► President's Council

003/04 Policy

Valid until AULUC 2009

 

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL

Proposed by: Mike Johnson [ULU V-P Finance, Services and Operations]

Seconded by: Susie Reilly [ULU V-P Welfare and Student Affairs]

 

THIS UNION NOTES

 

1.          The continuation of meetings as outlined within the regulations called Presidents Council

2.          The formal existence of Presidents Council is outlined only in the Presidents job description

3.          The lack of formal terms of reference for Presidents Council

4.          The presence of similar meetings convened by the Vice Presidents of ULU as referred to as networks

5.          Presidents Council is not the sovereign body of the Union and as such has no authority to mandate Officers of the Union

6.          That the Union President and every College President is expected to consult with his/her Officers on all matters wherever possible

 

THIS UNION BELIEVES

 

1.          Over years past and present some members of Presidents Council have seemed to be under the impression that Presidents Council is the sovereign body of the Union

2.          The purpose of Presidents Council should be an idea and problem sharing network not a pre-council policy setting think tank

3.          That Presidents Council is perceived by some of it’s members as an opportunity to hold the Officers of the Union, particularly the President, to account. This is wholly inappropriate when there are formal channels of accountability where all Officers of the Union are present.

4.          Presidents of constituent colleges have the right to hold the Union President to account but currently the informal aggressive, often childish dialogue which takes place is unproductive and has been proven to be damaging

5.          The President should not be forced to justify the actions of all of the Unions Officers regardless of whether they are present or not.

6.          Networks do not necessarily require terms of reference as they are not formal decision making bodies. The term Council infers that they are requirement.

 

THIS UNION RESOLVES

 

1.          To mandate the President of the Union to recommend changes to the regulations with the following intent:

-         The renaming of Presidents Council to Presidents Network

-         To ensure the continued democratic running of the Union via Council not any other body until such time as any future policy regarding governance is passed

 

PASSED:  26^th April 2004