ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is where the important legal bits happen – it’s your opportunity to get an inside look into how the union runs and where we spend money. You get to be part of vital decisions about the union’s inner workings, and have your say at the highest level.
The AGM, along with UCASU’s trustee board, are the highest decision-making bodies for the union. We have several processes and groups that inform how we work as an organisation, from referenda all the way down to our liberation groups. You can get involved at every level.
NEXT MEETING
THURSDAY 12 MAY 2022, 5pm-6.30pm.
Want to submit a motion to this meeting? Complete and submit the form below by 4pm, Wednesday 27 April 2022.
Submissions have now closed.
Location
Canterbury: Cragg Lecture Theatre
Epsom: Lecture Theatre 10 (near accommodation office)
Farnham: G14
Rochester: Lecture Theatre 1
CAN'T MAKE IT IN PERSON? VOTE BY PROXY!
This year, our Board of Trustees passed a motion to make the All Student Meeting more accessible for students. If you are unable to join us in person, you can make your voice heard by voting on agenda items and asking questions via ballot. Below you will find the agenda along with the corresponding papers, use your ballot to vote if you are for or against each item as well as pose any questions you may have for Trustees or the Union. Questions will be recorded and shared after the meeting.
Agenda
- To ratify the minutes of AGM held on 28 January 2020 and 18 February 2021
- Receive the report of the Trustees on the Union’s activities in the previous university year
- Receive the accounts of the Union for the previous financial year ending 31 July 2021
- Appointment of the auditors
- To note the list of Affiliations of the Union
- Motions submitted by Members
- Open questions to the Trustees by the Members.
1. Minutes - 18 FEBRUARY 2021
UCASU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) MINUTES, 28 January 2020
WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2020 from 17:00
HELD VIA VIDEO CALL BETWEEN:
CANTERBURY – KIRK LECTURE THEATRE – 39 in attendance
EPSOM – LECTURE THEATRE – none in attendance
FARNHAM – ROOM G14 – 31 in attendance
ROCHESTER – SEMINAR ROOM – none in attendance
These are the minutes of the University for the Creative Arts Students’ Union, Annual General Meeting.
Callum Mitchell (CM for the continuity of the minutes), UCASU President Surrey, welcomed and thanked all for their attendance. CM requested a head count and final numbers from all campuses to ensure a 1% quorum was met as per the Constitution 10.9. This was confirmed.
1. Ratification of minutes from previous AGM (held Wednesday 26 September 2018)
Minutes were taken as read. MS asked if there were any questions or queries surrounding the minutes. None were received.
MS proposed a vote to accept the minutes from 2017:
In favour: 70
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
PASSED.
2. Receive the report of the Trustees on the Union’s activities since the previous AGM
CM presented the trustee report.
CM asked for any questions concerning the trustee report. None were received.
CM requested a vote to approve the received report.
In favour: 70
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
PASSED.
3. Receive the accounts of the Union for the previous financial year
CM presented the accounts and reported notable achievements and performance. This included income, expenditure, and an explanation of deficit as per the presentation.
No questions were asked regarding the documents.
MS requested a vote to approve the accounts.
In favour: 70
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
PASSED.
4. Appointment of auditors
CM explained the role of an auditor and why the Union has one. CM noted our auditors are Kingston Smith and gave a short background information of them.
CM requested a vote on the continuous use of Kingston Smith.
In favour: 70
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
PASSED.
5. Note the list of affiliations of the Union
CM noted the following affiliations and requested a vote for approval.
- National Union of Students
- British Universities & College Sport
- Nightline
- Surrey County Rugby Football Union Ltd
- Surrey County Football Association Ltd
- Table Tennis England
6. Motions
TBC
7. Open questions to the Trustee by the Members
CM opened the floor to any questions. None Were asked.
CM thanked all for coming and closed the meeting.
Meeting finished at 13.42.
UCASU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) MINUTES, 18 February 2021
HELD VIA VIDEO CALL - 28 in attendance, meeting not quorate.
As no formal business could be conducted, Admire Ncube (President Kent) invited questions from members.
2. Trustees Report
OBJECTIVES:
Change the world | We will enable and inspire our members to make a positive impact on the creative industries and the world around them.
Students owning their experience | We will amplify the student voice at every opportunity to cultivate an inclusive and transformative learning experience.
Development | We will provide every member with opportunities that develop them as individuals and creatives, prepared and excited for their futures.
Relevance | We will be viewed as relevant and trustworthy by every member, playing an active and diverse role in their lives.
Community and wellbeing | We will foster a sense of belonging within our members and an environment of empowerment, collaboration, and support.
SUCCESSES
- Adapated our delivery to provide a Covid-safe Freshers experience.
- Supported over 250 students with advice cases.
- Represented students' interests as the university responded to Covid lockdowns and reopening campsues.
- Achieved an ‘Excellent’ Green Impact score for the third consecutive year.
- Ran a 'mutual aid' scheme to help isolating students access essential items such as good, medecine, and sanitary products.
- Delivered hundreds of activity crates to students to help cope with social limitations.
- Lobbied the government to protect students' rights during periods of lockdown.
- Our online support materials were accessed over 4,500 times.
FUTURE PLANS
UCASU introduced a new strategy in summer 2020, which creates an Annual Plan each Spring that supports the overall Aims of the Union. This will allow the Union to be more responsive to the needs and interests of its members and avoid tying student representatives and future Boards to the priorities of previous members.
The dominant factor affecting our activity over 2021/22 will be enhancing the student experience following the effects of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. This is a challenge we are ready for and will endeavour to provide a safe and inclusive experience for all students, sensitive to the realities of students’ experiences during remote learning and an isolated social life.
New commercial streams have been set up to support the Union’s development, and a 13.5% increase to our block grant will help provide more and better activities for students at all campuses.
Our Freshers activities will improve in quality of offer, building on the foundation of commercial reconfiguration started in 2016. Following this, we will continue to create opportunities within the local community, through which at least 50 members will contribute to building links between students and the campus town or city.
Our work to represent marginalised or under-represented groups will expand, making our activity in this area more visible and impactful.
When things aren’t going to plan, we will provide a supportive hand to students who need it. Our advice service is key to this and will assist over 200 students through the year.
3. Audited Accounts
Download
4. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
UCASU proposes the continued use of Moore Kingston Smith LLP as its auditors.
5. List of Affiliations for 2021/22
1. National Union of Students (NUS)
2. Surrey County RFU Ltd
3. Surrey County Football Association LTD
4. Filmbank
6. Motions
No motions submitted.
7. QUESTIONS TO THE TRUSTEES BY MEMBERS