Previous Reports and Live-Blog Archive
This live-blog post was updated during meeting 21/09 of Students’ Council.
Disclaimer: This record is representative only of the perceptions of the Secretary, Shaun Khoo, during the meeting. There is no guarantee that it is completely accurate nor does it replace meeting minutes.
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As of 2pm, there are six voting representatives in the room. Brendan Thomas-Noone arrives at 2.08pm. At 2.09pm, quorum is reached.
Carla Drakeford opens the meeting at 2.09pm. There are ten voting representatives in the room. Dominique proxies to Kaitlin Ferris.
Membership – as noted. Nyx elected to Wom*n’s Office, Queer Officers. Mark queries whether or not the Queer Office will be filled – I respond that I am opening a second round of nominations for acting Queer Officer after no nominations were received in the first round.
1.7 A motion is tabled to modify the agenda. It is carried without dissent.
2. Confirmation of previous minutes.
I move and Jesse seconds that they be approved en bloc, CWD.
3.1 Media Report – Zoe Sanders speaks to the report. She discusses Tina briefly and then the budget. Due to smaller print runs for times of low circulation, there is a surplus in printing. The Media Officers heard the C&S budget is exhausted so they are recommending money be moved to the C&S. They are also trying to set up an awards night to reward everyone who has worked so hard and get everyone along. Some is serious but the rest is fun and there are motions to approve money for that. Also want to do some InDesign training for next year’s eds and some other collective members. It is really valuable training and will help them in the long term.
Bhakthi proposes that the motions be moved en bloc. Kaitlin is happy to move them en bloc. Liam asks them about the nature of the awards. Zoe responds – best investigative piece, best … for the best from each category. Bhakthi points out that the silly ones are best north american – none of them are intended to be offensive.
The motions are moved en bloc and carried without dissent.
3.2 Consumer Affairs Victoria
I introduce the issue – following the AGM and SGM, paperwork needs to be lodged.
The motion to approve the funds is carried without dissent.
3.3 Staff Farewell
I have moved that $100 for a farewell event for Bethany King, our ASO. It is carried without dissent.
Beth was accepted into the JD and so the process for appointing a replacement will begin shortly.
3.4 Corporate Charges Invoice
The report has been left out of the papers. Carla speaks to the item. MUSUL is entitled in the Facilities and Services Agreement to 5% of UMSU’s income. Carla had been empowered to negotiate the matter. At the moment, there was supposed to be a memo agreeing to $40,000 (not included in the papers). Carla and Jesse Overton-Skinner are currently discussing with MUSUL. MUSUL is also seeking to take a percentage of revenue from membership for the administration of membership.
Carla will be signing off on a document with MUSUL and Students’ Council-elect on corporate charges.
Carla moves that $40,000 from the UMSU reserves are approved to pay for the corporate charges set out in the FSA. Carried without dissent.
3.5 Clubs and Societies Report
Piper notes that Onagh Bishop isn’t here so recommendation 1 will have to wait.
Kaitlin asks, regarding recommendation 2, about which clubs will be receiving the money. Will this be exceeding what some clubs will be anticipating getting.
Piper – we have one grants run sitting there – we can’t cover it. Almost every club applies in each grant. There is almost every active club in that line. No clubs have capped out yet. Purchases has been shut down to prioritise functions so that clubs continue running activities for members.
Kaitlin asks about recommendation three – these previous recommendations were regarding training and regulations. Kaitlin makes an analogy between this and giving a department a blank cheque.
Piper points out that in the beginning of the year, C&S was given ~$60,000. The people who will get the money are clubs, based on who gets in first. There are currently 110 clubs. Each club is entitled to roughly a thousand so clubs can never cover anyone fully.
Jesse – discloses her membership of C&S Committee. This has been the expectation from the beginning of the year that money is running out. Anything that is not spent will just go back into reserves. Instead of sitting in Whole of Union and not being used at all, it could go to clubs to help them hold events or to reimburse them for holding events that have been already held.
Piper – We’ve been trying to stave off the inevitable and this is as long as it has lasted.
Carla – Argues that $7,000 (Media plus estimated Whole of Union) is too much and it is wise to leave a small amount in Whole of Union.
