Union Council (20th October 2014)

Ben Morton (Chair of Council) welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year and his first as Chair. 40 members were present.

Members in attendance:

• Mert Chavushoglu
• Jade Head (Student Trustee)
• Pyotr Kurzin
• Alexander Howard
• Frazer Delves
• Ellie Kilby
• Milosz Gaczkowski
• Rachel Winter
• William Yeong (Student Trustee)
• Leon Rea (Student Trustee)
• Orla Sheehan
• Daisy Watkins
• Miriam Animashaun
• Thomas Bell
• Zoe Tebbs
• Rian Kraether Goettert
• Natalie Rowell
• Edmund Baird
• Esme Mackrill
• Cameron Harris

On an electonic vote, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved (Yes: 34 No: 0 Abstentions: 3).

There were no matters arising.

a. Permission to undertake outside employment (Sabbatical Officers)

Katie Lightowler (VP Sports Development) requested the permission of Council to take up employment as a swimming instructor for Sport and Wellbeing, to be worked at weekends. This was passed on a clear show of voting cards.

Ellie Cawthera (VP Engagement) requested the permission of Council to take up office as a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel for the City of Southampton. Although not itself remunerated, an allowance of £250 is provided to members of the Panel. This was passed on a clear show of voting cards.

b. Disqualification of a candidate (Social Secretary, Nightline)

Megan Downing explained the background to the disqualification. Emily Shepherd noted that she had caught this when she had taken office. The decision of Democracy Zone was ratified.

c. Close of nominations for Open Place Union Councillors, speeches and opening of voting

There were fewer nominations than positions availabe, so the following were elected uncontested: Pyotr Kurzin, Rian Kraether Goettert, Eleanor Kilby. Alex Howard nominated himself in error, and although elected uncontested, resigned his position on Wednesday 22nd October, in order to take up his position as a reflective place Union Councillor on Friday 24th October.

d. Election of student representatives on University Committees (vote counts)

• Senate: There were three positions and six candidates, and Giles Howard, Shruti Verma and Rhys Thomas were duly elected.
• Military Education Committee: there was one position and two candidates, and Ellie Kilby was duly elected.

e. Appointment of Sabbatical Officers to Zone Committees

The following appointments of additional Sabbatical Officers to sit on the Zone Committees were made en bloc by a clear show of hands:

Creative Industries Zone: VP Student Communities; Democracy Zone: VP Sports Development; Sustainability: VP Engagement; Student Communities Zone: VP Welfare; Student Life Zone: VP Student Communities; Sports Development Zone: VP Creative Industries; External Enagement: VP Education; Education Zone: VP External Engagement.

f. Student representatives pool for Disciplinary Committee

It was explained that members of Union Council will be selected at random as and when required from a list of Union Council members to sit on this Committee. Members wishing to opt out were asked to email democracy@susu.org.

g. Close of voting for Open Place Union Councillors and announcement of results

No election was required to be held.

h. Election of Union Council representatives to Zone Committees (vote counts)

• Democracy: There were two positions and four candidates, and Emily Shepherd and Rian Goettert were elected.
• Sustainability: There were two positions and three candidates, and David Wikramaratna and Pyotr Kurzin were elected.
• Student Communities: There were two positions and two candidates, and Rebecca Lake and Vansha Sethi were elected.
• Creative Industries: There were two positions and two candidates, and Catriona Phillip and Pyotr Kurzin were elected.
• Education: There were two positions and two candidates, and Emily Shepherd and Jenny Bortoluzzi were elected.
• External Engagement: There were two positions and two candidates, and Shruti Verma and Stephanie Kritikou were elected.
• Sports Development: There were two positions and three candidates, and Rhys Thomas and Chris McGeehan were elected.
• Student Life: There were two positions and three candidates, and David Wikramaratna and Ellie Kilby were elected.

The meeting was adjourned for an access break at 8:20 pm, and resumed, following the introduction of staff, at 8:28 pm.

i. Election of Union Council representatives to the Student Leader Review Project Team (vote counts)

• Student Leader position: There was one position and four candidates, and Hannah Mylrea Hemmings was elected.
• Union Councillor positon: There was one position and one candidate, and Catriona Phillip was elected.

 

 

a. Approval of Financial Schedule

David Mendoza-Wolfson explained the proposed changes (noted in the paper). He noted that a rise in prices mean a rise in the amount that the President & Chief Executive/Head of Finance could approve for capital expenditure (Item G).

Evan Whyte asked if such decisions could not be made electronically by Trustee Board? David responded, saying that that process would be too slow.

Emily Shepherd asked what "50% of replacement cost" meant (Item E). Leon Rea explained it was for the cost of repair against the original cost of the item.

• The Schedule was passed on a clear show of voting cards.

• Union Plan: David Mendoza-Wolfson drew the attention of Council to the attached paper.
• Pro-choice policy: Beckie Thomas noted that there had been a good discussion, and that this was now to go to Sustainability Zone Committee for further consideration. 
• Student Leader Review: Megan Downing reported that they had gone through the Student Leader roles Zone by Zone, and that they had had good discussions.
• Leadership and Representation: Beckie Thomas noted that this dicsussion had been mandated to be brought by the last meeting of Union Council. There was no further action to take at this stage, though the Imrpoving Participation project would keep the matter under review. 

There was no action to report.

a. QAA Student Written Submission (1415P1) (see also the Appendix)

Proposed: Sophia D’Angelico, Vice-President Education. Seconded: Shruti Verma (Engineering and the Environment Faculty Officer); Giles Howard (Physical and Applied Sciences Faculty Officer)

Sophia explained work done, and noted the consultation carried out via surveys, phone and face-to-face. This was part of two reports to the QAA - one from us, and one from the University. She noted that she had spent the last three months writing the report and encouraged members to vote for it.

• The Policy Proposal was passed on a clear show of voting cards.

The Zone Reports for June and July were recieved.

The Sabbatical Officers introduced and explained their plans for the coming academic year.

• The plans were approved on a clear show of voting cards.

a. Attendance

There was no attendance to report at this stage in the year.

b.Officer Reports

The Officer Reports were recieved by Council.

 c. Questions to Officers (see also Late questions)

Q1 (Milosz Gaczkowski): David Mendoza-Wolfson said that the view of himself and Sophia was that having Academic President in place over the summer was important. He denied that the appointment had been kept secret, but accepted that they could have been better communicated and would be in the future. He confirmed that all the Sabbatical Officers were now aware of the procedures for co-option.

Emily Shepherd asked if any consideration had been give to the possibility that acting officers might have an unfair advantage during the following elections? David accepted that this was possible, but believed that it was more important that someone was in place at the start of term when students arrived.

Q2 (Chris McGeehan): Megan Downing said she was unaware of the entire context, but wanted to reassure Council that steps were being taken to ensure that officers are fully trained on the minutes system for this year, and she would try to ensure that last year's minutes were completed. Evan Whyte added that the minutes do exist, and are waiting to be uploaded.

Victoria Bone was Highly Commended for stepping up as acting President of Highfield JCR during the Freshers' period.

Union Council Stars were awarded to Joanna Sheldon & Tom Smith for their work with SUSUtv over the Freshers' period.

There was no other business.

The next meeting is to be held on 8th December 2014, at 6pm in the Senate Room (Building 37).

 The meeting closed at 9:40pm.