Minutes of the first meeting of CPD25 Statutory Requirements & Legal Compliance Task Group held on Monday 8th July 2002 at 10.00a.m. in the Committee Room, University College London.

Present:

Christine Muller (Chair), Tim Davies, Sue Gold, Ruth Harrison, Jennifer Nordon, Gerry Power, Tim Hoof (Administrator)

Apologies had been received from Robert Atkinson.

2. Introduction

Members introduced themselves.

The Chair explained that each group were being asked to organise 5-6 seminars and 2 pairs of visits in the 2002/03 session.

3. Visits for 2002/03

a) HM Treasury
It was agreed that visits should be arranged in October. This would be re-run of a successful visit by the STG this year. Gerry Power would be organise this visit.

b) Wellcome Institute Library
It was agreed that visits should be arranged in March. Sue Gold, who works at the Institute would organise this visit.

c) FE Colleges
It was agreed to hold this idea in reserve. It was suggested that one visit could be organised South of the Thames and one North of the Thames.

4. Seminar Programme for 2002/3

Members would work in groups to organise events.

a) Space Planning
It was noted that Fiona Middleton from the Operations Management Task Group was organising an event on this topic. Support would be offered by this Task Group on the legal side of planning should it be required.

b) Employment Law
It was agreed that this event would be held in December 2002 and would be co-ordinated by Christine Muller. This one-day workshop would be aimed at senior managers and heads of service. One of the Law Professors at the University of Brighton had agreed to give this course. It was noted that there would be a charge of £1600 plus travel and expenses but that this included a large information pack for the delegates. It was agreed to be important to have a good calibre speaker for this event and increase the charge to cover costs.

c) Disabilities Discrimination.
It was agreed that event would be held twice. The first course would be in a Central London location in December 2002 and the second at the University of Surrey in May 2003 and would be co-ordinated by Jennifer Nordon, Sue Gold and Ruth Harrison. Sophie Corlett who had spoken at the M25 Disabilities Working Group event and someone from Churchill & Friends were potential speakers.

d) Legal Research Skills
It was agreed that this event would be held in May or July 2003 and would be co-ordinated by Gerry Power. This half-day course would be based upon those run for the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) and would be aimed at enquiry desk staff. The course would be held at IALS.

e) Copyright Laws
It was agreed that this event would be held in July 2003 and would be co-ordinated by Tim Davies and Gerry Power. Members agreed that Sandy Norman would be a useful person to speak at this event. In addition to speakers on specific topics there would be an opportunity for questions to be asked, with questions being submitted in advance. This would be a general awareness raising event aimed at all levels of staff.

f) Disaster Planning
Christine Muller would continue to contact Brendan Casey from the M25 Disaster Management Group with a view to organising an event towards the end of the 2002/03 session.

5. Any Other Business

Tim Hoof would circulate the draft guidelines on meeting organisation with the minutes.

Members agreed that their email addresses could be circulated to all of the Task Groups members. Tim Hoof would do so by email.

It was noted that the Steering Group had decided that people would be able to change the task group of which they were a member and for new members to join at an annual meeting each May.

6. Date of Next meeting
The next meeting would be held at 2.00pm on Friday 13th September. Tim Davies agreed to investigate the possibility of holding the meeting at Somerset House. It was agreed that all meetings would be arranged to allow travel off-peak.