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<p>Under existing legislation, it is the Privy Council that has a role in approving
the governing documents, and amendments to them, of publicly funded higher education
providers.</p><p> </p><p>Publicly funded higher education providers are expected to
comply with the Committee of University Chairs’ Code, “The Higher Education Code of
Governance” as part of their conditions for Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE) funding (copy attachment).</p><p> </p><p>As such, it is for HEFCE as the regulator
to take any action necessary in response to the report. We understand that HEFCE intends
to follow-up its recommendations in this report. The university has agreed to provide
HEFCE with a report on progress with the recommendations in December. There is also
a planned periodic HEFCE Assurance Review of the University of Bath due to take place
early next year.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on behalf of the new regulator,
the Office for Students (OfS), on its new Regulatory Framework, due to come into force
for the academic year 2019/20. Under those proposals, the OfS will be responsible
for ensuring providers’ governing arrangements are appropriate, which includes requirements
for providers in the approved categories to operate openly, honestly, accountably
and with integrity, and publish a statement on the steps they have taken to ensure
value for money for students and taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, our proposals
are designed to ensure sufficient transparency around senior staff pay, by requiring
providers to publish the number of staff paid more than £100,000 per annum, which
for staff paid more than £150,000, should include a justification for these salaries.</p>
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