The establishment of the Membership Committee is required by Section 8 of the Statutes. The terms of reference and composition of the Membership Committee are prescribed in Ordinance 2.16:
Ordinance 2.16 Membership Committee of Council
2.16.5 Under Section 8 of the Statutes, and having regard to the general requirements of Article 12 of the Charter, the membership committee of Council shall, in the light of advice provided by Council, invite, receive and assess nominations for vacancies in Class IV of Council and make recommendations to the Council for the appointment or re-appointment of members to Class IV.
2.16.6 The membership committee shall have power to exercise discretion in inviting nominations for new members of Council from a constituency that will include but not be restricted to all members of the University as defined in Section 6 of the Statutes. In inviting nominations, the membership committee shall consult widely and, as necessary, publicly advertise and shall pay full regard to the need for diversity and interests on the Council representative of the population at large, subject always to the over-riding criterion of personal merit.
2.16.7 The membership committee shall review annually on behalf of Council the establishment, terms of reference, constitution, composition and membership of Council committees, and make recommendations annually to Council for their continuation or amendment where applicable in consultation with the chairpersons of Council committees.
2.16.8 In accordance with Ordinances 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, the membership committee shall determine whether to hold a closed election for the offices of Pro-Chancellor, Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Treasurer, from amongst the Council’s Lay Members, or an open election including individuals external to the University who are eligible to be Lay Members of the Council, provided that there is a vacancy in Class IV of Council membership which may be filled by an external individual. The membership committee shall invite, receive, assess and recommend nominations to Council for the elections of the Deputy Pro-Chancellor and the Treasurer.
2.16.9 Where a nomination for the re-appointment of the person identified in 2.16.1 (a) as a Lay Member of Council is to be reviewed by the membership committee, the person concerned shall withdraw from the meeting while the nomination is considered and also from the meeting of Council while it considers the advice of the membership committee relating to the nomination.
2.16.10 In accordance with 2.16.8, where a nomination for the re-appointment or re-election of a person identified by 2.16.1(b) to the office of Deputy Pro-Chancellor or Treasurer is to be reviewed by the membership committee, the person concerned shall withdraw from the meeting while the nomination is reviewed and also from the meeting of Council while it considers the advice of the membership committee relating to the nomination.
2.16.11 A report of the proceedings of the membership committee shall be included in the annual Report of the Proceedings of Council to the Court as required by 2.18.1 of the Ordinances.
2.16.12 Council shall annually review the powers, duties and rules of procedure of the membership committee.