Council of Governors

Ensuring you have a say in how our services are developed and delivered

The Council of Governors (CoG) works alongside the Trust's Board of Directors to ensure that local communities and staff have a greater say in how services are developed and delivered by the Trust. The CoG is made up of local people, staff members and representatives of local stakeholder organisations, and they play a major role in the governance of the Trust. Main responsibilities include:

• Collating the views of members and the wider community about the services the Trust provides
• Working alongside the Board of Directors to produce the strategic vision and the Trust's Annual Plan
• Appointing the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors and setting their remuneration
• Appointing the Trust's auditor
• Receiving the Annual Report and Accounts
• Developing the membership strategy

The Council is made up of both elected and appointed governors. Public and Staff Governors are elected by the members of the Trust. Each Governor is responsible for representing the interests and views of their particular group of members. Public Governors represent local people in their constituencies. Staff Governors represent the views of their colleagues. Governors appointed by stakeholder organisations provide input from their organisations.

There are currently 37 seats on the Council, as outlined below, and the constituencies are defined in our Trust Constitution. Find out more and meet our governors. 

Governor elections

The Trust holds regular elections to the Council of Governors. Governors are elected for the public and staff constituencies by members. Governors are elected for varying terms up to three years and may seek to be elected for further terms, up to a maximum of nine years.

Notice of poll

It is hereby declared that elections are to be held in the following constituencies:

• Public: Darlington (2 to select)
• Staff: Nursing and Midwifery (1 to elect)

Full details, including information about candidates can be found below. 

Becoming a Public Governor

To become a Public Governor you must be a 'public member' of the Trust and be over sixteen years of age. Public members may be eligible to stand for election in the public constituency in which they live. If you are employed by the Trust then you may be eligible to stand for election in the appropriate staff constituency. 

For more information about becoming a public member, what the role of a Foundation Trust Governor entails, or how to participate in the election process, please contact the Foundation Trust Office, or independent election agents UK Engage. In addition, more information about the Council of Governors, together with details of the appointments of individual governors and their attendance at council meetings, is outlined in the Trust Annual Report.

Governor meetings

The Council of Governors meets at least four times a year (in public) and Governors also attend the Trust's Annual General Meeting. Members of the public are welcome to observe the meetings - please contact the Foundation Trust Office to register.

While these meetings are held in public to ensure proceedings can be observed, they are not a meeting for the public. If there is time, the Chairman, may, at his discretion, invite any views or questions from the public at the end of the meeting. This is not, however, a requirement and as such is not guaranteed

If you would like to know more about our Council of Governors or attend one of their meetings, please contact the Foundation Trust Office.