Announcing the appointment, Trudi said:
“The Government Office is central Government in the West Midlands working with partners and Ministers in Whitehall to ensure excellent government, thriving communities and attractive places in a prosperous economy. We support the local and regional organisations that implement Government policies and initiatives and we provide feedback to central Government to inform future policy. Our Board drives that work by determining its direction, inspiring the staff and ensuring that we discharge our duties fully”.
“So I am pleased to confirm Brian Woods-Scawen’s appointment as Independent Non-Executive Board member with particular responsibility for Corporate Governance. His experience in the areas of audit, control,risk and governance in public lifemanagement will make an important contribution to the Board’s work”.
Notes to editors
Brian Woods-Scawen will begin his term on 10 October 2006.
It will be for three years.
He will attend the Strategy Board Meetings each month, plus 3 or 4 Board Away Days per year and will chair the Audit Committee which meets and reports quarterly.
The position is unpaid, but all reasonable expenses incurred in travelling to and from meetings of the board will be reimbursed.
Biographical Details
Brian Woods-Scawen is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He was formerly Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers Supervisory Board. He has chaired or been a member of audit committees in both the public and private sectors, including working with the National Audit Office at Advantage West Midlands and the Department of Trade and Industry. He has chaired audit committees at Advantage West Midlands, the West Bromwich Building Society, Warwick University and West Midlands in Europe and he has been a member of audit committees at the Department of Trade and Industry and PwC Global.
Brian Woods-Scawen is 59 years old and lives in Warwickshire.
In line with the requirement of the Commissioner for Public Appointments that other Ministerial appointments, and the declared political activity of a candidate is made public, it is noted that Brian Woods-Scawen has carried out no political activity in the last 5 years. His current responsibilities including those he was appointed to by a Minister are listed here.
Private Sector
Chairman, West Bromwich Building Society
Deputy Chairman, Council of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Public Appointments
Committee on Standards in Public Life (appointed by the Prime Minister)
Non-executive Board Member, Department of Trade and Industry (appointed by Secretary of State for Trade and Industry)
Chairman, Culture West Midlands (appointed by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)
Regional Economic Development
Chairman, Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Partnership
Other Appointments
Member of Council, Warwick University
Advisory Board, European Research Institute, Birmingham University
Advisory Board Member, Shakespeare Institute, Stratford
Board Member, Warwick Arts Centre
Member, Regional Assembly representing cultural sector
Background
This appointment was made on merit, and the competition was carried out under the Code laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commissioner is independent of the Government and was appointed to follow up certain recommendations of the Nolan Committee. The intention of the Code is to provide an efficient and transparent appointments system in which both candidates and the public can have confidence. More details concerning the Commission and the Code are available at www.ocpa.gov.uk
As required by the Commissioner of Public Appointments we confirm that all appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. This information would be included in the biographical material set out above.
The duties of the Independent Non-Executive Board member with special responsibility for Corporate Governance were defined in the advertisement at the start of the recruitment exercise as assisting the Regional Director in discharging the responsibilities of the Board for a) compliance with the highest standards of corporate governance; b) risk, control and financial compliance; c) ensuring that the Government Office is properly and effectively managed, to safeguard propriety, economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its operation; d) providing stewardship for the public funds entrusted to the organisation; e) and constructively challenging Strategy Board colleagues and providing support and guidance to the Regional Director as required.
The Government Office has a staff of approximately 260. Its operating budget in 2006-07 is just under £15m and it manages Government expenditure in the region of over £5bn. More details about the Government Office’s functions are available on its web site at www.gowm.gov.uk .
Ends
