The Central Institutions (Scotland) Regulations 1988

law://uk/uksi/1988/1715@2026-11-12

Contents

Part I · Citation, commencement and interpretation

1Citation and commencement#

These Regulations may be cited as the Central Institutions (Scotland) Regulations 1988 and shall come into force for the purposes of regulation 19(4) on 1st November 1988 and for all other purposes on 1st January 1989.

2Interpretation#

(1)In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings respectively assigned to them:2• “academic council”, in relation to a central institution, means the body of persons appointed for that institution in accordance with regulation 18 of these Regulations, or, prior to the first such appointment, in accordance with any corresponding provision of Regulations revoked by these Regulations;• “central institution” means any central institution within the meaning of section 135(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 the governing body of which is for the time being receiving grant in respect of that institution under section 73(c) of said Act;• “co-opted membership”, means the membership of the governing body of a central institution co-opted in accordance with regulation 6;• “core membership”, means the membership of the governing body of a central institution appointed in accordance with regulation 5;• “governing body”, means the governing body or other body of persons responsible for the management of a central institution:• Provided that where a company (as defined in section 735 of the Companies Act 1985 is responsible for the management of a central institution “governing body” means the Governors or Council who manage the affairs of the company;• “governor”, means a member of a governing body• “institution” means a central institution;• “principal”, in relation to a central institution, means the principal or the director or any person authorised, whether for the purposes of these Regulations or otherwise, for the time being to act as principal or director, as the case may be, of the institution and “vice-principal” shall be construed accordingly.

(2)In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a regulation or Schedule is a reference to a regulation of these Regulations or a Schedule to these Regulations.

Part II · Governing bodies

3Recomposition of governing bodies#

As from 1st January 1989, and subject to regulation 19, the composition and appointment of the membership of the governing bodies of the central institutions shall be in accordance with these Regulations.

4The composition of the governing bodies#

The governing body of each central institution shall be composed of a core membership appointed in accordance with regulation 5 and a co-opted membership appointed in accordance with regulation 6.

5Core membership#

(1)The core membership of each governing body shall be composed of —

(a)governors of a number determined in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) being not less than 9 and not more than 13, who shall be appointed in accordance with those paragraphs, from among persons appearing to the appointing authority to have experience of, and to have shown capacity in, industrial, commercial or employment matters or the practice of any profession;

(b)the principal of the institution, the vice-principal of the institution and the president of the students' representative council or students' association in the institution, as governors ex officiis; and

(c)staff governors appointed as follows—

(i)one who shall be appointed by the academic council of the institution from among the members of the full-time academic staff of the institution who are members of the academic council;

(ii)one who shall be elected by the full-time academic staff of the institution from among such staff; and

(iii)one who shall be elected by the full-time non-academic staff of the institution from among such staff.

(2)The Secretary of State shall be the appointing authority for the first appointment of governors to be made under paragraph (1)(a) and he shall determine in respect of the governing body of each central institution, subject to the limits stated in paragraph (1)(a), the number of governors to be appointed thereunder, shall make appointments accordingly and shall determine the respective terms of office of each appointment.

(3)Following the Secretary of State’s determination of the number of governors and his appointment of governors under paragraph (2) in respect of a governing body—

(a)the appointing authority for the appointment of governors under paragraph (1)(a) shall be the core membership of that governing body;

(b)the governing body may by resolution vary the determination of the number of governors made by the Secretary of State under paragraph (2), subject to the limits stated in paragraph (1)(a), and the core membership of that governing body shall, where the number is increased, make additional appointments accordingly;

(c)a variation by the governing body under sub-paragraph (b) of the determination made by the Secretary of State under paragraph (2)—

(i)may in turn be varied by a subsequent resolution of that governing body, subject to the limits stated in paragraph (1)(a);

(ii)shall not have effect so as to terminate the appointment of any person who is a governor at the time when it takes effect.

6Co-opted membership#

(1)The governing body of each central institution shall co-opt, subject to paragraph (3), no less than 2 and no more than 6 persons to serve as governors, which co-opted membership shall include—

(a)at least one person having experience of local government; and

(b)at least one person from the full-time academic staff of another establishment of further or higher education.

