guild council - democracy and governance minutes 28.01.15
TRANSCRIPT
Change, Policy and Research
GUILD COUNCIL
Democracy and Governance Committee
28/01/15
Chair: Maria Finnerty
Change, Policy and Research
Apologies
Emily Bevan – Proxy to Matt Bate
Maria Finnerty
Lucy Whitaker
Kane Davies
Chris Nguyen
Oscar Maddox
Natalie Anderson
Milly Hindle
Change, Policy and Research
AGENDA
1. Update on Student Idea: Develop Cross Keys into a
Functional Study and Social Space and/or Food Outlet
2. Student Idea: Petition the University to Create / Re-open
Some of the Studio and Practice Spaces for Dancers
3. Student Idea: Lobby the University to Reinstate the Showers
in Cornwall House
4. Student Idea: A Charity Box for Loose Change Outside
Either the Forum Market Place or Outside the Ram/Guild
Shop
Change, Policy and Research
5. Proposal: Bring Student Exec, Liberation Reps and College
Officers to Join Council
6. Discussion of Guild Councillor Numbers and Name
7. Discussion on Role and Delivery of Scrutiny
8. Discussion on Holding, Communicating and Recording
Council
Change, Policy and Research
1. Update on Student Idea: Develop Cross Keys into a
Functional Study and Social Space and/or Food Outlet
138 votes
95.7% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea92-crosskeys/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea92-
crosskeys/Student-Idea-Report-92-CrossKeys.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
1. Update on Student Idea: Develop Cross Keys into a Functional
Study and Social Space and/or Food Outlet
Rachel Gillies told Council that discussions on developing Cross Keys were ongoing and
politically complicated, as the Guild could just not lay claim to a space that does not
belong to them, and that there were many parties involved with different visions for
what the space should be. Ben Street reiterated that it was not a Guild space to
develop as it likes, but that the Sabbs were pushing for this to be done anyway. BS said
that this idea was very useful as it showed them the weight of support behind this idea
and would be a useful tool to support their work.
The Sabbatical Officers told Council that they have been actively working on
this idea anyway and will continue to do so.
Change, Policy and Research
2. Student Idea: Petition the University to Create / Re-
open Some of the Studio and Practice Spaces for
Dancers
167 votes
96.6% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea115-dance/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea115-
dance/Student-Idea-Report-115-Dance.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
2. Student Idea: Petition the University to Create / Re-open
Some of the Studio and Practice Spaces for Dancers
The proposer spoke in favour of the motion, saying that societies have to compete for
space in the Lemon Grove or use unsuitable teaching space, and society membership
numbers have suffered because of this. She said that there is no space is that is actually
suitable and timetabling is a huge problem, with spaces often being double booked. She
said that it is too expensive for societies to pay to use the St Luke’s dance studio since
it was privatised, and this has led to some societies having to cancel classes.
Rachel Gillies told Council that this was at the top of Matt Bate’s priorities and one of
the things that the Sabbatical team are frequently pushing at the highest levels, including
with the Provost and Vice Chancellor. She stressed that this is not something that can
be solved overnight but that they would definitely look into the timetabling issues and
suggestions to alleviate these that had been raised by the idea.
Ben Street supported the idea of looking into Lemon Grove timetabling as this was a
much more straightforward issue for the Guild to tackle in the short term.
Change, Policy and Research
2. Student Idea: Petition the University to Create / Re-open
Some of the Studio and Practice Spaces for Dancers
He also stated that the Sabbatical team would look at the privatisation of
University spaces and see if this is something they could challenge. He added
that he was aware of a wider issue with students being charged extortionate
prices to use facilities and book spaces, and had raised this at Guild
Management Committee.
Council voted to support this motion and instruct the Sabbatical
Officers, specifically Matt Bate, to continue working on.
PASS - 16
FAIL - 0
ABSTAIN - 4
Change, Policy and Research
3. Student Idea: Student Idea: Lobby the University to
Reinstate the Showers in Cornwall House
29 votes
65.5% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea113-showers/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea113-
showers/Student-Idea-Report-113-Showers.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
3. Student Idea: Lobby the University to Reinstate the Showers
in Cornwall House
Rachael Gillies told Council that this had already been raised as an issue
within the Guild due to acts at the Lemon Grove not having access to
showers anymore. She said that the plan was to redevelop them in the long-
run, but at the moment, there are showers by the swimming pool which are
‘much nicer’.
Council voted to instruct Rachael Gillies to continue looking in to
this.
PASS TO RACHAEL GILLIES - 16
FAIL - 0
ABSTAIN - 4
Change, Policy and Research
4. Student Idea: A Charity Box for Loose Change
Outside Either the Forum Market Place or Outside
the Ram/Guild Shop
35 votes
94.3% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea114-charity/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea114-
charity/Student-Idea-Report-114-Charity.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
4. Student Idea: A Charity Box for Loose Change Outside Either
the Forum Market Place or Outside the Ram/Guild Shop
Rachael Gillies told Council that all fundraising in the Guild is done
through RAG, so if this were to be taken forward it would be
through them.
Council voted to instruct Matt Bate to work with RAG in
exploring this idea.
PASS TO MATT BATE - 16
FAIL - 0
ABSTAIN - 4
Change, Policy and Research
Discussion on Development of Guild Council
Various proposals and discussion points were raised over the development of Guild
Council.
These include:
• Bringing the Student Exec, Academic College Officers and Liberation Reps on to
Council with voting rights
• Whether Scrutiny is working well and how we can improve it
• How regular students should feed in to Council meetings and if they should have
voting rights
• If current rules on voting majorities and quoracy should continue
• How we should best hold, publicise and record Guild Council