Notice of Election 2020 - Election of Four Registered Farriers to be appointed as Members of the FRC

When is the election?

Notice is hereby given to all Registered Farriers that the election of four (4) Registered Farriers to be appointed as members of the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) will take place on Friday 9 October 2020.

• Four farriers are to be elected during 2020 to be appointed as FRC members for a four year term, from 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2024.
• A copy of the election scheme is available to view on the Council’s website www.farrier-reg.gov.uk or can be posted or e-mailed to any Registered Farrier upon request.

Who can stand for election and Who can vote?

• To stand for the position of Elected Member of the Council; a person must:
• Be currently practising and registered with the Farriers Registration Council in any of Parts 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the Register of Farriers
• All Registered Farriers are entitled to vote in the election; members of the Non-Practising List may not vote.

What do FRC Members do?

• Put simply FRC members make policy to regulate farriery; in making policy FRC members have to balance the need to provide assurance to the public with the wishes of the profession.
• Elected farrier members of the FRC use their knowledge, skills and experience gained as members of the profession to influence the development of policy for the benefit of the public and the profession.
• Elected farrier members of the FRC will work at Council and Committee level alongside appointed members of the FRC; the following bodies appoint members to the FRC:
• The Worshipful Company of Farriers.
• The British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association.
• The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• The British Horseracing Authority.
• The British Equestrian Federation.
• The National Training Organisation for the Land Based Industries (Lantra).
• Scottish Enterprise.

How much of my time will be taken with FRC business if I am elected?

• The commitment of individual members to attend meetings will depend on the nature of their Committee membership, plus preparatory time to read meeting papers.
• Elected members receive travelling expenses and a taxable Attendance Allowance of £375 per day (2019 rate) when engaged on FRC business. FRC members are not Council employees, their status is that of an ‘office holder’ within HM Government’s definition of that term; further details may be found at www.gov.uk
• Further information concerning the FRC’s Committees and their duties may be found in the Council’s Annual Report, and in the FRC Office Holders Code of Conduct. Both documents are available on request.

What are the four elected positions on the FRC?

• The four elected positions are open to all Registered Farriers in any of Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Register of Farriers.
• All Registered Farriers are eligible to vote for up to four candidates.
• Farriers who have transferred to the Non-Practising List are not eligible as candidates.

What Next?

How to stand as a candidate….

Registered Farriers who wish to stand as a candidate should contact the FRC Office for a Nomination Form; this form should be completed by the candidate standing for election and additionally signed by five proposers who must all be Registered Farriers but must not be serving members of the FRC.

Completed Nomination Forms and candidate Election Statements (800 words max) must be received by the Registrar on or before close of business at 5pm on Wednesday 1 July 2020

Successful candidates will be asked to sign a declaration agreeing to accept the Seven Principles of Public Life, first set out by Lord Nolan in 1995 and amplified by Lord Bew in the ‘Striking the Balance – Upholding the Principles of Public Life in Regulation’ in September 2016, and an undertaking to comply with the Rules of the FRC and the Office Holders Code of Conduct. Copies of these documents may be made available to prospective candidates on request. 

If you have any questions about the election or seek advice as to how to stand as a candidate please contact the FRC Offices.

2020 Election Timetable

Wednesday 1 July 2020 – “Nomination Day” - Nominations from candidates in writing, signed by five proposers, including the candidate Election Statement must be received by the Registrar on or before this date.

Friday 18 September 2020 - Voting Papers issued to all Registered Farriers on or before this date.

Friday 9 October 2020 – “Polling Day” - The last day on which voting papers may be received by the Scrutineers.

Wednesday 21 October 2020 - Meeting of the Farriers Registration Council at which the results of the election will be declared.