HUU Emergency Council Meeting

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HUU Emergency Council Meeting M inutes from meeting held on 12 November 2012 at 6.30pm in University House Attendance Name Victoria Winterton Paul Harsent Kora-Lee Holmes Chris Long Richard Brooks Chubike Okide Daryl Jones Rachel Wilcocks Hannah Pomfret Charlotte Olley Joy Makasi Mark Tatton Nic Crowe Charlotte Hunt Richard Clarke Clare Cottrell Toby Carr-Brown Eleanor Capstick Jeremy Sparrow Elizabeth Smy Gareth Ikin Luke Rothery John Heatley Jamie Lawrence Maijury Sriranjan Rosie Corrigan Amber Whipp Jamie Boote Dehenna Davison Sean Brawley Daniel Crutchfield

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Role VP Education VP Sport VP Welfare VP Scarborough Chair Campaigns & Democracy Chair Black Students Chair Disabled Students Chair Women Chair Media Chair Nightline Chair ISA Chair RAG Chair Societies AU Secretary AU Treasurer BUCS Rep Kit Rep Varsity Rep Tour Rep Faculty Co-ordinator (FASS) Academic Council Rep Scarborough Community Scarborough Sport Scarborough Education Councillor of Scrutiny Councillor of Scrutiny Councillor of Scrutiny Councillor of Scrutiny Councillor of Scrutiny Councillor of Scrutiny Councillor of Scrutiny

Apologies Magid Mah, President Pippa Eveleigh, VP Community Joseph Taylor, Chair LGBT Lili Haggart, Chair LINKS Kathryn Kay, Chair HUSSO Michael Boffey, AU Communications Fraser Robson, AU Events Officer Maria Leonard, Chair Part-time Students Carla Stokes, Chair Mature Students Faculty Co-ordinator (HUBS), Helen Stevenson

Sam McKay, Academic Council Rep Samantha Farley, Scarborough Welfare Loraine Tinsley, Scarborough Campaigns 2

Elections for Local Police and Crime Commissioner Chair Campaigns & Democracy gave a presentation which described what these new elections were all about and the new role. He urged councillors to looks at the website for individual details. He urged everyone to use their vote on Thursday.

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Housing Campaign VP Welfare proposed the following Housing Motion: HUU Notes: • The quality and experience of student accommodation is a key issue and common concern to our members. • When surveyed in August 2012, 67.9% of students considered a housing fair in December to be too early. • HUU’s Advice Centre sees students on a plethora of accommodation issues including: repairs and contracts, tenancy agreements and housemate problems. • Student Loans are paid into accounts in January, December however is time when many students will suffer financial hardship • After identifying when they had signed for their house, student respondents were asked whether they had experienced any housemate problems – with the following percentage responding yes: - December 66.7% - January 50% - February 33.3% - March 25% • At a meeting of the Scheme Executive on 15th October 2012, the following was agreed: - December: Landlords to eb able to re-sign existing tenants to the same house, the Student Pad Website to go live and ‘low level’ advertising allowed. - January: Accommodation Fayre to be held during inter-semester break (Tuesday 22nd January). No new contracts allowed before this date. • That both representatives from the Humber Landlords Association voted against this compromise and do not believe that landlords will abide by this agreement. HUU Believes: • All of our members have the right to good quality, affordable housing that enhances their student experience at the University of Hull. • In order to facilitate delivery of this our members, HUU’s Strategy for 2011-2014 focuses housing and accommodation in Theme 7: “Ensure that all student accommodation meets an accepted standard” • The relationship between housemates is a source of concern for some of our members, the nature of this relationship correlates with when they sign for a house. • Having a lettings fair in Decmeber does not allow students enough time to grow into their friednships. • Whilst University Support Services and the HUU Advice Centre provide a higih quality service, HUU must also take proactive steps to stop accommodation issues. • HUU representatives on The Scheme and other bodies have exhausted legitimate means of compromise with landlords on lettings policies and fair dates. HUU Resolves: • To directly campaign against any lettings fairs held before 22nd January 2012, whether they are held under the auspices of The Scheme or otherwise, on or off campus. • To ask Union Council to support UEC in their actions against these lettings fairs. • To begin dialogue with and challenge any housing companies associated with these actions.

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To continue to campaign on housing issues for the benefit of all our members.

Proposed by: Kora-Lee Holmes Seconded by: Victoria Winterton In response to questions, VPW explained what the Scheme was and the recent issues, with the date for the lettings fair. An ‘unofficial’ fair was planned for early December and VPW explained that she would be handing leaflets out reminding students reminding students that there were lots of houses available and that there was no need to sign lease agreement. -

Speech Against: None Speech in Abstention: None Summation: VPW

Motion carried. 4

Changes to VP’s and Zone Standing O rders Proposed by VP Education VPE outlined the reason for the reallocation of responsibilities between the current VP Welfare and VP Community with the resultant changes to the VP and Zone Standing Orders. The current role for the VP Community was too large and housing was split between VPW and VPC, which was not sensible. The proposal also included renaming VP Community to VP Activities and VP Welfare to VP Community. A number of role changes in the Sport Zone to improve effectiveness were also proposed. Question: Council members asked about the level of consultation both internally and externally with other Unions. 1 st Amendment proposed The proposal should be sent back to UEC to reconsider and do more consultation and research. - Speech for: Chair Disabled Students. - Speech Against: Sean Brawley The proposal was definitely an improvement and postponing the decision would mean that the changes would be in place for 2013-2014. Urged that Council vote against this amendment and consider and an alternative amendment to conduct a review. - Speech in Abstention: None - Speech in Summation: None - Vote: Amendment falls Discussion then took place around the name. As a result Sean Brawley offered to draft an amendment to cover a review and a revision to the names. 2 nd Amendment proposed Council Believes:

That this motion solves some but not all problems that exist in the HUU Governance structures -That further consultation and consideration of Zones, Sabbatical officer job roles and HUUs overall delivery of services to students is desirable at this time -That such a consultation should aim to involve elected officer, current students and other relevant stakeholders in an inclusive and open process, with reference to best practice elsewhere Council Resolve: -For UEC to initiate and undertake such a process immediately, with regular reports to council, with a view to full implementation in time for the 2014/15 HUU elections

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Speech for: Sean Brawley

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Speech Against: None Speech in Abstention: None Speech in Summation: None Vote: Amendment carried.

3 rd Amendment proposed Proposal that VP Community becomes VP Welfare and Community Proposed by: - Speech Against: None - Speech in Abstention: None - Speech in Summation: None - Vote: Motion Carried Amended proposal: including further review by UEC and name changes. - Vote: Motion carried 5

Bye Laws Meeting agreed to the consequential changes to VP’s new titles in the Byelaws.

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Any O ther Business • Chair Environmental and Ethical Vacancy – Council was informed of the resignation of the Chair and invited nominations to be forwarded to Chair Governance Zone.

Meeting closed 8pm