Advisory Council Annual Report for 2005-06

History
1. Wilton Park, an Executive Agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), was established in 1946 as part of an initiative by Winston Churchill to help re-establish peace and democracy in Europe. It aims to contribute to the solution of global problems by organising conferences on key international issues and policies. Wilton Park Academic Council was established in 1949 to ensure Wilton Park's academic independence. Its members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to oversee the conference programme. Following Ministerial approval and Council Members' approval, the Academic Council was renamed "Advisory" Council in June 2006.

Terms of Reference
2. The objectives of the Council are to support Wilton Park and seek to guarantee its academic independence by:

1. advising and supporting the Chief Executive and his senior staff on the selection of conference themes and speakers and participants, aiming to ensure that a proper balance is maintained in the conference programme


2. providing such practical assistance as it can in the recruitment of speakers and participants and fund-raising activities
3. striving to ensure that Wilton Park's activities are performed to the highest academic standards and that it maintains its reputation as a centre of excellence


4. advising the FCO as may be required on academic and other questions arising from the work of Wilton Park.

Relationship to HMG's objectives
3. The FCO sets Wilton Park's objectives and ensures that they contribute to those of the FCO. Wilton Park's objectives are to:

1. contribute to a strong world community, international peace and stability, and a positive role for the UK in Europe
2. contribute to the analysis and understanding of international issues and enhance the UK's reputation for seeking to resolve international problems through dialogue
3. enhance the FCO's network of political relationships and its influence with overseas opinion-formers


4. help ensure that government policy-making reflects the strategic international priorities agreed across government


5. achieve the positive endorsement of sponsoring FCO Directorates and the Advisory and International Councils that Wilton Park has made specific contributions to the promotion of international understanding and the solution of global problems.

Membership and terms of appointment
4. Membership. Membership of the Council is drawn from the academic world, government, non-governmental organisations, media, business, trades unions and other organisations concerned with international relations. It normally includes one politician from each of the major parties. Four places are reserved for ex officio members: the Representative of the European Commission in the UK, the Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the Director General of the British Council and the Secretary-General of the Anglo-German Foundation for the Study of Industrial Society.

5. Appointments. The Council is an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body, appointments to which fall under the purview of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Appointments are made on merit by the Foreign Secretary, under a fair, open and transparent process, for a term of three years, renewable at the Foreign Secretary's discretion in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the Cabinet Office. FCO equal opportunities targets are taken into account. The Chair is also selected by open competition and all members of the Committee are required to undertake to follow the provisions of the Code of Practice for members of the Council.

6. Current membership. The membership of the Council has risen to 24 during the year (including the four ex officio members). Lord Corbett and Lord Young stood down at the winter 2005 meeting, and were warmly thanked for their contribution. The full list of the Council's membership, along with terms of appointments, is published at Table 20 (Resources, Staff and Performance) of the FCO's 2005 Departmental Report and in Wilton Park's 2005/06 Annual Report and Accounts.

Click here for the full membership list as of June 2006.

7. Chair. Having been appointed by FCO Ministers Dr Farhan Nizami took over as Chair of the Council at the summer 2004 meeting for a two year term in succession to Lady Suzanne Warner, who had stepped down at the December 2003 meeting. Dr Nizami was reappointed as Chair for a second term in July 2006. The Chair is also an honorary member of Wilton Park's governing FCO Departmental Board.

Remuneration
8. Nil. Members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings.

Frequency of meetings
9. Twice a year, in June at Wilton Park and in December at the FCO, to receive reports from the Chief Executive of Wilton Park on activities since the last meeting and to discuss proposals for the future, including the conference programme for the next year.

Endorsement of Wilton Park's contribution to the promotion of international understanding and solution of global problems
10. At its June 2006 meeting the Council endorsed Wilton Park's contribution to the promotion of understanding and the solution of global problems, as required by its and Wilton Park's objectives. The Council also advised on 57 conferences held during the year 2005/06 which achieved an "excellent" rating of 55.5% by participants, and also advised on possible conference themes for 2007 and beyond.

Contact details
11. The secretariat is supplied by Wilton Park:

Jane Rawbone (PA to Chief Executive)
Wilton Park
Wiston House
Steyning
BN44 3DZ
Fax: 01903 879647
E-mail: Jane.Rawbone@wiltonpark.org.uk

Plans
12. Members will continue to advise Wilton Park on its conference programme. They will also take opportunities to promote the activities of Wilton Park and to advise on speakers and sources of funding for the conference programme which Wilton Park will arrange in 2007 and beyond.

2 September 2006