GOVERNANCE

The Board and its Membership

Essex Probation Board is the local probation board established under the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 to deliver probation services in Essex.

The Board consists of the Chair, the Chief Executive and a minimum of five other members. In order for the members of the Board to be representative of the local community, it is a requirement that, as far as possible, every board member should either live or work in Essex or have lived or worked in Essex previously.

With the exception of the Chief Executive, all members of the Board are appointed for an initial term of three years and are then eligible for re-appointment. No Board member other than the Chief Executive may hold office for more than two terms.

Essex Probation Board usually meets about eight times a year. Board meetings are held in public although the Board may elect to meet in private to discuss confidential matters.

Board meetings and minutes of previous meetings can be found HERE

The current members of Essex Probation Board are listed HERE

The Register of Board Members' Interests are HERE



Essex Probation Board’s Responsibilities
Essex Probation Board is responsible for ensuring that probation services are delivered in Essex. In carrying out this responsibility, the Board must have regard to the following aims:

·   protection of the public

·   reduction of re-offending

·   proper punishment of offenders

·   ensuring offenders’ awareness of the effects of crime on the victims of crime and the public

·   rehabilitation of offenders

The Board is required, amongst other things, to produce an annual plan before the start of each financial year setting out how it intends to exercise its functions during the coming year. The Secretary of State has the right to require the Board to amend their plan if it does not appear to be satisfactory.  

The Board also has responsibility for publishing an Annual Report on the performance of its functions during the previous financial year. 



Committees of the Board
Essex Probation Board is required to establish an Audit Committee to review its financial management and probity. The Audit Committee must consist of between four and six members, at least four of whom must also be members of the Board.  The Board Chair and Chief Executive may not be members of the Audit Committee but the Chief Executive is expected to normally attend meetings in her role as Accountable Officer. The Treasurer and Head of Internal Audit are also expected to normally attend all Audit Committee meetings. The Audit Committee is currently chaired by Dr. Richard Moore, who is a member of the Board.

The Audit Committee provides an annual report to the Board, timed to support finalisation of the accounts and the Statement of Internal Control, summarising its conclusions from the work the Committee has done during the year.

The Board may delegate other functions to committees and sub-committees, as it sees fit. The Board currently has two other Committees: a Business Development Committee, and a Diversity Committee. 

The role of the Business Development Committee is to make recommendations to the Board on all strategic matters relating to commissioning and contracts that need to be considered by the Board. The role of the Diversity Committee is to act as an advisory body, supporting and assisting Essex Probation Board in delivering its organisational commitment to achieving equality and valuing diversity.

The Audit Committee Terms of Reference are HERE

The Business Development Committee Terms of Reference are HERE

The Diversity Committee Terms of Reference are HERE