Buildings and Estates Committee (BEC)

Senate in 2009 reviewed its exiting committee structure and at its meeting on 21/09/09 resolved to approve a new structure to come into place at the beginning of 2010. The new structure included the Buildings and Estates Committee (BEC). [Note in regard to the spelling of the Committee name both terms 'Buildings' and 'Building' seem to be used. E.g. the resolution establishing the Committee, or the description in 2017 Calendar p.342]The Terms of Reference for the Committee were:The role of the Committee is to monitor and advise Senate Senate on matters of planning, development and general oversight of the management of the University's real property and physical infrastructure with particular reference to: major capital developments; infrastructure management; operating resource allocation; sustainability and ensuring effective risk management in the areas covered by the Committee's remit. (Building and Estate Committee Minutes, 8 July 2010)In 2017 Senate reviewed its committee structure again and at its meeting in December 2017 resolved to establish four committees to assist it with the exercise of its functions, effective from 1 January 2018. The Building and Estates Committee was one of these committees. Its terms of reference were:The role of the Buildings and Estates Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on matters of planning, development and general oversight of the management of the University’s real property and physicalinfrastructure with particular reference to:a) major capital developmentsb) infrastructure managementc) operating resource allocationd) sustainabilitye) ensuring effective risk management in the areas covered by the committee’s remitf) conducting deep dive reviews in in the areas covered by the committee’s remit.The committee’s terms of reference are reflected in the University of Sydney (Delegations of Authority – Administrative Functions) Rule 2016 (‘the Delegations’). The committee is authorised by Senate to:a) recommend to the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) capital expenditure projects or strategic initiative business cases valued above $10m, which are within the approved University budget total, in accordance with Delegation 6.3.1, noting that:.i. Business cases provided to the Buildings and Estates Committee must have been through a consultation process with the University Executive, Chief Financial Officer and Strategy Governance Board before being provided to the committee.b) approve entry into contracts valued above $10m, up to the value of the approved project budget, in accordance with Delegation 6.5.1, noting that:i. contracts provided to the Building and Estates Committee must have been through a consultation process with the relevant Project Control Group, if applicable, and with the Vice-Principal (Operations)c) approve variations to contracts valued above $500,000, which are within the approved project budget in accordance with Delegation 6.5.2, noting that:.i. such variations must have must have been through a consultation process with the Finance and Audit Committee, if approval would result in exceeding the original project budget.In 2020 Senate undertook an external review of its committee structure and established the following committees, effective 1 October 2020. The Building and Estates Committee continued to be one of the committees advising Senate. The Committee’s Terms of Reference now were reflected in the University of Sydney Delegations of Authority Rule 2020 (‘the Delegations’).