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REPORT TO WOMEN'S NATIONAL COMMISSION BOARD

BACKGROUND

  1. At the WNC All Partner's Conference on 14 December 2006, the Minister for Women, Meg Munn, in her keynote speech, announced a Government review of the WNC. She said that she wanted to see it `strengthened and renewed.' The Government's terms of reference for the review are being agreed at present by the Minister; her letter to the Chair will be available at the meeting.

  1. The WNC was last reviewed in 1999. This was a full review lead by a Ministerial group consisting of the Minister for Women (then Joan Ruddock) as Chair; her Special Adviser, Anna Coote; Shelagh Diplock, Director of Fawcett; and Baroness Joyce Gould. The group had secretarial support from the Women and Equality Unit, lead by Janet Veitch.

  1. That review made a number of key recommendations (hard copies will be available at the meeting). Chief among these were:

    1. To reaffirm WNC's remit to bring the informed opinion of women to Government

    2. To operate as an independent advisory body with a Chair and Board selected under the public appointments system.

    3. To extend partnership status to a greater number of organisations (the upper limit of 75 was subsequently lifted).

  1. `Light Touch' Review

A `light touch' review is designed to be short and focused. An external reviewer will be appointed and given staff support from WNC's sponsor, the Women and Equality Unit. She will examine the WNC to establish, in broad terms, whether it is fit for purpose and make recommendations for change if appropriate. It is expected that she will invite input from the Director of the WEU, the WNC Chair and Board, WNC staff and key stakeholders including partners.

  1. Action

The Board is asked to consider and agree key points to feed into the review. This might include the overall effectiveness of current arrangements; in particular:

    1. NDPB status

    2. Sponsorship from the DCLG

    3. Links with the Minister for Women

    4. Links with government more broadly

    5. The resources available to the WNC

    6. Engagement with diverse women

    7. Strategic direction/work programme

    8. Role of the board/appointment arrangements

    9. Stakeholder relationships

    10. Role of the Directorate

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