Statement of Primary Responsibilities of the Council

Introduction:

The Council shall seek to promote the objects of the institution as defined in its Charter, involving the safeguarding of the good name and values of the institution and to ensure that the institution is responsive to the interests of its stakeholders, including students, the local community and funding bodies.  The Council exercises all powers available to the institution except those expressly given to other bodies.

List of Primary Responsibilities:

1. To approve persons for appointment as President, Vice-President and Treasurer and lay members of Council.

2. To appoint, the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellors, the Registrar and Secretary and the Director of Information Services.

3. To appoint representatives of the institution on other bodies.

4. To ensure that there is compliance at all times with the institution’s Charter and Statutes, and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen.

5. To appoint a secretary to the Council and to ensure that the post has clear lines of accountability.

6. To be the employing authority for all staff in the institution and to make provision for schemes of insurance, superannuation, pensions or retirement benefits.

7. To control the establishment and disestablishment of posts.

8. To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in Higher Education corporate governance and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

9. To provide the buildings, premises, furniture and equipment and other means required for carrying on the work of the institution and maintaining its efficiency and well being.

10. To approve the mission and strategic vision of the institution, its long-term academic and business plans, and key performance indicators.

11. To approve operational strategies.

12. To ensure processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the institution against the plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be, where possible and appropriate, benchmarked against other comparable institutions.  To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the Council itself, acting as the governing body.

13. To ensure that the University meets its statutory obligations.

14. To be the financial, business and contractual authority of the institution, to ensure that proper books of account are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall responsibility for the institution’s assets, including all classes of investments and borrowing.  To determine all fees of the institution.

15. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability throughout the institution, including financial and operational controls and risk assessment, and procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest.

16. To delegate authority to the Vice-Chancellor, as chief executive, for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and personnel management of the institution; and to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the head of the institution.  The basis and framework for more detailed consideration of strategic and operational matters by individual Council members is provided through Council’s sub-committee structure.  Each sub-committee of Council has precise terms of reference outlining its powers and responsibilities.

17. To oversee arrangements for internal and external audit. 

18. To be the institution’s legal authority and, as such, to ensure that systems are in place for meeting all the institution’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the institution’s name.

19. To act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the institution.

20. To ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to manage the health and safety of staff, students and other persons affected by the University operations.

21. The Council has responsibility in consultation with the Senate:

i. To make such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of students.

ii. To accept the affiliation to or association with the institution of other institutions or departments or branches thereof.

iii. To institute Fellowships, Studentships, Scholarships, Exhibitions, Bursaries, Prizes and other such grants for the encouragement of study and research.

iv. To confer and grant Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions.  To revoke such distinction so conferred for what shall seem to the Council to be a good cause.

v. To approve the Constitution of the Student’s Organisation.