Skip to main contentCambridge University Reporter

No 6246

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Vol cxlii No 11

pp. 214–263

Annual Report of the Council for the academical year 2010–11

The Council begs leave to report to the University:

The Chancellor

1. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh stepped down as Chancellor on 30 June 2011, shortly after his 90th birthday, having served since his election in December 1976. The Council is profoundly grateful to His Royal Highness, whose Chancellorship saw the University change dramatically in composition and in physical scale. As well as undertaking important ceremonial duties such as Honorary Degree Congregations, His Royal Highness advised successive Vice-Chancellors, adjudicated in disputes, was Chairman or Patron of many bodies connected to the University, and opened the great majority of the major University buildings and institutions created during his tenure. The Council is particularly grateful to The Duke of Edinburgh for his encouragement of external support for the University: this included persuading the Government in 1979 to support serving officers to take the M.Phil. course in International Relations, and especially the encouragement of philanthropy, through presiding at the Guild of Benefactors’ ceremonies and hosting numerous receptions in Cambridge and in London. The Council was glad to be able to pay tribute to His Royal Highness’s distinguished Chancellorship at a dinner held in Trinity College on 22 June 2011. It was at this dinner that the Vice-Chancellor announced the intention to seek the establishment of a new Regius Professorship in Engineering, a subject in which the Chancellor had always taken a deep and informed interest.

2. In accordance with the regulations for the nomination of a Chancellor to succeed His Royal Highness, the Nomination Board – comprising all members of the Council in addition to sixteen members appointed by the Senate – met to consider names of possible candidates. As part of the process, suggestions were received from members of the Senate. At its meeting on 16 May 2011, the Board nominated Lord Sainsbury of Turville, K, for the Chancellorship. Three additional candidates were subsequently nominated by members of the Senate thereby requiring an election to be held. This was held in October 2011 and Lord Sainsbury of Turville was elected as the University’s new Chancellor.

The Vice-Chancellor

3. In its last Annual Report, the Council recorded its gratitude to Dame Alison Richard and its appreciation of her many important and valuable contributions to the work of the Council and of the University. The installation, in October 2010, of Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, W, initiated a new chapter in the University’s history. The Council has expressed its warm appreciation of his work in his first year as Vice-Chancellor. Amid difficult political changes prompting vigorous debate both nationally and within the University, Sir Leszek has exercised strong leadership and greatly supported the work of the Council, as its Chairman. The Council is particularly appreciative of his work to strengthen the University’s research strategy, and the work of the six academic Schools.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellors

4. The five Pro-Vice-Chancellors continue to support the strategic development of the University. The Council recognizes that every aspect of their portfolios – Planning and Resources, Education, Research, Institutional Affairs, and International Strategy – has increased in significance and in complexity, and appreciates the dedication of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors in leading policy in those areas. The Council is grateful for the work of Professor Ian White, who stepped down as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Affairs on 30 September 2011 to take up the Mastership of Jesus College. He is succeeded by Professor Jeremy Sanders, SE. Professor John Rallison, T, has been reappointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) for a further three years.

Colleges

5. New Hall received the Supplemental Charter amending the name and style of the College to ‘The President and Fellows of Murray Edwards College founded as New Hall in the University of Cambridge, to be known as Murray Edwards College’ with effect from 14 June 2011. The short title of the College will be Murray Edwards College, with MUR as the agreed abbreviation in University publications.

Accountability and Audit

6. Following the second of three annual accountability exchange meetings initiated following its quinquennial assurance visit to the University in June 2008, the HEFCE indicated its continued opinion that HEFCE is able to place reliance on the University’s accountability information.

7. Amendments to the constitution of the Audit Committee were approved by Grace 1 of 15 December 2010. These strengthened the requirements for the quorum and increased the number of co-opted members to three. In January, two new external members (Dr Andrew Cates and Mr John Dix) were appointed to the Committee and Mr Shakeshaft took over as Chair when Nigel Brown OBE stepped down as an external member of Council. The Council would like to record its gratitude to Mr Brown for the thought, judgement, time, and energy which he devoted to the Committee’s activities and business. More generally, the Council is grateful to the Audit Committee for its rigorous approach to the University’s accountability and audit matters.

