► Union Council
As a Students' Union, we are run for students, by students. Union Council is the highest decision making body of the Union, other than Members' Meetings and Referenda, and is made up from student representatives elected from and by the student body.
Union Council hears reports from other Union committees and Union officers to make sure that the things they're doing are in the interests of students.
Union Council can vote on what position the Union takes on an issue, can overturn an executive decision, and can propose a policy vote to be held by referendum.
Council can also make changes to the Union's Rules, set out how the Union is run each year, within the democratic framework set out in the Union's Constitution.
All Union members (current University of Sussex and BSMS students) have a right to attend Union Council. Only elected Officers & representatives can vote, but you can suggest items for debate, and have full speaking rights. Meetings are advertised on our website at www.sussexstudent.com/events.
Standing for election as a Union Councillor or Part-time Officer is a great way of getting involved with the Union while you study, and is an opportunity to make a real contribution to affect positive change for students studying at Sussex. With a wide and diverse membership, Council is better able to ensure that the interests of all students are taken into account and acted upon.
Council's membership is set up to ensure that there is a wide cross-section of the student body involved in the decision making process. The membership of Union Council includes the following:
All the above members have full speaking and voting rights.
It is really important that the Students' Union is accountable to you, our membership. Publishing minutes of Council meetings means that you can keep up to date with the decisions that the Union is taking on your behalf, even when you can't make it to the meetings. Minutes must be approved as accurate by the subsequent meeting before they can be published, and for this reason they will always appear here a little behind time.
First meeting: 1st November 2011
Second meeting: 16th November 2011
Third meeting: 1st December 2011 (draft minutes yet to be confirmed)
First meeting: 2nd November 2010
Second meeting: 8th November 2010
Third meeting: 6th December 2010
Fourth meeting: 28th January 2011
Fifth meeting: 14th February 2011
Sixth meeting: 25th February 2011, continued 3rd March
Seventh meeting: 16th March 2011
Council took forward the proposal to set up a Working Group to examine the way Union Democracy currently runs and suyggest improvements. This was to be done starting over the Easter vacation involving consulting focus groups of students, both those involved in the Union and others who aren't engaged at present. Council also heard about the "access agreement" being drafted by the University which the Government requires to allow Sussex to charge the £9000 fees. Council discussed the elections due after Easter and made changes as follows: the International and Postgraduate Development Officers will not be elected next term, pending further discussion of the roles and whether they should continue in the same form. Also council was asked to agree that four members of the Environmental Committee should be elected by cross campus ballot in the elections, on a trial basis, and agreed that one undergraduate councillor per school would be elected with PG and other posts filled in October.
Eighth meeting: 2nd June 2011
Ninth meeting: 17th June 2011 (draft minutes subject to approval by next Council)
The Council meeting was not quorate (fewer than half the eligible members were present, so close to the end of term). Council members heard reports from the elected officers for the last time, including the President and Education Officer who told council about the way the University financial position was reported, improvements in consultation demanded by students after the decision on changing the academic year. The Welfare Officer described the positive reception the Union had received for the work done on behalf of student parents and on the Rate Your Landlord survey. Then Council had a first look at next year's budget for the Students' Union which wil be affected by the change in retail activity (loss of York House shop for example). Finally, although the meeting could not make official decisions, members heard a proposal that the union should not use Brighton Racecourse or other venues whose main business was the use of animals for entertainment; and asked officers to join in putting a motion to the University Senate against Higher Education minister David Willetts and against the private ';New College of the Humanities'.
23rd April 2010
First meeting: October 22nd 2008
Second meeting: November 5th 2008
Third meeting: November 27th 2008
Fourth meeting (Emergency Council): January 19th 2009
Fifth meeting: February 9th 2009
Seventh meeting: April 20th 2009
Ninth Meeting: (Emergency Council): 13th May 2009
First meeting: October 18th 2007
Second meeting: November 7th 2007
Third meeting: November 27th 2007
Fourth meeting: January 15th 2008
Fifth meeting: January 31st 2008
Special meeting: February 6th 2008
Sixth meeting: February 18th 2008
Seventh meeting: March 6th 2008
Additional meeting: March 13th 2008
What does Union Council do?
How you can get involved
Who is part of Union Council?
Recent Council Minutes
This was the first meeting of Council in the year. Updated Rules were adopted based in the new Constitution and a new Chair of Council, Sarah Clavel, was elected. Council members then heard and questioned the first reports from the new year's elected officers on their activity so far in the term.
