Modernising Trust Ports 2nd Edition.pdf - SailingNetworks

3. THE BOARD.4 Length of Term.4.1 All trust port board appointments except executive members (who shouldserve for their term of office) should be of three years duration. Any less thanthree years inevitably hampers consistency and stability within the board, anda regular turnover of board appointments may result in the loss of valuable'corporate memory'..4.2 Subject to continued eligibility, each board member may be appointed for amaximum of three terms (i.e. reappointed twice), although reappointment forthe third term should be only in exceptional circumstances. Reappointmentshould never be automatic. No board member should be reappointed for asecond or third term unless the chairman is satisfied that the board considernot only that the member in question has performed satisfactorily during thecurrent term of office and has a good attendance record, but also that a newappointee would be unlikely to offer greater value to the board. This testmust be emphatically passed in the exceptional event of a board memberbeing reappointed for a third term. In such an event the board should alsohave the option to consider the incumbent against a wider selection ofcandidates through a more formal selection process..4.3 Chairmen, appointed by the board, should normally have served at least oneterm as a board member. The chairman should be appointed for a three yearterm, even if mid-way through a term as board member. The chairmanshould be subject to an absolute maximum of 12 years service on the boardin whatever capacity..4.4 All boards should seek to avoid a situation whereby all board appointmentshave a common term and end date. Synchronised roll over is disruptive tothe overall effective management and business of the port.Termination of Appointment.4.5 Specific breaches of the standards contained in this guidance and anyactivities deemed inappropriate to the interests of the trust port, includingthose likely to bring the port into disrepute (including moral turpitude), orplainly outside the trust port's legislative or statutory framework, should resultin disqualification of the board member. 9.4.6 In addition, a board member, including the chairman, should cease to holdoffice if a majority of the board requests his or her resignation in writing, andsupports this with a resolution, passed at a full board meeting, that the boardmember has vacated office. The board should make public the reasons forits actions (within the constraints imposed by civil and criminal law)..4.7 Boards should also consider whether, in the interest of natural justice, theyshould institute an independent appeals mechanism for members whoseappointments have been terminated. Whatever the route taken it should beclearly seen to offer an open, accountable and impartial forum of finalrecourse for consideration of the board's decision.9Commissioners Clauses Act 184730