NERC's internal scheme of delegation
How the scheme works
The scheme captures the decision-making roles of Council, Chief Executive and the NERC Investment Committee on key issues. It also covers the roles of the advisory Boards (Science & Innovation Strategy Board, NERC Executive Board and the Audit Committee) in providing advice to the relevant decision-makers. On some occasions, Council sets up sub-groups to look at particular issues which will report back to it against defined Terms of Reference (for example, the sub-group which produced the Randall Report in 2001).
Each Board's terms of reference is linked to their named tasks in the scheme of delegation, and outlines the Board's precise role. The roles and responsibilities of Council and the NERC Chief Executive are set out in the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) management statement which also sit behind the scheme; as does the current version of the financial scheme of delegation revised in November 2006 through approval of the Terms of Reference of the NERC Investment Committee.
The scheme of delegation is an evolving document which needs to be updated as changes occur to the advisory and decision-making environment within and around NERC. The NERC office should review the scheme of delegation annually and any significant changes referred to Council for agreement.
This is an internal scheme of delegation for NERC. It does not replace either the management statement between NERC and BIS, nor does it replace the management statements between the NERC Chief Executive and executive directors, and research centre directors.