(2)In respect of the first co-option of governors to a governing body under these Regulations, the core membership shall act as the governing body for the purposes of paragraph (1).

(3)A governing body may co-opt more than 2 governors only if upon such co-option the governors appointed under regulation 5(1)(a) remain in overall majority in the governing body.

7Election of certain governors#

(1)The governing body of each central insitution shall—

(a)after consultation with the full-time academic staff of the institution make rules for the election of governors to be elected by the full-time academic staff from among such staff under regulation 5(1)(c)(ii); and

(b)after consultation with the full-time non-academic staff of the institution, make rules for the election of the governors to be elected by the full-time non-academic staff from among such staff under regulation 5(1)(c)(iii).

(2)Any rules made by a governing body under paragraph (1) above may, after consultation with the full-time academic staff of the institution, or with the full-time non-academic staff of the institution, whichever is appropriate, be revoked and replaced, or varied, by further rules made by that governing body.

(3)The governing body of each central institution shall be responsible for the holding and conduct of any election to be carried out for the appointment of governors under regulation 5(1)(c)(ii) or (iii).

8Appointment of chairman#

(1)The governing body of each central institution shall appoint a chairman from among the governors appointed under regulation 5(1)(a), who shall hold office until the expiry of such period as may be determined by the governing body, which period shall not extend beyond his period of office as a governor, or until he resigns from his office as chairman, or until he is removed from office as chairman by resolution of the governing body: Provided that if the chairman is deemed to have vacated office as governor under regulation 12 he shall also cease to hold office as chairman.

(2)In the absence of the chairman the governing body may appoint one of their own number to preside at any meeting.

9Period of office of governors#

(1)Any governor ex officio specified in regulation 5(1)(b) shall hold the office of such a governor for the duration of his tenure of the office by virtue of which he is such a governor.

(2)Any governor appointed to the governing body of a central institution under regulation 5(1)(a) or (c) or co-opted to it under regulation 6 may be further appointed or co-opted to it on expiry of his term of office, if he is still eligible in accordance with these Regulations and his appointment is not precluded by paragraph (3).

(3)A person shall not be appointed or co-opted to a governing body where his term of office, if aggregated with any previous terms of office, would cause him to serve for more than 12 years as a governor in that body: Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to the first appointment of governors made by the Secretary of State under regulation 5(2).

(4)For the purposes of paragraph (3), a term of office shall include any term of office as a governor, whether served before or after the coming into force of these Regulations, and whether taken by appointment under regulation 5(1)(a) or (c) or by co-option under regulation 6, or otherwise, but not any term of office served ex officio.

(5)The governing body of each central institution shall make rules for the duration of the terms of office of governors appointed under regulation 5(1)(a) or (c) or co-opted under regulation 6, which rules may be revoked and replaced, or varied, by further rules made by the governing body.

10Age limit for governors#

A person who has attained the age of 70 years shall not thereafter be eligible to take office, whether for a first or subsequent term, as a governor of any of the central institutions: Provided that nothing in this regulation shall prohibit a person who attains the said age during a term of office as a governor of such an institution from continuing as a governor thereof until the expiry of that term.

11Disqualification of governors#

A person shall be disqualified from being appointed or co-opted as a governor of a central institution, or, where appropriate, from remaining in office as a governor of a central institution, other than in the case of a governor ex officio or a governor appointed in accordance with regulation 5(1)(c), if he is a member of the staff of the institution.

12Vacancies among governors#

(1)A governor shall be deemed to have vacated his office as governor and the governing body of which he was a member shall declare his place vacant, in any of the following circumstances:—

(a)where he intimates in writing to the governing body his resignation as a governor;

(b)where his estate is sequestrated or a bankruptcy order is made against him or he has granted a trust deed for, or entered into an arrangement with his creditors;

(c)where he becomes unable to carry out his duties as a governor by reason of physical or mental illness;

(d)where he has failed to attend any meetings of the governing body or any of its committees or sub-committees for a period longer than six consecutive months otherwise than for a reason approved by the governing body;

(e)in the case of a staff governor whose appointment falls to be made under regulation 5(1)(c) either from among the members of the Academic Council or from the full-time academic or non-academic staff of the institution, when he ceases to be a member of the Academic Council or the full-time academic or non-academic staff, as the case may be;

(f)where in accordance with regulation 11 he becomes disqualified from remaining in office as a governor.

