No 6789
Wednesday 18 June 2025
Vol clv No 38
pp. 649–666
20 June, Friday. Full Term ends.
25 June, Wednesday. Scarlet Day. Easter Term ends. Congregation of the Regent House at 2.45 p.m. (Honorary Degrees).
1 July, Tuesday. Discussion by videoconference at 2 p.m. (see below).
2 July, Wednesday. Scarlet Day. Congregation of the Regent House at 10 a.m. (General Admission).
3 July, Thursday. Scarlet Day. Congregation of the Regent House at 10 a.m. (General Admission).
4 July, Friday. Scarlet Day. Congregation of the Regent House at 10 a.m. (General Admission).
5 July, Saturday. Scarlet Day. Congregation of the Regent House at 10 a.m. (General Admission).
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Discussions (Tuesdays at 2 p.m.) |
Congregations (at 10 a.m. unless otherwise stated) |
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1 July |
25 June, 2.45 p.m. (Honorary Degrees) |
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15 July |
2, 3, 4 and 5 July (General Admission) |
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24, 25 and 26 July |
Ordinary issues of the Reporter for the remainder of the 2024–25 academic year will be published on 2, 9 and 30 July 2025. Issues will only be published on 16 and 23 July if needed for urgent items of business. The first issue of the 2025–26 academic year is currently scheduled for publication on 24 September.
The Vice‑Chancellor invites members of the Regent House, University and College employees, registered students and others qualified under the regulations for Discussions (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 111) to attend a Discussion by videoconference on Tuesday, 1 July 2025 at 2 p.m. The following items will be discussed:
1.Report of the General Board, dated 9 June 2025, on the outcomes of the Academic Career Pathways (Research and Teaching) and (Teaching and Scholarship) 2025 exercises (Reporter, 6788, 2024–25, p. 636).
2.Report of the General Board, dated 9 June 2025, on the introduction of a Linguistics and Modern Languages Tripos in the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics (p. 657).
Those wishing to join the Discussion by videoconference should email UniversityDraftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk from their University email account, providing their CRSid (if a member of the collegiate University), by 10 a.m. on the date of the Discussion to receive joining instructions. Alternatively contributors may email their remarks to contact@proctors.cam.ac.uk, copying ReporterEditor@admin.cam.ac.uk, by no later than 10 a.m. on the day of the Discussion for reading out by the Proctors,1 or may ask someone else who is attending to read the remarks on their behalf.
In accordance with the regulations for Discussions, the Chair of the Board of Scrutiny or any ten members of the Regent House2 may request that the Council arrange for one or more of the items listed for discussion to be discussed in person (usually in the Senate-House). Requests should be made to the Registrary, on paper or by email to UniversityDraftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk from addresses within the cam.ac.uk domain, by no later than 9 a.m. on the day of the Discussion. Any changes to the Discussion schedule will be confirmed in the Reporter at the earliest opportunity.
General information on Discussions is provided on the University Governance site at https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/governance/decision-making/discussions/.
1Any comments sent by email should please begin with the name and title of the contributor as they wish it to be read out and include at the start a note of any College and/or Departmental affiliations held.
2https://www.scrutiny.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/regent_house_roll/section1.shtml.
The Vice-Chancellor gives notice that she has received from the Governing Body of St John’s College, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(2) of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Act 1923, the text of proposed Statutes to amend the Statutes of the College. The current Statutes of the College and the proposed amendments are available on the College’s website at: https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/statutes-and-governance. The Council will consider the amendments after 10 a.m. on Friday, 4 July 2025.
In 2013, the local planning authority granted outline planning permission for the development of the North West Cambridge site, following the approval of Grace 2 of 15 June 2011.1 Part of that planning permission has now lapsed. The Council is asking for approval to submit a new application for outline planning consent, so that the ability to continue residential development is kept open, but it is also proposing changes to the proposed capacity of the site. No approval is being sought at this stage to authorise development, which will be subject to further approvals and capital expenditure scrutiny.
