Council Agenda Termly Council Trinity 2007

i.    Election of Chair of Council
ii    Election of Returnng Officer
iii.    Termly Reports of the President and Vice-Presidents
iv.    Termly Reports of the Executive and Committee Chairs
v.    Constitutional Business (Second and Final Readings of Motions to Change the Constitution and Standing Orders)
 
iv.    Constitutional Business (Second and Final Readings of Motions to Change the Constitution and Standing Orders)


1.  Strengthening the equal opportunities campaigns          FINAL READING
first reading passed 5th week hilary 2007
second reading passed termly council hilary 2007

Council notes
1.    The continuing problem of representation for minority groups in Oxford
2.    The successful implementation of autonomous equal opportunities campaigns in Cambridge.
3.    The limited constitutional provision for OUSU’s Equal Opportunities Campaigns.

Council believes
1.    That the driving purpose of a students’ union is to provide all students with representation.
2.    That we want to have a students union which engages as many students as possible.
3.    That the current system does not encourage individuals from minority or marginalised groups to effectively voice their problems or experiences, should they so desire.
4.    That while the equal opportunities campaigns which currently exist are successful, their focus, efficiency and efficacy, is restricted due to the limited constitutional provision.
5.    That autonomy for the equal opportunities campaigns would strengthen the democratic processes of OUSU, by entrenching the position of the equal opportunities campaigns, and, thereby, the systems of student representation within OUSU.
6.    That being given autonomy in budget and policy matters would encourage wider involvement in the equal opportunities campaigns, which would in turn strengthen the position of minority or marginalised groups in Oxford.

Council further believes
1.    That the burden of providing support for minority and marginalised groups currently falls on a number of organisations and societies that are not affiliated to OUSU and do not receive support from OUSU.
2.    That autonomous equal opportunities campaigns could fruitfully provide a focal uniting force for many of these groups, and with the support of OUSU engage with the issues that they are currently facing alone.
3.    That OUSU should be able to provide basic support and encouragement to all groups working for equality for minorities, and that under the current system are restricted in their ability to do so.
Council resolves
1.    To mandate the OUSU President, VP/Welfare, VP/Women and Equal Opportunities executive officer to publicise the new structure and to ensure its smooth implementation.
2.    To remove from the OUSU constitution parts 4 and 5 and replace with the following:
4. The Equal Opportunities Campaigns
4.1 There will be the following equal opportunity campaigns:
•    Women’s Campaign
•    LGBTQ Council
•    SwD (Students with disabilities) council
•    BME (Black, minority, ethnic) student council
•    International Student Council
•    Mature student council
5. Autonomy of the Equal Opportunities Campaigns
5.1 In order to be classed as an OUSU autonomous campaign the campaign must fulfill the following criteria, and must continue to follow the conditions set out below:
i. The campaign shall have a constitution, drawn up by themselves, which must be passed twice by OUSU council to be ratified.
ii. The membership of each autonomous campaign shall comprise exclusively a strict subset of the OUSU student body, which shall be defined in the constitution of the campaign.
iii. The campaign shall have an executive elected democratically from amongst its membership.
5.2 The constitution of each autonomous equal opportunities campaign shall make provision for at least two open meetings of its membership to be held each term. The executive shall make every reasonable effort to publicise such meetings to all members of OUSU in every college.
5.3 Any amendments made to the constitution of the autonomous campaign shall require the resolution of an Open Meeting of the autonomous equal opportunities campaign passed with two thirds majority, and ratification by OUSU Council passed with a simple majority.
5.4 The constitution of each equal opportunities campaign shall appear in the standing orders of OUSU.
5.5 By nature of their autonomy each equal opportunities campaign will have the right to pass their own policy. This will not need to be ratified by OUSU council because the policy they pass will be representative of the strict subset of students which the campaign represents. With each policy passed the campaign will have the option of having their policy ratified by OUSU council. However, policy must be brought to OUSU council if:
i. the motion is financial
ii. the motion uses the name of OUSU or has wider implications for the students of OUSU outside of the equal opportunities campaign
iii. the motion contradicts the OUSU constitution
Motions passed by any OUSU equal opportunities campaign must be made available to members of OUSU Council for their information. Anyone may bring a motion to OUSU council in objection to the policy of the autonomous equal opportunities campaign. OUSU Council and the equal opportunities campaign may hold contradicting policies.
5.6 Each equal opportunities campaign shall be entitled to one voting representative at OUSU council. This representative will be asked questions alongside the OUSU executive at the start of OUSU council.
5.7 Each equal opportunities campaign has the right to bid for an amount of money from OUSU to act as their budget for the year. Bids for funds must be received by Friday 5th week Trinity term and will be awarded by the end of Trinity term. The executive shall take the final decision as to how much to award to each campaign. The executive shall take into account the following when making their decision:
i. Whether funds will be spent solely for the benefit of students of OUSU
ii. Whether proposed spending is broadly in line with the aims of the campaign
The executive of the equal opportunities campaign shall have responsibility for the day to day distribution of the funds, and shall present an account of all expenditure and activities to the VP/Finance by Friday of 5th week Trinity term, and to OUSU Council in 7th week of Trinity term.Equal opportunities campaigns are entitled to apply for extra funds at any point during the year by taking a motion to OUSU council.
5.8 Where membership of an equal opportunities campaign is denied to, or revoked from, a member of OUSU, they shall have the right of appeal. Such an appeal shall be heard by a panel consisting of 2 members of the OUSU executive, and additionally one member of the equal opportunities campaign executive, ordinarily the representative to OUSU Council. All appeals shall be decided by simple majority. Further appeals shall be directed to OUSU Council.
5.9 OUSU Council shall reserve the right to send an observer to any open meeting of any equal opportunities campaign. Such an observer need not be a member. All Ordinary Members of OUSU shall have the right to speak at open meetings of Autonomous Campaigns when invited to do so by the Chair.
Proposed: Olivia Bailey (St Hilda’s)  Seconded:    Jamie Frew (Keble)

