The Council has considered the remarks made at the Discussion of this Report on 5 December 2006 (Reporter, p. 244) and responds as follows.
Professor A. W. F. Edwards suggested that the formal consent of all of the Colleges is required for the approval of the proposed amendments to Statute G, II. The Council's Report was sent for consultation in draft form to all the Colleges before signature and was amended to meet reservations raised in response. The Council proposes to follow the same form as it has adopted earlier (most recently in 1995 and 1999) in relation to changes in Statute G, II, that is to say if the Report is approved by Grace the amending Statute will be sealed and submitted to the Privy Council without further reference to the Colleges.
The Council has noted Professor Edwards's remarks concerning the Colleges Fund. It is satisfied that the Fund remains needed for the purposes of the University in ensuring the support of the less well-endowed Colleges. Moreover Professor Edwards's concern as to the propriety of a College charging against trust funds University contribution in respect of the income of those funds can be laid to rest by the provision to that effect in section 4 of the Universities and Colleges (Trusts) Act 1943.
Professor G. R. Evans blamed the Privy Council for their lack of vigilance in 1974 in the change by the University per incuriam of Statute G, II, 4(iv) at that time. The Council does not agree. It is for the Council and the University to take responsibility for the amendment of University Statutes.
The Council is grateful to the Bursar of Christ's for enabling them to clarify the position in relation to the Finance Committee inquiry of Colleges last summer in relation to deductions claimed against assessable income under Statute G, II, 4(iv) and (xix). The Council is advised by the Finance Committee that that enquiry has been made in relation to possible past errors. Any errors that may come to light will be dealt with as described in the Finance Committee's General Rulings and according to the current provisions of Statute G, II and will not depend in any way on the proposals in the Council's Report. The Council has taken the matter no further at this stage in view of their duty under Statute G, II, 8 to consider any complaint that may be made by a College against a decision of the Finance Committee.
The Council is submitting a Grace to the Regent House (Grace 3, p. 318) for the approval of the recommendations in the Report.