RSH N&RC minutes - 15 June 2026
Updated 9 October 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rsh-nominations-and-remuneration-committee-minutes-2026/rsh-nrc-minutes-15-june-2026
on Monday 15 June 2026 at 11:00 – Hybrid meeting; MS Teams & 2 Marsham Street
Members
- Deborah Gregory (DG) - Chair of RSH Nominations and Remuneration Committee
- Bernadette Conroy (BC) - Chair of RSH Board
- Chan Kataria (CKa)
- Sukhvinder Kaur-Stubbs (SKS)
In attendance
- John Liver (JL) - Board Member (for items 6 & 7 only)
- David Blackburn (DB) - Transformation Consultant
- Emma Tarran (ET) - Senior Assistant Director Head of Legal and Company Secretary
- Jonathan Walters (JW) - Chief Executive
- John O’Mahony (JOM) - Assistant Director Corporate Services
- Kate Dodsworth (KD) - Deputy Chief Executive
Minutes:
- Amber Gaskell (AG) - Board Secretary
1 - Welcome and introductions
01/06/26 DG welcomed everyone to the meeting. Board Members introduced themselves to DB. There were apologies from Richard Peden.
2 - Declaration of interests
02/06/26 There were no new Declarations of Interest. There are some items on the agenda to be discussed that directly or indirectly affect the Exec team. This has been considered and noted.
3 - Minutes of last meeting – 16 March 2026
03/06/26 The confidential and public minutes from 16 March 2026 were agreed. It was clarified that the yellow highlighted sections are the proposals for redactions. It was raised that there was also a single item meeting on 18th May 2026; minutes for this will be shared in due course.
4 - Matters arising
04/06/26 The Matters Arising were reviewed:
- 07/03: this will be covered in the meeting and can be CLOSED.
- 13/03: this will be covered in the meeting and can be CLOSED.
- 24/10: Central Repository for papers: This will be CARRIED FORWARD.
5 - Forward Planner
05/06/26 The Committee reviewed and were happy with the proposed agendas to the end of 2026. JW advised that the September meeting would have a focus on the Corporate Centre work as it should by then be in the consultation stage. It was agreed that there will be an additional N&RC meeting in July to discuss the Corporate Centre and staff Pay Award. BC suggested having this after Board.
Schedule extra meeting in July.
6 - Staffing the corporate centre: strategic update and assurance
06/06/26 DB took the committee members through an update on the work he has been undertaking. DB noted that they are in the discovery stage of this project, and DB will have spoken to 74 colleagues during this phase; with 33 interviews being completed so far and another 22 booked in. He has carried out facilitated workshops and one to one conversations. There are 2 surveys being circulated to officers; the CIPD people impact tool, which is independent and has been widely used in government, and an internal organisational effectiveness questionnaire. There will be a focus on delivering outputs against problem statements to address identified issues.
07/06/26 DB took questions from the committee members and there was a discussion.
JOM to share the risk appetite statement with DB.
7 - People update
08/06/26 JOM introduced the People update. Members and Exec noted the paper.
09/06/26 It has been agreed that performance reporting processes will come to board on a quarterly basis and regular updates provided to all staff for the EDI strategy and action plan. JOM wanted to give formal credit to Lewis Rimmer for leading on the EDI strategy and EDI action plan.
10/06/26 JOM clarified that the People Plan has been paused as a formal project.
11/06/26 The recent audit in HR operations was completed.
12/06/26 The Staff Conference took place in Birmingham last week; it was unanimously agreed that this went extremely well.
13/06/26 DG asked if the workshops being undertaken with staff have had a positive and constructive response. JOM advised that the responses have been positive, and there has been valid constructive feedback from officers. DG asked how staff will receive tangible updates on the work that’s taking place; JOM confirmed there is another staff survey due for next year and there is a HSE stress at work survey to be circulated soon. There will be updates shared as part of RSH briefs and items published onto the staff intranet. There will also be information fed into the ADRE leadership groups as the best way for staff to get information would be from their own direct management.
14/06/26 There was a discussion around the Appraisal system and the need for an overhaul on this in due course to allow for improved performance management and accountability. JL left the meeting at the end of this item.
8 - People update: Staff pay awards
15/06/26 JW updated the committee.
9 - Board appraisals: themes, lessons learned and follow up actions
16/06/26 BC updated as to the themes emerging from the Board appraisals. It is felt that the strategic dialogue at Board meetings has improved and there is enthusiasm for strategic sessions going forward. The workshop sessions are also valued by the Board. Confidential themes arising from appraisals are to be discussed at the end of the meeting today by committee members in a private session. DG confirmed she will also address Board during the confidential session tomorrow morning as to BCs appraisal; this will be done without BC in the room.
12 - Papers review
19/06/26 No comments on papers.
13 - AOB
20/06/26 JW advised that the new interim director of finance and corporate services will be joining in July.