Annual Report of the Council 2022–23

Introduction
The Board of Trustees is legally responsible for all aspects of the National Trust. Its role is to hold the Director-General and her staff to account for the delivery of the Board’s strategy.

The role of Council is separate but complementary to that of the Board of Trustees. The Council’s key governance responsibilities are to appoint the Board of Trustees and to hold it to account. Drawing on its members’ broad range of skills, views and experience, it acts as the ‘spirit of the Trust’, ensuring that the Trust’s long-term objectives are met and that its purposes continue to be carried out for public benefit.

The Council
The Council comprises 36 members made up of 18 elected members and 18 members from Appointing Bodies, whose work provides the Council with a wide range of skills, knowledge and perspectives. Members offer effective challenge and advice in line with the National Trust’s strategy. They also use their networks to inspire support for the Trust.

All elected and appointed positions on the Council run for terms of three years. All members may stand for re-election, or be re-appointed, for two additional terms.

Elected members
Council elections in 2022 resulted in seven candidates elected or re-elected. Once again, we received a large number of applications. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply so that Council reflects the breadth and diversity of our work and the people who visit the places that the Trust looks after.

Appointing Bodies
Appointing Bodies are bodies that have an interest in the work of the Trust. They are responsible for appointing or reappointing people to represent them on Council, and this happens throughout the year.

Members are responsible for electing Appointing Bodies every six years. The next election will be in 2024. A nominations committee was established by the Council this year for this purpose.

A full list of elected and appointed Council members is set out here.

A short report on the Council’s activities during 2022–23 follows.

Board of Trustees
The Council appointed Patrick Figgis, Tony Hall and Paul Roberts as Trustees from September 2022 and Lisbet Rausing from January 2023. The process was supported by independent search consultant, Green Park.

Senior Member of the Council
The Council appointed Sarah Green as Senior Member of the Council from September 2022 to replace Paul Roberts after his appointment to the Board of Trustees.

Holding the Board to account
As Council members we receive Board meeting minutes, performance reports, strategy updates and the Board’s three-year plan, as well as pertinent operational information, to give us an appropriate level of oversight of how the Board fulfils its responsibilities as the Trust’s governing body.

With Covid restrictions lifted, Council combined a meeting with a regional visit to south-west England. Sites visited included Dunster Castle, the Holnicote Estate and Fyne Court. This added useful context to in-depth discussions held with the Board on climate, gardens and history.

A further two meetings were held during the year. Areas of scrutiny included ‘Everyone Welcome’, land use, risk, and formation of a new strategy.

In addition, the Council established a Growing Talent Working Group to consider how better to attract, recruit and grow talent across the Trust’s governance roles.

In summary
We are pleased to report that overall, we are satisfied that the Board continues to fulfil its role very well in a time of considerable uncertainty. We retain confidence that the Trust is operating fully in accordance with its charitable purpose.

René Olivieri, Chair

Sarah Green, Senior Member of the Council

Become a Council member
If you have read this report, the chances are that you have a serious interest in the work of the National Trust and that you have voted in Council member elections. If so, we would like to thank you very much. Have you considered putting yourself forward as a candidate? Information about what is involved and how to apply can be found on our website with applications usually sought each March here.