top stories

Held on 3 March 2007

20 Mar 2007

Council met in both open and closed session on Saturday 3 March.  In the open session, Council received a presentation from the Lay Observer, Rosemary Rollason, during which she introduced her annual report for 2006 and dealt with Council members' questions.  Council was pleased to note that, overall, ACCA's disciplinary processes continue to meet the challenges of modern regulation.

Council considered a number of other matters in its closed session:

• It approved ACCA's Consolidated Accounts, Corporate Governance Statement and Operating and Financial Review for the year ended 31 December 2006.
• Council had a detailed and wide-ranging debate arising from the outcomes of an independent study into Council's performance as a group.  While it was pleased to note that Council worked effectively in many areas, it agreed that its Standing Orders should be revised in order to improve their clarity and that the arrangements for the induction, mentoring and personal development of Council members needed to be improved.
• Also arising from this debate, Council agreed that a resolution should be put to the members at the 2007 AGM to introduce an absolute time limit of nine years for service on Council (with up to an additional three years should that be necessary to complete the Officer cycle). This will reflect best governance practice and replenish Council with new and talented members form the worldwide membership.
• Council then went on to approve the Notice of Meeting for the AGM and the President's Letter to Members.  This year, for the first time, the AGM will be broadcast live from 12.00 GMT on 17 May 2007 via www.accaglobal.com
• Council received a presentation from David Leonard (ACCA's representative on the IFAC Board) and debated ACCA's long-term relationship with IFAC.
• Council also received a presentation on ACCA activities in the Middle East and discussed ACCA's approach to new market development as a whole.
• It noted that six members of Council would be standing down at the AGM in May, among them past President Jonathan Beckerlegge and current President Dennis Yeates.  Council placed on record its thanks to all six retiring Council members for their valuable service on behalf of Council and ACCA as a whole.

The AGM will be followed by the Annual Council meeting, at which the Officers for 2007 - 2008 will be elected.