WNC Remit

The WNC is an advisory non-departmental public body (a non-statutory body - established without legislation), with a remit to act as the Government's only, independent advisory body on women. It is the UK umbrella body that represents the views of millions of women and women's organisations. Since its establishment in 1969, the WNC has operated under a remit "to ensure by all possible means that the informed opinions of women are given their due weight in the deliberations of Government".

The Commission puts as its primary goal, engaging with women's organisations, including those organisations without a national profile, so their views can be heard and communicated to government.

WNC Vision:

WNC Mission is to:

Guiding Aims

The WNC will:

WNC Strategic Aims:

WNC Values

In working towards our vision and aims, we will demonstrate the following values:

Functions

The WNC provides a two-way channel for effective communication between women's organisations and the Government. It provides advice to both government and women's organisations, and is available for government to consult on women's equality issues, as it develops its policies; and is available to the women's sector to help communicate its views to government. It has a duty to:

Activities

In achieving its goals, the WNC will provide a number of key services as follows:

Key WNC Stakeholders

In carrying out our activities, our key stakeholders will be:

As an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), the WNC is led by a Chair and Board of Commissioners.

Role of the Chair

The Chair is appointed by the Minister for Women and has responsibility for providing effective strategic leadership in:

The Chair shall ensure that the Board of Commissioners meets at regular intervals throughout the year and that the minutes of meetings accurately reflect the decisions taken and, where appropriate, the views of individual Commissioners.

The work of the Chair further involves:

The normal term of office of the Chair shall be three years. Reappointment shall be subject to satisfactory discharge of duties, and the procedures laid down in guidance issued by the Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA).

In the event of the resignation of the Chair, or their otherwise removal from office, the post shall remain vacant until such time that a substantive or temporary Chair shall be appointed by the Minister(s) for Women in accordance with the procedures laid down by OCPA. This should not normally exceed six months.

Role of the Board of Commissioners

Members are appointed by the Minister for Women as individuals and not as the mandated representatives of any organisation or interest, and must be fully committed to equality of opportunity and the principles that underpin this such as the aims of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) and the Beijing Platform for Action.

Commissioners will serve on a part-time basis. In fulfilling their role, Commissioners must ensure they fully take into account the needs of women with multiple identities, particularly in terms of the leading equality strands addressed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission - faith, race, sexuality, disability and age.

Commissioners will be selected on merit, in accordance with the procedures laid down by OCPA, based on their expertise in the policy issues within the WNC's remit. The collective experience of Commissioners, aims to ensure representation of a cross-section of key women's interests and diverse communities. The Board will reflect the views of partners in all nations and regions of the United Kingdom - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. We will also aim to achieve representation of minority groups which better reflects society.

Commissioners are responsible for:

The normal term of office shall be two years. Reappointment shall be subject to satisfactory discharge of duties, and the procedures laid down in guidance issued by the Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments.

In the event of the resignation of a Commissioner, or their otherwise removal from office, the post shall remain vacant until such time that a substantive or temporary member shall be appointed by the Minister(s) for Women in accordance with the procedures laid down by OCPA. This should not normally exceed six months.

The Board of Commissioners shall meet four times per year. Dates for meetings will be agreed well in advance and Commissioners will be expected to attend. Agendas for meetings are agreed between the Chair and Director and Commissioners may make suggestions for items to be included.

Communication between the WNC's Board of Commissioners and the Minister for Women will normally be through the Chair, except where the Board has agreed that an individual Member should act on its behalf. An individual Member has the right of access to Ministers on any matter, which they believe raises important issues relating to their duties as a Commissioner. In such cases the agreement of the rest of the Board should normally be sought. The main point of contact between the WNC and the sponsor department on day-to-day matters will normally be the Director or another employee who is authorised to act on behalf of the WNC.

The Chair shall ensure that all Commissioners, when taking up office, are fully briefed on the terms of their appointment and on their duties, rights and responsibilities.

Commissioners will be paid a renumeration fee, which will be upgraded in the normal way, and is based on their daily time input. This is expected to include attendance at four meetings of the Board of Commissioners per year, plus other additional work days to be agreed in advance, by the WNC Chair or Director.

Between them, Commissioners should meet the following requirements:

Representation

Commissioners will together reflect the views of women in: different geographical areas and socio-economic groups within the UK; the different types of women's groups - national umbrella bodies, key interest/issue groups, local/community groups, and research/academic groups

Knowledge

Commissioners will need knowledge of gender and equality issues within the UK. Knowledge of gender/equality issues at the international level is an advantage. Specialist knowledge will need to be provided by some Commissioners on, not only Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, for whom seats on the Board are reserved, but also on key areas of public policy, such as employment/income, poverty/social exclusion, violence, health, and education; media and communication; strategic planning and management; campaigning and mobilising; and chairing and facilitating meetings

Skills

Commissioners will need: the ability to work as part of a team; the ability to identify with both large and smaller women's interest groups; the ability to analyse policy issues and advise on their impact and implementation; the ability to represent the WNC and act as a spokesperson at events, meetings and conferences.

Values

Commissioners must uphold the seven principles of public life and demonstrate active commitment to the WNC's policy on equality and diversity.

Leadership

Commissioners will show clear direction as members of the Board and will take lead responsibility for specific strands of work, such as chairing a working group.

