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Committee apologies: Jack Maxton, Richie Goodman
Meeting commenced: 8.45pm
No committee reports
Motions: TV Motion
This JCR notes:
-A television provides great entertainment be it watching sport, documentaries, reality shows or watching a DVD
-Currently we have two televisions neither of great standard.
-The grey TV is considerably worse than the black one
This JCR believes that:
-A new TV would continue to help with the improvement of the JCR rooms
-It is worthwhile doing a job properly and buying a good TV.
This JCR proposes:
-The black TV be moved to where the grey TV is now.
-A new TV and DVD player be purchased at approx. £2000
-The current food and fac officer find a suitable home for the grey TV (open to suggestions)
Proposed: Iain Anstess
Seconded: Dr Elizabeth Dutton Proposition: Self-explanatory
SFQs:
Opposition: This is a lot of money, so we should have a vote.
Debate:
What has happened to the JCR’s policy of financial responsibility? It seems we’re only just established that we can’t afford to spend loads of money, and now we’re slipping back into old habits. In January/February we reorganised the JCR Shop and Office and the budget. The current budget, which we will continue to stick to, gives us £7000-9000 spare to spend on general stuff per year. We also have £15-20,000 surplus which we couldn’t spend whilst we were consistently losing money, but which we can now justify dipping into on an occasional basis. The service warranties mean we won’t need to buy a new TV for about 5 years. This committee-year we have £3500 of our surplus left. Besides this, next year we will not be paying £2000 in NUS subscriptions, and we should have some left over from the Creative Projects Fund allocation. This is a proper investment. When did we buy our last TV? In 2001, which means it has lasted only 4 years. However, we are not replacing that TV, but moving it into the other room. What we will do with the other TV will be decided closer to the time, but is open to suggestions.
Summary in proposition: This would further improve the JCR rooms and provide better entertainment for a lot of JCR members for a long time.
Summary in opposition: This money might be better spent on new Sky channels or something that otherwise increases JCR enjoyment, since we already have 2 working TVs.
Vote on motion: For – 38 Against – 7 Abstentions – 5
Quorum met and motion passed
Wineshop Computer Motion
This JCR notes:
-Existing computing resources in the wineshop often make borrowing DVDs a slow process.
-Next term we would like to try out an electronic batelling arrangement in the wineshop which would save a lot of paper and office time but would require a more powerful machine. The new software could potentially also make stock levels and pricing available to view online.
-With such a large monitor there is little space on the desk for other things.
This JCR believes:
-A new computer based batelling method and faster computer would make transactions in the wineshop smoother and potentially could allow a more transparent management of the wineshop.
This JCR resolves:
-to purchase a new PC and flat screen monitor at the cost of £419.96 plus £57 delivery charge.
-to mandate the wineshop manager to test a new computer based batelling system in the wineshop next term.
Proposed: Kevin Olding
Seconded: Timothy Jacques
Proposition: This will increase transparency in the way the wineshop is run, since people will be able to see stock levels and prices online. The software is being written by a member of the JCR for free.
No SFQs
No opposition. Motion passes nem con.
Varsity Matches Fund Motion
JCR Varsity Match Fund
This JCR notes that
1) Lots of people from Magdalen compete each year in Varsity matches against Cambridge.
2) Sometimes these Varsity matches take in Oxford, sometimes they take place in Cambridge and sometimes they take place in a neutral venue.
3) Depending on the location, significant travelling and accommodation costs are often incurred.
4) Depending on the wealth of the particular University sports club, these costs can be passed on to individual players.
5) The College's Combined Club Fund (CCF) gives £100 to any college member who is awarded a Blue or a Half-Blue.
6) There are a few people each year who play in a varsity match against Cambridge, incur costs, but do not receive a Blue or a Half-Blue.
This JCR believes that
1) Varsity matches are special occasions and it would be a shame if anybody were ever dissuaded from competing by financial considerations.
2) Whilst the CCF's policy to only give £100 to college members who are awarded a Blue or a Half-Blue is fair and pragmatic, it would be nice if the JCR could step in and help the members who incur costs through their varsity match.
