Constitution Change

The Union of UEA Students’ constitution is set to change pending approval by Union Council on Thursday 14th January. A draft constitution is being discussed with the University before coming under scrutiny by the student body.

The draft comes as the result of a Union Council motion to consult UEA students and create a new constitution for the Union to ensure its structures "are meeting the changing needs of all our members".

It is also changing in accordance to the 2006 Charities Act, which demands students’ unions register with the Charities Commission if they wish to retain their charitable status.

Claiming a consultation with over 500 students, the new constitution has been written by the Finance Officer through an open-door method. Major alterations include: agreed Aims and Objects; a dissolution clause; and a Trustee Board, which is separated from the Executive – all three being needed to register for the Charities Commission - five full-time officers, including Democracy & Engagement; Sports Committee and Societies Committee, who take on the power to give grants to clubs and societies; lower threshold to remove Student Officers, as well as the ability to remove a Chair of Union Council.

Students’ unions were, before the 2006 act, exempt educational charities. They drew charitable status from their university or college and did not have to register as a charity. Their parent body –university or college – and the Charities Commission now dually regulate students’ unions.

Failure to register as a charity could bring reputational damage, missed fundraising opportunities and force the Union to put Corporation Tax on the income from its subsidiary companies (LCR, Waterfront).

Union Council will decide whether to send this constitution to policy ballot and regardless of this result Union Council will decide whether or not to give full approval on 28th January.

Nick Church