Meeting of the Parliament 08 March 2016
All my amendments in the group reflect the proposed roles of the chairing members, which I referred to earlier, and of the co-chairs, and embrace the changes that were proposed in amendments 27 and 31.
Amendment 28 would reflect the responsibility of the senior lay member, rector or whatever she or he is called to reflect the views, aspirations and needs of their electorate when chairing the governing body on matters of policy. The chair, who would be elected by the governing body, would have responsibility for administration, finance and operations matters when chairing the governing body. I will return to that when we discuss amendment 40.
On the elected determination of the role of rector, senior lay member or whatever the person is called, my contention is that whoever fills that position should chair the governing body when issues of policy that affect the institution are to be discussed. The guarantee of the wider franchise would support them in that role when steering matters of policy through the governing body. Amendments 28 and 29 together propose that prospectus.
It is also my contention that, for day-to-day administration, finance and operations matters, the governing body should elect one of its own, who could be an elected member, a staff member or a student member, to be the co-chair.
The amendments would provide a supportive partnership that enables discussion between the co-chairs with their respective responsibilities—between the senior lay member or rector with responsibility for policy, supported by the wider franchise, and the elected chair of the governing body, supported by that body. That combination balances the clear authority to provide guidance and direction to the principals of the institutions on clearly defined matters and areas of operation and policy.
It is paradoxical that section A1(3) of the bill as it stands promotes the possibility of appointing pro tem another member of the governing body to an elected position in the absence of the senior lay member or rector while the position is vacant. The co-chair proposal largely negates that need, although provision is made in amendment 40, to which we will come.
Sections A8, A9 and 1A, on appointment, remuneration and resignation and removal, will be equally applied with respect to the position of the elected co-chair of the governing body.
I move amendment 28.