Public Service Values

The WNC, its Chair and Commissioners, will at all times:

The Chair and Commissioners should declare any personal or business interests that may conflict with their responsibilities as members of the Board. Any conflicts of interest should be identified at an early stage and appropriate action taken to resolve them.

The WNC Board has adopted the seven principles of public life recommended by the Nolan Committee. These are:

Selflessness

Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office 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 public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office 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 public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

The Board may decide to delegate responsibility for specified matters within its own terms of reference to individual Members and working groups. Decisions taken by individual Members or working groups under delegated powers should be recorded in written minutes available to the Board as a whole.

Responsibilities of the Chair and individual Commissioners

The Chair and individual Commissioners should be aware of their wider responsibilities as public appointees and follow the seven principles of public life recommended by the Nolan Committee, set out above.

The Chair and each Commissioner should ensure they understand their duties, rights and responsibilities, and that they are familiar with the function and role of the WNC.

The Chair and Commissioners are expected not to occupy paid party political posts or hold particularly sensitive or high profile unpaid roles in a political party, and not to engage in specific party-political activities on matters directly affecting the work of the WNC. When engaging in other political activities, members should be conscious of their public role and exercise proper discretion.

The Chair and Commissioners must not misuse information gained in the course of their public service for personal gain or for political purpose, nor seek to use the opportunity of public service to promote their private interests or those of connected persons, firms, businesses or other organisations.

Any complaint about a Commissioner should be referred to the Chair; any complaint about the Chair should be referred to the Minister for Women.

The Minister for Women may independently, or on the advice of the Chair, remove a Commissioner from office if they fail to perform their duties to the standards expected of persons who hold public office. Likewise, she may remove the Chair from office in similar circumstances.

Individual Commissioners who have acted honestly, reasonably, in good faith and without negligence will not have to meet out of their own resources any personal civil liability which is incurred in execution of their functions as Members, except where the person has acted recklessly.

The WNC Directorate consists of a small group of civil servants and is sponsored by the Government Equalities Office, attached to the Department for Work and Pensions.

The Directorate's role is to: act as the central contact point for the WNC partners; organise dialogue with women and consultation meetings around the country on key issues; liaise between government departments and women's groups on issues concerning women; manage the work programme of the WNC and the budget; co-ordinate and disseminate information; manage working groups; produce policy papers and liaise with the Government Equalities Office in its work supporting the Ministers for Women.

Role of the Director

The Director has responsibility, under the Board of Commissioners, for the overall organisation, management and staffing of the WNC and for its procedures in financial and other operational matters including conduct and discipline. This involves the promotion by leadership and example of the values embodied in the Nolan Committee's Seven Principles of Public Life. Commissioners should support the Director in undertaking this responsibility.

The Director is responsible for the proper management of the WNC's resources and staff, for ensuring high standards of corporate governance, and for ensuring that Government guidance on regularity, propriety and value for money is complied with. The Director is responsible to the Accounting Officer of the sponsor department, via the Director of the Government Equalities Office, who in turn is responsible and accountable to Parliament for the actions of the department in paying grant-in-aid to the WNC.

The Director has responsibility for ensuring that there are effective systems of management, delegation and control in place, to ensure that the organisation delivers its strategic and operational objectives. The Director is also responsible for the effective management of risk in the organisation and is accountable to the Board of Commissioners for this.

The Director has a personal responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the public finances for which s/he is answerable; for the keeping of proper accounts; for prudent and economical administration; for the avoidance of waste and extravagance; and for the efficient and effective use of all the resources in his/her charge. The Director has a responsibility to see that appropriate advice is tendered to the Board of Commissioners on all these matters. Satisfactory performance of these responsibilities is fundamental to the role of the Director.

Relationship with the sponsor department

The Minister for Women is answerable to Parliament for the WNC's policies and performance, including its use of resources and the policy framework within which it operates.

The Director of the WNC reports to the Director of the Government Equalities Office on all financial, personnel and civil service matters. The staff of the Directorate are civil servants.

WNC Annual report

As part of its responsibilities for the stewardship of public funds, the Board of Commissioners must ensure that it includes a full statement of the use of such resources in the WNC's Annual Report.

The Annual Report will be produced as a single document and copies will be placed in the libraries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Annual Report should provide a full description of the WNC's activities; state the extent to which key strategic objectives and agreed financial and other performance targets have been met; list the names of current Commissioners and senior staff; and provide details of the remuneration of the Chair and staff in accordance with Treasury guidance.

Directorate's Values

Valuing Diversity

We will listen to, value and respect each other as individuals with a contribution to make.

Openness

We will be open, honest and realistic about our goals - celebrating our successes; admitting our mistakes; and learning from both.

Innovation and Creativity

We will be innovative and creative, recognising that this means trusting rather that blaming each other and managing risks.

Collaboration

We will work closely together to achieve our goals.

Encouragement and Development

We will encourage and support each other so that everyone has the opportunity to develop, progress and reach their full potential.

Service to customers

We will take pride in our work, striving for excellence and continuously improving the service we deliver to all our customers, internal and external.

Unique Selling Point

The WNC is the only independent advisory body established to provide a bridge between women's organisations and the UK Government. It provides a route for women's organisations to communicate effectively to Government, but also provides an easier way for Government to disseminate messages to and consult with women's organisations.

To be added here

WNC/07/5/05

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