Council was briefed on the Union's financial position and considered the planned "emergency" Members' Meeting.
Council approved the updates to this year's Union budget, and debated whether the Union should explicitly encourage finalists to complete the National Student Survey.
Council Minutes 10/11
This was the first meeting of Council in the year as new Councillors were only elected in October. The members were briefed about how the Union works and the roles of Council and its members, elected a Chair, David Cichon, and heard reports from elected officers on the first few weeks of term.
This single-item meeting was held to prepare for the Union's Annual General Meeting.
Council received updates on issues arising in the second half of term, questioned the full-time officers, and discussed priorities for Term 2.
Council was asked by women's sports clubs to consider changing the policy of not allowing "nude calendars" (à la Calendar Girls) so they could raise funds and awareness of women's sports. Council also looked at a report by the President on the affordability of campus rents and the proposed demolition of East Slope, and agreed to lobby on UK Borders Agency proposals that could limit international students. Council considered motions on fees and cuts, Jamie Shea and sexual harassment which originated at last term's AGM.
Members of Council discussed how effectively they are able to represent students and ways of improving communication and awareness of the Union's democractic processes. They also heard about developments on campus including the threat to the campus crèche and nursery.
Council was asked to approve an affiliation to the "Worker Rights Consortium" which campaigns on "sweatshop" conditions in garment factories used by companies that supply universities. After discussion this was agreed. Next Council received a report of a complaint over the running of the referendum on the future Union constitution. Members also approved an agreement updating the Union/University relationship, discussed further improvements to Council and voted to campaign to save the Big Lemon bus service faced with renewed competition from the major bus operator.
This was the first meeting for the newly elected school Councillors. Officers reported on the meetings of University Senate and Council over Easter. Questions were asked about university redundancies, the change to the academic year, and what will replace East Slope residences. The main discussion item was the work done by the Democracy Working Group set up by Council in March. The report was approved and work wil proceed on the recommendations over the summer.
Council Minutes 09/10
Council agreed to end the elected Entertainments Officer position and create a new post: Media Development Officer. A procedure was also agreed to cover the Union's internal "discipline" arrangements. Council also adopted policies on ensuring Union student advice and sports activity remained independent and viable, on youth unemployment, on NHS policy about blood donors, on access to higher education for asylum seekers. Finally Council agreed to lobby the University for free access to drinking water fountains across campus.
Council Minutes 08/09
Council Minutes 07/08
Council heard what elected officers had done over the summer. This included preparing for the QAA's institutional audit of Sussex, as well as plans for reviewing the governance of USSU and for a possible new Union building. Council also adopted policy to support Marjory Cook, a local woman threatened with deportation, and to support the Royal Mail workers recently on strike.
Council approved the 2007/08 Budget to be agreed by AGM. It also agreed on the recommended order of debate for policy moitions at the AGM. Also, members referred back a proposal by Campaigns Committee for an "Essential Campaigns Launch" event on the grounds of excessive cost. This means it must be reconsidered.
Council considered the outcome of decisions of the Union's AGM, as well as discussing some of the issues that did not get debated then.
Council considered a proposal that a space such as Park Village Social Centre, not currently being used by USSU, should be made available to student groups. Council agreed the proposal in principle but insisted on safeguards being put in place.
Council was asked to adopt Union policy under the heading 'Violence-free Science', saying that the University should not take part in animal experimentation where alternatives are available. There were not enough Council members present to make policy, so the item will be considered again.
The meeting was called specifically to look at the forthcoming review of USSU's governance, and a number of preferred options were chosen.
The Violence-Free Science motion was adopted as Union policy, along with a motion agreeing the USSU will 'boycott' produce sold by the Israeli firm Carmel Agrexco.
CONTACT US
e: reception@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
t: 01273 678152
Falmer House
University of Sussex
Falmer
East Sussex
BN1 9QF
Feedback
e: reception@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
t: 01273 678152
Falmer House
University of Sussex
Falmer
East Sussex
BN1 9QF
Feedback
University of Sussex Students' Union - company number 07695765
University of Sussex Students' Union Trading Ltd - company number 02146582
University of Sussex Students' Union Trading Ltd - company number 02146582
© Sussex Students' Union
Design by Sussex Students' Union · developed by BAM