Piper – Expresses uncertainty about whether this Students’ Council will ever meet again. It’s best to give clubs more opportunities rather than less. What would Whole of Union be spent on?
Tristan – is anyone going to do anything in the next two weeks? He is not aware of any current applications to Whole of Union.
Kaitlin – there are no current applications, but if there is quorum today then there is likely to be quorum in future. Kaitlin moves that the recommendation (2) be accepted but to leave that $1000 be left in Whole of Union.
Piper is amenable to the amendment.
I suggest that the last $1000 be given provisional approval to be transferred to C&S if it is unused by a certain date where it could still be used for C&S but is unlikely to be needed by Students’ Council.
Tim asks why C&S hasn’t adjusted to the allocation.
Brendan feels like it might as well be allocated and since Clubs is one of the biggest budgets and is a great benefit to students.
Piper responds that the end of semester or end of swotvac would be useful. She reminds council that this isn’t to one department, but to 110 clubs. She also responds that C&S has been responding, making restrictions on the grants such as purchases grants.
Liam Byrne agrees with Kaitlin that future Students’ Council meetings will be adequate. He also argues that this would be a generous allocation. There are also unexpected expenses that might arise.
Piper – we don’t know why for a good reason – there was difficulty navigating the financial reports. Every Committee meeting has a grants run. How much is there will be the determined closer to the date.
Brendan – We could sit around and say “what if” or we could do something that we’ve known about for a while and that we know is in need.
Kaitlin – Wouldn’t support a recommendation with a provisional clause – it is a principled reason so that people have access to the union for the rest of the year. The recommendation should be left as leaving a thousand in there and there should be no provision.
I respond to Liam’s discussion that it is difficult to know how much is in the Whole of Union line since funds might be approved but not spent.
Piper – makes the point that C&S has taken a cut this year. There will come a point that clubs will decide it’s not worth it affiliate. C&S is the second most used service on campus. Most students access union through clubs. We give away money for student activities each year.
Mark – supports the provisional approval clause.
Jesse – discusses the increasing number of clubs. Even at this time of the year there are a lot of clubs finalising their paperwork and getting started. If all the approved clubs hold their IGMs, they will reach 123. There was someone today who was interested in starting up a club. There is a constantly increasing number of clubs – they’re entirely new and they’re accessing different groups of students.
Discussion continues.
Carla calls for last speakers and closes the speaking list.
Dan – asks if there is a later date for the provisional clause to come into effect.
Kaitlin moves procedurally that the speaking list be reopened. CWD.
Kaitlin moves a foreshadowed motion that is to transfer all but $1000 from Whole of Union to C&S.
Piper – The 6th of November was suggested because a lot of clubs hold end of exam parties. If something hasn’t been put by the 6th of November, it probably isn’t going to happen. Students’ Council does wind down and we’re at that point.
Jesse – was going to suggest the same thing as Kaitlin.
Carla puts the recommendation with the amendment and the provision first and then the foreshadowed motion, moved Kaitlin, seconded Bianca.
The first motion, with the november 6 provision – All the whole of union except $1000. If the $1000 isn’t spent by 6 November it will be transferred to C&S Committee grants. For: 6 Against: 7, LOST.
Foreshadowed motion: CWD.
I note that I can name the first vote. Liam Byrne argues that there are policies against this. I am not aware of any.
Carla rules from the chair that it wasn’t a named vote.
Liam Byrne leaves, proxying to Phoebe Kelloway – 3.09pm. Tim Arnot leaves 3.09pm. Rudolph Hosri leaves at 3.10pm, proxying to Jesse Overton-Skinner.
The indigenous Dept motion. For: 8 Dan, BTN, Sisi, Jesse, Kyle, Bianca Parussolo & Dominique via Bianca, Kaitlin. Liam via Phoebe, Phoebe, Josh, Mark Abstain. Carried.
Tuesday Band and BBQ: I note that given the lack of timeliness of Students’ Council attending to this, it has expired.
Sisi Ying leaves at 3.11pm, proxying to Sam Rankin.
Carla notes that there has been no response to the University’s proposal about University regulations.
Quorum: 8 – quorum lost.
Meeting closed at 3.12pm.
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Posted Friday 16 October, 2009. Updated Friday 16 October, 2009.
