Committee Chair Role

The following is in addition to the Board Member role profile and person specification:

General

To ensure the efficient and proper conduct of the Committee’s business, working with the ELT lead(s) for the Committee to monitor the effectiveness of the Committee in contributing to the effectiveness of the organisation’s governance arrangements; ensuring the organisation effectively fulfils its statutory, regulatory and constitutional obligations.

Agenda planning and reporting

To establish, with the ELT lead(s) for the Committee, the agenda for meetings of the Committee and ensure that its structure and content are consistent with the terms of reference. This will be supported by the Company Secretary as appropriate.
To ensure that the quality of report writing, information and options presented and recommendations are at a standard that enables the Committee to carry out proper scrutiny and make effective decisions in discharging its responsibilities.
To ensure that the ELT lead(s) for the Committee and any other relevant employee or agent are available at Committee meetings if required.

Meeting management and decision making

To satisfy themselves that every meeting has been properly convened by notice and properly constituted by the attendance of a quorum.
To satisfy themselves that the minutes of the meetings are an accurate and complete record, and if so satisfied, to sign the same.
To guide meetings through the items on the agenda, encourage full participation during meetings and enable all Committee members to express their views.
To make the best use of the skills, knowledge and experience of any Board member in matters that require Committee planning, evaluation and decision making.
To seek to create consensus on complex issues, drawing together diverse views, and ensuring clarity of decision-making in relation to recommendations and resolutions.
To give immediate rulings on complaints or queries relating to the procedure and conduct of the meeting.
To oversee the use of policies and procedures to deal with urgent and efficient decision-making between meetings.

Working with the executive

To establish a constructive working relationship with the ELT lead(s) for the Committee, providing them with support, guidance and challenge.
To hold regular meetings with the ELT lead(s) for the Committee to receive briefings on issues of strategy, policy and other significance; and to plan the workload of the Committee.
To ensure that the Committee receives professional advice when it is needed, either through the ELT lead(s) for the Committee, other employees, or through the use of consultants and advisers as necessary.

Internal and external communication and relationships

To play a proactive role in internal and external communications in relation to the Committee’s business.
To maintain good working relationships with all Board members, in particular with the Chair of the Board, Vice Chair and the other Committee Chairs.
To build and maintain good relationships with key stakeholders, e.g. contractors, suppliers, auditors, etc., in relation to the Committee’s business.

Committee member performance and conduct

To support the Chair in their role as they undertake annual reviews of the performance of each Board member, inputting individual performance on Committee business into the process.
To identify any issues around Committee member performance or conduct during the course of the year, working with the Chair and the Chief Executive as necessary to agree on any corrective action, training or support requirements.