Views sought on council restructure
Defra has launched a consultation on changing the governance of the RCVS. Members of the veterinary profession and the general public are being asked to share their views on plans to restructure the RCVS Council.
The council currently consists of 42 members who meet three times a year, in March, June and November.
It is proposed that the number of meetings per year should be increased and the council's size reduced significantly - by a minimum of 25 per cent.
The consultation also seeks opinions on whether veterinary nurses should be represented on council; whether the number of vet school members should be reduced and whether there should be statutory positions for lay members.
As well as seeking views on the structure of council, the consultation asks how council members should be appointed or elected, whether the terms of office should change and if there should be a system in place for removing council members for poor conduct or behaviour.
In recent years, a number of issues have been raised about the college's governance arrangements. In 2008, a report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee recommended a restructure.
The RCVS itself held a consultation with the profession the following year, but it was agreed that any reform of the council should wait until new disciplinary arrangements had 'bedded in'. In July of this year, the preliminary investigation committee and the disciplinary committee split from council.
A report by the college in 2012 found its governance to be out of step with that of other royal colleges and regulators, prompting discussions on how the RCVS could modernise its governance structure and improve efficiency.
The consultation closes on 24 December, 2015. It is expected that any changes to the RCVS Council will be implemented in late 2016/early 2017.
For full details or to respond to the consultation, visit: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/veterinary-services/rcvs_council_reform
Image (c) RCVS
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