Downing JCR > The JCR > Minutes > Open Meeting 19/11/2003
DCAC Open Meeting Minutes for 19th November 2003
1. Welcome and president's report
- Ian opened the meeting, which was unusually held in the Great Hall at dinner-time.
- The minutes of the last open meeting were approved.
- If you're interested in a slot-lock for your laptop, see Ian
2. Presentation of budget
- DCAC Treasurer James Bell presented the budget
- The budget is available here as a Word document
- Budget highlights:
- Not too much change from last year in general
- College giving us additional money for Boat House cleaning
- We now use previous year's investment income, so income is more predictable
- MCR grant increased due to additional grad numbers
- JCR Ents grant up from £400 to £1000 (cheers from audience)
- Blues expenses up from £1500 to £2000. College to match this amount.
- Societies expenditure up 7.5%
- New JCR Communications budget incorporating Photocopying budget
- Vote: 71 for, 3 against. Motion carried.
3. Support King's College rent strike
The DCAC notes:
- King's College are increasing rent by approximately 14.5%.
- Approximately 100 members of King's College are withholding payment.
- King's College may be in financial difficulty.
- KCSU has not been persuaded that such rent increases are justified.
The DCAC believes:
- Students should not absorb such sudden rent increases.
- All students will suffer if financial problems of colleges are passed onto them.
- Withholding payment is justified only in exceptional circumstances.
- This situation is exceptional.
The DCAC resolves:
- To support KCSU members who choose to withhold rent, as long as the strikes are supported by KCSU support.
- To offer this support in writing to the Coordinator of KCSU.
Proposed by: Ian Redding. Seconded by: the JCR Committee
- Views raised included
- We should show solidarity with students in other Colleges if they are being made to pay unreasonable charges
- Students shouldn't bear the burden of colleges' financial mismanagement
- "It's only King's, vote against"
- Vote: 42 for, 12 against, 7 abstentions. Motion carried.
4. Amend the JCR Constitution
Current wording
"The order of motions in the Open Meeting shall be the order in which they were submitted. Any amendments shall be taken with the original motion."
New wording
"The order of motions shall be at the discretion of the JCR Vice President, provided that all motions are heard and that no motion is unfairly prejudiced by its position on the agenda".
Proposed by: Josh Lewison. Seconded by: Matthew Mayer
- Views raised included
- Current wording mean we much order motions in the order submitted
- Prefer to delay "controversial" motions to the end of the meeting
- Otherwise everyone leaves after the motion, and quorum is lost!
- Safeguards built into motion: an 'evil' vice-president can't abuse the system to prevent a motion from being properly heard
- Vote: 29 for, 15 against, 8 abstentions. Motion passed but without sufficient support for constitutional amendment.
5. Amend the MCR Constitution
Current wording
"There shall be a Cultural Society Committee to be responsible for the running of the Cultural Society and the organisation of independent events, provided that such events do not conflict with the MCR committee events. The Committee will comprise a Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary, to be elected by and from members of the MCR as defined in Section B7 and will hold office for a full calendar year."
New wording
"There shall be a Cultural Society Sub-committee to be responsible for the running of the Cultural Society and the organisation of independent events, provided that such events do not conflict with MCR Committee events. The Sub-committee will comprise of a Chairperson, as well as a Secretary and an Ordinary Member, to be elected by and from members of the MCR as defined in Section B7 and will hold office for a full calendar year. In the event of any post remaining vacant after the election, nominations for such a post shall remain open until it is subsequently filled. Until such a time, members of the Committee or MCR shall be co-opted to the post."
- Simple change to make Cultural Society section of MCR
- Vote: 26 for, 1 against, 5 abstentions. Motion passed but without sufficient support for constitutional amendment.
5. Meeting closed
There was no other business, so the meeting was closed.