SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk

The consultation period for the second part of the Governance Review
has just begun. The consultation document has been sent out to those
who responded to part 1 or have registered an interest since. It's
available online at
http://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/gove...ate/index.aspx

Replies are required by the end of March. There is an open meeting in
London on 6th March (details on the same web page above)

I copied annex A below to find the background you need to read the
full 26 page document (sorry that makes this a long post)

SUMMARY OF MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The purpose of any reforms of governance is to enable YHA to
pursue its charitable object more effectively (paragraphs 6-8).
2. The purposeful enthusiasm that has driven all YHA's
achievements is a tremendous force for good. This is an opportunity to
consider fresh ways of expressing it so that its impact on the life of
the nations can be bigger than ever (9).
3. YHA is challenged to try systematically, as the Scouts
Association has done, to involve young people under 26 at all levels
of the Association (13-18).
4. The vital volunteer commitment of the YHA movement can find
better regional expression (22-26).
5. In future, regional groupings of the YHA should correspond to
YHA management regions (that are also Government regions) - nine in
England, one in Wales (27).
6. In each such region there should be a volunteer Regional
Committee of about 6 to 8 people, including two under 26 years. They
should organise at least one open members' forum per year, arrange for
elections to the Committee itself and of regional representatives to
the national Council (AGM). They would also advise and assist the
regional management of the YHA on a range of practical functions to
help pursue the charity's objects better (27).
7. The Regional Committee should be elected by the members'
forum, with the assistance of advice from a nominations committee (but
the forum would be free to accept or reject such advice and put up
alternative candidates if sufficient minimum support could be
secured). Members should serve for no more than two consecutive terms
of three years before having to take a break (27).
8. This would require the adjustment of job descriptions of
regional staff and budget provision for expenses (28).
9. YHA should continue with a "Council" model for its AGM
(31-34).
10. Resources permitting, there should be an occasional national
YHA rally, complementing formal governance arrangements (35).
11. To enhance participation and accountability, YHA's Council
(AGM) should meet twice a year (perhaps for one-day sessions) (38),
and it is time that a wider variety of YHA participants, enthusiasts
and supporters were included (37).
12. The Council could remain at about its present size but be
rebalanced to secure more diverse representation. An illustrative
suggestion is that in addition to the Honorary Officers, National
Officers and Trustees, all of whom should be allowed to vote, there
should be 40 members from the new regions, 10 from school and youth
groups, 20 from a wider range of Affiliated Societies, including more
that work with young people of limited means, and 10 young people
below the age of 26. More advice and consultation is required on the
representation of Affiliated Groups (40).
13. Representatives from the school and youth groups, young people
under 26 and Affiliated Societies should be elected by Council with
the assistance of advice from a national Nominations Committee
(43-44).
14. The Council can hire and fire the Board, including the
National Officers, and vote at the AGM on constitutional issues.
Within that framework, they advise and guide the Board but do not bind
it (45-47).
15. The present, rather large Board is too much like a small
Council and should be slimmed down, in line with the Boards of
comparable membership charities (48-52).
16. The Board should comprise a maximum of 15, comprising the
National Officers, 4 members of the Council from the regions, 3
others, 2 young people under 26, and up to 2 co-opted by the Board
(52).
17. All Trustees should be elected by the Council, assisted by the
recommendations of a national Nominations Committee, following open
advertisement. There would no longer be different kinds of election
for different kinds of Trustee. In all cases Council would be free in
principle to accept or reject the advice of the Nominations Committee
and put up other candidates with sufficient minimum support from
members of Council (53).
18. The National Nominations Committee could consist of the Chair
(or a Chair's nominee from the Board), another Trustee chosen by the
Board, an independent member chosen by the Board after open
advertisement, and a co-opted member if required. The Chief Executive
should be involved personally, along with other staff, in assisting
this Committee (55).
19. Trustees should serve for no more than two three-year terms
before having to take a break, except for National Officers who should
be able to serve two terms as National Officers on top of their time
as an ordinary Trustee (58).
20. The Board should be open to shorter meetings, more often in
London or other major centres (59).
21. On balance, there is a good case for retaining four National
Officers - the Chair, two Vice Chairs, one hon Treasurer (60).
22. To secure the vitally important qualities needed from National
Officers, YHA should be open to a wider range of people and talents,
and look systematically for the very best people to do the job
(61-64), using methods suggested in paragraphs 65-66.
replace SPAMHATER with n and t*sc*li with totalise