The Council of the University of Cambridge is the principal executive and policy making body, having responsibility for the administration of the university, for the planning of its work and for the management of its resources.
It performs both functions by authorising notices to be published in the Cambridge University Reporter, its official journal.
Under charity law its trustees are members of the University Council.
[2] Membership of the council consists of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (the chancellor, primarily a ceremonial post, is appointed ad vitam, while the vice-chancellor is de facto the principal academic and administrative officer), nineteen elected members, and four appointed members, divided into classes as follows:[3] * The Chancellor (currently Lord Sainsbury of Turville) is not expected to attend meetings † Professor Richard Penty currently serves as Master of Sidney Sussex College ‡ Mark Lewisohn also acts as Deputy Chairman of Council From January 2005, the membership of the council included two external members.
[4] The Regent House voted to increase the number of external members from two to four in March 2008,[5][6] being approved by The Queen in July 2008.