8. At the request of the Audit Committee important work to review the assurance arrangements for the University’s nine wholly-owned subsidiary companies was undertaken by a review committee, chaired by Mr Brown. The review found that governance was generally sound, with examples of best practice, but that a watching brief was needed and some strengthening of the relationship between the University and some of its subsidiaries. Recommendations were submitted to the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Council and will be followed up by the review committee after six months with a report back to the Audit Committee.

Governance and constitutional matters

9. The Technical Advisory Group on the Review of the Statutes, and Ordinances, chaired by Professor David Yates, Warden of Robinson College, has made significant progress. Two consultation papers (about, respectively: general matters, the structure and presentation of the Statutes, and proposals for Statutes K and T; and Colleges and Collegiate Foundations) were issued in January 2011. It is intended that proposals for approval in principle arising from the consultation about Colleges and Collegiate Foundations will be put forward in the autumn of 2011.

10. A second round of internal consultation papers about the proposed new Statutes was published in the Reporter of 25 July 2011. It is intended thereafter that proposals for approval in principle will be put forward within the University. When the process of approval is complete, the new Statutes will be submitted by the Council to the Regent House in the form of a Report to the University. It is expected that this final Report will be issued by Easter 2012 and that, if approved by Her Majesty in Council, will come into effect from a date or dates in 2013.

The Council and its Committees

11. The Council is defined by Statute A as the principal executive and policy-making body of the University, having general responsibility for the administration of the University, for the planning of its work, and for the management of its resources. It is declared to have power to take such action as is necessary for it to discharge these responsibilities. It is also to perform such other executive and administrative duties as may be delegated to it by the Regent House or assigned to it by Statute or Ordinance.

12. The membership of the Council changed on 31 December 2010 in consequence of the biennial election of half of the membership. During Michaelmas Term 2010, Mr Dominic Casserley and Mr John Shakeshaft were appointed by Grace to membership in class (e) and an election in classes (a), (b), and (c) took place. The Membership until 31 December 2010 and from 1 January 2011 is attached as Annex A.

13. The Council records its warm appreciation of the contributions of all of those members who served until the end of December 2010, and, in particular, of Mr Nigel Brown OBE and Lord Simon, the first external members of the Council to serve since that category of membership was introduced.

14. The Council’s Statement of Primary Responsibilities (annexed to this Report) is reviewed annually together with its Standing Orders, the Code of Practice for members of the Council, and the Statement of Corporate Governance.

15. The Council continues to operate its internal processes through ordinary regular meetings (eleven each year) and, as necessary, special meetings, scrutiny of business through the Business Committee, the Executive Committee and other committees, and through receipt and approval of routine business by circulation. Business is monitored and managed through the regular consideration of work plans. The Council has continued to hold two strategic meetings a year, one in September and one in the spring. Most material considered by the Council is available to members and staff of the University on its website at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/committee/council/.

16. In the Easter Term, the Council established a Working Group on Council business, chaired by Mr John Shakeshaft, to review the submission and presentation of business and to consider broader matters concerning the Council’s role and functioning. The Working Group will be making its first report to the Council in the Michaelmas Term 2011.

17. During 2010−11, the Council also considered the recommendations made by the Review of Cambridge Enterprise, chaired by Professor Sir Tom Blundell; initiated a Review of the strategy, plans, and budget of the Unified Administrative Service (UAS), chaired by Dame Mavis McDonald (which will report during Michaelmas Term 2011); and initiated a review of IT infrastructure and management in the University, chaired by Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield. It is anticipated that this latter Review Group will report in the Easter Term of 2012.

18. During the course of the Lent Term 2011, the Council’s Standing Advisory Committee on Student Matters (SACSM) concluded that the committee, in its present form, should be wound up and replaced by a smaller body specifically responsible for exercising the Council’s responsibilities for scrutiny of the students’ unions under the Code of Practice in Respect of Student Unions issued under Section 22 of the Education Act 1994. This new body (the Committee for the Supervision of the Student Unions), will commence its work in the Michaelmas Term 2011. The Council is satisfied that other matters which hitherto featured on the SACSM’s agenda are more appropriately the business of other bodies (which include student representation).

