The Scotland Advisory Committee is one of three Country Advisory Committees — in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — which contribute to the development of the British Council’s strategic objectives and corporate priorities within the relevant country. Its formation or disbandment is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees.
The Scotland Advisory Committee is a forum for advice and has no decision making or executive powers.
The role of the committee
The main duties of the members are:
- Participating in Committee meetings, normally three a year (and a possible an away day)
- Contributing to the Committee’s purpose and objectives outlined in the Terms of Reference
- Acting as advocates for the British Council’s work in Scotland and in the UK as a whole
- Providing advice on strategy
- Advising the British Council in Scotland on major developments in the public, educational, economic and cultural life of Scotland
- Serving as a channel of professional advice within his/her own area of expertise, and identifying new opportunities
- Providing access to communities within Scotland for whom the British Council’s work has particular relevance
See documents below to learn more about the terms of reference of the Scotland Advisory Committee.
The role of the Chair
The role of the Chair is to advise the Country Director in a non-executive capacity to maximise the impact that British Council can make in and for the relevant UK country. The Chair leads the Scotland Advisory Committee to fulfil its purpose and objectives as set out in the Terms of Reference.
The main duties of the Chair are:
- Leading the Committee to fulfil its purpose and objectives outlined in the Terms of Reference
- Chairing Committee meetings, normally three a year (and possibly an away day)
- Acting as an advocate for the British Council’s work in [country] and in the UK as a whole
- Hosting and speaking from time to time at events organised by British Council [country]
- Attending other relevant British Council meetings and functions
- Reviewing the papers for six Board of Trustees meetings a year and providing comments to the Chair of one of the three Country Advisory Committees currently serving on the British Council’s Board of Trustees
- Attending the annual meeting of the Chairs of the three Country Advisory Committees with the Chair of the British Council
The Chair of the Committee is appointed for a three year term, renewable for a further three years. For two years, each Chair of a Country Advisory Committee takes his or her turn in representing all three Country Advisory Committees on the British Council’s Board of Trustees. Positions on the Scotland Advisory Committee are not remunerated but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed at standard British Council rates.
When serving on the Board of Trustees, the duties are:
- Preparing for, and full participation, in six Board of Trustees meetings a year in London and an away day
- Acting in a representative role by consulting the Chairs of the other two Country Advisory Committees in advance of Board of Trustees meetings (by videoconference or otherwise)
- Presenting a short note summarising key opportunities, risks and issues arising from each Committee at Board of Trustees meetings. This note is included in the Chair of the British Council’s written report to the Board of Trustees
- Making a brief report during Board of Trustees meetings and feeding back to the Chairs of the other two Country Advisory Committees