 
2.    Abolishing Council Delegates                SECOND READING
first reading passed 3rd week trinity 2007

Council notes
1.    OUSU used to be centrally affiliated to NUS, and during this time, NUS Delegates were entitled to a vote in OUSU Council.
2.    OUSU subsequently decided not to centrally affiliate, and thus lost its NUS Delegates.
3.    The positions of NUS Delegate were transferred into Council Delegates who retained the vote in OUSU council.
4.    OUSU has recently decide to re-affiliate centrally to NUS again, and the positions of NUS delegates have been reformed without abolishing council delegates.
5.    There are 6 equal opportunities campaign positions who have the right to vote in OUSU council
6.    There can be up to 14 council delegates voting in OUSU council at any one time.
7.    These 14 positions have rarely if ever all been filled, and those who stand almost always do so unopposed.
8.    That any member of OUSU is entitled to speak on a motion.

Council believes
1.    There is a need to represent the minority as well as the majority at OUSU council.
2.    This can be done effectively through the 6 campaign votes and the third vote of JCRs which can be used to represent the minority.
3.    That Common Rooms represent the majority stakeholder in OUSU council.
4.    That Common Room representatives are directly accountable to their common rooms and are mandated to represent the views of their Common Room.
5.    That OUSU’s purpose is to represent the views and best interests of the majority of Oxford Students.
6.    That Council Delegates leave OUSU open to too much influence from minority special interest groups to the extent that OUSU can be forced not to represent the views of the majority of students.
7.    That Council Delegates are an unnecessary anachronism, and should be abolished.

Council resolves
1.    To strike Article B 2.1 (v) from the constitution, thus abolishing Council Delegates as members of OUSU Council
2.    To strike any mention of the term ‘council delegate’ from the constitution and standing orders

Proposed: Garth Smith (Christ Church)  Seconded: Pete Surr (Univ)

 
3.    Environment & Ethics Committee                FINAL READING
first reading passed 5th week trinity 2007

Council notes
1.    That most OUSU Committees are coordinated by a system of Co-Chairs having authority within that committee, these being elected by the committee and ratified by this Council.
2.    That OUSU’s Environment Committee has, in recent years, been one of OUSU’s most active, well attended, and autonomous committees, especially in light of its recent merger with the OUSU Ethics Committee.
3.    That OUSU’s Environment & Ethics Committee has been mostly run this year by four Co-Chairs, who have taken on unofficial portfolio roles within the committee.


