Taxa Sub-Groups, Expert Panel and Working Groups

Much of the work of CASC is delegated to Permanent Taxa Sub-Groups, and Expert Panel or Temporary Working groups.

These groups bring together the interested parties specific to one area, ensuring that the right expertise and knowledge is drawn upon.

TAXA SUB-GROUPS

Sub-Groups create the opportunity for Council members to input into issues relevant to CASC and represent the views of their organisation. Taxa Sub-Groups are open to all relevant interested groups and societies and are balanced to represent genres of keeping (e.g. pet owners and show breeders), trade, welfare organisation etc.   There is no limit to the number of members, but the groups must remain balanced and broad in representation and members should take due consideration of the requirements of membership.  

Responsibilities of the Sub-Groups include:

  • The formulation of taxa-specific advice, strategies, reports and other material.
    • The identification of issues of common interest, coordination of views and submission of reports and recommendations to the Steering Committee.

Criteria for determining the individual membership of Sub-Groups include:

  • Brings expertise and knowledge;
  • Ability to contribute constructively to the decision-making process with reference to the purpose and aims of CASC
  • The ability to comment knowledgeably on the issues faced by their sector or organisation and represent their views and contributions appropriately.
  • Capacity to make decisions on their organisation’s behalf;
  • Able to contribute sufficient time to actively contribute to meetings and to the development of positions.

There are 4 four permanent Sub-Groups which represent areas of common interest and coordinate the views and input of each group.  These Sub-Groups are based around the taxa of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish and birds, and input into the formulation of taxa-specific advice, strategies, reports and other material.

At least one member from each Taxa Sub-Group sits on the Steering Committee.  This is normally the chair of the Sub-Group, but may be another Sub-Group member if this is more appropriate.

WORKING GROUPS

Where cross-cutting issues relevant to all taxa are identified, time-limited Working Groups are established and are open to all interested organisations.

The chair of each Working Group is invited to attend Steering Committee meetings to represent the views of the Group.

Responsibilities of Working Groups include:

  • The formulation of advice, strategies, reports and other material and make recommendations to the Steering Committee.
    • To identify issues of common interest, coordinate views and submit reports and make recommendations to the Steering Committee.

EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL

The Expert Advisory Panel provides expert or specialist input and advice to the Council, Steering Committee, Taxa Sub-Groups and Working Groups according to need. Panel members can be drawn from the veterinary profession, academia/education, policy advisers from Defra or the devolved administrations, regulators and the AHWBE.  They may also be individuals who represent expertise in their field.

Criteria for determining the individual membership of the Panel include:

  • Highly knowledgeable individuals in their area of expertise
  • Ability to contribute constructively to decision making process;
  • Members should be able to comment knowledgeably on proposals under development by the Council or any of its groups.
  • Able to contribute sufficient time to actively contribute to meetings.