Congregation
- Thursday 25 November 2010
- No. 4936
- Vol 141
- Congregation 25 November: Election
- Congregation 30 November
- Congregation 2 December: Election
- Congregation 14 December
Congregation25 November
Election
Medical Sciences Divisional Board
Details are in 'Elections' section below.
Congregation30 November
30 November 2 p.m.
¶ The title for this agenda item has been amended from that published on 11 November so that, in conformity with the request received from the members of Congregation, it now refers to one resolution, and to a consultative ballot on the proposed changes put forward by the Employers Pension Forum and the University and College Union.
Voting on resolution to conduct a consultative ballot on changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme put forward by the Employers Pensions Forum and the University and College Union
Text of Resolution
Congregation notes that the University as an employer has a statutory obligation, under the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006, to consult affected employees on the changes that have been proposed to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
Congregation further notes:
(a) that persons who are active members of USS or are eligible to join the scheme have received as part of that consultation process a copy of a USS document outlining the proposed changes and a document from the Employers Pension Forum for Higher Education (EPF) which purports to explain 'why changes are needed' and that 'the proposed changes are considered by the employers to be right for the benefit of the scheme and its members'; and
(b) that as the body representing all employee members of USS under the rules of the Scheme, the University and College Union has published on its website (at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4598) criticism of the process being followed by Higher Education employers in carrying out the consultation, and (at http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/q/9/USS_statement2_Oct10.pdf) a critique of the EPF document.
Believing that consultation, if it is to be meaningful, must seek the views of those consulted when the latter have been provided with all the information necessary for them to make an informed response, Congregation determines that the University will:
(i) publish to all affected employees the alternative proposals for changes to USS put forward by the EPF and by UCU, together with supporting arguments for each;
(ii) conduct a consultative ballot on those alternative proposals;
(iii) publish the result of the ballot to scheme members within the University;
(iv) send the ballot result to USS as the principal local response to the statutory consultation exercise; and
(v) ensure all members of USS are able to engage in the process and that their comments are fully reflected in the institution's response to USS and that they are published locally.
Proposed by:
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The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that the consultation and ballot should take place with proper information available, and to invite USS, through the University, to make good the major defects in the existing consultation. As the requested further information may lead to consultation responses that cover more than the two choices in the ballot, we also remove the requirement that the ballot result be the 'principal' local response.
Replace 'as the principal local response' in (iv) by 'as part of the local response', remove 'and' from the end of (iv), replace the final '.' in (v) by ';' and then add
'(vi) seek proper information from USS, in conformity with the guidance provided by the Department of Work and Pensions on the conduct of a formal consultation by employers on major changes in a pension scheme; this information should include a suitable range of worked examples; and
(vii) request USS to restart the consultation after this information is made available, with those who have already submitted responses being allowed to modify them; if USS refuses, re-start the local consultation.'
Proposed by:
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¶ At its meeting on 15 November, Council gave careful consideration to the resolution first published on 11 November. Members of Council had reservations about the wording and the purpose of the proposed ballot but considered that a broad discussion in Congregation of pensions issues would be highly desirable. Council members took the view that the surest way to bring about such a discussion, given the way in which the relevant regulations are drafted, was to instruct the Registrar to declare the resolution unacceptable to Council.
At a special meeting on 23 November, Council considered the amendment set out above. Council similarly had reservations about the wording and purpose of the amendment but reiterated its wish for members of Congregation to have the opportunity for broad debate on these issues.
Council wishes it to be known that its decisions were taken not in any way in a spirit of confrontation, but to ensure an opportunity for wide discussion by the University’s sovereign body around these important issues. Further information about the USS proposals may be seen on the University website (at http://www.ox.ac.uk/staff/staff_communications/update_on_major_issues/index.html#auniversities_superannuation_scheme_uss_consultation).
As a consequence of these decisions, debates will be held at the Congregation meeting on Tuesday 30 November. The structure of the meeting will be as follows: first, the amendment will be debated and a vote taken; thereafter, a debate and vote will be held on the resolution as amended or on the original resolution, as appropriate. Those wishing to speak in the debates in the Sheldonian Theatre will be expected to limit their contributions to five minutes. It may not be possible to call all those who wish to speak. Members of Congregation who wish to be scheduled to speak in the debate (subject to time constraints) are asked to email congregation.meeting@admin.ox.ac.uk by 10 a.m. on Monday, 29 November. It would be helpful if members of Congregation intending to speak would, in no more than 25 words: (i) identify which part of the proceedings they would like to address (the amendment, the resolution if amended, or the original resolution if the amendment is not carried); (ii) indicate, as appropriate, whether they wish to support or oppose the amendment, the resolution if amended, or the original resolution if the amendment is not carried; and (iii) explain broadly the topic about which they wish to speak. This will help to determine the order in which speakers are called. Speakers on the original resolution will only speak if the amendment is rejected; likewise, speakers on the amended resolution will only speak if the amendment is accepted. If time permits, those who have not indicated in advance an intention to speak will still be free to do so.
