ORDINANCE 2
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL
1. In accordance with Article 7 of the Charter, the Council shall exercise all the powers of the University.
2. The primary responsibilities of the Council shall be to:
(a) set and approve the mission, strategic vision and values of the University with the President and Principal;
(b) agree the long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators and ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders, especially staff, students and alumni;
(c) ensure that processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the University against the strategy, plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be, where possible and appropriate, benchmarked against other comparable institutions;
(d) 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 President and Principal;
(e) ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls, risk assessment, value for money and procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest;
(f) establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of Council itself;
(g) 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;
(h) safeguard the good name and values of the University;
(i) appoint the President and Principal as chief executive, and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his/her performance;
(j) appoint the Secretary to Council and to ensure that, if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities in the University, there shall be an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability;
(k) be the employing authority for all staff in the University and to be accountable for ensuring that an appropriate human resources strategy is in place;
(l) be the principal financial and business authority of the University, to ensure that proper books of account are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall accountability for the University’s assets, property and estate;
(m) be the University’s legal authority and, as such, to ensure systems are in place for meeting all the University’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the University’s name. This includes accountability for health, safety and security and for equality, diversity and inclusion;
(n) receive assurance that adequate provision has been made for the general welfare of students;
(o) act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the University;
(p) operate in accordance with the Charter and ensure that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen;
(q) promote a culture which supports inclusivity and diversity across the University;
(r) maintain and protect the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech in accordance with relevant legislation; and
(s) ensure that students and staff are afforded opportunities to engage with the governance of the University.
3. In accordance with Article 14 of the Charter, the Council may delegate any of its powers to such committees and persons as it may think fit, subject to Article 15 of the Charter which sets out which of its powers the Council may not delegate. The Council however reserves to itself powers to make, amend and revoke the following Codes of Practice, Policies and Regulations in recognition of their importance for ensuring effective governance and safeguarding the good name of the University:
(a) Articles of Association of the Students’ Union;
(b) Code of Practice on Free Speech;
(c) Conflict of Interest Policy;
(d) Delegation Framework;
(e) Financial Regulations;
(f) Gift Acceptance Policy;
(g) Investment Policy;
(h) Risk Management Policy;
(i) Whistleblowing Procedure.
4. Regulations, Codes of Practice and Policies that include penalties for their breach shall not be valid until they have been approved by the Council or its delegated authority.
Approved by the Council with effect from 1 August 2024.