Government policy and the national environment

19. Throughout the past year, the Council has conducted its business and made its decisions in a difficult and rapidly changing environment. Tight and immutable externally imposed deadlines put considerable pressure both on the Council and on the University’s decision-making and consultation processes. The process of responding to the Browne review; the Comprehensive Spending Review; the BIS grant letter to HEFCE; the OFFA guidance; and the White Paper on Higher Education (‘Students at the Heart of the System’) and its various associated technical consultations all required the Council to address a number of difficult and contentious issues, principal amongst which were the decisions around fees, funding, and widening participation. Following its meeting on 8 December 2010, the Council issued a statement setting out, in robust terms, important points of principle including the case for a significant degree of public funding for Higher Education to reflect the benefits of a university education to society as well as to the individual. That statement also restated the University’s commitment: to student diversity, access, and widening participation; to quality and excellence; to the collegiate system of education; and to institutional autonomy. Inevitably, and understandably, the important and far-reaching implications of the matters under discussion aroused strong feelings and occasioned vigorous and public debate, evidencing the University’s commitment to freedom of expression. A series of initiated Graces attested to the extent of the Regent House’s engagement with the issues and the vast spectrum of disparate opinions. Student protests impacted upon the life and work of the University during Michaelmas Term in particular. The Council, at the same meeting at which it issued its statement on higher education funding, reviewed the University’s response to the occupation of the Combination Room noting that the University’s commitment had been to permit lawful expression of opinion and to have absolute regard to the safety of those demonstrating and all of those (including the staff of the Old Schools) who were affected. The Vice-Chancellor subsequently met representatives of those involved in the occupation.

Teaching and research

20. Teaching and research is the responsibility of the General Board and of the Schools, Faculties, and Departments. The General Board reports annually to the Council. The Board’s Report for 2010–11 is annexed to this Report.

21. The Board of Graduate Studies and the General Board brought forward a proposal (by means of a Report to the University from the Board or Graduate Studies) to bring together consideration of educational and student policies for all categories of student through the General Board’s Education Committee, with the remit of that Committee and of the Section supporting its work being extended accordingly. This proposal was the subject of a Discussion early in the Michaelmas Term 2011.

22. The Council, following a recommendation by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, amended the procedures in respect of the review of decisions of its Standing Committee on Applications (Reporter, 2010–11, p. 571). The Council also proposed amendments to the regulations governing examination allowances to take account of the relevant recommendations of the Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on the future of Ordinary Examinations and the Ordinary B.A. Degree. The Standing Committee has also developed notes of guidance for staff and students which explain in more detail the Committee’s policy and procedures. These will be published on the Committee’s website early in 2011–12.

23. Strengthened arrangements were put in place to support the University’s research strategy, by the formation of a Research Strategy Office within the Academic Division, formed initially from relevant staff of that Division and the Research Services Division, in particular, to prepare for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, and to progress the strategic networks and priorities designated by the Research Policy Committee.

24. Funding for research remains a matter of increasing concern and has been a major topic of discussion at Council strategic meetings. Analysis suggests that the University is falling behind key competitors in realizing external research grant funding; work is therefore underway to establish strategic research initiatives which will provide a framework on which to build major bids for funding. Work will also be undertaken to establish why funding from business-based activity remains low, particularly given the University’s reputation for high-tech activities. In terms of the international agenda, the Council considers it important that the University identifies and pursues opportunities for project-led initiatives and increases its engagement with the European Union. The Council will continue to monitor research income (including indirect cost recovery) and strategy closely during the forthcoming academical year.

University resources

25. Given the challenging economic environment and the uncertainties regarding government funding of higher education, the 2009 Planning Round set a zero cash increase for 2010–11 and gave a warning that deeper cuts would be necessary in 2011 and onwards. During 2010–11, the financial consequences of the changes to government funding became clearer. Relative to 2009–10, the proposed increase in fee to £9,000 per annum will restore net funding for undergraduate teaching in real terms by 2015–16. However, the reduction incurred during the intervening transition period will total £30m. HEFCE funding for research will be protected but Research Council cuts to indirect costs and reduced support for equipment will cost a further £4m per annum. Cuts in capital infrastructure funding will be more severe, with a reduction of £20m per annum in prospect. The adverse economic climate will also impact on investment income and returns from Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press.