This JCR resolves to
1) Allocate £500 from its budget each year to set up a JCR Varsity Match Fund
2) Mandate the Sport & Soc Rep to advertise and administer the fund in accordance with the following conditions:
a) Anybody who is awarded a Blue or a Half-Blue (in the same sport and the same year) is ineligible.
b) Awards will cover travel and accommodation only (kit etc will not be covered).
c) Awards will only be made on the production of receipts
d) The maximum value of an award will be £75.
e) No member of the MCR will be considered eligible for the award.
Proposed By Chris North
Seconded By Varun Chandra
Proposition: Whilst some wealthier clubs can pay their members’ travel costs etc, others cannot and in some cases the sport is non-Blue or the person plays for a 2nd team and so is not eligible for an award from the Combined Clubs Fund, which seems unfair. Whilst we could ask the CCF to extend its awards to these people, they would then probably get lots of applications from people who didn’t need it. It will only cost us a few hundred pounds a year, if that, and it is good to support people.
SFQs:
Debate:
Against – 17 Abstentions – 10 Teams can arrange their own sponsorship if they are good. Those who aren’t sponsored aren’t for a reason – because they’re rubbish. To discriminate on those grounds would appear elitist and we shouldn’t punish individual players for the failings of their team. Some of the best people don’t get Blues for obscure reasons, and it is not fair that currently they get nothing. It could be at the discretion of the Sports and Societies Rep to decide whether people count for awards, or we could go by the official list of what is considered a Blues sport.
Summary in proposition: This helps a few people who are otherwise neglected, and we have enough money to do so.
Summary in opposition: This is a good idea but shouldn’t exclude the MCR since it cuts them off from the JCR and they are technically JCR members.
Vote on motion: For – 36 Against – 2 Abstentions – 4
Motion passes
Co-opted Committee Members' Voting Motion
This JCR notes that:
-Currently, co-opted committee members do not get to vote in committee meetings.
-Co-opted members on the committee are expected to attend committee meetings and general meetings in almost exactly the same way that elected members are asked to do, and are constitutionally obliged to prepare handover packs and report on their activities in exactly the same way that elected members are.
This JCR believes that:
-Co-opted members can often be some of the most valuable members of the committee in terms of attendance, participation and contribution to discussion.
-Having the full committee elected is not desirable, for practical reasons of the electoral process becoming unnecessarily complicated, and also because co-opted roles often fill 'niche' roles that, arguably, do not require a full JCR election.
-Not allowing co-opted members to vote in committee meetings is, however, ridiculous, when often the issue being voted on has been brought to the committee and proposed by a co-opted member.
-The argument against this is that co-opted members do not have democratic legitimacy, and so should not be entitled to vote on important JCR issues. There are two responses to this; the first is that anything deemed to be particularly important to the JCR, such as policy, significant spending etc. are taken, often after discussion in a CM, to a general meeting. The second is that the committee meetings are generally deliberative and that in those circumstances all contributors are equally important and valuable, except in the situation of voting on a co-option itself, when the directly representative nature of the committee is of most importance.
The JCR resolves to:
-Mandate the JCR VP to make sure that in terms of attendance to committee meetings and GMs, the constitution ensures that there is no significant disparity from the commitment expected between co-opted members and elected members.
-Mandate the JCR VP to ensure that procedurally, co-options involve the submission of a manifesto from candidates to ensure future accountability.
-Mandate the JCR VP to make the relevant changes to the constitution to allow co-opted members to vote, whilst stipulating that co-opted members cannot vote in the event of another co-option taking place. Proposed by Varun Chandra
Seconded by Iain Anstess
Proposition: This is a subtle issue. The co-opted officers are not democratically elected, but CMs are usually discussions involving them and often raised by them. If they are equally accountable there is no reason why they should not be able to vote.
