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CMA board meeting minutes: 19 July 2023

Published 26 October 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-board-meeting-minutes-july-2023/cma-board-meeting-minutes-19-july-2023

Meeting date: 19 July 2023

Venue: In The Cabot, London, and by videoconference

Members present

  • Marcus Bokkerink (Chair)

  • Kirstin Baker

  • Sarah Cardell (CEO)[footnote 1]

  • Martin Coleman

  • Cynthia Dubin

  • Amelia Fletcher

  • Michael Grenfell

  • Murdoch MacLennan

  • David Stewart

  • Erik Wilson (COO)

Advisors present

  • Lucy Robbins, Senior Director, People, Capability and Culture

  • Chris Prevett, Interim General Counsel

  • Mike Walker, Chief Economic Adviser

Apologies:

  • None

CMA staff present

  • Kate Bridge, Director of Executive Office, Security, Property and Performance

  • Jennifer Williams, Assistant Legal Director, Governance, Compliance and Risk

  • Anthony Wright, Director of Communications

  • Board Secretary (minutes)

Teams

The meeting was attended by teams from across the CMA, including the Digital Markets Unit and the Consumer, Legal, CA98 and Policy teams.

Minutes

1. Introduction

The Chair welcomed the Board members to the meeting.

Minutes

The Board approved the minutes from the meetings of the Board on 13, 22 and 27 & 29 June 2023, with no changes. The Board acknowledged the committee minutes received.

Major developments in the external environment in which we operate

2. CEO and Chair comments

The Board discussed recent external engagement.

Strategy, Portfolio and Risk Management

3. CEO update

The CEO updated the Board on recent developments in the CMA, including the recent Resource, Portfolio and Pipeline Committee meeting of 11 July. The Board reviewed the corporate risk register and the external guidance tracker.

4. People update

The Senior Director, People, Capability and Culture, updated the Board on people issues and developments in the CMA. The Chair of the Remuneration Committee also updated the Board on its recent meeting of 15 July.

Cases

5. Accommodation

  • Housebuilding market study
  • Private rented Accommodation update

The Board discussed these two CMA projects in this important sector. It reviewed the draft Executive Summary for the initial update on the Housebuilding Market Study and agreed that the CMA should open a consultation on a proposal to make a market investigation reference into aspects into this market. It also discussed an update on the CMA’s work in the private rental sector, noting the emerging issues and giving steers on the focus of this work. The Board provided perspectives on the communication plans for these two related projects.

6. The CMA’s activity in labour markets

The Board discussed a paper bringing together the CMA’s work on labour market issues, covering enforcement cases, compliance guidance and research in the Microeconomics Unit. The Board provided guidance on the remit of this work, the role for the CMA, and the future work programme.

Shaping the future

7. Leveraging our senior decision-makers

The Board considered the actions proposed to strengthen the involvement and empowerment of Senior Directors and Directors in decision-making, as part of the broader Shape the Future CMA programme. The Board approved the associated amendments to the XCo and CPC Terms of Reference.

8. Establishing the next phase of Digital Transformation

The Board discussed an update on the next phase of the Digital Transformation Programme within the broader Shape the Future CMA programme. It reviewed the proposals and evaluated the potential transformative impact of generative AI. The Board provided guidance on how to maximise the positive impacts and at the same time exercise the care and caution needed to protect the CMA from accuracy and security risks.

Portfolio

9. Scope of 10 year review of the concurrency arrangements

The Board discussed the proposed scope for the upcoming in-depth review of competition concurrency, as we approach the 10th anniversary of the current arrangements in 2024. It agreed the value of this review and commented on the proposed objectives, requesting some changes. It agreed to delegate approval of the final draft call for inputs for publication to the CEO.

10. DMU update

The Board was updated on the passage of the DMCC Bill through parliament and commented on the plans for the development of the DMU.

11. AOB

The Chair reviewed the meeting and thanked the Board.

  1. SC left the meeting after item 7. ↩

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