Executive Committee Report to Council - 28 April 2006

Executive Committee met during the week of members consultation meetings.

Summary of Business

1.      The ED gave a short debrief on ICANN. Follow up actions were identified for DNSSec (NZRS) and CA (ED/Technical Analyst/Technical Committee).

2.      The Technical Analyst has work-in-progress to request a proposal from WAND for a feasibility and options paper on broadband monitoring.

3.      The priority of and progress on a plan for InternetNZ members was discussed. By general consensus and considering feedback from members, it was agreed the priority of this needs to be raised. ED agreed to develop a detailed proposal and bring to Council within 4-6 weeks (i.e. June meeting).

4.      The Committee reviewed plans for the members consultation meetings.

5.      Executive Committee endorsed the EDs decision to sign an MoU regarding Positive Computing for Parents. The MoU has no financial obligations and will be reported to Council by the ED.

6.      The Committee discussed a consultation document on the Copyright Act. ED advised the Research & Policy Officer is looking at this and staff have briefly identified some minor issues. Executive Committee endorsed the approach but flagged this as a low priority.

7.      NZOC/NZRS Appointments Panel: The Committee agreed a resolution needs to go to Council establishing a panel. The ED will provide a secretariat to the group.

8.      The Committee discussed the organisation of the Fellows Committee and considered whether there were appointments that should be being considered.

9.      Executive Committee requested an update on the progress of the Remuneration Panel. The Committee asked the President to discuss the scope of the panels work and timeframes with the Chair of the panel.

10.  Executive Committee reviewed the budget setting process and considered what did and did not work well. Weaknesses were identified in the process and outcome. Executive Committee agreed that, next year, Council needs to have an early discussion about its fiscal envelope, that there needs to be due diligence by Executive Committee on first round budget bids by Committees and a number of coherent options need to be put to Council for final decision rather than a line-by-line analysis. The Committee request that staff produce half year and three-quarter year budget re-forecasts showing anticipated year-end results based on current and expected progress against the business plan to assist future planning. Staff were delegated to draw up a paper for the budget process for discussion at the next Executive Committee meeting.

11.  The Executive Committee debated the role of Executive Committee and officers in the changing Society. A crude summary is to say that the ED and staff want a more hands off approach from Executive Committee and Council and that Executive Committee wants more accurate, complete and timely information from staff. The nature professional-volunteer split in a quasi-voluntary organisation was identified as a major strategic issue for the Society.

12.  Executive Committee raised the development of management reporting framework, as raised by some Councillors at the previous Council meeting, and this was discussed. Executive Committee has an action point to develop the EDs KPIs for the six months from June 2006.

13.  The Committee discussed issues with Councils committee structure and implications for the structure of committees after the AGM.

14.  Executive Committee discussed the agenda for the 28 April Council meeting.

Recommendations

1.      THAT the report of the Executive Committee be received.