The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7312 p240
14 August 2004

Society summary

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Charter ballot: final questions and answers

In the last of a series of articles the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s President, Nicholas Wood, answers more questions posed by members as a result of the ballot on the Society’s revised draft Charter (see PJ, 24 July, p128, and 7 August, p204)

What is a Special Resolution? In the draft Charter, a “Special Resolution” means a resolution of the Council confirmed, in accordance with regulations, either at a duly convened general meeting of members of the Society by not less than a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present in person (or by proxy), or by ballot of the membership.

The Society’s reform programme seems to have revisited some of the work of the earlier Health Act Working Party. Why were the HAWP’s proposals acceptable three years ago but are not acceptable now? Since then, we’ve seen the ongoing reform of other health professional regulators, the establishment of an overarching council of health regulators, and the much broader interpretation of regulation set out in the Kennedy report. The external context has changed significantly. Even when the Health Act Working Party’s proposals were developed, it was recognised that they were not necessarily a long-term solution but could provide a way of achieving some much-needed improvements until it became clear whether more far-reaching reform was needed. Although these proposals were submitted to the Department of Health, they were never formally accepted or acted on by Government.

What sort of Council decision would be designated by Council as requiring the approval of the membership by Special Resolution? All regulations made under the Charter must be approved by the Privy Council. The new draft Charter identifies certain specific changes that would also require the approval of the members by Special Resolution. These include the creation of any new category of membership, any change to the composition of the Council proposed by the Society, any change to the Society’s name and any proposal to surrender the Charter and wind up the Society.

In addition to these specific requirements, the new draft requires that any change to, or revocation of, the provisions in the Charter must be approved by the membership by Special Resolution.

Finally, the draft Charter would allow the Council to designate any (as yet unspecified) regulation relating to the governance, management, affairs or functions of the Council or of the Society as requiring approval by Special Resolution. If this is done, then such a regulation may not be changed or revoked without approval by another Special Resolution.

I still have not received my ballot papers. What can I do? The ballot on the draft Charter is being operated by Electoral Reform Services, which mailed the ballot papers on 16 July. If you have still not received your ballot paper you should contact the ERS helpline (tel 020 8889 9203) as soon as possible and replacement papers will be sent to you by first class post. You will need to give your registration number to ERS. Ballot papers must be returned to ERS in the envelope provided by noon on 20 August 2004.