writing) should be presented to BPG on a timely basis.
- Student Number Planning and Oversight Group
This group is responsible for the operational build and validation of student number targets, and for regularly forecasting numbers against those targets once set, maintaining the Student Number Master Plan and Forecast Master Sheets as the University's single source of truth for student number data. The Group recommends student number targets to BPG for sign-off, and subsequently reports forecast progress against them; BPG retains sign-off on targets and any such amendments.
Beyond this, BPG is empowered to establish its own sub-groups and committees to reflect the requirements of University-level initiatives, promoting a task and finish approach where possible. The actions of the sub-groups/committees (or updates drawn from these in writing) should be presented to [insert committee name] on a timely basis.
Meetings
Meeting frequency
BPG will meet monthly. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chair.
Meeting modes
Meetings will be held either in-person, online or via a hybrid format, subject to agreement by members.
Meeting dates 2026-27
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Thursday 8 October | 12:10 - 13:45 |
| Monday 12 October | 12:10 - 13:45 |
| Wednesday 21 October | 14:00 - 16:00 |
| Wednesday 28 October | 12:00 - 14:00 |
| Friday 20 November | 12:30 - 14:30 |
| Monday 23 November | 16:00 - 17:30 |
| Monday 30 November | 16:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday 9 December | 15:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday 17 December | 15:00 - 16:00 |
| Wednesday 13 January | 11:00 - 12:00 |
| Monday 24 January | 16:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday 4 February | 10:00 - 12:00 |
| Monday 8 February | 14:00 - 16:00 |
| Monday 22 February | 16:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday 3 March | 11:00 - 12:30 |
| Monday 8 March | 13:30 - 15:30 |
| Wednesday 12 March | 12:00 - 13:00 |
| Monday 22 March | 14:00 - 15:30 |
| Wednesday 21 April | 15:00 - 16:00 |
| Monday 26 April | 16:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday 19 May | 13:00 - 14:00 |
| Wednesday 26 May | 15:00 - 16:00 |
| Monday 28 June | 16:00 - 17:00 |
| Monday 26 July | 16:00 - 17:00 |
Constituency and Members
BPG's membership comprises ex officio members.
Other membership considerations
In consultation with the Chair, members may authorise an appropriate colleague to represent them if they are unable to attend a meeting. Individual colleagues may be invited to attend in order to advise and inform on select items as and when the need arises.
Quorum
50% of members, or 50% rounded up where the number of members is odd.
Membership Review
Membership will be periodically reviewed by the Committee itself on behalf of UEB for approval by the
Chair. Membership is otherwise coterminous with the individual’s appointment term. Gender balance and
wider EDI considerations should be factored into the Group’s reflection on its own size and composition.
Ex officio members
- Prof Karen Rowlingson Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Provost (Chair)
- Simon Donoghue, Director of Strategic Planning and Performance
- Craig Hannath, Finance Manager
- Gary Hewitt, Head of Strategic Planning
- Jamie Holliday, Director of Finance (Deputy Chair)
- Delegated Budget holders
- Prof Nina Caspersen, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences
- Prof Claire Hughes, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences
- Prof Duncan Petrie, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities
- Nigel Alcock, Chief Financial & Operating Officer
- Vikki Goddard, Chief Academic Services Officer
In attendance
- Gemma Powell, PA to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost (Secretary)
- Pro-Vice-Chancellors and HR colleagues will be invited to attend for specific meetings/items