The Business Committee is a standing committee of the University Council tasked with expediting the more straightforward items of Council business.
The Business Committee considers and approves for publication in the Reporter straightforward Graces, Notices in response to remarks made at Discussions, other Notices that require the approval of the Council, and Reports of other bodies (for example Reports signed by the General Board or Faculty Boards). The Business Committee also revises draft versions of Council Reports at the request of the Council before the final Report is forwarded for signature by the Council. The Committee may also consider an initial draft before a Report is seen by the Council.
All the papers seen by the Business Committee and the agenda for its meetings are circulated concurrently to all members of the Council and any item of business before the Committee may be held back and referred to a full meeting of the Council by any member of the Council. Business Committee minutes are also seen by the Council.
Papers are circulated weekly in term time (and occasionally outside of term) and the Committee meets as necessary on Thursday mornings. If all the items in a particular week are straightforward and so do not require consideration at a meeting, the Committee is empowered to approve items by circulation.
The Committee comprises either five or six members of the Council, one of whom must be a student member, and none of whom are external. The Secretary of the Committee is the University Draftsman.
Most items for consideration by the Business Committee are referred by other committees, but any items or questions should be directed in the first instance to the Business Committee Secretary, the University Draftsman, Ms Ceri Benton: university.draftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Decisions
The following links provide information on policy decisions made by the Business Committee on behalf of the Council.