First Union Council of the year: updates

The Union Council is the highest-level student-led Union body focused on policy-making, accountability, and scrutiny. Known as the main democratic voice of the student body, more than 50 members come together to pass policies, amend Union bye-laws and hold Officer Trustees to account on their actions and progress. 

Students are also invited to attend council and ask questions regarding ICU initiatives, or follow up with previous Council matters. Union Council is hosted on Tuesday evenings, one every month, approximately. 

The first Council of the year was hosted on 10 November. Seven motions were presented, including introducing a co-option for postgraduate representation roles that allows Union forums to assign empty roles after Autumn Elections, as students may become interested later in the term. 

Other motions included amendments to ICSMSU, RCSU, and RMSU standing orders (written rules that regulate CU proceedings). 

The latter had been approved unanimously within the RMSU committee, and had not been updated for three years. There was no description of what the orders were three years ago, or what the specific changes being voted on entailed. Members brought up the confusion throughout the Council regarding what exactly was being voted on, as they felt context and clear explanations lacked: “I’m struggling to follow”, said one member.  

Officer Trustee updates followed. Highlights include Daniel, ICU president, reported on his work to increase Imperial’s Rent Guarantor Scheme from £315 to £350 per week, to allow students that cannot have a UK guarantor to be covered for a wider rent range. 

Sarah, Deputy President (Welfare), shared she is developing Imperial’s response to the draft London plan to increase student accommodation around London. Jacob, Deputy President (Education), has recently helped fill several postgraduate representation roles in the Autumn Elections, one of his main goals for the year. Sky, Deputy President (Activities) confirmed that following feedback, he will now prioritise developing a fully functioning, clear Knowledge Base before pursuing the incorporation of AI to Union platforms.

When a student asked to follow up with staff regarding updates to Union digital systems, particularly SUMS, tensions rose regarding whether staff could (or should) be held accountable at the Council.  A Council member argued that it is a student space and students should be able to address staff, who can answer if they wish; a staff member present stated that it is within protocol that the Union Council is a student body, and staff members cannot be held accountable. 

The last motion presented mandated the Union to continue working on increasing funding for research students, with remarks drawing attention to lack of funding or liveable salaries for London students, as well as Imperial not having a guarantor scheme for international PhD students. 

At time of writing, it has not officially been confirmed, but all motions are likely to have passed.