26. In view of this rather gloomy outlook, the Council agreed to cut allocations to Schools and institutions by 2% in 2011–12 and set the expectation of below inflation increases of just 1% per annum thereafter. It also agreed a number of steps to increase income and reduce costs. These included a voluntary severance scheme, reviews of the UAS and IT support (as noted above), new initiatives to improve the University’s research competitiveness, continued development of new activities in executive education and differential fee Master’s courses, and work to improve procurement services and space utilization. With all of these steps in place, the Chest is expected to incur a cumulative loss of around £36m before returning to balance in 2015–16. Whilst such a deficit is unwelcome, the Council believes that it strikes an appropriate balance between financial prudence and avoiding undue damage to the excellence of the University’s teaching and research.

27. In previous years, the timing and priority of major capital projects have been driven primarily by the availability of funding, especially support from government via the HEFCE Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) which as noted above is now set to decline. The Council believes that the ability to continue investing in the University’s operational estate is essential if we are to remain globally competitive. Through the Planning and Resources Committee, it has therefore established a Capital Planning Framework and an associated Capital Fund which together allow buildings and large equipment purchases to be scheduled over a planning period of up to 20 years to match academic priorities and to take account of inter-dependencies between projects. Since actual spend against the fund will fluctuate, the Council has also agreed that the fund may be augmented by external borrowing provided that the full cost of interest and repayments is carried by the fund itself.

28. During the year, the Council sought and received Regent House approval that it be given authority in advance to arrange, on the advice of the Finance Committee, external finance up to a total amount of £350m, earmarked for the North West Cambridge development and other capital expenditure. Any funds raised will be in anticipation of expected needs. The funds will not be applied until Regent House approval had been received for the associated projects, and even then the funding would be phased over a number of years in amounts yet to be determined.

29. The Finance Committee, with specialist advice, is considering detailed proposals for such external finance and expects to make recommendations to the Council during Lent Term 2012.

University employment

30. The pensions environment continues to be a challenging one and, in the course of the year, there has been significant activity both with regard to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and the Cambridge University Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

31. In the course of the year, the University co-ordinated the local consultation arrangements for USS proposed revisions; a formal consultation exercise took place between 20 October and 22 December 2010. The Council established an Advisory Group to the Vice-Chancellor to address specific matters relating to Cambridge. The consultation process is now complete and the revisions will be effective from 1 October 2011.

32. The University and Assistants Joint Board (UAJB) set up a Special Joint Negotiating Committee with the University and assistant staff union representatives to consider future arrangements for the CPS. The Special Joint Negotiating Committee met on a number of occasions between November 2010 and February 2011 and, following negotiation, submitted revised proposals to the UAJB to put to formal staff consultation. The CPS Trustees were consulted in parallel. The proposals were approved by the General Board and the Council and formal staff consultation commenced in August 2011.

33. The Human Resources (HR) Committee, in response to the Government’s announcement of the abolition of the national retirement age with effect from 6 April 2011, set up a working group to look at the implications for the University’s current retirement policy. A consultation paper, approved by the Council and the General Board, was put to the Regent House in March 2011 (Reporter, 2010–11, p. 723) and generated lively debate through the forum, at a series of meetings, and at a Discussion. A Report, containing final proposals, will be put to the Regent House in due course. In the meantime, the Council and the General Board have approved interim arrangements.

34. There has been continuing work in the area of equality and diversity (particularly in respect of recruitment processes) following the introduction of the Equality Act 2010 and the harmonized equalities legislation and public equality duties which now cover all the protected characteristics of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion/belief, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity. These legal changes have been fully incorporated into the University’s revised Equal Opportunities Policy which was approved by Grace 1 of 8 June 2011.

35. The Council is increasingly concerned about the Home Office’s new and restrictive rules on immigration and the implications for the University’s capacity to recruit the brightest and best international academics and students. It is the Council’s view that the current arrangements will impact negatively on the competitiveness of the UK Higher Education sector in general and the University of Cambridge in particular and on the way in which the UK is perceived internationally. The Council, through the Vice-Chancellor and in concert with other Russell Group institutions, has actively lobbied the Home Office and will continue to do so. The Council is also grateful for the work of Lord Wilson of Dinton (the Master of Emmanuel College) and Dr G. A. Reid, Head of the Intercollegiate Services Office, on addressing critical issues for the Colleges in this regard with determination and success.

