Termly Council Michaelmas 2007 Minutes

 
Council Minutes

OUSU Termly Council Minutes Michaelmas 2007


 i.    Election of Chair of Council

Robert Barham – LMH – No political affiliations / motion in Council against / censures / explusions

In the absence of anyone else, we'll need someone to do Chair.  Been to lots of Council's this term as LMH OUSU Rep.  Will pester Paul to learn about job.  Hoped someone else would stand.
 

ii    Election of Returning Officer

James Dray – Mansfield – No political affiliations in this country / no censures

Did RO this term, foolish mistake as it was lots of work.  Haven't got any smarter so am running again.  Good to have continuity.  Takes a month to learn job as limited handover.  Good to have person doing significant amount of time.  Will prepare handover document.
 

iii.    Termly Reports of the President and Vice-Presidents

MM: Nothing to add to written reports

QUestions
Moishin Khan: Asked for interpretation on Article G6a (?). 
MM: No case to answer but will make ruling.
 

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)

1.    Abolishing Council Delegates

Garth Brookes (Christ Church): Passed two terms already by 2/3.  History – used to have NUS delegates as Council members.  Once we removed NUS affiliation kept delegates to be council delegate.  Council delegates have been maintained despite long delay to central affiliation in NUS.  Keen to maintain wide representation.  Council delegates are not working to do this.  Council delegates overrepresenting one minority.  Rarely opposed in positions, tend to come from same clubs and societies.  Gives lots of power to small group in Oxford University.  This takes away power from Common Rooms.  JCRs don't have to vote same way so can vote different ways to represent minorities in JCRs.  Motion aims to give power back to JCRs, away from political groups, and give representation to Oxford students. 

Questions

James Dray (Mansfield): What about disaffiliated Common Rooms?
GB (ChCh): Can speak in Council, but would side step

Robert Bahram (LMH):

Hannah Roe (OUSU VP Women): Is this the only mechanism for disaffiated common rooms to vote?
GB: Side steps issue – could vote through equal ops campaigns, or reaffiliate.

Opposition: Hannah Roe (VP Women): Wasn't prepared to give this speech as didn't know issue was coming up.  Used to have good system to have students not involved in Common Rooms to represent their own rooms.  Something went wrong.  Needs to sort this out, rather than lose these votes.  Should reconnect votes, not in principle get rid of delegates.  Seems good way for disaffiailted common rooms to vote.  Should encourage more people to stand and get involved.

Ben Karlin (New): Disaffialted common rooms not valid point.  You say we used to have a system for students not represented in Common Rooms to have a say: we do – it's the 3rd vote.  Reality of situation is that one particular group has been represented.  Unlikely to can find position when delegates were split.  Same arguments have always been made: time to abolish posts.

Sarah Hutchinson (St Cross) – POI – split on VP Women debate last term.

Dani Quinn (Merton) – Current debate surplufolous to todays debate.

Daniel Post (Teddy Hall) – People from disaffialated common rooms should have vote.  But is it fair to have one person, one vote in Council when common rooms only get 3 votes between them.

Jar Moon (Teddy Hall) – dealing with NUS should be different to Council delegates.  Abolish council delegates and then talk about NUS links.

Jonny Medland (Queens) – Council delegates not accountable to anyone.  JCRs can hold reps to account.  Delegates have been elected on some form of political slate, and act more or less as candidates on slate.  Not true for other represents here.  Time for normal students to be represented at Council.  Delegates don't do this – only people from specific parties are running.  They are not representing normal students-  time that they got abolished.

Move to vote – Rich Hardiman (VP Finance) – have heard same point 3 times in a row.

Recorded vote: More than 10 votes in favour. 

63-26 in favour of abolishing
 
2.    Ox Stu Constitution

Rich Hardiman (VP Finance): Promised to do this when I was elected.  Worked with Ed Mayne and some old editors.  Brought together a constitution that meant that it isn't just VP Finance's call as to what is legal or not.  Been passed already, but please pass it again.

Alistair Wrench (St Hughes) – POI – What happens to Council delegates having vote if they have just been abolished?

MM: Motion says nothing about when Council votes end, so will last remaining year of new Council Delegates. 

Elliot Coden (Pembroke): No text of what we are voting on – what are we voting on?

RH: Binds Ox Stu to Press Complaints Commissions, following libel laws, protects editorial independence

Paul ? (new) – what's happening to Oxide?

RH: Something in the pipe line.

Paul ? (New) – Next council?

RH: Coming to next termly Council.

Hannah Roe: What happens if editors break PCC?

RH: First reference to VP Finance, then OSSL Board, then Legal Department.  Also code of ethics written by Ox Stu which editors agree to at start of term.

HR: What happens when there is no OUSU VP Finance?

RH:  Will be Presidents job.

Votes in favour – hundreds.

Two against

Two abstentions.