Keele statement of accounts 20/21 | Page 24

Keele University

Council Committees

The Business Review Committee provides detailed scrutiny on behalf of the Council on matters concerning the operation and financial sustainability of the University . It receives and recommends approval to the Council of the draft budget , financial forecasts and statutory accounts , monitors financial performance against agreed plans and budgets , receives reports on the University ’ s wholly-owned subsidiary companies and monitors the University ’ s portfolio of investments .

The Nominations & Governance Committee advises the Council on matters relating to corporate governance arrangements , ensuring that the University pursues best practice and complies with external governance requirements in addition to advising the Council on the appointment of new members , members of the College of Fellows and the Chancellor . The Committee takes into account skills and experience and seeks to ensure the promotion of equality and diversity in reflecting both the diversity of society and the needs of the University in all of its appointments . The University , in accordance with guidance based on the Lambert Report , normally advertises vacancies nationally against defined person specifications .

The Senior Remuneration Committee determines the remuneration of the most senior academic and professional services staff , including the Vice-Chancellor . The University adopted the CUC HE Senior Staff Remuneration Code , which was published on 6 June 2018 and demonstrates Council ’ s leadership and stewardship in seeking to protect the University ’ s reputation and provide greater assurances to key stakeholders and partners , including the student community and wider society .

The Audit & Risk Committee meets at least three times a year , with the University ’ s external and internal auditors in attendance . The Committee considers detailed reports together with recommendations for the improvement of the University ’ s systems of internal control and management ’ s responses and implementation plans . The Audit & Risk Committee undertakes an annual appraisal of its effectiveness and prepares an Annual Report for both the Council and the OfS . It also receives and considers reports from the OfS as they affect the University ’ s business and monitors adherence to the regulatory requirements . Whilst senior executives attend meetings of the Audit & Risk Committee , they are not members of the Committee , and the Committee members meet both the Internal and External Auditors on their own for independent discussions at least once a year . 24

Statement of Primary Responsibilities – The Role of Council

The appointment and powers of the Council are laid down by the Charter and Statutes of the University . Its main general responsibilities are as follows :

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To approve the mission and strategic vision of the institution , long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators , and to ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders .

To delegate authority to the Vice- Chancellor , as chief executive , for the academic , corporate , financial , estate and personnel management of the institution . 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 .

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

To ensure that 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 governing body itself .

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 .

To safeguard the good name and values of the institution .

To appoint the Vice-Chancellor as chief executive , and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his / her performance .

To appoint a secretary to the governing body and to ensure that , if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities in the institution , there is an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability .

To be the employing authority for all staff in the institution and to be responsible for establishing a human resources strategy .

To be the principal financial and business 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 , property and estate .

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 .

To ensure , subject to the relevant legislation , that appropriate arrangements are in place for the management and operation of such companies as are wholly or partly owned by the University .

To accept ultimate responsibility for the health and safety of employees , students and other individuals while they are on the institution ’ s premises and in other places where they may be affected by its operations . And to ensure that the institution has a written statement of policy on health and safety and arrangements for the implementation of that policy .

To make such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of students , in consultation with the Senate .

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

To ensure that the institution ’ s constitution is followed at all times and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen .