Explanatory note

These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009 and amend the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009 (“the Terms of Service Regulations”).

Part 2 makes provision about residentiary canons. Regulation 2 defines the expression “qualifying residentiary canon” which is used in the amendments to the Terms of Service Regulations.

Regulation 3 requires the dean of a cathedral to carry out an annual review with each residentiary canon who is an executive member of the Chapter of the cathedral.

Regulation 4 provides that continuing ministerial education for qualifying residentiary canons is to be provided by the dean instead of the bishop. But the bishop will continue to provide continuing ministerial education that relates to safeguarding.

Regulation 5 provides for the dean of a cathedral to be the person who grants special leave to qualifying residentiary canons. It also provides that a qualifying residentiary canon may not be granted more than three months’ special leave in a calendar year without the consent of the diocesan bishop.

Regulation 6 provides that, where there is a dispute about the time a qualifying residentiary canon spends on public duties (other than those relating to the office of residentiary canon), it is for the dean to resolve the dispute or, where the dispute is with the dean, it is for the diocesan bishop to resolve it.

Regulation 7 provides that a qualifying residentiary canon who is absent from work because of illness for more than seven days must provide a certificate to the dean. It also provides that, where there are concerns about a residentiary canon’s health, the dean may direct a medical examination to take place.

Regulation 8 provides that a diocesan bishop may not give a direction for a residentiary canon to continue in office beyond the age of 70 without the agreement of the dean.

Part 3 relates to salary sacrifice arrangements. Regulation 9 provides that where an office holder gives up some stipend in return for some other benefit (for example, an electric car), the stipend is nevertheless to be treated as having been received by the office holder for the purposes of the rules relating to the National Minimum Stipend.

Part 4 relates to gender neutrality. Regulation 10 amends the Terms of Service Regulations so as to gender-neutralise the references to bishops.