(2)Where the place of a governor who has been appointed to the office of governor under regulation 5(1)(a) has been declared vacant under paragraph (1), or where such a governor has died, the core membership shall appoint a governor to fill the vacancy.

(3)Where the place of a governor who has been appointed to the office of governor under regulation 5(1)(c) has been declared vacant under paragraph (1), or where such a governor has died—

(a)in the case of a governor appointed under regulation 5(1)(c)(i), the governing body shall intimate the vacancy to the academic council who shall appoint a governor to fill the vacancy;

(b)in the case of a governor elected under regulation 5(1)(c)(ii) or (iii) an election shall be held to fill the vacancy in accordance with regulation 7 and the relevant rules made under it.

(4)Where the place of a governor who has been appointed to the office of governor under regulation 6 has been declared vacant under paragraph (1), or where such a governor has died, the governing body shall appoint a governor to fill the vacancy if that is necessary to satisfy the requirements of regulation 6(1), and in other cases may so appoint a governor in accordance with regulation 6.

13Administrative arrangements#

(1)The governing body of each central institution shall make arrangements to secure that such of their functions as are specified in paragraph (2) of this regulation shall be discharged on their behalf by the principal of the institution.

(2)In pursuance of arrangements made under paragraph (1) of this regulation the principal of a central institution shall discharge the functions of the governing body (other than those delegated to the academic council of the institution by virtue of regulation 18(4) of these Regulations) relating to the organisation and management of the institution and to the discipline therein.

(3)In discharging the functions specified in paragraph (2) of this regulation, the principal of the institution shall be subject to the general control and direction of the governing body but otherwise the principal shall have all the powers and duties of the governing body in relation to those functions.

14Pensions, allowances and gratuities for staff#

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, the governing body of any central institution shall have power to pay such sum or sums by way of pension, allowance or gratuity as they may think fit to—

(a)any member of the staff of the institution, on his retirement, through age or permanent incapacity, from the employment of the governing body; or

(b)the surviving spouse or any dependant of any such member in the event of the death of the member in the employment of the governing body,

in respect of any period of such member’s service in the employment of the governing body:

15Allowances#

The governing body of any central institution may pay to any of its members such financial loss allowances and travelling and subsistence allowances, subject to the same limits, as are payable to members of local authorities in Scotland under sections 45(4) and 46 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

16Reserved areas of business#

Where any meeting of the governing body of any central institution or of any committee of such governing body, as the case may be, is to consider any of the following matters, that is to say, the salary, conditions of service, appointment, promotion, suspension or dismissal of any member of the staff of the institution, any governor who is a governor ex officio by virtue of holding office as president of the students' representative council or students' association in the institution, in accordance with regulation 5(1)(b), and any governor co-opted under regulation 6 who is a full-time student in the institution, shall withdraw from the meeting, or that part of the meeting, as the case may be, at which any of the said matters are to be considered, unless invited to remain by virtue of a resolution of the other members of the governing body or committee thereof, as the case may be, present at the meeting.

17Validity of proceedings of governing body#

No failure or defect in the appointment or co-option of any governor and no vacancy in the office of governor shall prevent the governing body from acting in the execution of its functions, nor shall any act or proceeding of the governing body or of any committee appointed by it be invalidated or be illegal by reason of or in consequence of any such vacancy or of any such defect in the appointment or co-option of any one or more governors.

Part III · Academic councils

18Academic Councils#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the governing body of each central institution shall appoint, and maintain by further appointment, an academic council in the manner specified in Part I of Schedule 1.

