Annual Report and Accounts - The Great Western Hospital

5.1.6 Lead and Deputy Lead Governors
In November 2011, Harry Dale, previously the Deputy Lead Governor, was nominated as the Lead
Governor for one year replacing Godfrey Fowler and Ros Thomson was nominated as the Deputy
Lead Governor. The Lead Governor is responsible for receiving from governors and communicating to
the Chair any comments, observations and concerns expressed by governors other than at meeting of
the Council of Governors regarding the performance of the Trust or any other serious or material
matter relating to the Trust or its business. The Deputy Lead Governor is responsible for supporting
the lead governor in his role and for performing the responsibilities of the lead governor if he is
unavailable. The Lead Governor regularly meets with the Chair of the Trust both formally and
informally. In addition the Lead Governor communicates with other governors by way of regular email
correspondence.
5.1.7 Biography of individual governors
A biography of each governor is included on the Trust’s website.
5.1.8 Role and function of the Council of Governors
The Council of Governors has a duty under the National Health Services Act 2006 to represent the
views of foundation trust members and stakeholders, to the Board of Directors and the management of
the Trust. The Trust keeps the Council of Governors fully informed on all aspects of the Trust’s
performance. This is done through formal Council meetings, and through working groups set up by the
Council of Governors. These are explained in detailed elsewhere in this report (section 5.1.11 refers).
5.1.9 Statement setting out how the Council of Governors and the Board of
Directors operate
The overall responsibility for running the Trust lies with the Board of Directors and the Council of
Governors is the collective body through which the directors explain and justify their actions. The
Board has a scheme setting out which decisions it will make itself, known as the Reservation of
Powers to the Board (section 5.2.7 elsewhere in this report refers) and there is a Scheme of
Delegation which sets out powers delegated to staff.
It is the responsibility of the Council of Governors to represent the views and interests of the members,
to hold the Board of Directors to account for the performance of the NHS Foundation Trust and to
ensure the Trust acts within the terms of its authorisation. The Council of Governors also works with
the Board of Directors to shape the future strategy of the organisation.
The Council of Governors has specific statutory powers and duties including:
• appointing and, if appropriate, removing the chair
• appointing and, if appropriate, removing the non-executive directors
• deciding the remuneration and allowances and the other terms and conditions of office of the
chair and the other non-executive directors
• approving the appointment of the chief executive
• appointing and, if appropriate, removing the Trust’s auditor
• receiving the Trust’s annual accounts, any report of the auditor on them and the annual report
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