UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
UNIVERSITY/STUDENTS’ UNION CONSULTATIVE GROUP
25/05/05
1.30pm
MINUTES
Chair
Present
Apologies
In attendance
1.
Tony Rich, Registrar (AHR)
Rachel Fletcher, Director of Student Support (RF), Darren
Baker, Customer Services & Marketing Manager,
Accommodation (DB), Antony Blackshaw, SU General
Manager (AB), John Gilfillan, SU Membership Services
Manager (JG), Gareth Oughton, SU President (GO), Lucy
Sutton, SU VP Finance & Services (LS), Shruti Dudhia,
SU VP Student Development (SD), John Bragaglia, SU VP
Sports & Societies (JB), Tamoor Ali, SU VP Academic &
Welfare (TA)
There were no apologies
Zoe Kent, SU Administrative Assistant [Taking minutes]
Minutes of the Previous Meeting (24/03/05)
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a
true and accurate record.
2.
66/2005
Matters Arising
30/2005 – JG reported that the safety notices have now
been distributed.
67/2005
33/2005 – Resource Fees - AHR commented that enabling
students to pay in instalments for small amounts of money
creates a lot of work for little gain. The group agreed that
two instalments would be more appropriate. AHR to raise
this with the Finance department.
68/2005
AHR
37/2005 – TA thanked the University for the Library Reading 69/2005
Room progress and noted it had been a big success.
42/2005 - It was noted that if the agreement with Bar 33
falls through, the SU will work with Trevor Beckett and
Andrew Connolly to find additional resources. AB reported
that the SU have requested plans from Estates.
70/2005
SU
3.
45/2005 – DB to check progress on South Courts doors.
71/2005 DB
50/2005 – It was noted that recycling facilities have not
been installed due to not receiving the grant. DB to chase
this up.
DB to speak to Sheila about paper left outside the towers.
The SU agreed to work with DB to come up a system to
rectify this.
72/2005
54/2005 – RF said she thought it was appropriate for Multi
Faith Chaplaincy minutes to come to future USUCON
meetings. She said the Multi Faith Chaplaincy are happy for
this to happen as long as the group agree. The group
agreed this would be fine. LS said a representative from the
SU will sit in on Multi Faith Chaplaincy meetings.
73/2005
57/2005 – SD to arrange for the SU VP Student
Development elect to meet with Richard Murphy
74/2005 SD
58/2005 – It was noted that the Shuttle Bus Service will be
on the 1st transport meeting agenda.
75/2005
61/2005 – Mentoring scheme - TA thanked AHR and RF
for their help on this. TA said he has now received 153
forms.
76/2005
63/2005 – DB said the laundrette will be contracted to an
outside agency who will replace the machines and offer
improved maintenance. DB said that there is not a fixed
cost for a permanent solution yet. It was noted Dennis
Studd is working on this. DB to find out when the group can
expect a definite figure for the new laundrette.
77/2005
64/2005 – AB reported that the SU has offered to
contribute to the cost of cleaning the squares in future.
78/2005
Feedback from Meetings
79/2005
DB
DB
DB/
SU
DB
a. Welfare Forum (no minutes available)
N/ A
b. Sports Advisory Group
The group looked at these minutes.
4.
Non-Alcoholic Social Space
LS asked what the University are doing about this in the
80/2005
short term and if there is going to be any space provided for
this at The Meadows.
AB said there had been plans for a Common Room area to
be included in plans for the Meadows but this has been
delayed for at least 12 months. AHR said that Meadows
would not be complete before 2007.
5.
Large Common Room (with a view to the future
provision of non-alcoholic space)
LS asked if the SU could have commitment from the
University in the long term for a Common Room which
would double up as a non-alcoholic space once the new
lecture theatre has been built. AHR said this is an issue for
the Accommodation Group. AHR was concerned that the
current Common Room is under used. TA said that PGSA
are advertising the facility now so it will be better used. TA
asked what could be done in the short term as sometimes
the Common Room is used for teaching. AHR suggested
that if anyone has any thoughts on this, to compile them
and give them to Maz Brook beforehand. The SU agreed to
do this. The SU requested to be included in the circulation
of reminders. SU to liaise with Maz Brook about this.
DB said the space at Hawkins Quay is empty at the
moment. AB to speak to Trevor Beckett to arrange to view
this space.
6.
AB
82/2005
SU/
UNI
Ramadan (looking to plan space provision effectively)
The SU informed the group that they would like to use the
Hex for Ramadan, which requires the Blues Bar to be open
for the hours the Islamic society will be there. LS asked for
clarification that they will be given priority for this. MC said
this should not be problem but to check with External
Relations that it is not already being used by them. A
suggestion was made that if the Blues Bar opening is
successful this could remain a permanent fixture.
8.
SU
Avon Way and Quays (with a view to planning how
better to include these residents in student life on
campus)
GO said that due to the number of student complaints the
SU are going to write a report about this situation. It was
agreed to come up with an action plan with the University.
7.
81/2005
83/2005
LS
Anonymous Marking
SD reported that the Academic Standards Committee did
84/2005
not pass this. SD went on to say that despite this Union
Council has recently passed policy to support anonymous
marking.
It was requested this be raised under Matters Arising at
ASC.
9.
10.
TA
AOB
The group requested there to be a USUCON meeting in
July for the handover.
85/2005
It was noted USUCON meetings will be held at 2.00pm next
year.
86/2005
It was noted a payphone should be installed at the Quays
next week.
87/2005
Date and Time of Next Meeting
The Date and Time of the next Meeting to be confirmed.
First scheduled meeting of next year will be 22nd September
2005 at 2.00pm
ZK