24 March 2021
Glenurquart Road
INVERNESS
IV3 5NX
17 March 2021
email: [email protected]
To: Directors of the Board of High Life Highland
| Michael Golding | Ken Nicol |
| Tom Heggie | Ian Ross |
| Andrew Jarvie | Mark Tate |
| Tracy Ligema | Ben Thompson |
| Donald McLachlan | Linda Munro |
Dear Director
A meeting of the Board of HIGH LIFE HIGHLAND will take place REMOTELY on WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2021 at 2.05 pm.
Yours faithfully
STEWART FRASER
COMPANY SECRETARY
BUSINESS
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Declarations of Interest
Directors are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Director making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.
3. High Life Highland Purpose, Key Business Objectives and Corporate Values 2019-24 PP 1
There is circulated summary of High Life Highland’s purpose, key business objectives and corporate values as extracted from the High Life Highland Business Plan 2019-24.
4. Confirmation of Minutes PP 2-23
The following Minutes are circulated for approval:-
i. Board Meeting held on 10 December 2020 (pp.2-8);
ii. Nominations Committee on 28 January 2021 (pp.9);
iii. Chief Executive’s Performance Review Committee on 9 February 2021 (pp.10-11);
iv. Nominations Committee on 12 and 15 February 2021 (pp.12);
v. Finance and Audit Committee held on 122 February 2021 (pp.13-16);
vi. Health and Safety and Environmental Compliance Committee held on 23 February 2021 (pp.17-20);
and for noting:-
vii. High Life Highland (Trading) (draft) held on 10 December 2020 (pp.21-23).
5. Matters Arising – Board Meeting of 10 December 2020 P 24
There is circulated, for information, matters arising from the meeting of the Board held on 10 December 2020.
The Board is invited to note the position.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
6. Independent Directors to the High Life Highland Board and Appointment of Independent Director to High Life Highland (Trading) C.I.C. PP 25-27
There is circulated Report No. HLH1/21dated 1 March 2021 by the Company Secretary informing Directors of how the two vacant Board position which arose due to the resignation of Mrs E MacRae and Mr J Murray were filled, subject to the approval of the Council on 25 March 2021. In addition, as a result of one of the appointments being an Independent Director on the High Life Highland (Trading) Board, this in terms of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, means a vacancy has arisen on that Board.
The Board is invited to:-
i. note the appointment of Mr D Finlayson and Mr N Finnigan will be confirmed by the Highland Council at it meeting in 25 March 2021; and
ii. agree the recommendation of the Nominations Committee that the Board appoint Mr K Tudhope as an Independent Director of High Life Highland (Trading) C.I.C.
7. Review of Scheme of Delegation PP 28-35
There is circulated Report No. HLH2/21dated 10 March 2021 by the Company Secretary outlining proposals for amendments to the Board’s Schedule of Matters Reserved to the Board and Scheme of Delegation to Officers.
The Board is invited to:-
i. agree to amend Part 1.5.1 (ii) and 1.5.2 (i) to reflect changes resulting from the United Kingdom leaving the European Union; and
ii. to review and consider any other amendments necessary.
QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE
8. Finance Report PP 36-43
There is circulated Report No. HLH3/21 dated 10 March 2021 by the Chief Executive providing an update on the financial performance of High Life Highland for the period ending 31 January 2021 and other relevant matters.
The Board is invited to note:-
i. the results for the period April 2020 to January 2021, detailed in Appendix A of the report, reports a positive variance to budget of £1.53M;
ii. using the financial scenario planning model (Appendix E of the report) a projected year-end surplus of circa £1.68M;
iii. there have been no breaches of internal controls reported in the past quarter;
iv. there have been no data breaches reported in the last quarter; and
v. the Anti Bribery policy has been reviewed with no changes required.
The Board is asked to resolve that the following item be restricted to Directors and representatives from HLH and the Company Secretary’s office
9. 2021/22 Budget Approval PP 118-127
There is circulated separately Report No. HLH4/21 dated 10 March 2021 by the Chief Executive providing a summary of the operating budget for 2021/22, together with details of planned savings measures and the price increases.
The Board is invited to agree to approve the operating budget for 2021/22 as summarised in Appendix A and the other recommendations detailed in the report.
10. Performance Report PP 44-73
There is circulated Report No. HLH5/21 dated 8 March 2021 by the Chief Executive presenting performance information for the period October to December 2020.
The Board is invited to:-
i. comment on the report and agree that the overall health check on the Charity for that period is assessed as amber because the effect of the lockdown and COVID-19 management arrangements which are required to operate; and
ii. note that the delivery of the business plan has been paused, with the focus having become the Recovery Action Plan and that the business plan is being reviewed in the light of the COVID pandemic.
11. Human Resources PP 74-81
There is circulated Report No. HLH6/21 dated 10 March 2021 by the Chief Executive providing an update on Human Resources activity for the period October to December 2020 which includes information relating to absence, disciplinary and grievance issues during this period as well as information on the pandemic’s impact on staffing related matters.
The Board is invited to note:-
i. and comment on the content of the quarterly HR report including the update on the staffing establishment and attendance management and union engagement;
ii. that measures taken by the charity in terms of staff health, wellbeing and welfare will be the subject of the bi-annual health and wellbeing update; and
iii. the changes to the annual leave year.
12. Health and Wellbeing Update PP 82-97
There is circulated Report No. HLH7/21 dated 8 March 2021 by the Chief Executive providing the six-monthly update on progress made on implementing the Health and Wellbeing Plan (2019–2024). The report also provides an update on the work undertaken which has focussed on employee and participant health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Board is invited to note and comment on the report.
STRATEGY
13. Recovery Update PP 98-111
There is circulated Report No. HLH8/21 dated 11 March 2021 by the Chief Executive providing an update the High Life Highland Board on the Recovery Action Plan (RAP), underpinned by the #hlhbounceback marketing campaign.
The Board is invited to comment on and note:-
i. RAP progress against the plan and the seven key themes;
ii. the continued collaborative working with the Highland Council regarding access to the school estate post lock down, whilst acknowledging that any continued restriction or prevention of access to the shared school/HLH estate and wider community lets access could further exacerbate our financial recovery;
iii. that a strategic investment plan is critical to strengthening and growing the business; and
iv. that the HLH main effort remains focussed on the ‘new business as usual model’ and the creation of a strategic-level corporate programme management plan.
14. Inverness Castle Project Update
The Inverness Castle Project Director, along with Jason Kelman, Highland Council and Stuart McKellar, LDN Architects will give an update presentation on the Inverness Castle Project.
The Board is invited to comment on and note the position.
15. Chair/Chief Executive’s Updates PP 112-117
There is circulated Report No. HLH 9/21 dated 12 March 2021 by the Chief Executive providing information to Directors and the opportunity for them to discuss issues affecting HLH and its work at an early stage.
The Board is invited to comment on and note the updates.
