The 2016 election scheme provides for five places on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) English Pharmacy Board for members or Fellows who work or live wholly or mainly in England, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. The eligibility criteria are set out below.
Please note that, as of 2016, places on the English Pharmacy Board will no longer be allocated on the basis of sectors.
Nominations for candidates on the English Pharmacy Board election can not be made until 27 February 2016 and must be made on the form issued by the independent scrutineer, UK Engage, or online via the UK Engage website (http://www.uk-engage.org/rps), and must be signed by ten member nominators, whose address on the Society’s database must be in England, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or overseas*. Members who nominate candidates must have completed 2016 membership processes.
*A member or Fellow who is an overseas resident at the time the electoral roll is closed shall be entitled to nominate a candidate for the English Pharmacy Board unless he or she has opted to be an elector of one of the other national pharmacy boards.
Nominations must be received by 12pm on 1 April 2016 and should be submitted online at the UK Engage website or by email to rps@uk-engage.org. Nominations may also be submitted by post to UK Engage, Image House, 10 Acorn Business Park, Heaton Lane, Stockport SK4 1AS. For further information please contact the UK Engage Helpline on 0345 209 3770.
A nomination may be withdrawn by notice in writing, signed by the prospective candidate and delivered to rps@uk-engage.org or UK Engage, Image House, 10 Acorn Business Park, Heaton Lane, Stockport, SK4 1AS no later than 5pm on 14 April 2016.
Eligibility criteria
- A member is eligible for election only if he or she is a member or Fellow of the RPS.
- A retired member of the Society is eligible for election.
- A member or Fellow may only stand for election to one board.
- A member or Fellow shall be eligible for election to the English Pharmacy Board only if he or she works or lives wholly or mainly in England, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
- If, by resolution of a board, any elected member of that board has ceased to meet the requirements relating to his or her residency he or she shall cease to be a member of the board in question.
- Any elected member of a board who changes his or her substantive practice following their election shall be eligible to serve the full term for which he or she was elected.
- No member or Fellow shall be eligible for election if he or she has failed to pay by the date and time fixed for the return of nomination forms (1 April 2016) any subscription or other debt due and payable to the Society.
- No member or Fellow shall be eligible for election if he or she has been charged with a criminal offence or has been notified by the Society or any professional, regulatory or public body that he or she is subject to investigation in relation to his or her conduct or competence, and the matter is unresolved.
- No member or Fellow shall be eligible for election if he or she is employed by the Society.
Periods of office
Board members are elected for a three-year period.
Timetable
The electoral roll will be closed at 5pm on 14 April 2016. Only those members and Fellows who have paid the 2016 membership fee by this date will be eligible to vote.
It is expected that voting papers will be emailed (or posted if requested by 14 April) to the electorate on or about 6 May 2016. The deadline for voting (either online or by post) will be 12pm on 27 May 2016.
Newly elected board members will take office at 00.01 on 22 June 2016.
Howard Duff
Returning officer for England
English Pharmacy Board election 2016