Commentary on Sections Part 1: Governance Arrangements Chapter 1: Governing bodies.Senior lay member of governing body Section 9: Remuneration and conditions
18.Section 9 concerns the remuneration and terms and conditions of the appointment of a senior lay member. It requires the governing body of an HEI to pay such remuneration and allowances as it considers reasonable to the senior lay member of the governing body on the request of the appointed senior lay member. It also makes provision about the terms and conditions of appointment of the senior lay member.
19.Subsection (1) ensures that a senior lay member can obtain on request remuneration and allowances for the functions that the senior lay member has fulfilled in relation to that position. The sum to which the senior lay member is entitled under this section is not a salary; it is remuneration and allowances for specific work actually done, and need only be paid if requested by the senior lay member. Following such a request, payment must be made by the HEI of remuneration and allowances that are reasonable and commensurate with the nature and amount of work done by the senior lay member (with the HEI determining what is reasonable).
20.The position of senior lay member is to be independent and, to that end, subsection (2) provides that the post holder must not be a staff member or student of the institution during the person’s period of appointment. Subsection (3) provides that it is for the governing body of each HEI to specify the other terms and conditions of that appointment.