The strategic rationale for the development remains the delivery of housing for University key workers, principally postdoctoral researchers. The original outline planning permission granted in 2013 covered the whole 150‑hectare site and approved a development to provide up to 3,000 homes (of which half would be for key University and College employees), accommodation for 2,000 students, 100,000m2 of employment floorspace comprising up to 40,000m2 commercial floorspace and 60,000m2 academic floorspace for research institutes and private research facilities linked to the University, and a wide range of community facilities. Around one third of the site was to be used as public open space for sports, informal recreation, and ecological use.
The first phase, Eddington, has established a settlement that is seen as an exemplar of placemaking. It has seen the delivery of around 1,200 homes (including 700 dwellings for key University and College employees) with around a further 650 homes currently under construction, along with accommodation for 325 students, and the completion of infrastructure and community facilities, including a community centre, primary school, nursery, health centre, supermarket and shops, hotel, and dedicated public open space and cycle routes.
Any future development will retain the principal aim of the first phase – to create a vibrant, long-lasting and sustainable place. The new proposal for outline planning permission seeks to enable additional development to provide up to 3,800 further dwellings, maintaining up to 2,000 student beds, 100,000m2 of employment and academic floorspace and ancillary amenity, sports and open green space.2 Having permission to accommodate greater numbers at Eddington will give the University more options when finalising plans for the site. Flexibility is being sought in the types of residential units that can be delivered. As an example, there may be a wish to bring forward future University housing in the form of sharer units or ‘co-living’. To enable this, a broad description of development is being adopted enabling up to 417,000m2 of ‘living-sector uses’ including traditional residential, purpose-built student accommodation and co-living (sharer units with shared communal facilities).
Open green space, comprising 40% of the site, is embedded within the masterplan through features such as shared gardens, a new common and a landscaped Western Edge with an on-site Biodiversity Net Gain3 target of 10%. Further socio-economic enhancements would be provided as part of a wider s.1064 package including: allotment provision, enhanced sporting facilities and financial contributions to education provision.
Over 1,000 local residents, University employees and students attended and took part in consultations on the proposed masterplan. Key themes of the feedback were a demand for further green open space and support for active travel, and strong support for affordable housing and additional sports facilities. Some concerns about building heights and density were expressed, with other comments acknowledging the link between density and public open space.
The Council is seeking approval by Grace (Grace 1, p. 665) so that it can apply for new outline planning consent as described above.
1Reporter, 2010–11: 6224, p. 760; 6229, p. 943.
2Further details are available at: https://eddington-cambridge.co.uk/about-us/future-phases-consultation.
3Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to development that makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. In England, BNG is mandatory under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021).
4A planning agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 between the local planning authority and the developer is a legally binding and enforceable agreement that seeks to mitigate the impacts of a development proposal.
In July 2024, the Council approved the creation of a new part-time fellowship secondment programme sponsored by the Vice-Chancellor, to provide emerging academic leaders with experience of working at a senior level within the University and having responsibility for delivering University- or School-wide initiatives.1 These opportunities are intended to create an internal pipeline of future academic leaders at the University. The programme comprises up to six Fellowship Secondments, each supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) or Head of School (as appropriate). The first two Fellows, supported by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Environmental Sustainability), were selected in May 2025.
Now a search is being launched to select two more Fellows, one supported by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the other supported by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (University Community and Engagement). Each will be assigned a portfolio, as detailed below:
1.Research Income Review (supported by the PVC for Research)
The Fellow will deliver the Research Income Review instigated by the Research Policy Committee, examining all sources of income and cost recovery. Understanding the role that government (including UKRI), charity and industrial research grants, as well as philanthropy, play in funding research at Cambridge, it will cover different types of university research contexts, including individuals, collaborations (both internal and external), research centres and other large grant settings. It will also examine how the University recovers the costs of doing research. There will be the opportunity to take the lead on helping to implement the recommendations made.
