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Union Council

Your Guide to Union Council

Union council is the sovereign body of the Students' Union and as such makes policy decisions.

Union Council usually meets every fortnight during term time on a Thursday evening at 6pm.

In Michaelmas and Lent term it meets in weeks 1,3,5,7 and 9.

In the Summer term it meets weeks 2,4,6,8 and 10.

Union Council Minutes

Click on the links below to view minutes from Union Council.

Summer Term 2008

Union Council: 29th May 2008 (wk6)

Union Council: 15th May 2008 (wk4)

Union Council: 1st May 2008 (wk2)

Lent Term 2008

Union Council: 13th March 2008 (wk9)

Union Council: 28th February 2008 (wk7)

Union Council: 14th Feb 2008 (wk5)

Union Council: 31st Jan 2008 (wk3)

Union Council: 17th Jan 2008 (wk1)

Michaelmas Term 2007

Union Council: 6th Dec 2007 (wk9)

Union Council: 22nd Nov 2007 (wk7)

Union Council: 8th Nov 2007 (wk5)

Summer Term

Union Council: 31st May 2007 (wk6)

Union Council: 17th May 2007 (wk4)

Union Council: 3rd May 2007 (wk2)

Lent Term

Union Council:15th March 2007 (wk9)

Union Council: 1st March 2007 (wk7)

Union Council:15th February 2007 (wk5)

Union Council:1st February 2007 (wk3)

Union Council:18th January 2007 (wk1)

Michaelmas Term

Union Council: 7th December 2006 (wk9)

Union Council: 23rd Novermber 2006 (wk7)

Union Council: 9th November 2006 (wk5)

Union Council:26th October 2006 (wk3)

Union Council:12th October 2006 (wk1)

Union Council is the policy making body of the students' union. It has around 40 members which are made up of the sabbatical officers, non sabbatical officers, and the presidents of the sub committees, like BFM, Nightline and the Lancaster University Cinema.

ANY member of the union is allowed to attend council as an observer and apply for speaking rights so feel free to come along. Council can be quite a daunting experience for some, but when you get used to the processes and procedures its very simple to get involved. So for that reason I bring you the fantastic 8 point guide to Union Council.

1/ The Agenda

The agenda is a document containing all the council's business for that meeting. It has a front cover which states the items for the meeting and then any information, motions or minutes for ratification, are then after the front cover in the order that they will be dealt with as decided by the chair.

2/ Minutes

These are records of the union's past meetings and must be ratified at council to make sure they were a true and accurate view of proceedings. Council minutes of the last meeting are always done first and then any material from F & GP and then other committees are done at the end of the meeting.

3/ Elections

Every so often council needs to elect representatives to sit on various union and university committees. Some elections are council specific and some are for any member of the union. You must be nominated and seconded and then you give a short hust followed by questions from the council. Council is then asked to vote, and winners elected.

4/ Motions

These are a huge section of council as these items decide the unions policy and stand point on issues and are seperated into 3 sections. I will use this unlikely example to demonstrate.

MOTION TO ADOPT A BEAVER AS THE UNION'S MASCOT

This union notes (the facts and events which have made the motion neccessary)

1. The union has not held a quorate general meeting in 7 years.

2. Although we have one of the best participation rates of any union in the country, it still remains at around 24%.

This union believes (the reasons behind suggesting change)

1. The union would warm to a cute fuzzy animal.

2. The union would benefit from having a physical symbol to rally behind.

This union resolves (what will be done to solve the problem)

1. The union shall adpot a Beaver.

2. Its name will will be decided by the AGM suggesting two names, which will then be decided by campus wide referrendum.

5/ Discussion Items

Does pretty much what it says on the tin. items that are brought to council to discuss to raise awareness and gain feedback on council's opinion on the matter.

6/ Any other business

Long items of any other business may be given to the chair before the meeting and short items by which discussion is not permitted can be suggested at the end.

7/ Information and questions

I and Q as it is more commonly known is the basis of the council meetings. Council was invented to act as a body of people to hold the sabbatical officers of the union to account. Each sabb gives a written report to the council which can then be added to, discussed and questioned.

8/ The Chair

The Chair is in charge of the meeting. It is their job to make sure that council runs smoothly, that its officers behave and that business is dealt with accordingly. They control speaking rights, order and is also the text book for information regarding constitution and bye laws. A chair is elected from the council membership at the start of each term.

So there you go, that's Council. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Michael Payne, Chair of Union Council at m.payne@lancaster.ac.uk

Motions & Documents

Union council often passes policy based on motions submitted to the meetings. Here you will find some of the most recent motions passed.