Being clear about Trustee Boards’ governance purpose helps trustees to understand their responsibilities and carry these out in an effective way. 

From April 2023, following your next annual general meeting the purpose and responsibilities of your Trustee Boards will change to…

The Trustee Board must act in the charity’s best interests, acting with reasonable care and skill and take steps to be confident that:

The scout group is:

• well managed
• carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
• complying with the charity’s governing document and the law
• managing the charity’s resources responsibly

And that the scout group:

1. is operating compliant with Policy, Organisation & Rules (POR), including effective management of the key policies listed in chapter 2 – equal opportunities privacy and data protection, religious, safeguarding, safety, vetting, youth member anti-bullying policies.
    
2. ensures that young people are meaningfully involved in decision making at all levels
    
3. plan so that there are sufficient resources (funds, people, property and equipment) available to meet the planned work of each sections in the group to enable the delivery of high quality programme and the youth training programme
    
4. has a positive image in the local community

The Trustee Board members must themselves collectively:

1. develop and maintain a risk register, including putting in place appropriate mitigations
    
2. ensure that the group’s finances are properly managed, including development and maintenance of appropriate budgets to support the work of the group
    
3. maintain and manage:
      – a reserves policy (including a plan for use of reserves outside the ‘minimum’)
      – an investment policy
      – a public benefit statement for the group
    
4. ensure that people, property and equipment are appropriately insured, and that any property and equipment owned or used by the group is properly protected and maintained
    
5. promote and support the development of scouting in the local area
    
6. ensure the appointment and management and operation of any sub-committees, including appointing a chair to lead the sub-committee
    
7. ensure that effective administration is in place to support the work of the Trustee Board
    
8. appoint any Administrators, Advisers and co-opted members of the Trustee Board
    
9. ensure transparency of operation, including:
   • prepare and approve the annual accounts and arrange their sign-off of by an auditor, independent examiner or scrutineer as appropriate and as appointed by the Scout Council at their Annual General Meeting (AGM)
   • prepare and approve the Trustees’ annual report (which must include the annual accounts)
   • present the approved Trustees’ annual report and annual accounts to the scout council at the AGM
   • following the AGM, ensure that a copy of the trustee annual report and accounts is sent to the District Trustee Board administration and, if a registered charity, is filed with the appropriate charity regulator (if the regulator’s rules require it)
   • take responsibility for adherence to data protection legislation (GDPR), recognising that, dependent on circumstances, it will at different times act as a data controller and as a data processor
   • individually and collectively maintain confidentiality regarding appropriate trustee board business

where staff are employed:

• act as a responsible employer in accordance with scouting’s values and relevant legislation
• ensure that effective line management is in place for each employed staff member and that these are clearly established and communicated
• ensure that appropriate specific personnel insurance is in place

• To align with good practice guidance from charity regulators
• To focus on ensuring effective governance. This is the core of any charity Trustee Board’s responsibility and an important part of ensuring that the charity focusses on meeting its objectives

From publication of POR in mid-April 2023

• Those who have already adopted the constitution as set out in POR 
  • This change can happen from the release of POR and does not need to be adopted or approved through AGMs
• For those who have not adopted the POR constitution
  • This change can be informally adopted and worked towards from the release of POR and will then need to be confirmed at the next AGM 

Whilst this is not a change in POR, it is important that this is done. This has been a requirement of Annual General Meetings since 2011. It continues to be a requirement for Trustee Boards.

The April 2023 edition of POR, will contain the updated ‘Trustee Board Purpose’ statements in chapter 5

• It is important that the model AGM agenda outlined below (and in the April 2023 edition of POR Chapter 5), is followed from your next AGM where possible
• If additional time is needed, then they should consider delaying their 2023 AGM (though it must still take place within six months of the end of their financial year)