Transparency data

CMA board meeting minutes: 16 October 2023

Published 6 December 2023

Meeting date: 16 October 2023 

Venue: In The Cabot, London, and by videoconference  

Members present                         

• Marcus Bokkerink (Chair) 
• Kirstin Baker  
• Sarah Cardell (CEO) 
• Martin Coleman  
• Cynthia Dubin 
• Amelia Fletcher 
• Murdoch MacLennan^{[footnote 1]} 
• Erik Wilson (COO)

Advisors present 

• Jessica Lennard, Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer 
• Chris Prevett, Interim General Counsel^{[footnote 2]}
• Lucy Robbins, Senior Director, People, Capability and Culture 
• Mike Walker, Chief Economic Adviser 

Apologies 

• Michael Grenfell

CMA staff present 

• Kate Bridge, Director of Executive Office, Security, Property and Performance^{[footnote 3]} 
• Sukhinder Lalli, Legal Director, Governance, Compliance and Risk 
• Anthony Wright, Director, Communications^{[footnote 4]}
• Board Secretary (minutes) 

Teams 

The meeting was attended by teams from across the CMA, including the Markets, Merger Consumer, Legal, HR, OIM and SAU teams.

Minutes

Introduction

1. Introduction 

The Chair welcomed the Board members to the meeting.  

The Board approved the minutes from the meeting of the Board on 28 September 2023, with no changes. The Board acknowledged the committee minutes received. 

2. Chair’s reflections  

The Chair reflected on his first year and how the CMA has developed during that time; shared his perspectives on what the CMA has achieved and the challenges and opportunities ahead; suggested capabilities to reinforce and strengthen; and thanked the Board for its support. 

Major developments in the external environment in which we operate 

3. CEO and Chair comments 

The Board discussed recent external engagement. 

Strategy, Portfolio and Risk Management 

4. CEO update 

The CEO updated the Board on recent developments in the CMA, including outcomes from the recent Resource, Portfolio and Pipeline Committee meeting of 10 October. The Board reviewed the corporate risk register, the external guidance tracker and the monthly Finance update.   

5. Audit and Risk Assurance Committee update 

The Chair of ARAC updated the Board on its 12 October 2023 meeting. 

6. Office for the Internal Market (OIM) 

The Board reviewed the progress of the OIM since its launch in September 2021 and provided a steer on the OIM’s future strategy, noting that the Department for Business and Trade expects the OIM Panel to be appointed within the next few months. The Board also guided on the approach to the OIM’s next Annual Report, due to be published in March 2024.  

Policy and Cases 

7. CEO update 

The CEO updated the Board on recent developments in the CMA’s cases and policy work. 

8 . Accommodation:

House building market study

The Board was updated on this market study, discussed the emerging findings and noted the key milestones including the planned publication of working papers on which the team will soon consult ahead of the publication of the market study’s final report in February 2024.  

9. Consumer reform: update on (1) the CMA’s post-DMCC consumer strategy; (2) operational readiness 

The Board provided a steer on the team’s proposed strategy for consumer protection work following the DMCC reforms, to ensure the CMA achieves the greatest overall impact for consumers, businesses and the wider economy. The Board was also updated on the work to operationalise the new ‘admin model’ for consumer protection law enforcement.  

10. Subsidy Advice Unit update 

The Board was updated on the SAU’s recent activities and considered the proposed approach to monitoring, approving the draft consultation document.  

11. Phase 2 merger processes 

The Board discussed the outcomes of the CMA’s recent call for information on its Phase 2 merger inquiry processes. It discussed and provided steers on the proposed changes including those to the de minimis exception, and the Phase 2 inquiry process. The Board agreed that the team amends its guidance and consults publicly on these changes.   

People 

12. People update^{[footnote 5]} 

• CEO’s update: The CEO and Senior Director, People, Capability and Culture updated the Board on the work to develop diversity targets, the Staff Survey response levels, and the Chancellor’s recent announcement of an immediate cap on civil servant headcount across Whitehall, and his request that government departments submit long-term productivity plans

• Remuneration Committee update: The Chair of RemCo updated the Board on its meeting of 4 October 2023

13. Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting 2022 to 2023  

The Board considered the outcomes of our gender and ethnicity pay gap analysis and discussed the substantive issues that contribute to these pay gaps. It reinforced the importance of this issue and shared perspectives on the team’s proposed actions. The Board agreed the publication plans for both reports.  

14. AOB 

Prioritisation principles  

The Board endorsed the publication of updated Prioritisation Principles and a Summary of Consultation Responses. 

The Chair reviewed the meeting and thanked the Board.

1. Murdoch Mclennan keft the meeting after item 9. ↩

2. Chris Prevett left the meeting during item 9, returning towards the end of item 11. ↩

3. Kate Bridge left the meeting briefly during item 2, returning at the start of item 3, and left the meeting before item 13. ↩

4. Anthony Wright joined the meeting for item 3. ↩

5. This item was discussed after item 9. ↩