SFQs:
Vote: For – 32 Against – 1 Abstentions – 1
Motion passed
Entz Equipment Motion
This JCR notes that 1) On 26th May the Swing band requested the following equipment from the JCR Entz cupboard to use at a concert in Wolfson on Saturday of 6th week: 2 mics, the small JCR mixer and two small speakers. 2) That the JCR committee agreed to this request on the proviso that such actions did not compromise the running of any JCR event that may be staged at that time and that an inventory of equipment taken must be given to an Entz rep before kit was acquisitioned. 3) That the Entz reps had a conversation with a representative of the swing band during which concerns were expressed over the clash of the JCR event “Your face or Mine” and the lending of such equipment, and a verbal agreement was made whereby the Swing band would only take equipment once the JCR event was set up and all equipment needed for the JCR event was accounted for. 4) That this agreement was not honoured by the Swing band; more equipment was removed than requested, no inventory was provided and that members of the swing band lied to different members of the Entz team in order to take JCR equipment for their own purposes before the entire Entz team had arrived to assess the situation and set up their own event. 5) That this rendered the Entz team unable to stage the event they had planned without the kind support of the MCR, who lent them the necessary equipment. This allowed them to stage a successful evening with the bar full of JCR members and doubling the standard money made on a non-event Saturday night. 6) When the Entz equipment was returned it was not put back in the Entz cupboard safely, as it had been found, and there was no gratitude or remorse shown by the members of the Swing band.
This JCR resolves to 1) Not allow any member of any society to borrow JCR equipment without providing a full inventory of what they plan to take and having had this cleared with the JCR officers in charge of said equipment and the JCR president. 2) Not allow any society to remove JCR equipment on any occasion without the expressed permission of all related JCR officers. 3) Societies that do not comply with 1) and 2), as was demonstrated on Saturday of 6th week, should be held accountable by the JCR committee.
Proposed: Mark Saunders Seconded: Thomas Masters
Proposition: Entz got shafted on Saturday night. It doesn’t matter how they feel about it, but they want to avoid this confusion arising again in future. They are happy to lend equipment again in future as long as proper safeguards are in place.
SFQs:
Opposition:
Radhika was led to believe that the clash with the Swing Band event and JCR event had been cleared up, though she had said she would hire an external PA had it not been. She emailed to confirm what would be borrowed and that it would be looked after. She heard nothing further and so assumed this was fine. She believed she had left enough equipment for Entz to put on any event they might be doing, and tried to help when the resulting situation arose. The Music Society likes the JCR and wants to carry on the good relations between them.
Debate:
The above did not really oppose the motion, but actually proved that safeguards are needed. It was intended to oppose the comments made in the motion against the Swing Band, since these were considered unfair and insensitive. Proposed Amendment: Entz should be allowed to overrule a decision already made to allow the loan of equipment if a clash subsequently comes up. It is, after all, the JCR’s equipment and so they should have priority, but if they are not using it, other societies etc can. Proposed Amendment: Part of the problem was that the ents rep who was present when the equipment was borrowed didn’t know what Entz needed. However, Entz is a massive job and so it is difficult for everyone to be there whenever needed or for all Entz reps to know everything. Proposed Amendment:
Summary in proposition: These points are all fair and will help the JCR
Summary in opposition: Equipment should be available for the use of all JCR members with some safeguards.
Vote: For – 25 Against – 2 Abstentions – 3
Motion passed
Charities Levies Decisions
The JCR Charities next year will be Zindagi India, Riders for Health and The Poppy Project.
Campaigns Fund Allocations
Awards made to:
Florence Yoon, Oxford Habitat for Humanity - £150
Loic Menzies, Oxford Aid to the Balkans - £150
Laura Imrie, volunteer project in Zanzibar - £150
Creative Projects Fund Allocations
Awards made to:
Loic Menzies (Serbia OXAB project) £320
Radhika Aggarwal (Edinburgh festival play) £170
Anoushka Kenley (In the Pink in Edinburgh) £170
Emma Jenkinson (Edinburgh festival play) £170
Al Robinson (Owl Freshers' fair) £120
Tom Maine (summer film) £50
JCR Magazines Vote
The JCR will buy Viz, Private Eye, The Economist, NME and Empire.
Meeting closed: 9.50pm
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