Council believes
1.    That while a system of Co-Chairs is a satisfactory way to run a small committee, it is an inefficient way to run a large one.
2.    That OUSU’s Environment & Ethics Committee would be able to make better use of its resources if it were coordinated by a more extensive executive structure.
3.    That this executive would work in partnership with the OUSU Vice President (Charities & Community) and the OUSU Part-time Executive Officer for Environment & Ethics.
4.    That such a system has already been seen to work well for the RAG Committee.

Council resolves
1.    To approve the creation of an executive structure for the Environment & Ethics Committee.
2.    To add clause “7. Environment & Ethics Committee” to schedule “D. The Executive and Committees” of the Standing Orders, which shall read:

D 7. Environment & Ethics Committee

7.1 Environment & Ethics Committee shall be a forum for relevant representatives from Constituent Organisations and open to any member of OUSU, and shall be responsible for campaigning in line with OUSU’s environmental and ethical policies, supporting the aforementioned representatives in their duties, and promoting good environmental and ethical practice within OUSU, the University, and its Colleges.

7.2 Environment & Ethics Committee shall be an open committee, but only certain members shall have voting rights. These shall be:
i. The OUSU Vice President (Charities & Community) and Part-time Executive officer for Environment and Ethics
    ii. The Environment & Ethics committee Executive
iii. Up to two representatives from each constituent organisation (e.g. an Environment and/or Ethics Rep)

Quorum at Environment & Ethics Committee shall be six voting members.

7.3 The Environment & Ethics Executive shall be elected by the Environment & Ethics Committee and ratified by OUSU Council, and the timings of the elections shall be decided by the Vice President (Charities & Community) after consultation with the committee, and with appeal to the OUSU Executive. Any member of OUSU may stand for a position on the Executive. The positions shall be as follows, and their responsibilities shall include:
i. Chair – to chair committee meetings, and to coordinate the executive, campaigns, and the production of the OUSU Environment & Ethics Handbook.
ii. Secretary – to minute meetings, maintain a list of voting members, maintain mailing lists, and assist communication within the committee.
iii. Energy Officer – to lead campaigns on energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and related areas.
iv. Recycling Officer – to lead campaigns on recycling and related areas.
v. Biodiversity Officer – to lead campaigns on conservation, biodiversity, and University and/or College food procurement, and related areas.
vi. Ethics Officer – to lead campaigns on ethics, and to liaise with and support University societies focusing on specific ethical issues.
vii. Publicity & Press Officer – to coordinate publicity and awareness of the committee’s campaigns and events (both on- and offline), to coordinate links with the student media and external organisations, and to maintain the committee’s web presence.
 
Proposed: Imran Khan (Christ Church)  Seconded: Neil Bowerman (Keble)

 
4.    ‘Oxford Student’ Constitution                SECOND READING
first reading passed 5th week trinity 2007

Council notes
1.    The creation of a working party convened to draw up a constitution for The Oxford Student, consisting of representatives of the OUSU Executive, OUSU Council and the newspaper.
2.    This working party has now completed a draft of the constitution which is now being presented to Council.

Council believes
1.    That the draft constitution drawn up by the working party should be accepted and added to the OUSU Constitution and Standing Orders.

