Cabinet Office Homepage

Cabinet Office website
|

Main navigation

Cabinet Office sponsored Public Bodies 

The Cabinet Office Public Appointments reports/plans review policy and practice relating to the public appointments of chairs and board members of the public bodies sponsored by the Cabinet Office.

Previous Public Appointments reports

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA)

Role
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments provides advice to the Prime Minister on applications from the most senior members of the Civil Service and Armed Forces who wish to take up outside appointments within two years of leaving Crown Service. Similarly, the Committee provides advice to the Foreign Secretary on applications from senior members of the Diplomatic Service. The Committee also offers advice direct to former Ministers if they wish to accept any employment outside government.

Website
www.acoba.gov.uk [External website])

[Back to top]

Capacitybuilders

Capacitybuilders is an executive agency and a company limited by guarantee launched in April 2006. It has responsibility for managing initially the £70 million ChangeUp programme for the financial years 2006/07 and 2007/08. Capacitybuilders' mission is to secure a high-quality, sustainably mission is to secure a high-quality, sustainably-funded infrastructure for frontline voluntary and community organisations. This will allow organisations to achieve their aims better and use their resources more effectively.

Capacitybuilders' vision is of a third sector that is independent, innovative, flexible, responsive and sustainable, and that achieves its full potential in:

Website
www.capacitybuilders.org.uk [External website]

[Back to top]

Civil Service Appeal Board (CSAB)

Role
The Civil Service Appeal Board is an independent body sponsored by the Corporate Development Group. It hears appeals from civil servants against:

The Civil Service Appeal Board is chaired by an external recruit supported by two deputies, one appointed from nominees submitted by the trade unions, the other appointed from nominees proposed by Civil Service management. They are supported by 18 Board members, nine from the official side and nine from the trade union side.

Website
www.civilserviceappealboard.gov.uk [External website])

[Back to top]

Commissioner for the Compact

The aim of the Commissioner is to promote good practice in partnership working between government and the voluntary and community sector through the Compact, overseeing its operation. The Commissioner will: investigate the position on Compact compliance; research key issues and problems and publish findings and recommendations; work with Government Departments and others to assess their systems for ensuring Compact compliance and advise on how to embed the Compact in their corporate cultures; and make advice and information on best practice available to Compact partners at all levels in both sectors.

Website
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/compact/commissioner/

[Back to top]

Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL)

Role
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an advisory non–departmental public body. It is charged to examine current concerns about standards of conduct of all holders of public office, including arrangements relating to financial and commercial activities, and make recommendations to any changes in present arrangements that might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life.

To fulfil this role and in addition to its formal inquiries, reports and research into public attitudes, the Committee devotes time throughout the year to discussing current issues and concerns relating to standards in public life. These considerations may, and sometimes do, result in full-scale inquiry. Even when no inquiry is conducted, these are regarded by the Committee as a useful check on current standards and the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the arrangements in place to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life.

The Committee's consideration of these specific standards issues takes place within an overall appreciation of the level of trust in public institutions. The issues considered by the Committee come from a wide range of sources, including correspondence received, debates in Parliament, and issues raised by the media. Not all these issues are about ‘current concerns’ with standards in public life. The Committee is equally interested to see and consider issues that demonstrate that arrangements already in place are working to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life.

The Committee reports to the Prime Minister, who appoints the Chair and Members.

Website
www.public-standards.gov.uk [External website]

[Back to top]

Futurebuilders Advisory Panel (FAP)

Futurebuilders is a programme set up to assist front line voluntary and community organisations to build their capacity to increase the scale and scope of their public service delivery.

An advisory Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) – the Futurebuilders Advisory Panel – has been set up which provides advice to Ministers on the continuing objectives, priorities and governance of the Futurebuilders programme.

Website
www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk [External website]

[Back to top]

House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC)

Role
The House of Lords Appointments Commission makes recommendations on the appointment of non–party political peers. The Commission also vets for propriety nominations for life peerages, including those made by the political parties, and all individuals added to honours lists by the Prime Minister.

Website
www.lordsappointments.gov.uk [External website]

[Back to top]

Main Honours Advisory Committee (MHAC)

Role
The Main Honours Advisory Committee is formed by the Chairs of the eight specialist committees which look at nominations for honours from members of the public, government departments and others. Other members of the committee are the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Permanent Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and another Permanent Secretary. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet Office and Head of the Home Civil Service.

The Committee, and the sub–Committees, each normally meet twice a year to consider candidates for the New Year and Birthday Honours rounds.

The Main Honours Advisory Committee was established as part of the programme of reform to the honours system set out in Cm 6479: Reform of the Honours System published in February 2005. The individual specialist committees comprise a non–civil servant chair and a majority of non–civil service members, all selected after open competition. There are also Permanent Secretaries and other officials on the specialist committees, depending on the subject matter. Details of the composition of the committee can be found at www.honours.gov.uk

[Back to top]

Security Commission (SC) and Security Vetting Appeals Panel (SVAP)

Role
The Security Commission and Security Vetting Appeals Panel are independent bodies sponsored by the Intelligence and Security Secretariat (Security Policy Division).

The Security Commission is available, at the request of the Prime Minister, to investigate and report on the circumstances in which a breach of security has occurred in the public service and to advise whether any change in security arrangements is necessary or desirable.

The Security Vetting Appeals Panel exists to provide an independent avenue of appeal for existing staff and contractors whose security clearance has been refused or withdrawn and to make recommendations to the appropriate head of department.

[Back to top]

Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB)

Role
The Senior Salaries Review Body provides independent advice to the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Defence on the remuneration of senior civil servants, holders of judicial office and senior members of the Armed Forces. It also advises the Prime Minister from time to time on the pay, pensions and allowances of members of Parliament and ministers, and if asked to do so it may advise the devolved administrations and Greater London Authority on the remuneration of their members and office holders. The Secretariat is provided by the Office of Manpower Economics.

Website
http://www.ome.uk.com/review.cfm?body=4 [External website]

[Back to top]