Transparency data

CMA Board meeting minutes: 18 January 2023

Published 31 May 2023

Meeting date: 18 January 2023

Venue: In the Cabot, London and by videoconference

Members present

• Marcus Bokkerink (Chair)
• Kirstin Baker^{[footnote 1]}
• Sarah Cardell (CEO)^{[footnote 2]}
• Martin Coleman
• Cynthia Dubin^{[footnote 3]}
• Amelia Fletcher
• Michael Grenfell
• David Stewart
• Erik Wilson (COO)

Advisors present

• Stuart Hudson, Senior Director Strategy, Communications and Advocacy
• Lucy Robbins, Senior Director, People, Capability and Culture
• Chris Prevett, Interim General Counsel
• Mike Walker, Chief Economic Adviser^{[footnote 4]}

Apologies

• Murdoch MacLennan

CMA staff present

• Kate Bridge, Director of Executive Office, Security and Performance
• Sukhinder Lalli, Legal Director, Governance, Compliance and Risk
• Chief of Staff, Executive Office
• Committee Secretary (minutes)

Teams

The meeting was attended by teams from across the CMA, including from the DMU, Corporate Services, Consumer enforcement, Markets & Mergers, Remedies, and the OIM.

Minutes

Introduction

1 . Introduction

The Chair welcomed the Board members to the meeting, noting that there was one apology.

The Board approved the minutes from the extraordinary Board meeting of 1 December subject to small drafting changes, and the Board meeting of 14 December 22 with no changes. The Board acknowledged the committee minutes received.

Major developments in the external environment in which we operate

2 . CEO and Chair comments

The CEO and Chair updated the Board on their recent engagement with stakeholders on the CMA’s draft Annual Plan.

Strategy, Policy, Portfolio and Risk Management

3 . CEO update

The CEO updated the Board on recent developments in the CMA, including the January Resources, Portfolio and Pipeline meeting. The Board reviewed the corporate risk register and the external guidance tracker.

4 . Digital Markets Unit update

The Board received an update as work to establish the Digital Markets Unit within the CMA and the new regime, including liaison with government, operational planning and the interaction of the new powers with current and future digital casework.

5 . Update on competition and consumer protection law reforms

The Board was updated on progress on the key competition and consumer protection sections of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill which is likely to substantially enhance the CMA’s competition and consumer protection law enforcement powers.

Cases

6 . CEO update

The CEO updated the Board on recent developments in the CMA’s casework.

7 . Panel update

The Chair of the CMA Panel updated the Board on recent discussions with the Inquiry Chairs and Panel members.

8 . Accommodation:

• House building market study

The Board discussed proposals for a market study in the housebuilding sector, agreeing the study in principle and asking the team to return to the 21 February Board for formal approval.

• Proposal for a thematic project exploring consumer protection concerns in the accommodation sector

The Board considered a thematic project exploring consumer protection concerns in the accommodation sector, asking for this proposal to be worked up further for the Board meeting scheduled for 21 February.

9 . Office for the Internal Market: First request – DEFRA peat regulations

The Board was updated on the Office for the Internal Market’s first request from the government for advice on the impact of a proposed regulation on the UK internal market for the sale of peat in England. The team highlighted that it aims to provide its analysis by February 2023.

10 . Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 – Update on monitoring and enforcement and annual review of market outcomes in the funerals sector

The Board considered the work to improve compliance with the Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021, noting that the introduction of transparency rules, as part of this Order, have been found to have a constraining effect on funeral prices, meaning that costs paid by UK consumers for funeral services are likely to be lower as a result of the CMA’s intervention. The Board signed off the first Annual Review for publication.

11 . The CMA Board’s risk appetite

The Board approved the Board’s revised risk appetite.

12 . Board Cyber Security toolkit

The CMA’s Security and Business Services team introduced the Board to the National Cyber Security Center’s Board tool kit. The Board discussed cyber security more generally, noting the high risk a security breach could pose to the CMA.

13 . CEO update

The CEO updated the Board on recent developments in recruitment and HR.

14 . AOB

The Chair reviewed the meeting and thanked the Board.

1. KB left the meeting towards the end of item 10. ↩

2. SC left the meeting at the end of item 7, rejoining at the start of item 9. ↩

3. CD left the meeting after item 10, rejoining at the start of item 13. ↩

4. MW joined the meeting from item 5. ↩