The role and responsibilities of BASC Council members
This is being sent to you as you have expressed an interest in standing for election to
BASC’s Council. The present Council has said many prospective candidates would find
useful a simple document which outlines the terms of a member’s tenure and Council’s
collective expectations of its members; it is in that vein that we have compiled the following
summary:
Election
1. Election to Council is for a term of five years ending at the close of the Annual General
Meeting in June 2021. The election will be subject to the Association’s Constitution and
Objects (a copy of which has been provided to you) and any necessary resolution of
members.
2. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this document, membership of Council may be
terminated at any time by the Council in accordance with the Association’s Constitution and
Objects or upon your resignation or upon your ceasing to be a member of the Association.
Upon such termination or resignation for any reason, you shall not be entitled to any
damages for loss of office and no fee will be payable to you in respect of any unexpired
portion of the term of the office.
3. During their term of office members may be asked, and will be expected, to serve on one
or more of the Council’s committees including Executive and Finance and Advisory
Committees. The terms of reference for each of those committees are included in the
enclosed “Role, Governance and Operation of BASC”.
4. During the term of office you will be expected to adhere to all codes of behaviour and to
follow processes as described in “Role, Governance and Operation of BASC”.
Time commitment
5. The Association anticipates a time commitment of not less than 20 days per year, but you
are aware that the nature of the role makes it impossible to be specific about the time to be
dedicated to this role. This will include attendance at regular and emergency Council
meetings and the AGM, held normally in June each year. You may also be required to
attend regular meetings of any Council or Advisory committee of which you are a member. In
addition, you will be expected to devote appropriate preparation time ahead of each meeting.
6. By accepting the term of office, you confirm that you are able to allocate sufficient time to
perform your role.
Role
7. As a Council member you have the same general legal responsibilities to the Association
as a Company Director.
8. The Council as a whole is collectively responsible for promoting the success of the
Association by directing and supervising the Association’s affairs. The Council:

provides entrepreneurial leadership of the Association within a framework of prudent and
effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed;

sets the Association’s strategic aims, ensures that the necessary financial and human
resources are in place for the Association to meet its objectives, and reviews
management performance; and

sets the Association’s values and standards and ensures that its obligations to its
members and others are understood and met.
9. In addition to these requirements the role of the elected Council members has the
following key elements:

Strategy: Council members should constructively challenge and contribute to the
development of strategy;

Performance: Council members should scrutinise the performance of the executive
team in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance;

Risk: Council members should satisfy themselves that financial information is accurate
and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible;
and

People: Council members have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary
removing, the Chief Executive; in succession planning; and in assisting, where
necessary, in the appointment of senior officers.
Attendance allowance
10. You may claim an attendance allowance, currently in the sum of £150 per Council
meeting, which will be subject to an annual review by the Council. This allowance is only
provided for attending full Council meetings; no attendance allowance will be paid for
attending any other Council or Advisory committee meeting or event of any nature.
Allowances will be paid through the Association’s payroll and will be subject to tax
depending on your personal circumstances. Council members who choose to claim this
allowance are encouraged so to do as soon as possible after the conclusion of each
meeting.
Expenses
11. In addition to the allowance described in 10 above, the Association will reimburse you
for allowable and properly documented expenses you incur in performing your role. You
should submit any details of expenses incurred to the Director of Business Management
using the correct form(s).
Other interests
12. The Association acknowledges that you have interests other than those of the
Association. All Council members are required to complete a declaration of interests form
on their election. In the event that you become aware of any potential conflicts of interest,
these should be disclosed to the Chairman and Chief Executive as soon as they become
apparent.
Code of conduct
13. During the term of office you will comply with any relevant regulations as may be issued
by the Financial Conduct Authority and such other requirements as the Association may
from time to time specify in its “Role, Governance and Operation of BASC”.
Confidentiality
14. You must apply the highest standards of confidentiality and not disclose to any person
or company or organisation (whether during the course of the term of office or at any time
after its termination) any confidential information concerning the Association and any Group
Organisation with which you come into contact by virtue of your position as a Council
member of the Association. Failure to abide by these provisions could carry significant
reputational and / or financial risk for the Association.
Review process
15. The performance of individual Council members is evaluated annually. If, in the interim,
there are any matters which cause you concern about your role you should discuss them
with the Chairman as soon as is appropriate.
Insurance
16. The Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and it is intended to maintain
such cover for the full term of office. You will be provided with details of this insurance.
Any other duties
17. Council members may be asked to carry out other duties as considered appropriate by
the Council.
For the purposes of this document Group Organisation shall mean the Association, any
subsidiary, associated, connected or holding company thereof together with any charity,
company, trust or other body for which the Association has managerial control or in which it
exercises significant influence.
The document constitutes neither a contract for services nor a service contract.
Chairman
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation