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Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016

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Version Superseded: 15/09/2018

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Point in time view as at 30/06/2017.

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CHAPTER 1SGoverning bodies

Senior lay member of governing bodyS

1Position of senior lay memberS

(1)The governing body of a higher education institution is to include the position of senior lay member (however the institution chooses to name the position).

(2)The senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution has—

(a)the duty to preside at meetings of the governing body,

(b)a deliberative and a casting vote at such meetings,

(c)responsibility for—

(i)the leadership and effectiveness of the governing body,

(ii)ensuring that there is an appropriate balance of authority between the governing body and the principal of the institution.

(3)Another member of the governing body of a higher education institution may be selected by the governing body to exercise any of the functions mentioned in subsection (2) in the absence of the senior lay member or while the position is vacant.

(4)Subsections (2) and (3) are subject to section 2.

Commencement Information

I1S. 1 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)

2Interaction with role of rectorS

(1)Subsection (2) applies in the case of a higher education institution at which there is a rector who has functions under section 4 of the 1858 Act and section 5(5) of the 1889 Act (each of which contains provision relating to the role of the rector at an older university).

(2)Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of section 1 and subsection (3) of that section so far as relating to those paragraphs are of no effect in relation to the institution (but see section 5(5) of the 1889 Act (which also contains provision about who is to preside at certain meetings in the absence of the rector)).

(3)In this section—

  • the 1858 Act” means the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858,

  • the 1889 Act” means the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889.

Commencement Information

I2S. 2 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)

3Relevant criteria and processS

(1)Whenever a vacancy arises in the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution, the governing body must delegate to a committee the responsibility of—

(a)devising the relevant criteria with respect to the position,

(b)ensuring the efficiency and fairness of the process for filling the position.

(2)The relevant criteria include the availability, skills and knowledge considered by the committee to be necessary or desirable to—

(a)exercise the functions of the senior lay member,

(b)command the trust and respect of—

(i)the other members of the governing body,

(ii)the academic board of the institution,

(iii)the staff and students of the institution.

(3)Each time the process for filling the position is undertaken, the committee must make publically available a report indicating by way of overview (and without disclosing individual identities or confidential information)—

(a)the number of applicants for the position,

(b)so far as consent to disclosure has been received by the committee from the applicants, the characteristics listed in section 149(7) of the Equality Act 2010 with respect to—

(i)the applicants,

(ii)the applicants invited to an interview for the position,

(iii)the applicants entitled to stand as candidates in an election for the position following such an interview.

(4)The membership of the committee must include at least one person from each of these categories—

(a)the staff of the institution,

(b)the students of the institution.

(5)Rules made by the governing body of the institution may contain provision about the process for filling the position of senior lay member of the governing body (subject to sections 4 to 8).

Commencement Information

I3S. 3 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)

4Advertisement and applicationS

(1)A current or upcoming vacancy in the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution is to be advertised widely by the governing body, in a manner suitable for bringing the vacancy to the attention of a broad range of persons.

(2)The committee mentioned in section 3(1) is to ensure that the advertisement—

(a)sets out the functions exercisable by the senior lay member of the governing body under section 1(2),

(b)summarises the relevant criteria with respect to the position and states how more information about the relevant criteria can be obtained,

(c)explains—

(i)the process for filling the position,

(ii)how the application form in relation to the position can be obtained,

(iii)that reimbursement is offered of expenses incurred in connection with attending an interview or campaigning in an election for the position,

(iv)that remuneration and allowances are available in connection with the holding of the position.

Commencement Information

I4S. 4 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)

5Interview of certain applicantsS

(1)If—

(a)an application for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution is made in the correct form in response to an advertisement under section 4(1), and

(b)the application appears to the committee mentioned in section 3(1) to show that the applicant meets the relevant criteria with respect to the position,

the applicant must be invited to an interview conducted by the committee.

(2)If the applicant satisfies the committee at such an interview that the applicant meets the relevant criteria, the applicant is entitled to stand as a candidate in an election for the position.

(3)The governing body of the institution is to offer every applicant for the position reimbursement of reasonable expenses that are incurred by the applicant in attending such an interview.

Commencement Information

I5S. 5 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with regs. 3, 4)

6When election to be arrangedS

(1)An election for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution must be arranged by the governing body if more than one applicant—

(a)is entitled under section 5(2) to stand as a candidate in the election, and

(b)confirms an intention to stand as a candidate in the election.

(2)If the number of candidates in the election subsequently falls to below two—

(a)the election is to be postponed until the election can be held with more than one candidate standing (and the vacancy must be advertised under section 4(1) again),

(b)the remaining candidate (if there is one) continues to be entitled to stand as a candidate in the election.

(3)The governing body of the institution is to offer every candidate in the election reimbursement of reasonable expenses that are incurred by the candidate in campaigning in the election (up to the limit per candidate that is fixed by the governing body).

Commencement Information

I6S. 6 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)

7Election franchise and resultS

(1)These persons are entitled to vote in an election under section 6 for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution—

(a)the members of the governing body,

(b)the staff of the institution,

(c)the students of the institution.

