Statement of Primary Responsibilities
1. The following table indicates the primary responsibilities of the University of Sheffield Council, together with a statement of the mechanism through which they are discharged.
| Responsibility | Mechanism | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | To develop and approve the mission and strategic vision of the University, long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators, and to ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders. | Through three-yearly approval of the University’s corporate plan and through the annual approval of the University’s corporate planning statement and its monitoring statement for HEFCE. |
| 2. | To delegate authority to the Vice-Chancellor, as chief executive, for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and personnel management of the University. And to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor. | Through the Vice-Chancellor’s job description, and through the regular review of the powers delegated by the Council to other bodies and individuals, including the Vice-Chancellor. |
| 3. | To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls and risk assessment, and procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest. | Through the role of the Audit Committee, which is specifically charged with keeping under review the effectiveness of internal control systems, through the quarterly updating and review of the corporate risk register and regular reports to the University Executive Board and Council, through the provisions of Section 6 of the Statutes (which lays down clear procedures for handling internal grievances) and through the existence of the register of interests for Council members (and non-Council lay members of University committees) and the associated guidelines on managing conflicts of interest. |
| 4. | To ensure processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the University against the plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be, where possible and appropriate, benchmarked against other comparable universities. | Through the performance review process agreed by the Council. |
| 5. | To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the Council itself. | Through a five-yearly review of the effectiveness of the Council. |
| 6. | To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in higher education corporate governance and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. | By following the CUC Code and Guide. |
| 7. | To safeguard the good name and values of the University. | Through approval of strategic plans and the risk management process. |
| 8. | To appoint the Vice-Chancellor as chief executive, and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his/her performance. | Through the provisions of Section 6 of the Charter and Ordinance VI and through the existence and application of the Staff Review and Development Scheme, carried out by the Chair of Council. |
| 9. | To appoint (and, where necessary, to remove) a secretary to the Council, and to ensure that, if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities in the institution, there is an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability. | Through the provisions of Ordinance IX. |
| 10. | To be the employing authority for all staff in the University and to be responsible for establishing a human resources strategy. | Through the powers delegated by the Council to the Vice-Chancellor, the Director of Human Resources and the Human Resources Committee. |
| 11. | To be the principal financial and business authority of the University, to ensure that proper books of account are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall responsibility for the University’s assets, property and estate. | Through the provisions of Section 4 of the Statutes, and through Council Sub-Committees. |
| 12. | To be the University’s legal authority and, as such, to ensure that systems are in place for meeting all the University’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the University’s name. | Through the provisions of Section 4 of the Statutes, and through advice tendered by University Officers, where necessary underpinned by legal advice. |
| 13. | To make such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of students, in consultation with the Senate. | Through the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching and the Student Services Directorate, and through annual report of the Student Services Department to the Senate. |
| 14. | To act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the University. | Through the provisions of Section 4 of the Statutes. |
| 15. | To ensure that the University’s constitution is followed at all times and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen. | The responsibility of the Registrar and Secretary. |
2. For the session 2012-13, the University’s Officers and key individuals are:
| Chancellor | Sir Peter Middleton |
| Chairman of Council | Mrs Kathryn Riddle |
| Pro-Chancellor/Chair of Human Resources Committee | Mr Tony Pedder |
| Pro-Chancellor/Chair of Estates Committee | Mr Paul Firth |
| Treasurer/Chair of Finance Committee | Mr David Young |
| Chair of Audit Committee | Mrs Sarah Harkness |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Keith Burnett |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching | Professor Paul White |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, International | Professor Rebecca Hughes |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation | Professor Richard Jones |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Arts & Humanities | Professor Mike Braddick |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Engineering | Professor Mike Hounslow |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health | Professor Tony Weetman |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Science | Professor Tony Ryan |
| Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Social Sciences | Professor Gill Valentine |
| Registrar and Secretary | Dr Philip Harvey |
| Chief Financial Officer | Mr Robert Rabone |
3. The main responsibilities currently delegated by the Council, as set out in the Regulations of the Council on the Delegation of Statutory Powers, are as follows:
| Power delegated | Officer or committee to whom the power shall be delegated | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The power to invest moneys belonging to the University in accordance with the terms of Section 4.7 of the Statutes and in accordance with the Financial Regulations approved by the Finance Committee. | The Director of Finance or interim authorised designate |
| 2. | The power to borrow money and to give security on behalf of the University, within the limits prescribed by Section 4.10 of the Statutes and in accordance with the Financial Regulations approved by the Finance Committee. | The Director of Finance or interim authorised designate |
| 3. | The power to approve application of the seal of the University to particular documents. | The Chairman of Council or The Vice-Chancellor or The Treasurer |
| 4. | Any request from an Officer or member of staff of the University that the Council exercise its power under section 4.16 of the Statutes shall be referred to the Chairman of the Council who shall determine, having regard to any resolutions of the Council as to the exercise of the power, whether the grievance is to be entertained and if so shall refer the matter to a Grievance Committee to consider the grievance and make recommendations to the Council, and to that extent the power of the Council under Section 4.16 of the Statutes to entertain grievances is delegated, without the need seek the confirmation of the Council, to the Chairman of the Council. | The Chairman of Council |
| 5. | Any request from a student or graduate of the University that the Council exercise its power under section 4.16 of the Statutes shall be referred to a Pro-Vice-Chancellor who shall determine, having regard to any resolutions of the Council as to the exercise of the power, whether the grievance is to be entertained and if so shall refer the matter to a Case Review Panel to consider the grievance and make recommendations to the Council, and to that extent the power of the Council under Section 4.16 of the Statutes to entertain grievances is delegated, without the need seek the confirmation of the Council, to a Pro-Vice-Chancellor. | A Pro-Vice-Chancellor |