2018 General Meeting

Date: Sunday 3rd week, Hilary 2018 (2018-01-28)

Agenda

a) Matters arising

b) Amendments to the Governing Documents

c) Motions relating to financial matters

• i) Music Room Drum Kit Parts Replacement - MN

d) Any other motions

• i) Homelessness Officer - SU

e) Appendices

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a) Matters arising

b) Amendments to the Governing Documents

c) Motions relating to financial matters

i) Music Room Drum Kit Parts Replacement - MN - passes

This JCR Notes:

• The drum kit in the music room is in a somewhat poor state.

• Some parts of the kit are so bad that it is difficult to play.

• The drum kit could sound substantially better with a few replacement parts.

This JCR believes:

• Investing in a better sounding drum kit is a worthwhile thing to do.

The JCR resolves:

• To spend £250 on replacement drum heads, cymbal stands and a snare stands.

Amendment:

To take the money out of the music fund

 

d) Any other motions

i) Homelessness Officer - SU - passes

This JCR notes:

1. That 1 in 200 people in the UK are homeless

2. That Oxford has the second highest rate of homelessness in the UK

3. That few members are aware of On Your Doorstep (Oxford SU’S campaign, the main student hub for homelessness work, OYD), Turl Street Homeless Action (daily food and hot drink distribution, TSHA), The Gatehouse (daytime activity and food centre) and other student and non-student organisations

4. That these organisations are in need of volunteers

5. That Balliol has had an OYD representative on and off for recent years

6. That in light of the ongoing long-term crisis OYD is moving to create JCR non-committee positions to strengthen ties with JCRs and institutional memory, and create uninterrupted pressure on college governing bodies

7. That the Charities Officers already have many and time-consuming duties and both the previous and current ones are against adding anything else

This JCR believes:

1. That it has a special duty towards its local community, especially when it is in crisis

2. That we should do as much as we can to empower and help homeless people

This JCR resolves:

1. To create a non-committee position of ‘Homelessness Officer’, and mandate them:

   1. To twice termly publicise and collect food, sanitary items and other donations for TSHA and/or other homelessness organisations at their discretion

   2. To publicise meetings and volunteering opportunities for homelessness work

   3. To work with OYD and the JCR to empower and help homeless people in other suitable ways

   4. To work with OYD and the JCR to consistently and long-termedly pressure college to empower and aid homeless people (for example, through donating unused uncooked produce from Hall as is done at several other colleges)

   5. To sign up as one of OYD’s informal reps at Balliol to enable (a), (b), (c) and (d).

Minutes

a) Matters arising

b) Amendments to the Governing Documents

c) Motions relating to financial matters

i) Music Room Drum Kit Parts Replacement - MN - passes

250 pounds was requested in order to repair the current drum kit in the music room. For instance currently the snare wires are snapped and the snare stand has collapsed. 

Amrita questioned whether or not the money could come instead from the music fund. Hannah said that money for a keyboard previously came out of that fund so it was likely the same could happen this time.  Amendment was added.

There was also discussion over whether it would be better to get a new drum kit as opposed to repairing the current one - however it was thought that we be considerably more expensive so fixing the current one is probably a better idea. 

Motion passes with no opposition. 

 

d) Any other motions

i) Homelessness Officer - SU - passes

It was discussed how homelessness is a big problem in Oxford and something that students are in a good position to help with. The reason behind the motion is to establish a more permanent role within the JCR dedicated to helping the situation with strong links with the On Your Doorstep campaign - as opposed to currently where help for the homeless is given in a more informal and less organised way. 

It was discussed whether the position would be elected at the next elections or through co-options. It was thought that a co-option as soon as possible would be best as it would make sense to get started as soon as possible especially as we are in colder months at the moment. 

Amrita questioned why the proposed role couldn’t be integrated into the current charities rep roles. It was thought that the current charities reps already have a lot of responsibility and didn’t feel like they could do this issue justice with their other commitments. 

It was also discussed whether it would be better to have a group of people working on the issue as opposed to a dedicated officer role. However the benefit of having a dedicated position is that it would ensure the role was something the JCR always had. 

It was decided that the person elected to the position could then organise a committee to help out with their role.  

Motion passes with no opposition.

 

e) Appendices