The Vice-Chancellor and the Proctors have determined that voting during the meeting will take place by paper ballot. Members of Congregation will be required to identify themselves on their voting slips by name and signature and by college/department or faculty and to deposit their own voting slips in ballot boxes at the doors of the House. Slips will be sorted and counted by the Proctors, and will subsequently be kept in strict confidence by the Proctors for a period of six days, after which they will be destroyed.
It is intended that a verbatim transcription of the debates will be published in the Gazette on 9 December and, before then, on the University website (www.ox.ac.uk/congregation-debate). As a result of time constraints, it will not be possible to check the verbatim report of the proceedings with individual speakers before publication. Speakers are therefore asked to provide their written texts, if available, to Mrs Ceri Benton (Council Secretariat) on the day of the debate, or to email them to congregation.meeting@admin.ox.ac.uk by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 December.
For security purposes, all those attending are asked to bring their University Cards.
The Vice-Chancellor has decided that the wearing of gowns shall be optional on this occasion.
Congregation2 December
Election
Council
Details are in 'Elections' section below.
Congregation14 December
14 December 2 p.m.
¶ Members of Congregation are reminded that any two members may, not later than noon on Monday, 6 December, give notice in writing to the Registrar that they intend to oppose one or more of the resolutions below (see the note on the conduct of business in Congregation below). If no such notice has been given, and unless Council has declared otherwise, the resolutions shall be carried, and the meeting may be cancelled.
1 Voting on resolutions authorising use of sites at the Old Road Campus
Explanatory Note
The Old Road Campus was acquired by the University from the NHS in 1996. The site is now the focus for a significant proportion of the University's medical research, housing both general and specialist laboratories together with facilities for office-based research. In 1999, following the acquisition of further land and the completion of the first major new building on the site (the Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine), a master-planning exercise was undertaken to identify the main development plots. Since that time, the site has evolved rapidly. However, one area (the location of the original NHS buildings) has yet to be developed. It is proposed that space in that area be allocated for the construction of two new buildings: the Kennedy Institute and a new building for the Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM).
The establishment of the Kennedy Institute in Oxford aligns with a key strategic aim of the Medical Sciences Division: to develop an institute capable of pursuing state-of-the-art biomedical research at both a basic and translational level in autoimmunity and inflammation. The facility will offer the ability to provide high-quality research space that will enhance recruitment and retention of high calibre researchers.
The new NDM facility would accommodate work on Structural Biology, a Target Discovery Institute and clinical trial activities. This project is closely aligned to high priority objectives of both the Medical Sciences Division and the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, and each of the three components that would be incorporated into the facility will strengthen an aspect of the University's medical research position.
Text of Resolutions
(i) That a site at the Old Road Campus (providing approximately 3,710 sq.m. net usable space) be allocated for the construction of the Kennedy Institute;
(ii) That a site at the Old Road Campus (providing approximately 2,380 sq.m. net usable space) be allocated for the construction of a new building for the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
2 Voting on resolution approving the conferment of Honorary Degree
That the conferment of the Degree of Master of Arts, honoris causa, upon Lady Nancy Caroline Gayley Kenny, BA Vassar, PGCE Oxf, former Director of Alumni Relations at the University, former Secretary of the Oxford University Society, Fellow of St Peter's, be approved.
¶ If the resolution is approved, the degree will be conferred at a ceremony on 5 March 2011.
Note on procedures in Congregation
¶ Business in Congregation is conducted in accordance with Congregation Regulations 2 of 2002 (www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/529-122.shtml). A printout of these regulations, or of any statute or other regulations, is available from the Council Secretariat on request. A member of Congregation seeking advice on questions relating to its procedures, other than elections, should contact Miss S. Cowburn at the University Offices, Wellington Square (telephone: (2)70193; email: sarah.cowburn@admin.ox.ac.uk); questions relating to elections should be directed to the Elections Officer, Ms S.L. Stacey (telephone: (2)80463, email: elections.office@ox.ac.uk).