Transparency data

CMA Board meeting minutes: 17 January 2024

Published 3 June 2024

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Venue: In the Cabot, London, and by videoconference

Members present

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

Advisors present

• Jessica Lennard, Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer
• Chris Prevett, Interim General Counsel
• Mike Walker, Chief Economic Adviser

Apologies

• Lucy Robbins, Senior Director, People, Capability and Culture (PCC)
• Michael Grenfell, Executive Director, Enforcement

CMA staff present

• Will Hayter, Senior Director for the Digital Markets Unit
• Jennifer Halliday, Senior Director, Advocacy and External Engagement ^{[footnote 2]}
• Kate Bridge, Director of Executive Office, Security, and Property
• Sukhinder Lalli, Legal Director, Governance, Compliance and Risk
• Anthony Wright, Director, Communications ^{[footnote 3]}
• Chief of Staff, Executive Office
• Board Secretary (minutes)

Teams

The meeting was attended by teams from across the CMA, including the DMU, Markets, Remedies, Consumer, Microeconomics Unit, and PCC 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 12 December 2023, with no changes.

Major developments in the external environment in which we operate

2. CEO and Chair comments

The Chair summarised opportunities and challenges facing the CMA during 2024 and updated the Board on the status of new NED appointments.

Strategy, Portfolio and Risk Management

3. CEO update

The Board was updated on and discussed recent developments in the CMA’s portfolio and risk profile. The Board also reviewed the corporate risk register, the external guidance tracker, the monthly Finance update and an update on the work outcoming from the recent Shaping the Future programme.

4. Audit and Risk Assurance Committee update

The Chair of ARAC updated the Board on the items discussed at its 16 January meeting, including the project to procure a new corporate system and plans to update the approach to risk management.

Policy and Cases

5. CEO update

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

6. Private Equity Review report

The Board discussed the strategies of Private Equity in a range of market situations.

7. Market Review of veterinary services for domestic pets

The Board considered the outcomes of the recent informal market review into veterinary services for domestic pets. Highlighting the importance of this market to pet owners and veterinary businesses, it decided to consult on making a market investigation reference in relation to the veterinary services market for domestic pets. It also approved the recommendation to review the Supply of Veterinary Medicinal Products Order 2005 alongside a potential MIR.

8. The CMA’s work in labour markets

The Board gave its perspectives on the draft Microeconomics Unit’s Competition and market power in UK labour markets report, noting that the publication of this report will take place alongside a speech from our CEO on labour markets. It also discussed the potential scope of the CMA’s work in labour markets in the future and gave a steer on focus and prioritisation for such work.

9. Update on the new Digital Markets competition regime

The Board was updated on the latest developments in the CMA’s preparation for the new regime.

10. Funerals update

The Board reviewed progress made in compliance with the Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 and recommended ways to improve it further. It noted that the CMA’s second annual review of market outcomes will be published in February and decided not to consult on a further market investigation reference at this stage.

People

11. CEO update

The CEO updated the Board on opportunities, challenges and initiatives relating to the CMA’s people.

12. Government Common Office Attendance Expectation for Civil Servants

The Board considered the CMA’s approach to office attendance expectation in light of the recent government guidance that civil servants based in offices should spend a minimum of 60% of their working time working in offices.

13. AOB

The Board discussed the draft agendas for its February meetings. The Chair thanked the Board for the meeting.

1. KB was recused from item 7, taking account of paragraph 33 of schedule 4 to ERRA. ↩

2. JH joined the meeting for items 3 and 6-8. ↩

3. AW joined the meeting for items 3, 7 and 8. ↩