(2)No individual is entitled to cast more than one vote in the election.

(3)Each vote cast in the election carries equal weight.

(4)The election is won by the candidate who secures a simple majority of the total number of votes cast.

(5)In the event of a tie between two or more candidates for the highest number of votes cast, the election is won by whichever of them is deemed to be the winner in accordance with rules made by the governing body of the institution.

Commencement Information

I7S. 7 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)

8Appointment and tenureS

(1)The winning candidate in an election under section 6 for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution is to be appointed to the position by the governing body.

(2)An appointment to the position is for the period specified in rules made by the governing body, but the period of such an appointment may be extended in accordance with the rules.

(3)The position cannot be filled otherwise than by an appointment made by virtue of this section.

Commencement Information

I8S. 8 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)

9Remuneration and conditionsS

(1)The governing body of a higher education institution is, on the request of a person appointed to the position of senior lay member of the governing body, to pay such remuneration and allowances to the person as the governing body considers to be reasonable (which are to be commensurate with the nature and amount of the work done by the person in the capacity as senior lay member).

(2)A person appointed to the position may not be a student of, or one of the staff of, the institution during the period of the person's appointment.

(3)The holding by a person of the position is in all other respects subject to such terms and conditions as are specified by the governing body.

Commencement Information

I9S. 9 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)

Membership of governing bodyS

10Composition of governing bodyS

(1)The membership of the governing body of a higher education institution is to be composed of—

(a)the person appointed to the position of senior lay member by virtue of section 8,

(b)2 persons appointed by being elected by the staff of the institution from among their own number,

(c)1 person appointed by being nominated by a trade union from among the academic staff of the institution who are members of a branch of a trade union that has a connection with the institution,

(d)1 person appointed by being nominated by a trade union from among the support staff of the institution who are members of a branch of a trade union that has a connection with the institution,

(e)2 persons appointed by being nominated by a students' association of the institution from among the students of the institution,

(f)such other persons as are appointed—

(i)by virtue of an enactment, or

(ii)in accordance with the governing document of the institution.

(2)For the purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1), a trade union nominating a person from among a category of staff must be one that—

(a)is recognised by the institution in relation to the category of staff, as described in section 178(3) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, or

(b)otherwise appears to the institution to be representative of the category of staff, having regard to all relevant factors.

Commencement Information

I10S. 10 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1) (with reg. 5)

11Elections to governing bodyS

(1)This section applies in relation to an election of members to the governing body of a higher education institution for the purpose of paragraph (b) of section 10(1).

(2)The election process is to be conducted in accordance with rules made by the governing body of the institution.

(3)Rules under subsection (2) may include (in particular)—

(a)different provision for different vacancies,

(b)provision defining “staff” for section 10(1)(b) as—

(i)academic staff,

(ii)support staff, or

(iii)all staff.

(4)Where the number of eligible candidates in a category is equal to or fewer than the number of vacancies in that category, those candidates are deemed to be elected.

Commencement Information

I11S. 11 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)

12Nominations to governing bodyS

(1)This section applies in relation to a nomination of members to the governing body of a higher education institution for the purpose of each of paragraphs (c) to (e) of section 10(1).

(2)The nomination process is to be conducted in accordance with rules made by the governing body of the institution.

(3)Rules under subsection (2) may include (in particular)—

(a)provision specifying who may exercise the rights of nomination (whether individually or jointly),

(b)different provision for different vacancies.

(4)Before making or modifying rules under subsection (2), the governing body must consult the representatives of anyone—

(a)with a right of nomination under the proposed rules, and

(b)affected by the proposed rules or (as the case may be) modification.

Commencement Information

I12S. 12 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)

13Resignation or removal from bodyS

(1)Rules made by the governing body of a higher education institution may contain provision about the procedure for the resignation or removal of—

(a)the person appointed to the position of senior lay member of the governing body,

(b)the other persons within the membership of the governing body.

(2)Provision as to removal is to (in particular)—

(a)prescribe grounds for removal, for example—

(i)inability to exercise the senior lay member's functions or (as the case may be) the functions of membership generally,

(ii)misconduct (whether or not in the capacity as member),

(b)ensure that removal can be effected only by a resolution based on the grounds and passed by a specified majority of the members of the governing body,

(c)allow the person who is the subject of the resolution, if the resolution is so passed, to seek a review in order to have the resolution reconsidered or quashed.

(3)For the purpose of subsection (2)(b)—

(a)a specified majority may be a majority of any particular size,

(b)the person who is the subject of the resolution does not count in any calculation arising (and the person is not eligible to vote on the resolution).

(4)Provision under subsection (1)(a) need not be the same as provision under subsection (1)(b).

Commencement Information

I13S. 13 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)

14Validity of body's proceedingsS

The validity of any proceedings of the governing body is not affected by any—

(a)vacancy in membership (or category of membership),

(b)defect in the appointment of a member.

Commencement Information

I14S. 14 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)

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