Council resolves
1.    To strike Article F clause 3.1 (d) from the constitution and re-write it as follows, “All Publications shall be bound by OUSU Policy, except for The Oxford Student which shall be exempt from OUSU policy and thus it shall be editorially independent under the rules and provisions of The Oxford Student constitution as laid down in the Standing Orders.”
2.    To strike Standing Orders Article F 7.11 and replace it with the following, “Complaints arising out of any publication, except for The Oxford Student which shall be governed by the complaints procedure outlined in The Oxford Student Constitution as laid down in the Standing Orders, shall be referred to the Chair of the Publications Complaints Committee who shall call a tribunal of three members, not otherwise involved in the matter, elected under 6.8 above. Tribunal shall, at its own discretion, hear evidence, call witnesses & reject, uphold or uphold part of the complaint. It shall reach its decisions by a simple majority of the members of the Tribunal, excluding the chair. The chair shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. All rulings shall be reported to Council at the earliest opportunity.”
3.    To strike all references to The Oxford Student in the Standing Orders, specifically the entirety of Article F 7.6 and 7.7, except for those pertaining to the conduct of the newspaper in Article C – Elections and Referendums.
4.    To add the attached to the Standing Orders as Article M, entitled “The Oxford Student Constitution”:

Proposed: Ed Mayne (Mansfield)  Seconded: Cat Armitage (St Hugh’s)

 
5.    Oxide Radio                            SECOND READING
first reading passed 5th week trinity 2007

Council notes
1.    Oxide Radio currently does not appear anywhere in the OUSU Constitution, although a constitution for it has been drawn up and proposed to OUSU Council for inclusion in the Standing Orders.

Council believes
1.    Oxide Radio should appear in the OUSU Constitution.

Council resolves
1.    To rename Article F of the Constitution, “Article F – Finance, Publications and the Radio Station”.
2.    To add the following to the Constitution Article F, clause 4, entitled “The Radio Station” renumbering the subsequent clauses according, “4.1 OUSU shall broadcast Oxide Radio, which shall be exempt from OUSU policy and thus it shall be editorially independent under the rules and provisions of The Oxide Radio constitution as laid down in the Standing Orders.”

Proposed: Ed Mayne (Mansfield)  Seconded: Paul Arrich (New)

 
6.    ‘Oxide Radio’ Constitution                    FINAL READING
first reading passed 5th week trinity 2007


Council notes
1.    The creation of a working party convened to draw up a constitution for Oxide Radio, consisting of representatives of the OUSU Executive, OUSU Council and the Radio Station.
2.    This working party has now completed a draft of the constitution which is now being presented to Council.

Council believes
1.    That the draft constitution drawn up by the working party should be accepted and added to the OUSU Constitution and Standing Orders.

Council resolves
1.    To strike Standing Orders Schedule 5 B 1.2 and replace it with, “Oxide Radio Station Manager”.
2.    To add the attached to the Standing Orders as Article N of Schedule One, entitled “The Oxide Radio Constitution.”

Proposed: Ed Mayne (Mansfield)  Seconded: Paul Arrich (New)

 
7.    Publications Complaints                        FINAL READING
first reading passed 5th week trinity 2007


Council notes
1.    The procedure for dealing with complaints relating to publications in the OUSU Standing Orders is to delegate the matter to the Publications Complaints Committee.
2.    This committee is effectively defunct, no new members have stood for election to it in over a year and the committee has not met to resolve any complaints for even longer than that.
3.    In practice, all complaints relating to publications are dealt with by the OSSL Board, which comprises the President, Vice-President (Finance), Business Manager and General Manager ex-officio, and 5 members elected from the OUSU Executive.

Council believes
1.    All complaints relating to publications should be resolved by the OSSL Board.

Council resolves
1.    To strike clause 7.10 and replace it with the following: “Complaints arising out of any publication, except for The Oxford Student which shall be governed by the complaints procedure outlined in The Oxford Student Constitution as laid down in the Standing Orders, shall be referred to the Chairperson of the OSSL Board and subsequently resolved by the OSSL Board.”
2.    To strike from the Standing Orders Schedule One Article F, clauses, 7.11, 7.12 and 7.13, renumbering subsequent clauses accordingly.
3.    To strike Standing Orders Schedule One Article H 3.1 (a) and replace it with the following, “The Complaints Procedure laid down in this sub-section shall not be deemed to apply to any matter within the jurisdiction of the OSSL Board, as specified in Standing Orders Schedule One Article F 7.10.”
4.    To replace the reference to “the Publications Complaints Committee” in Schedule Six A 3.4, with “the OSSL Board”.

Proposed: Ed Mayne (Mansfield)  Seconded: Andrea Miller