2015 Emergency General Meeting

By admin, 30 March, 2022
Date of Meeting

    2015 Emergency General Meeting

    Date: Sunday 7th week, Hilary 2015 (2015-03-01)

    Agenda


    Rent Discussions [Duncan Shepherd]

    This JCR notes:

    1. That there has been one rent discussion so far, in which the College required proof that this year is a ‘special case’.
    2. That room choosing has already been delayed by the late timing of the discussions.
    3. That Student Loans have gone up this year at an above average rate.
    4. That the JCR’s original suggestion of 3.3% was roundly rejected.
    5. That the MCR and JCR are stronger united.
    6. That the welfare requests have been accepted as valid and will be tabled at another committee, but are unlikely to be challenged.

    This JCR believes:

    1. That room choosing should happen this term.
    2. That College’s non-student room costs should not be met by rent increases.
    3. That the JCR should support the MCR in their proposals.
    4. That the JCR lacks a convincing case that this year is a special one.
    5. That the MCR is in a difficult position and we should support them.

    This JCR resolves:

    1. To allow the JCR Treasurer and President to negotiate a rent increase of up to VNI (3.78%).
    2. To mandate the JCR Treasurer and President to support the MCR in their rent request(s).

    Minutes


    Duncan summarised the motion. The MCR will likely be pushing for slightly below VNI, and the JCR will support them in this.

    Rose Hadshar asked which the worst-affected income bracket will be. Duncan said that it would be the £40,000 - £50,000 income bracket at a £5 loss over last year, followed by the sub-£40k bracket at £3.

    Richard May asked what the chances were that we would end up accepting VNI; Duncan said that depending on the MCR’s exact arguments, it was very likely the end result would be College’s request of 3.78%.

    Anna Hufton asked what exactly Believes 2 meant; Duncan clarified that it referred to College’s perpetual argument that staffing etc. costs had increased, and that he believed these increases should not be met by increases in rent.

    It was asked what the MCR’s exact requests would be; Duncan said that while this was as yet unclear, it was likely to be below VNI.

    Chessy Whalen asked why it was important for the JCR to support the MCR, and whether it would be possible for College to split the alliance in some way. Duncan said that we were much stronger together than apart, and that while he suspected College would like to see this change it is not likely to happen.

    Richard Ware asked whether the College would ever move away from VNI; Duncan said that while he felt this would eventually be the case, it would take a great deal of work both on College and the JCR’s part. Richard asked what would happen if we didn’t pass this motion. Duncan said that room choosing would have to be delayed, and that there would have to be further meetings of the Rents & Charges Committee (and probably the EGM).

    Dan Turner asked when the next Rents & Charges Committee was; Duncan responded that it was on Wednesday, and that as a result theoretically we would be able to have another motion at the next GM regarding this.

    Ross Cathcart asked when the last time there was a rent strike; Duncan said that while the JCR was prepared for one, there had not been one in a long time.

    We moved to a vote, and the motion passed.

     

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