ANNEX B: OST 2004 Review of Research Councils
UK: Recommendations and Implementation Plan
Recommendation 1
1.1 RCUK plays a valuable role. It should comprise
the Chief Executives of the individual Research Councils and the
dedicated support staff. It should be chaired by one of the Chief
Executives.
Implementation:
The new RCUKEG will be chaired by a Research Council
Chief Executive, All Chief Executives will be responsible for
securing collective agreement to, and ownership of, RCUK priorities
and objectives and monitoring RCUK performance. The Chair will
act as the primary spokesperson on behalf of RCUK. Professor Ian
Diamond will chairRCUKEG until the end of 2004.
1.2 The role of RCUK and the accountabilities of
its chair should be clearly defined and agreed by the individual
Research Councils. A mission statement should also be produced.
These should be consistent with the aims set out in theQQR.
Implementation:
The current RCUK Mission Statement and aims were
agreed by the Councils and OST in December 2003 following extensive
consultation and debate. New objectives for RCUK will need to
discussed and agreed with OST as part of the development of an
RCUK Delivery Plan. RCUK anticipates a draft will be completed
by January 2005 with the final version agreed by end of March
2005.
1.3 Leadership of RCUK will be provided through its
Chair and by the Council Chief Executives working together as
a group - now referred to as the RCUK Executive Group. The Chair
should be appointed annually by peer selection; it could be renewable
but should not be by rotation.
Implementation:
Leadership of the partnership will be provided collectively
by the Research Councils' Chief Executives working together through
the new RCUK Executive Group (RCUKEG). The Group will be supported
by the RCUK Secretariat.
1.4 This group should meet monthly to address
issues consistent with its role and absorb the activities previously
carried out by HORCs.
Implementation:
RCUKEG will meet monthly from October 2004. Terms
of Reference will be agreed shortly.
Recommendation 2
In order that RCUK can perform to its full potential,
cross-Council team work is essential. RCUK should therefore implement
a programme aimed to improve collaboration and communications
across the Councils.
Implementation:
The current RCUK Mission Statement and aims were
agreed by the Councils and OST in December 2003. New objectives
for RCUK will need to discussed and agreed with OST as part of
the development of an RCUK Delivery Plan
Recommendation 3
After due consultation with stakeholders and in agreement
with Council Chairs, RCUK should be set clear measurable objectives
by OST. These should relate to both strategic and operational
matters and be included in the personal objectives set for the
Chief Executives and their staff. DGRC should review progress
against these objectives on a regular basis.
Implementation:
OST will set clear measurable objectives for RCUK
and regularly review them. The Performance Management System will
be setting out the objectives that OST requires from the Research
Councils.
Recommendation 4
A new "Strategy Group for RCUK" should
be formed to assist RCUK in the development of strategy for research
and science in the context of the wider Government science and
innovation policy. This same forum would also be one of the means
whereby RCUK can provide advice to Government from its own knowledge
of its user community.
The Group would be chaired by DGRC, would include
Chief Executives and would normally meet on a quarterly basis.
In order to inform and be informed on the wider Government perspective
its membership might also include as standing members or by invitation,
the CSA to the Prime Minister, DG Innovation, Chief Executives
of the Funding Councils and others as required by the agenda.
Support for this group should be provided by OST's Director for
the SEB working closely with support staff from RCUK.
Implementation:
A new joint strategy group entitled "Joint OST/RCUK
Working Group for Strategy" hereafter known as the Joint
Strategy Group (JSG) was formally established on 1 October, and
held its first 'shadow' meeting on 23 September.
Joint Strategy Group (JSG): Proposed Terms of
reference
To assist RCUK in the development of strategy for
research and science in the context of the wider Government science
and innovation policy.
The forum will provide a means whereby RCUK can provide
advice to Government from its own knowledge of its user community.
To discuss allocations to Research Councils and the
delivery of Science Budget objectives.
The Group will e chaired by the DGRC, and the standing
members will be research council Chief Executives, the CSA and
the DG Innovation Group. To enable it to inform and be informed
of the wider Government perspective, others such as senior Departmental
and RCUK officials may be invited as required by the agenda.
Meetings will take place on a quarterly basis.
Recommendation 5
A plan for making more progress in coordinating or
standardising appropriate administrative systems and processes
should be defined and agreed with DGRC by the end of 2004 at the
latest. Consideration should be given to using external help in
formulating this plan, which should conform to the Gateway process
and therefore be the subject of independent peer review. Those
responsible for the delivery of this plan should be given the
full authority and support of the RCUK Executive Group.
Implementation:
RCUK will develop and agree with DGRC a plan for
making further progress in coordinating or standardising appropriate
administrative systems for agreement by end of December 2004.
Recommendation 6
RCUK should have dedicated personnel and other resources
sufficient to support its strategic role, enable it to coordinate
and facilitate policy work, provide support to RCUK working groups
and provide effective communications internally and to its external
stakeholders.
Implementation:
RCUKEG will assess the resources by December 2004,
once they know the decisions on all the other recommendations
and will put the resources in place by April 2005.
Recommendation 7
Once defined, RCUK's role, its responsibilities,
relationships and ways of working should be communicated effectively
such that both its internal and external stakeholders are clear
as to its purpose.
Implementation:
RCUK will provide a policy statement of its role
and responsibilities to be communicated to its internal and external
stakeholders.
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