Tanfield Group PLC
Page 10
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Principles of Corporate Governance
The company is committed to high standards of corporate governance. The Board is accountable to the company's
shareholders for good corporate governance. The company has partially complied throughout the year with the code
of best practice set out in Section 1 of the Combined Code 2006 (effective for periods commencing on or after 1
November 2006) appended to the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority.
The role of the Board is to provide entrepreneurial leadership of the company within a framework of prudent and
effective controls, which enables risk to be assessed and managed. The Board sets the company's strategic aims,
ensures that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the company to meet its objectives and
reviews management performance. The Board sets the company's values and standards and ensures that its
obligations to its shareholders and others are understood and met.
Board Structure
During the year the Board comprised the Non-Executive Chairman and Chief Executive, three other Executive
Directors, and three independent Non-Executive Directors. Geoffrey Allison was appointed to the board on 23
September 2008.
Board Role
The Board is responsible to shareholders for the proper management of the Group. The Non-Executive Directors
have a particular responsibility to ensure that the strategies proposed by the Executive Directors are fully
considered. To enable the Board to discharge its duties, all Directors have full and timely access to all relevant
information and there is a procedure for all Directors, in furtherance of their duties, to take independent
professional advice, if necessary, at the expense of the Group. The Board has a formal schedule of matters
reserved to it. It is responsible for overall group strategy, approval of major capital expenditure projects and
consideration of significant financing matters. The Board met on six separate occasions in the year and all
Directors attended.
Appointment and Induction of Directors
The composition of the Board is kept under review with the aim of ensuring that the directors collectively
possess the necessary skills and experience to direct the Group's business activities.
Board Committees
The Board delegates certain matters to its two principal committees, which deal with remuneration and audit.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee comprises John Bridge (Chair) and Martin Groak.
The Remuneration Committee determines and agrees with the Board the framework of remuneration for the
Executive Directors. The Board itself determines the remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors.
There was one remuneration committee meeting in the period which was fully attended.
The report on Directors' remuneration is set out on pages 13 to 16.