ONR committees

The Board will maintain three standing committees. Terms of reference for these committees can be found in the annexes of the ONR's Corporate Governance document.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of appropriate and adequate audit processes, and for the governance of the internal and external audit programmes. The Committee has a particular remit of ensuring that all necessary reassurances can be provided to the HSE Chief Executive in his/her role as HSE/ONR Accounting Officer. On behalf of the ONR Board, the Committee has oversight of ONR’s risk management processes. The Audit Committee is chaired by a non-executive member of the Board.

In line with good corporate governance, the ONR Audit Committee recently presented a formal annual report to the HSE Audit Committee and the ONR Board summarising the activities it had undertaken during the year and highlighting the key issues with respect to the provision of assurances to ONR. The report for 2011/12 is available for review.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee has oversight over all matters relating to the remuneration and performance of the Chief Nuclear Inspector, the ONR Business Head (if a different individual) and for Executive members, and for roles at the equivalent of senior civil service level. The Remuneration Committee is chaired by an ONR non-executive Board member.

Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee provides a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure for the appointment of new members to the Board. It leads the process for Board appointments and makes recommendations to the Board in this regard. The Nominations Committee is chaired by the ONR Chair.

Security Committee

The Security Committee is responsible for providing assurance to the Board on ONR’s effectiveness in regulating to secure the protection of people and society from risks to the civil nuclear industry due to malicious intent.  It is a standing Committee of the ONR Board and chaired by a non-executive member of the Board.  It is empowered by the Board to make recommendations on any amendments necessary to ONR’s capability, capacity or vires identified to ensure ONR is able to deliver its duty in relation to security regulation and respond effectively to any security regulatory challenges that occur.  The Committee is chaired by an ONR non executive board member.

ONR Advisory Committee

The ONR Advisory Committee is an informal group of external people with experiences and networks.  The group provides specific but informal advice to the Chief Inspector and Chief Operating Officer on matters relating to ONR becoming an independent regulator.  The Committee is not constituted in any legal or formal manner and as such advice is taken as the informed and private view of the individual and/or the body they represent (if appropriate). The intention is to encourage active debate and garner views – there is no intention to hold individuals accountable for their views and opinions.  Specific aims of the committee are to provide:

• personal views on subjects raised by ONR to specific elements of the move to independence;
• the anticipated viewpoint of the organisation, body or sector the member represents;
• advice based on experiences of similar transition programmes specifically involving status change;
• specific functional advice in specialist areas e.g. HR, Finance, Governance;
• the anticipated views and reactions of stakeholders including Nuclear Industry, NGOs, Government, Trade Unions;
• the benefit of Board experience – governance, composition and operation; and
• independent feedback on communications and stakeholder feedback effectiveness.

ONR Advisory Committee key points and actions - 24th May 2012