NIABT Board of Trustees Meeting
Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2014/2015
Date: Monday 10th November 2014
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
The meeting opened in public session at 5:02pm.
Present:
Judith Cochrane MLA Chair
Leslie Cree MBE MLA
Robin Newton MLA
Michael Bell NI Food & Drink Association
Chris Brown MCE PR
Alan Dickson PricewaterhouseCoopers
Stephen Kelly Manufacturing NI
John O’Farrell ICTU
John Rooney Rooney Fish
John Stewart Director of Information and Outreach
Richard Stewart Treasurer
Dr Joanne Stuart OBE Attrus Ltd., Vice Chair
In Attendance:
Susie Brown Secretary
Louise Close Deputy Secretary
Ivor Gibson Co-ordinator
Apologies:
Phil Flanagan MLA
Alban Maginness MLA
Claire Sugden MLA
James Haughey Norbrook Laboratories
1. Apologies:
Apologies are noted above.
2. Declaration of Interests:
None
3. 2014/15 Annual Accounts and Trustee Report
David Gray from RSM McClure Watters presented the accounts and Trustee Report to the Board
Agreed: The Board agreed the content of the accounts, having previously agreed the content of the Trustee Report.
Stephen Kelly joined the meeting at 5:11pm
4. Minutes of the meetings held on 22nd September 2014:
Agreed: The Minutes of the Board meeting held on 22nd September were agreed by the Board.
5. Matters arising:
The Chair advised the Board that:
- The majority of matters arising from the agenda at the previous meeting had formed the basis for the agenda items for this meeting.
- The Chair noted that Directors & Officers insurance has now been purchased from Marsh.
6. Correspondence:
An item of correspondence was received from the Food Standards Agency proposing to deliver a briefing to the NIABT on the food hygiene rating scheme.
Agreed: The Board decided not to pursue this offer through the NIABT but the Secretary agreed to meet with the Food Standards Agency to explore other avenues of engagement.
7. Financial Update:
The Chair referred the Board to a copy of the latest figures in relation to 2014/2015 NIABT Income/ Expenditure which included updated expenditure in relation to the 2014 European Programme.
Agreed: The Board agreed the content of the financial update.
8. Past and Upcoming Events
The Chair referred the Board to a list of past and future Business Trust events.
Agreed: The Board agreed to hold a Christmas Reception at Kingspan Stadium in December. The secretariat is to establish a suitable date and liaise with stadium officials to arrange.
Robin Newton MLA leaves the meeting at 5:23pm.
John O’Farrell joins the meeting at 5:23pm.
9. Timing of future Board Meetings:
Agreed: The Board agreed to pilot a new time of 4:00pm for Board Meetings.
Dr Joanne Stuart joins the meeting at 5:27pm.
10. European Educational Programme:
The Board discussed the upcoming European Programme which will take place from 17 – 19 November 2014.
11. 2015 President’s Dinner:
The Chair advised the Board that a letter had been issued to Jill McDonald, North West Division President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonald’s UK to invite her to speak at the dinner.
Agreed: The secretariat will follow up on this matter with Jill McDonald and will look at a contingency if required.
12. Review of Articles of Association:
The Chair advised the Board that the NI Assembly secretariat has been working with Cleaver Fulton Rankin to rewrite the Articles of Association prior to registration with the NI Charities Commission.
Agreed: The Board will meet separately to discuss and approve the revised Articles of Association.
The Board still wishes to retain charitable status.
13. Membership:
The Chair referred the Board to a list of applications from local organisations to join the Trust and asked the members if they were happy to approve these applications.
Agreed: The Board agreed to approve all applications.
14. President’s retirement:
Agreed: The Board approved the issue of a letter to the former NIABT President, William Hay on his recent retirement.
15. Any Other Business:
Date of Next Meeting
The Chair confirmed that a special board meeting would be arranged to discuss the Articles and that the next meeting would be held on Monday 19th January at 4:00pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:38pm.
Mrs Judith Cochrane MLA
Chair, Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust
19th January 2015