TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2024
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focus on strategy, performance and assurance, allowing the Board
to maintain oversight over its delegated authorities in line with its
legal duty to ensure the RSPCA operates appropriately to promote
its charitable objects. Details of committee terms of reference are
shown below.
Committee: Finance, Audit and Risk (FARCOM)
Role
• Helps the Board to deliver on RSPCA strategy by safeguarding
and ensuring proper use of our assets, reserves and resources.
Reviews terms of reference and effectiveness annually,
recommending changes to the Board.
Oversees
• Annual RSPCA Trustees' report and accounts
• Budgeting and financial reporting
• Financial strategy and reporting
• External and internal audit
• Risk management
• Land and property management
• Income generation
• People and culture
• Development of internal audit function
Members/attendees
• RSPCA Treasurer (chair)*
• Annually appointed trustees*
• Independent co-opted members with specialist skills
or experience*
• External and internal auditors
• Directors of:
• Finance and Business Services
• Strategy and Transformation
• Engagement and Income Generation
• People and Culture
Committee: Investment
Role
• Has long-term strategic oversight and stewardship of RSPCA
cash and investment assets.
Oversees
• The investment strategy
• The Statement of Investment Principles containing:
• investment objectives
• ethical and responsible investment policy
• funds structure and policy
• risk tolerance
• liquidity requirements
• investment time horizons
• operational arrangements for implementation,
monitoring and reporting
Members/attendees
• RSPCA Treasurer (chair)*
• Director of Finance and Business Services
• At least one other trustee*
• Two independent co-opted members with specialist skills
or experience*
Committee: Animal Welfare
Role
• Reviews advocacy and prevention policies, strategies
and programmes and recommends changes to deliver
our strategy
• Reviews international prevention strategies and work, and
determines the use of restricted funds
• Reviews relationship between the RSPCA and RSPCA
Assured and its strategic achievements, and recommends
significant amendments to RSPCA farmed animal
welfare standards
• Monitors Inspectorate and Control Centre performance
against our strategy and reviews the Inspectorate Special
Operations Unit strategic objectives
• Reviews our prosecutions policy and monitors the
effectiveness of prosecutions against our strategy delivery
• Monitors effectiveness of our licensing scheme for
our animal establishments, including those run by
RSPCA branches
• Advises the Board on systemic issues affecting the quality
of animal care and rehoming
• Reviews how we deliver our strategy via vet services
• Oversees and advises the Board about regulatory compliance
Members/attendees
• Five trustees*
• Four independent co-opted members with specialist skills
or experience*
• Directors:
• Director of Operations
• Director of Policy, Prevention and Campaigns
• Executive Director, RSPCA Assured
Committee: Governance and nominations
Role
• Develops our governance policies and procedures
• Oversees trustees' complaints and sanctions
• Arranges trustees' skills audits
• Reviews Board effectiveness
• Oversees trustees' recruitment and training
• Assists the Board in having a clear, effective approach to
equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the RSPCA and in
its own practice
Members/attendees
• Up to two independent co-opted members with specialist
skills or experience* (from whom the chair is elected)
• Three Board members (from whom a vice-chair is elected)*
• Assistant Director of Governance and Chief
Executive's Office
*Members are marked with an asterisk