JISC Infrastructure and Resources Committee
Draft Terms of Reference
Purpose
The overall purpose of the committee is to determine and oversee the implementation
of a strategy to provide cost-effective and sustainable shared national services and resources.
Powers and Authority
In accordance with the JISC Scheme of Delegation, the JISC Board has delegated authority as follows:
- To each committee, any sum up to and including the committee’s allocated budget (this may include sums from future year’s budgets, where the JISC Board has indicated this is appropriate), provided the expenditure concerned is consistent with the committees own strategy, programmes and work plans. Any commitment of expenditure in future years where this is ahead of agreed budgets from HEFCE or the other funders must include caveats that the commitment is subject to funds being available.
- To the chair of any committee, any sum up to and including £100,000 connected to that committee’s work, subject to an annual total of no more than £500,000.
- To the secretary of any committee, any sum up to and including £10,000 connected to that committee’s work, subject to an annual total of no more than £100,000.
The Committee has delegated authority to make reasonable adjustments to its agreed work-plan and may vire funds within its own budget up to a value of £500,000 for an individual item and £2m maximum per academic year to take account of changing circumstances.
The Committee is authorised to carry out any activity within its terms of reference or referred to it by the Board or as a matter of urgency on behalf of the Board.
The Committee may obtain independent professional advice if it considers this necessary in the performance of its duties.
Duties
To develop an infrastructure and resources strategic framework linked to the JISC Strategy. To oversee and report on progress against the strategy and budget (which is managed by the Executive).
To identify activities and issues of common interest across the sub-committees and advise on how these activities can best be co-ordinated, with a view to promoting innovation and delivery. This work should include some form of annual interaction with each of JISC’s other sub-committees.
To identify, consult and work in partnership with key stakeholders relevant to the committee’s functions.
Ensure a strategy is in place which incorporates the procurement of a network to meet the needs of the whole JISC community, the delivery of services, the maintenance of network-related policies, research and development activity and (through the Executive) oversight of the network provider.
To provide advice to the Board and Executive Secretary on JISC policies relevant to its functions.
Working with others, to provide leadership in facilitating and promoting:
- interoperability across the wide range of IT systems used by the JISC community
- security, authentication and other standards that support the work of the JISC community
- the UK contribution to e-infrastructure
- the use of open source and proprietary solutions as appropriate.
- The business and community engagement agenda, as it relates to the committee’s work.
To provide, develop and/or promote the effective use of a wide range of resources for the benefit of the JISC community, for example:
- E-content and digitised information of any type and from any appropriate source
- The provision of digital repositories and portals
- Tools connected to the delivery and use of these resources.
To actively promote the uptake of resources to ensure their use is effectively disseminated and embedded in the JISC community.
To provide advice to the JISC community in any area connected to the committees functions e.g. on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
To provide assurance to the JISC Board of the proper and effective use of JIR funds in accordance with reporting procedures managed by the JISC Executive.
To carry out scenario planning and horizon scanning to inform the committee’s work.
Identify and manage the key risks to its own strategy and to consider and advise the Board on JISC’s strategic and key operational risks.
To periodically review the committee’s own effectiveness.
Constitution and Membership
There shall be between 8 and 12 members, drawn primarily from the JISC community. The Chair of the Committee shall be a member of the JISC Board and an ex-officio member of the Chairs Committee.
The committee may, if it considers it necessary or desirable, co-opt up to two advisers or specialists with particular expertise. The Committee may invite representatives of key stakeholders to attend its meetings.
Subject to the availability of resources, the committee may establish formal working groups to manage areas of its work, which shall be chaired by a JIR member.
A quorum is six members, at least one of whom shall be a Board member. In the absence of the Chair and vice chair, any other member may chair the meeting, by agreement.
The Committee will normally meet three times each year and have some form of annual interaction with each of the three other committees. Decisions may be made by virtual meetings or email providing a quorum is achieved.
Reporting
Minutes will be prepared for all meetings and, once agreed by the Chair, will be circulated to committee members. A summary of the meeting will be given to the next ordinary meeting of the Board, normally as a report for information, presented by the Chair of the Committee to the Board.
JISC Infrastructure and Resources Committee