2.Collections Review (supported by the PVC for University Community and Engagement)
The University has many noteworthy collections that play an important role in academic and public life, ranging from the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Scott Polar Institute to the Botanic Garden and the University Library. These collections have varying missions, governance structures, and relations to teaching and research. The Fellow will deliver a review of these units that will make recommendations for maximising their contributions and success over the next five to ten years. The heads of the University’s collections and museums have been consulted and support the review.
The successful candidates are likely to be senior academics (Grades 10–12), with a desire to obtain greater experience of working across the University and the Colleges and a view to taking on a leadership role in the future. The individuals will have a curiosity about how the University currently works and how it might work better, with the ability to influence and persuade and build consensus. Strong communication skills and the ability to prioritise will be essential.
Each Fellowship Secondment will be at the equivalent of 20% FTE for one year (equivalent to one day a week), renewable for a maximum of three years. In addition to a Leadership Allowance,2 the Fellows will each receive professional development support, including participation in the University’s Senior Leadership Programme Level 3 course.3
The Vice-Chancellor expects to make the secondment appointments during the Long Vacation, with a start date in Michaelmas Term 2025.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomes expressions of interest. This is an internal scheme open to individuals from within the University and the Colleges.
Expressions of interest, including a curriculum vitae and covering letter, should be sent by email to the Resourcing Team in the Human Resources Division at seniorrecruitmentfellows@admin.cam.ac.uk by Friday, 18 July 2025.
2Variable according to base pay; to be calculated as the difference for each successful Fellow between 20% of base pay and £25k p.a. payable by their current employer as an uplift to base salary.
3See the Senior Leadership Programmes overview at: https://www.ppd.admin.cam.ac.uk/leadership-development/leadership-development-programmes/senior-leadership-programmes-overview.
The Council has received the remarks made at the Discussion on 3 June 2025 concerning the above Report (Reporter, 2024–25: 6784, p. 560; 6788, p. 647). It has consulted with the General Board in preparing this response.
This Report proposes revisions to the examination allowances system for undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University, including granting re‑assessment where certain criteria have been made. Professor Evans queries whether it would have been preferable to offer the opportunities for re‑assessment to postgraduate students, in addition to undergraduate students. The Council can confirm that the Ordinance for Allowances to Candidates for Examinations (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 254) already provides opportunity for the re‑examination of postgraduate students as an examination allowance, as briefly set out in paragraph 4 of the Report. In addition, for students undertaking postgraduate research degrees who have been impacted by illness or other grave cause, there is access to the Examination Review Procedure (reproduced in Statutes and Ordinances, p. 215), which can offer a number of remedies to the student including re-examination.
Professor Evans also comments on a review of higher doctorates that is currently taking place. The Council notes that the Postgraduate Committee expects to receive recommendations arising from that review in the next academic year.
The Council is submitting a Grace (Grace 2, p. 665) for the approval of the recommendations of this Report.
Under Special Ordinance A (i) (e), retired members of University staff who were previously on the Roll can reacquire Regent House membership (including, for example, those currently working as voluntary Directors of Research). To qualify, University staff:
•will have retired or be about to retire from an office or appointment in the University which previously qualified them for membership of the Regent House; and
•will not be eligible for membership of the Regent House in any other category, e.g. as a Fellow of a College; and
•will need to provide to the Registrary by 15 August prior to the promulgation of the Roll each year written confirmation from their Head of institution that they are active participants in the University’s affairs.
Further information and an application form are available on the University Governance site at https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/governance/key-bodies/RH-Senate/Pages/FAQs-about-the-Regent-House.aspx. Applications should be sent to the Registrary by email to UniversityDraftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk by Friday, 15 August 2025, for inclusion on the Roll from 6 November 2025.
Both the Yard and the Combination Room will be closed on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, on the occasion of the Honorary Degree Congregation. Access to the University Offices will be from Trinity Lane. Only those with admission tickets for the Congregation and other authorised persons will be allowed to enter the Yard during the closure.