Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance is concerned with the practices and procedures that the organisation follows in order to achieve its specific goals. The ABCUL Board recognises that ABCUL as a member owned trade association should uphold the highest standards of corporate governance. They have therefore developed this policy to guide the Board, its Sub-Committees, individual board members, chapter officers and staff in their work.

Corporate Governance Policy Objectives

The objective of our policy is to help ABCUL demonstrate to its members and others that it is a quality organisation committed to developing best practice in corporate governance. The six underlying principles which guide the development of this policy are;

• The ABCUL Board should be representative of its membership.
• The Board should be accountable to its members.
• The governance arrangements for the Association should be transparent.
• There should be a clear distinction between governance and management in the Association.
• Governance arrangements should be sufficiently flexible to cope with a fast changing environment.
• ABCUL should be seen to be open and accountable to its external stakeholders.

Principles for ABCUL Board and Staff

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee) has set out seven  principles of public life which it believes should apply to all in public service. The ABCUL Board believes these principles represent the standards of behaviour that they would expect from individual board members, chapter officers and staff and therefore expect them to be followed in all Association activities. These are set out below;

Selflessness

ABCUL directors and staff should take decisions solely in terms of the Association’s interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

Integrity

ABCUL directors and staff should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out ABCUL business, including electing officers, recruiting staff, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, ABCUL directors and staff should make choices on merit.

Accountability

ABCUL directors and staff are accountable for their decisions and actions to the Association and its members. They must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

ABCUL directors and staff should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and  restrict information only when the wider Association’s interest clearly demands.

Honesty

ABCUL directors and staff have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their Association duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the Association’s interest.

Leadership

ABCUL directors and staff should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.