Present:
R. Woodhouse (Chair)
D. Butler
L Crichton
G Field
S. Duncan (Principal)
In Attendance:
B. Fitzgerald, Vice-Principal Finance and Business Planning
H McCoy (Assistant Principal)
J Blower (Director of Services, Estates & Health & Safety)
G Taylor (Director of Finance)
A Barker (IT Manager)
S Pritchard (Clerk to the Corporation)
V. Charlton (Committee Secretary)
Apologises for Absence:
No apologies were received.
90 Conflicts of Interest
DB declared a conflict of interest relating to the Arena Pitch (Estates Update).
There were no other conflicts of interest declared.
91 Minutes of meeting held on 24th September 2020
AGREED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 24th September 2020 be approved.
92 Matters Arising
Item 89 Any Other Business. Following approval of the payment to Learning for Life by the Committee in September, the Learning for Life Contract was then approved and agreed at Full Board in October.
It was agreed to change the order of discussion of the agenda items: 8 IT/Cyber Security, 7 Estates Update, 5 Human Resources Update.
93 IT / Cyber Security
The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning introduced the IT Manager who then presented the report.
The College has experienced a number of cyber-attacks over that last 12 months, with 6 occurring since September. The College’s internet service provider, Janet, employs flood protection which blocks the specific type of traffic and stops the attacks. Security systems will be audited in January 2021. IT will continue to carry out random tests on college systems and individuals.
In response to a question, the IT manager provided an overview of ‘Janet’ and confirmed that it provides 24-hour protection, an emergency contact number and alerts the college to any attacks.
The Director of Estates provided details of the College's cyber insurance policy which would cover the cost of a ransom demand or any other financial cost incurred by the College as a result of a breach in cyber security.
The Committee noted that the Business Continuity plan includes a plan for a cyber-attack and noted the steps that would be taken in such circumstances to maintain teaching and learning and back-office functions. The importance of consistent back up and cold storage was stressed. The IT Manager was confident that if the College was hacked it could respond quickly.
Online cyber awareness training has taken place via CPD for all staff. Guidance will be provided to governors.
Governors currently use personal emails which represents an additional risk as they are not protected by EDC internal systems. The Committee asked for IT to look into providing governors with EDC email accounts. It was noted that the introduction of 2 factor authentication for EDC staff emails is in progress.
The report was noted.
IT to consider providing EDC email accounts to governors.
94 Estates Update
The Director of Estates, Services and Health & Safety presented the report
This item was deemed confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.
95 Human Resources Update
The Assistant Principal presented the report providing an update on sickness absence in relation to COVID.
This item was deemed confidential.
96 ESFA Financial Health and Early Intervention
The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning presented the report
This item was deemed confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.
97 Management Accounts October 19
The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning presented the October Management Accounts.
This item was deemed confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.
98 FE Commissioners Diagnostic Assessment Visit
The Vice Principal of Finance and Business Planning presented the report.
This item was deemed confidential.
99 Lennartz Update
The Director of Finance presented the report.
This item was deemed confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.
100 Any Other Business
There were no further items to discuss.