Skip to the content
Governance Services Unit

Lead Members

About Lead Members

The changes to Charter and Statutes approved by the Privy Council in 2008  resulted in a significant reduction in the number of Council committees.  There are now just three Council committees - Audit Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee and Remuneration Committee.

In other business areas, including those previously dealt with by Council Committees, Council will appoint independent members to act as lead members.
 

What do Lead Members Do?

In addition to the Committee structure outlined above, Council has authorised the appointment of Lead Members to provide it with a governance mechanism of dual assurance addressed to key business areas.  Lead Members cover the key areas of responsibility for Council : Finance, Estates, Human Resources and Information Technology.   In addition, there are now Lead Members for each of the three Colleges, as well as well as Lead Members with responsibility for Performance and Equality and Diversity.

On behalf of the Council, Lead Members work with relevant senior manager (eg Directors/Executive Directors, Executive Deans). Their role is not to manage the business area but to provide assurance to Council that recommendations and decisions arising from the business area are sound and evidence based, have followed appropriate processes, and are aligned to corporate strategy. In the case of Estates, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology, Lead Member meetings are minuted and a report from Lead Members is presented to Council at each of its meetings. For the other portfolios, there is an annual report to Council, with provision for an interim half yearly report where appropriate. To guide their dual assurance role, Lead Members are encouraged to address and challenge on such issues as:

  • To what extent are the objectives in the corporate strategy and operational plans relating to the business area being delivered?
  • Are risks sufficiently identified and mitigated?
  • Is communication between the Lead Member and the Director sufficient?

Other Council members have the opportunity to raise questions about and probe issues raised in reports of Lead Members either with the Lead Members themselves or with the relevant Executive Director. 
 

Who are the Lead Members?

In 2011-12, Lead Members are as follows

Estates – Mr C Wells (until 31 Jan 2012)  Mr M Appleton (from 1 Feb 2012)

Finance – Dr M Burrows

Human Resources – Mr N Collins

IT - Mr T Britten

Performance - Mr J Greenough

Equality and Diversity - Ms R Turner

College of Arts and Social Sciences - Ms J Fawcett

College of Health and Social Care - Mr P Crompton

College of Science and Technology - Mr D Antrobus  

Queries regarding Lead Members should be directed to the Head of Governance Services Unit and Deputy Secretary, Mark Rollinson, First Floor, Acton Square, m.rollinson@salford.ac.uk, (0161 29) 56849.