Council A Council, dating from 1874, oversees academic matters. All decisions of the Council require the approval of the Board, but if the decision in question does not require a new expenditure, the approval is normally formal, without debate. The council had a significant number of elected representatives from the start, and was also larger than the Board, which at that time continued to consist of the provost and seven Senior Fellows only. The council is the formal body which makes academic staff appointments, always, in practice on the recommendation of appointments panels which have themselves been appointed by the council. An illustration of the relationship between the Board and the council is a decision to create a new professorial chair. As this involves paying a salary, the initial decision to create the chair is made by the council, but the decision to make provision for the salary is made by the Board; consequently, the Board might overrule or defer a Council decision on grounds of cost.
CoUnciL a cOuncil, DAtIng fRoM 1874, oVersees acAdemiC matTers. all deciSIoNs of the cOuncil rEquIRe THe approVAl of The bOaRd, buT If thE decisiOn iN QueSTIon dOes noT requiRe A new expEnDiturE, the approVAl IS normALly Formal, wIthouT DebAte. The cOuNCiL HAd a sIgnIfiCanT Number oF eLected RePreseNtatiVes froM The stArt, aNd waS aLso LarGer Than thE BOArd, whiCh at That tiME ContInUed to cOnsist of thE ProvOSt And SEven SENior fELLowS onlY. the CouNcIL iS The foRmal BODy WhIch makes ACadeMic stAfF appoIntmenTs, always, in practiCe on The rEcOmmEndation of appoinTmenTs PanElS whICH Have THEMselVes beeN appoiNtEd By the cOunCil. an ilLUstration OF THe RelaTIonshiP bETWEEn ThE board and tHE couNcil Is A deciSiOn To crEate a New prOFessoriAL CHAIR. as ThIS INvOLveS pAying a salaRy, tHe inItial DecisioN to cREate The cHair Is MADe by tHE Council, but tHe DeCisIon to MaKE prOvisIoN fOR tHe salary iS madE by the boArd; CoNsequently, the bOard MigHt overRule or defer a COuncIl decISiOn oN grOUNDs oF coSt.