Skip to content Accessibility statement
Council
HomeAbout the UniversityGovernance and managementCouncil

University Council

Council is the governing body of the University, in accordance with our Charter and Statutes.

It has ultimate accountability for decision making, ensuring there is effective management in place and determining our future direction. 

Council stewards the University’s reputation, resources and infrastructure. 

It also ensures we remain financially sustainable and that we meet our legal obligations. 

In order to provide independent oversight, the Chair and the majority of Council members are not members of University staff.

Council meets four times each year and also holds a strategic away day at the start of each new academic session.

Terms of reference

Council's Statement of Primary Responsibilities explains what it does, how it reviews its own effectiveness and how it delegates authority.

Read the Council's Terms of reference

Questioning and curiosity

Chair of Council, Dr Alice Maynard, talks about the role of non-executive members in questioning and holding Council to account, and why we need different perspectives at the table. 

Alice became Chair of Council in August 2023.

Find out more about our Council members

https://youtu.be/4xznZZeRIJo
Council membership
Council meeting dates
Council minutes
Information for committee secretaries

Subcommittees

Council delegates work to subcommittees (view organogram) chaired by independent Council members. Senate and University Executive Board (UEB) also report to Council. 

Council's subcommittees are:

Audit and Risk Committee

Constitution and Nominations Committee

Finance Committee

People and Remuneration Committee

Urgent Decisions Group

What’s it really like being a staff governor?

Jonny Exon is Interim Head of College Life at the University and served as a staff member on Council from 2022 until 2024. In this blog for WonkHE, Jonny Exon explains how joining Council as an elected staff representative gave him a voice in university governance.

He gives the lowdown on what it's like to sit on Council and how staff membership helps ensure that decisions reflect the complex realities of university life. 

What’s it really like being a staff governor? 

Find out more

Other Subcommittees

Committee of University Chairs publications