Defra launches consultation on RCVS governance reform

Today, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on reforming our governance arrangements. This follows a period of discussions between Defra and us on how we might best modernise RCVS Council.

Any reform should meet the unique requirements of the RCVS as a Royal College that regulates and the criteria we already agreed: Council’s decision-making role would be strengthened, for instance, by increasing the number of Council meetings per year. This would reduce or remove the need for a separate Operational Board in order that the CEO reports directly to Council.

This consultation is an opportunity to hear the voice of the profession and the public about an appropriate structure and oversight of the RCVS, reflecting the uniqueness of being a Royal College that regulates.

Bradley Viner, President

Any reforms would also ensure that Council has sufficient members to populate our committees and the Presidential team. The reforms would follow the government’s five principles of better regulation, by being proportionate, consistent, accountable, transparent and targeted.

We started to consider our governance in 2009, with a formal consultation of the profession and a series of recommendations to Council made by the RCVS Veterinary Legislation Group.

It was agreed that discussion of Council reform should wait until our new disciplinary arrangements had bedded in.

In July 2015 the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC) and Disciplinary Committee (DC) completed the transition to full independence from Council, enabling us to return to the question of its governance arrangements.

A further impetus to reconsider governance arrangements was given by our First Rate Regulator initiative, which was completed in 2013. This report gave recommendations on how we could reform in order to operate more efficiently and in the best interests of the public and the profession.

It also led to the inclusion of an objective to review our governance arrangements in the RCVS 2014-16 Strategic Plan.

Discussions with Defra revealed an appetite for reforming RCVS governance. In light of this we determined to take the lead on proposing how such reforms might work, and from March 2015 worked with Defra to develop the consultation document.

The consultation published today gives the public and profession the opportunity to have their say on what reforms would best prepare us for the future.

It discusses the appropriate size and composition of Council, including the proportion of elected members, how veterinary schools should be represented, increasing lay membership, and ensuring appropriate veterinary nurse representation.

It also examines how flexibility can be built into the reforms in case of future changes, such as the possibility of new categories of associate.

Responses to the consultation will inform our work with Defra to determine the precise details of any new governance arrangements.

RCVS President Bradley Viner said: “I am delighted that Defra is consulting on RCVS governance and the minister has the full backing of RCVS Council in so doing.

"This consultation is an opportunity to hear the voice of the profession and the public about an appropriate structure and oversight of the RCVS, reflecting the uniqueness of being a Royal College that regulates.

"Consulting on this important issue is in keeping with our desire to become first rate in what we do, building on other measures to modernise and improve the workings of the College.”

View the consultation