(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the governing bodies of Glasgow College of Technology and Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh but these governing bodies shall each appoint and maintain by further appointment an academic board constituted and appointed in accordance with the practice observed respectively at each of those institutions immediately prior to the coming into force of these Regulations, and any provisions of these Regulations applying to academic councils, apart from paragraph (1) of this regulation, Part I of Schedule 1 and paragraph 5(b) of Part II of that Schedule, shall apply equally to such an academic board.

(3)The proceedings of the academic council shall be regulated in accordance with Part II of Schedule 1.

(4)The governing body of each central institution shall delegate to the academic council of the institution the following of its functions—

(a)the functions of the governing body relating to the over-all planning, co-ordination, development and supervision of the academic work of the institution; and

(b)such other functions of the governing body as may be assigned to the academic council by the governing body:

Part IV · Transitional, supplementary, variation and revocation

19Transitional arrangements#

(1)The governors of the governing body of a central institution who are in office immediately prior to 1st January 1989 shall, subject to paragraph (3), demit office as governors on 31st December 1988, but without prejudice to their eligibility to become governors in accordance with these regulations.

(2)The terms of office of the governors of the governing body of a central institution, who are the governors first to be appointed in accordance with these Regulations, shall be deemed to have commenced on 1st January 1989.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) and any other provision of these Regulations, the governors of the governing body of a central institution who are in office immediately prior to 1st January 1989 shall continue to exercise all the necessary acts of administration relative to the central institution and shall have all the powers necessary therefor until the first meeting of the governing body as composed in accordance with these Regulations and shall from and after the date of the said meeting wholly cease to exercise any right or power of administration over the said central institution.

(4)The Secretary of State shall use his powers under regulation 5(2), the governing body of each central institution shall use their powers under regulations 7 and 9(5), and the academic council shall use its powers of appointment under regulation 5(1)(c)(i), so as to ensure so far as is practicable that the core membership of the governing body as composed in accordance with these Regulations is complete by 1st January 1989.

20Variations and revocations of provisions of instruments#

The provisions of the enactments, schemes, articles of association and other instruments specified in Column (1) of Schedule 2 to these Regulations (being, by virtue of regulation 21(2), the provisions of such instruments without any variation or revocation effected by the Regulations or Schemes revoked by regulation 21(1)) are hereby varied or revoked (or both varied and revoked), as the case may be, to the extent (being the extent to which the provisions of such instruments are in the opinion of the Secretary of State inconsistent with these Regulations) specified opposite such instruments in Column (2) of that Schedule.

21Revocations of Regulations#

(1)The Regulations and Schemes specified in Schedule 3 are hereby revoked.

(2)Where Regulations or Schemes revoked by these Regulations varied or revoked any provision of any enactment, scheme, articles of association or other instrument to which regulation 20 applies, such variation or revocation shall cease to have effect and the provision shall be restored, subject to any variation or revocation effected by regulation 20.

22Condition of grant#

It shall be a condition of the payment of any grant under section 73(c) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to the governing body of any central institution that the governing body of that institution shall comply with the requirements imposed on them by these Regulations.

23Change of names of institutions#

(1)The institutions, formerly known as Dundee College of Technology and Napier College of Commerce and Technology, which were re-named respectively Dundee Institute of Technology and Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh with effect from 8th September 1988 shall continue to be known by the latter names.

(2)Any reference in an agreement, deed, bond, instrument or other writing, operative or effective immediately before 8th September 1988

(a)to Dundee College of Technology or to the Governors of Dundee College of Technology shall be read as a reference to Dundee Institute of Technology or to the Governors of Dundee Institute of Technology respectively;

(b)to Napier College of Commerce and Technology or to the Governors of Napier College of Commerce and Technology shall be read as a reference to Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh or the Governors of Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh respectively;

and any like reference to the College or to the Governors shall be construed accordingly; and no rights, interests, obligations or liabilities of any person shall be affected by the changes of the names of these institutions or their governing bodies.

24Savings#

(1)For the avoidance of doubt, where the governing body of a central institution is a body corporate, no provision of these Regulations shall be taken to affect the continuance of that body corporate as such.