North-West Cambridge

36. The Council, in its last Annual Report, noted that the ‘development of North West Cambridge is not an ordinary University capital development, but rather a development process.’ The process has progressed significantly during the past year and, in the course of the coming year, it will be necessary for the Regent House to determine whether to proceed with a first phase of the development once outline planning consent has been secured for the site as a whole. The Council is clearly of the view that strategic and academic need are the main drivers for the project and the basis, ultimately, on which the decision to proceed will be made.

37. A Grace proposing the submission of an overall outline planning application for the North West Cambridge site and entering into a section 106 Agreement was approved in June 2011. The planning application (submitted in September 2011) comprises parameter plans with supporting documentation plus the indicative masterplan (which does not form part of the formal application). The masterplan illustrates the block layout of the approved uses which comprise: 3,000 residential units (half of which will be for University use); 2,000 student places; and 100,000 sq. m. of research and academic space (up to 40% of which may be occupied by commercial research organizations or institutes with University links). The s106 Agreement will set out the works required and costs to the University of providing the social components of the scheme and mitigating its adverse impacts. It will require legal commitment as and when the local authorities resolve to grant consent in order for the planning consent to be secured. It is hoped that it will prove possible for the local authorities formally to consider the application in February or March 2012 with a view to a resolution to grant consent being granted followed shortly afterwards by the grant of full consent that will comprise the s106 Agreement and reserved matters (the detailed planning conditions).

38. The establishment of a West and North West Cambridge Estates Syndicate for the governance of the North West and West Cambridge projects was approved by Grace in May 2011.

39. The Council is considering proposals for a first phase of development and will report to the University when the scope, costs, and desirability of proceeding has been established.

Development

40. Following the announcement in June 2010 that the £1 billion milestone had been passed, the momentum of the 800th Campaign has been sustained. In 2010–11 the Colleges and the University have raised a further £70m bringing the overall Campaign total to more that £1,170m. Against the background of this continued success the Colleges’ Committee and the Council have agreed that the current Campaign should be brought to a close (with a formal announcement in November) and that planning should begin for the launch of a new Campaign that will maintain Cambridge’s leadership in winning philanthropic support for its mission to provide outstanding teaching, research, and scholarship.

21 November 2011

L. K. Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor

I. M. Le M. Du Quesnay

Mavis McDonald

David Abulafia

Nicholas Gay

Susan Oosthuizen

N. Bampos

David Good

Rachael Padman

Richard Barnes

Andy Hopper

Thomas Parry-Jones

D. J. A. Casserley

Christopher Hum

John Shakeshaft

Stephen J. Cowley

F. P. Kelly

Gerard Tully

Athene Donald

Vanessa V. Lawrence

Morgan Wild

R. J. Dowling

Robert Lethbridge

A. D. Yates

ANNEX A

Council

The Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor

To 31 December 2010

To 31 December 2012

From 1 January 2011 until 31 December 2014

Elected as Heads of Colleges

Prof. William Arthur Brown, DAR

Prof. Martin James Daunton, TH1

Prof. Francis Patrick Kelly, CHR

Prof. Francis Patrick Kelly, CHR

Sir Christopher Hum, CAI

Prof. Robert David Lethbridge, F

Elected as Professors or Readers

Prof. Ross John Anderson, T

Prof. David Samuel Harvard Abulafia, CAI

Prof. Nicholas John Gay, CHR

Dr Michael Ronald Clark, DAR

Prof. Dame Athene Margaret Donald, R

Prof. Andrew Hopper, TH

Elected as members of the Regent House

Dr Nick Bampos, TH

Dr Richard James Barnes, EM

Dr Nick Bampos, TH

Dr Stephen John Cowley, SE

Mr Robert John Dowling, SID

Dr Stephen John Cowley, SE

Ms Deborah Lowther, G

Dr David Arthur Good, K

Mr Ian Mark Le Mercier Du Quesnay, N

Dr Joan Margaret Whitehead, W

Dr Rachael Padman, N

Dr Susan Marian Oosthuizen, W

Members in class (e)

Mr Nigel Brown, HH

Dr Vanessa Vivienne Lawrence

Mr Dominic Casserley, JE

Lord Simon of Highbury, CAI (Deputy Chairman, 2010)

Dame Mavis McDonald (Deputy Chair, 2011)

Mr John Shakeshaft, T

Student members (to 30 June 2011)

Mr Rahul Mansigani, R

Mr Sam Wakeford, TH

Mr Anthony Andrews, SID

Student members (to 30 June 2012)

Mr Thomas Parry-Jones, JN

Mr Gerard Tully, TH

Mr Morgan Wild, SID

Secretary: the Registrary

Footnotes

  • 1To 30 September 2011, replaced by Professor David Yates, R, from 14 October 2011.


