This is intended to reflect best practice in the 21st Century, strengthen accountability and increase membership engagement.
In the proposals, a new board will be established to assume governance duties. This board will mirror the duties and obligations of a board of directors found in a limited liability company and will consist of elected members, lay members, consumer representatives and industry specialists. The existing council will then be expanded and will take on a representative role.
The proposals are a result of an initial detailed study led by the CII’s Professional Standards Board, chaired by Lord Hunt, which reviewed best practice across industry and the public sector and decided to benchmark CII governance against the Langlands Standards in Public Life. A committee led by former President Allan Bridgewater then developed specific recommendations for further consultation.
CII President Peter Hales said: “We took the decision to carry out this review of our governance as the CII has progressed rapidly - establishing our range of faculties, delivering numerous initiatives and expanding overseas – since the last review five years ago. We are now a professional body with nearly 90,000 members and we need a structure which is appropriate for the governance of a major professional body.”
The CII Council approved the principle of the review proposals at its meeting on 19 July 2006. Further communication will now take place with the membership including a series of roadshows in September and October prior to the November council meeting at which final approval for the proposals will be sought.