(2)No provision of these Regulations shall be taken to affect the continuance in office of any member of the academic council of a central institution, who was appointed before the coming into force of any provision of these Regulations, and said academic council of that institution shall remain in office until reappointed in accordance with these Regulations.

Schedule 1 · Academic councils

Part I

(1)The academic council of each central institution (hereafter called “the council”) shall be appointed in such manner as to ensure that the council consists of—

(a)the holders of the following posts in the institution, namely the posts of principal, vice-principal (if any), head of department, the president of the Student Association and chief librarian (however designed) ex officiis (hereafter called “members ex officiis of council”);

(b)such number of members of the full-time academic staff and matriculated students of the institution as may be determined in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Schedule (hereafter called “elected members of council”); and

(c)such number of persons, not exceeding 4, as have been co-opted by the council (hereafter called “co-opted members of council”).

(2)The elected members of council shall—

(a)consist of such a number of persons including one full-time matriculated student of the institution as may be determined by the governing body of the institution, being not less than one-third and not more than two-thirds of the aggregate of members ex officiis of the council;

(b)be elected by, and from among, members of the full-time academic staff and matriculated students of the institution who are not members ex officiis or co-opted members of the council;

(c)be so elected in accordance with arrangements made by the persons holding office as members of the Council immediately prior to the election and approved by the governing body except in the case of the full-time matriculated student who shall be elected by full-time matriculated students of the institution in a manner to be specified in a scheme made by the Student Association in the institution and approved by the governing body;

(d)in the case of members of the full-time academic staff, hold office for such a period, not exceeding 4 years, as may be determined by the governing body, and in the case of the full-time matriculated student hold office for a period not exceeding one year; and

(e)subject to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, be eligible for re-election.

(3)The co-opted members of council shall hold office for such a period, not exceeding 4 years, as may be determined by the governing body of the institution and shall be eligible to be co-opted again on the expiry of a period of office.

(4)The principal of the institution shall be the chairman of the council.

Part II

(5)The proceedings of the council shall be regulated by a scheme made by the council and approved by the governing body of the institution and the said scheme may provide for—

(a)the appointment by the council of such committees, as they consider appropriate;

(b)the co-option, subject to paragraph 1(c) of this Schedule, by the council of additional members (including, where they consider it appropriate, representatives of the students in attendance at the institution) of council, or of any committee thereof, for specific purposes; and

(c)any other matters connected with the functions of the council.

(6)Any scheme made and approved under paragraph 5 of this Schedule shall include provision for—

(a)the appointment of a vice-chairman of the council; and

(b)a minimum number of meetings of the council in each year.

Schedule 2 · Variations and revocations of the provisions of instruments

Schedule 3 · Regulations and schemes revoked

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

1Citation and commencement#

2Interpretation#

3Recomposition of governing bodies#

4The composition of the governing bodies#

5Core membership#

6Co-opted membership#

7Election of certain governors#

8Appointment of chairman#

9Period of office of governors#

10Age limit for governors#

11Disqualification of governors#

12Vacancies among governors#

13Administrative arrangements#

14Pensions, allowances and gratuities for staff#

15Allowances#

16Reserved areas of business#

17Validity of proceedings of governing body#

18Academic Councils#

19Transitional arrangements#

20Variations and revocations of provisions of instruments#

21Revocations of Regulations#

22Condition of grant#

23Change of names of institutions#

24Savings#

Connections

Defined terms · 3

Key facts

History · 1 version

1Citation and commencement#

2Interpretation#

3Recomposition of governing bodies#

4The composition of the governing bodies#

5Core membership#

6Co-opted membership#

7Election of certain governors#

8Appointment of chairman#

9Period of office of governors#

10Age limit for governors#

11Disqualification of governors#

12Vacancies among governors#

13Administrative arrangements#

14Pensions, allowances and gratuities for staff#

15Allowances#

16Reserved areas of business#

17Validity of proceedings of governing body#

18Academic Councils#

19Transitional arrangements#

20Variations and revocations of provisions of instruments#

21Revocations of Regulations#

22Condition of grant#

23Change of names of institutions#

24Savings#