Annex B

STATEMENT OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (re-adopted September 2011)

The Council has adopted this Statement of Primary Responsibilities.

The principal responsibilities of the Council are defined by University Statute A, IV, 1 which reads:

(a) The Council shall be the principal executive and policy-making body of the University. The Council shall have general responsibility for the administration of the University, for the planning of its work, and for the management of its resources; it shall have power to take such action as is necessary for it to discharge these responsibilities. It shall also perform such other executive and administrative duties as may be delegated to it by the Regent House or assigned to it by Statute or Ordinance.

(b) The Council shall have the right of reporting to the University. It shall advise the Regent House on matters of general concern to the University.

(c) The Council shall perform such duties in connection with financial matters as are assigned to it by Statute F, I.

(d) The Council shall make an Annual Report to the University, and shall initiate and submit a Grace for the approval of the Report by the Regent House.

(e) The Council shall have the power of submitting Graces to the Regent House and to the Senate. The procedure for the submission of Graces shall be prescribed by Ordinance.

(f) The Council shall oversee the work of all those institutions in the University which are placed under its supervision, and shall ensure that the University officers assigned to those institutions are satisfactorily performing the duties and fulfilling the conditions of tenure of their offices.

Pursuant to these responsibilities the Council:

through its Finance Committee, its Audit Committee, and the Planning and Resources Committee ensures the University’s accountability for the proper use of public funds;

supervises the financial position of the University through its statutory Finance Committee;

arranges audit through its statutory Audit Committee;

conducts legal business and ethical scrutiny, especially in respect of the acceptance of benefactions and investment responsibility, through its Executive Committee;

discharges its responsibilities in relation to the University as an employer through the Human Resources Committee (HRC), a joint Committee with the General Board;

develops University policy on the advice of the General Board and that of specialist advisory bodies;

conducts planning and resource allocation through the Planning and Resources Committee (PRC) and the Resource Management Committee (RMC), both joint Committees with the General Board;

deals with business about buildings and the University estate with the advice of the Buildings Committee (a joint Committee with the General Board which reports through the PRC), and on the advice of the Finance Committee;

informs and advises the Regent House through Reports, Notices, and Graces, and through considering remarks made at Discussions;

conducts the University’s relations with Government, HEFCE, other national bodies, and local and regional bodies;

supports and advises the Vice-Chancellor, and through him or her the team of Pro-Vice-Chancellors;

supervises University institutions placed under its supervision, particularly through receiving reports, and also through the PRC and the HRC;

through the Finance Committee exercises financial and some other supervision of Cambridge University Press, the Local Examinations Syndicate (Cambridge Assessment), University-owned companies, and some free-standing bodies such as the Cambridge scholarship trusts;

pursuant to Act of Parliament, discharges responsibilities for the University Student Unions through its Council Committee for the Supervision of the Student Unions;

makes (or recommends) senior appointments (including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, the Registrary, and, through its Standing Appointments Committee established by Ordinance, Directors and other senior staff in the Unified Administrative Service);

assures risk management, emergency management, and value for money surveillance;

monitors the implementation of major projects, through special groups and the Information Strategy and Services Syndicate, and the North West Cambridge Strategy Committee;

keeps University governance and similar matters under review;

makes a statutory annual report to the University;

monitors its own performance and effectiveness.

The Council has published the following statement (Statutes and Ordinances, 2011, p. 114):

NOTICE BY THE COUNCIL

Statement of intention

In carrying out their functions as the principal executive and policy-making body of the University the Council will consult the Regent House on questions of policy which in the Council’s judgement are likely to prove controversial. They will do this by submitting a Grace to the Regent House for the approval of a provisional decision or statement of intention; where appropriate, such a Grace will allow for the expression of a preference between alternative options. The Council will give consideration to remarks made at any Discussion of such matters and to the outcome of any vote on them.