ICE Council and Election Process 2015
Review of ICE governance
A Review of ICE Governance was carried out in 2011 by a working group under the
Chairmanship of Vice President Bill Hewlett.
Can members attend Council meetings?
ICE members are welcome to attend Council meetings, but this must be arranged
beforehand with the Council Office (please email council@ice.org.uk). Members can also
view Council meeting minutes on the members' area of the website.
To find out the dates of Council meetings and other major events, please see the ICE
calendar.
When is the Council election?
An election is held every year to replace Council members due to retire at the end of their
term. Council members are elected by ICE members worldwide and normally serve for three
years (starting on the first Tuesday in the November following their election).
What about Student and Graduate members?
Council includes three Graduate members elected by the Graduate membership worldwide
and the GSNet Chairman attends ICE Council meetings. Graduate and Student members
can also raise any specific issues with the Graduate and Students Network (GSNet).
Nominating a Council Member
Council is the Institution’s governing body and Council members are its trustees.
To ensure that ICE is effectively run, trustees are required to:
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Have a diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge
Be able to think and act strategically
Be from a cross-section of civil engineering sectors
The role of Council
Council has the following collective duties and responsibilities to:
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Develop strategy and policy in the interests of the Institution, the profession and the
public, to propose ideas and constructively build on those of others
Take decisions about the priority of strategic issues based on the importance of the
issue to the Institution and the profession and the availability of resources
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Charity registered in Scotland number SC038629
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Monitor the implementation of policies and activities of committees at a high level and
assess the effectiveness of the agreed strategy
Represent the policies and views of the Institution and the profession in a positive
way to external audiences
Communicate with the membership, representing the views and policies of the
Council, and receiving feedback from members
Take professional advice where appropriate
Council members and their responsibilities as trustees
Council members in carrying out their duties:
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Should be exemplary role models as leading members of the profession
Must act at all times in the best interests of the Institution
Must ensure that the Institution operates within its object as defined in the Royal
Charter
Must not benefit from their position beyond that which is allowed by the law and is in
the interests of the Institution
Must identify and declare any actual or potential conflict of interest
Must not accept gifts or hospitality where this could be seen as likely to influence the
decisions of the Council
Where representing a particular constituency, will ensure that their constituency’s
views and interests are present in the debate, but must vote in the interest of the
Institution as a whole
Council member competencies
The following competencies are desirable:
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Knowledge and understanding of the objectives and range of Institution activities, the
role of Council and the key internal and external stakeholders
Ability to think at a strategic level, understanding both the process of development
and implementation of policy, and the implications of strategic and policy decisions on
the Institution's resources
Ability to challenge constructively
Ability to promote the Institution internally and externally in a positive and constructive
way
Leadership ability, listening to others, influencing others and taking decisions as
necessary
Understanding of team member role, and listening/working constructively with others
Specific skills to enhance professionalism including presentation (technical and
practical), oral communication, and interpersonal skills
An understanding of financial reporting
An awareness - on local, national and global scales - of civil engineering issues and
an appreciation of how the Institution can lead or assist change for the better
Registered charity number 210252
Charity registered in Scotland number SC038629
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Expected commitment
Elected members are expected to attend Council meetings regularly in order to make an
appropriate contribution. In addition, members are required to set time aside to read and
prepare for the meetings, so that they can confidently and effectively carry out their trustee
responsibilities.
There are four Council meetings in a year:
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Three meetings last approximately three hours and are usually held in the afternoon
One Annual Strategy Meeting is held over a two-day period
Term of service
Each Council member will normally serve a three-year term and will commence their service
on the first Tuesday in November following their election.
Council members are elected by ICE members and a ballot is held annually to replace one
third of Council members who are due to retire at the end of their three-year term.
A member can stand for re-election for a second three-year term. Members can also serve
for a third and final three-year term but only after a break of service.
Sponsors
'Following a change to the By-laws in 2013, a member may now sponsor up to two
candidates. The sponsor must be a paid up ICE member. Sponsors need to meet the
eligibility criteria and will need to read the notes in section C of the nomination form before
confirming his/her support.
Nomination form
Please submit your nomination form with the support of your five sponsors to the ICE
Council Office by 31 March 2015.
Registered charity number 210252
Charity registered in Scotland number SC038629
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