Ordinance 3: The Council

Powers of the Council

3.2 Subject to the Charter and Statutes, the Council shall exercise all the powers of the University. This includes the following powers vested in it to exert general powers on behalf of the University, and to fulfil its obligations as the board of trustees of the University as an exempt charity:

3.2.1 To appoint a Chair of Council, and a Vice-Chair as appropriate.

3.2.2 To recommend appointment of a Chancellor of the University.

3.2.3 To appoint the Pro-Chancellors, the Treasurer, and a Deputy Treasurer as appropriate.

3.2.4 To appoint the members of the Council as required under Statute 6.

3.2.5 To appoint the Vice-Chancellor and President in accordance with the Statutes and these Ordinances, and to delegate to the Vice-Chancellor and President the appointment of members of the University Executive Board and other senior officers.

3.2.6 To delegate to the Secretary to Council and other senior officers the drafting and enactment of the Statutes, and the making of Ordinances and Regulations for any matters in respect of which Ordinances and Regulations are authorised to be made, subject to seeking the advice of Senate on academic matters.

3.2.7 To make Regulations for any purpose for which Regulations are or may be authorised to be made.

3.2.8 To make all such provision and exercise all such powers expedient to advance the University as an educational institution and charitable body.

3.2.9 To regulate the conferment of honorary degrees of the University on the recommendation of Constitution and Nominations Committee, and delegate approval to Senate to confer honorary titles as listed under Ordinance 17, which in turn may delegate to another body.

3.2.10 To govern, manage and regulate the finances, accounts, investments, property, business and all affairs whatsoever of the University, and to delegate to the Treasurer and Finance Director the appointment of bankers and to any other senior officer of the University, other Officers or agents whom it may deem expedient to appoint.

3.2.11 To invest any moneys belonging to the University including any unapplied income in such stocks, funds, fully paid shares or securities as the Council shall from time to time think fit, whether authorised by the general law for the investment of trust moneys or not, and whether within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or not, or in the purchase of freehold or leasehold hereditaments in the United Kingdom including rents, with the like power of varying such investments from time to time, provided that the Council may in its discretion retain as long as it shall think fit any investment given or bequeathed to the University although not coming within the description of investments authorised as aforesaid.

3.2.12 To make provision for schemes of superannuation, pensions, or retirement benefits for all employees and, so far as the Council shall think fit, for their dependants or relatives.

3.2.13 To sell, buy, exchange, lease and accept leases of real and personal property on behalf of the University.

3.2.14 To provide the buildings, premises, furniture and apparatus and other means needed for carrying on the work of the University.

3.2.15 To borrow money on behalf of the University and for that purpose, if the Council think fit, to mortgage all or any part of the property of the University whether real or personal, unless the conditions of any Will, Deed or Gift or other similar instrument are thereby contravened, or give such other security whether upon real or personal property or otherwise as the Council think fit.

3.2.16 To enter into, vary, carry out and cancel contracts on behalf of the University.

3.2.17 To receive and consider reports on welfare of students.

3.2.18 To review, amend, refer back, control or disallow any act of the Senate required under these Statutes to be reported to the Council, and to give directions thereon to the Senate.

3.2.19 To select a Seal and Arms for the University, and have sole custody and use of the Seal, delegated to the Secretary to Council.

3.2.20 To exercise all such powers as are or may be conferred on the Council by The Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations and to carry The Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations into effect.

3.2.21 These powers are supported by a Statement of Primary Responsibilities which may be subject to periodic review.

3.2.22 The Council may make Standing Orders that regulate its procedures, provided that such Standing Orders do not conflict with the Charter, the Statutes, the Ordinances or the Regulations. See Ordinance 9.

Council Membership Provisions

3.3 Ex Officio members of the Council will hold office for as  long as they continue to occupy the positions by virtue of which they were appointed a member of the Council.

3.4 Council Membership will not exceed 23 members, based on the categories in Statute 4.

3.5 The Council will appoint sufficient independent members to the Council as is required to maintain an independent majority.

3.6  The initial term of office for independent members will be three years, subject to reappointment for two further three-year terms, up to a maximum of nine years. In exceptional circumstances only, the Council may resolve to extend a maximum term beyond a total of nine years, but for a period of no more than half of a three-year term (ie, 18 months).

3.7 Not more than four members of the Senate nominated by the Senate, including one Pro Vice-Chancellor for a non-renewable term of three years.

3.8 Not more than two professional support staff elected from amongst their number as set out in Regulation of the University for an initial three-year term. Individuals are only eligible to stand for re-election once one year has elapsed following the end of their first elected term of office.

3.9 Not more than two sabbatical officers, who would normally be the President of the Students’ Union and the President of the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), who would be appointed to Council for the one-year period of the sabbatical officer term, and who may be subject to an additional consecutive final one-year appointment to the initial term, should they be re-elected as a sabbatical officer.

3.10 There is provision under the oversight of Constitution and Nominations Committee to vary the appointment date for independent Council members or Senate nominated members from 1 August to another date at which a vacancy falls, and from which an appointment is approved. Terms of office will begin for a three-year term from the date of appointment.

3.11 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion considerations are factors in the distribution of Council membership.

3.12 The University Secretary is Secretary to the Council.