About the review

2025: Our governance review plans this year 

This year Council have proposed a range of further changes to our governance. They include:

• modifying the terms of office held by BAOT Council members and RCOT trustees so they are consistent and comparable with other organisations such as other Royal Colleges
• further changes to the BAOT operating rules to modernise language, clarify provisions and ensure they are aligned with the law and best practice
• changes to the RCOT operating rules so they are aligned to the BAOT operating rules

Modifying Council member terms of office 

A term of office is the length of time a member of BAOT Council and RCOT Trustee serves in their elected position. Currently the terms of office for different elected BAOT Council members vary and members can serve for a maximum of five years: 

• The Chair of Council is elected every year and a person may be re-elected five times to serve a one-year term each time
• The Council member, International Relations is elected for a four-year term and may be re-elected to serve an additional year
• Other Council members are elected for three years and may be re-elected to serve an additional two years. 

Our current terms of office are relatively short compared to other comparable organisations such as other Royal Colleges. This exposes our organisation to considerable risk as we are not following best practice by providing our organisation with good continuity of leadership or stability of our governing body. It also means we face extra administrative burdens and costs from more frequent Council elections. 

What is Council proposing to the terms of office instead? 

Council is proposing modifying terms of office for all elected BAOT Council members apart from the International Council member*. This would mean members are elected for a three-year term and can be re-elected for a second three-year term. This would minimise our risk, reduce administrative burden and cost and ensure we balance both stability of Council to fulfil its duties on behalf of our members whilst ensuring members have their say on who represents them.

* The Council member, International Relations (who also serves as the WFOT representative) will remain elected to serve a four-year term as this is aligned with WFOT elections. 

Amending BAOT Articles of Association 

Articles of Association are effectively the operating rules of our organisations. Council is proposing amendments to the BAOT Articles including:

• modernising language throughout
• clarifying and simplifying provisions within the Articles on objects, powers, indemnity and insurance, notices and conflicts of interest to ensure these are clear and accessible and aligned with best practice and the law
• aligning Council member election provisions with trade union law
• increasing the Annual General Meeting quorum requirements to follow best practice
• increasing Council quorum requirements when decisions are made to follow best practice
• mirroring changes to the RCOT Articles which were made last year such as strengthening Council’s powers of delegation in line with best practice and removing use of a company seal as this is no longer used. 

A more detailed description of these changes will be made available shortly. 

Amending RCOT Articles of Association 

Many of the changes to the BAOT Articles above were made to the RCOT Articles in 2024 such as strengthening the Council’s powers of delegation and removing use of the seal. There will be additional changes proposed to the RCOT Articles to ensure they remain aligned with the BAOT Articles.