How is the Board appointed and what does it do?

Rule 45 confers to the Board of Management powers to conduct our business.

Nine of our 30 Governors sit on the Board of Management. The nine are effectively the Trustees of our charity. Two of the nine places are permanently reserved for the representatives of North Hertfordshire District Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

Each year, under Rule 36 one third of the Board of Management retires, by rotation. All Governors are eligible to seek election onto the Board. Voting takes place at the Annual General Meeting, held each March. Vacancies on the Board are filled by a ballot held at the AGM involving all Governors present.

The Board elects our Chairman annually, from their own number. This takes place at the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting. The Board meets 12 times per year to establish policy, take decisions on reports and recommendations drafted by the Executive and to direct our administration through the Executive. Board members do not get paid.

At the strategic level, the Board of Management considers and approves policy matters, which enable us to expedite our mission, vision and objectives.

On appointment, all new Board Members are invited to attend an induction programme. This is supplemented by regular briefings by the Executive on aspects of our role and responsibilities. Board Members are also given a copy of the ICSA publication on the role of Charity Trustees and receive copies of 'Governance' magazine on a regular basis.

One of the Board's most important duties is the recruitment of our Chief Executive, who leads our Executive management team. The Board formally delegates our management and subsidiary businesses to the Chief Executive and his Executive Directors. Extensive and comprehensive policies and procedures are prepared and maintained by the Executive Directors.

The Board dedicates one of their 12 meetings to consideration of our draft annual Corporate Plan and budget, prepared by the Executive Directors.

The Corporate Plan, which covers the period 1 October to 30 September, reviews performance in the previous year and sets targets for the year ahead. The Board then invites input from Governors before approving the document and authorising its release to our staff.