RCVS Council at the June meeting in Edinburgh.

Do smaller groups make better decisions, or just quicker ones?

The veterinary profession is facing major constitutional changes with the proposed shake up of its governance.

Members of the profession (and the public) have less than a month to share their views on proposals to change the governance of the RCVS – changes that will undoubtedly affect the way its council makes decisions.

So, let's take a closer look at the proposals. The Royal College is looking to reduce the size of council by at least 25 per cent, but increase the number of yearly meetings.

As things stand, the council is made up of 42 members who meet three times a year.

The aim is to modernise the college and reduce burdens, allowing decisions to be made more quickly and efficiently. Owing to the size of council, each meeting costs around £24,000 which limits the number of meetings to three per year.

Furthermore, the college's First-Rate Regulator report in 2012 showed it to be significantly out of step with other regulators.

Nonetheless, the proposals do pose questions about how these changes may affect decision-making.

It brings to mind a question raised by councillor Kit Sturgess at the council's meeting in June this year: Do smaller groups make better decisions, or just quicker ones?

"If we're driving for better governance, then we shouldn't be afraid of saying it may be a slower decision, but if the decision is better then that's the way it should be taken," Mr Sturgess warned.

A number of other changes are also being proposed; for example, whether veterinary nurses should be represented on council, whether statutory positions for lay people should be created and the possibility of reducing the number of veterinary school representatives.

Other topics for discussion are how councillors are appointed or elected, the terms of office and whether there should be a system for removing council members for poor conduct and behaviour.

Defra is now consulting on these proposals and members of the profession and the general public will be able to share their views until 24 December.

Upon Defra's recommendations, the consultation takes a 'principle-based' approach - asking respondents for their views on each element of the proposals - rather than giving the choice of two governance options, as it was felt the latter would limit responses.

It is difficult to gauge the current appetite for these changes among the profession as the last consultation on governance was held in 2009.

Whatever the outcome, the proposals represent a crossroads for the college and it is likely that changes will be implemented by late 2016/early 2017.

To have your say on the future of the RCVS Council, visit the consultation page at: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/rcvs_council_reform/consultation/intro/view

Image courtesy of the RCVS