In a landmark final UC of the year, the UEA Students’ Union’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) saw the complete abolishment of Union Council, marking a major shift in how the SU runs.  

The meeting, which featured an unusually high turnout, approved extensive reforms to the SU’s Byelaws and Articles of Association- the core documents that dictate how the SU, it’s officers, societies and clubs operate.  

The reforms include dissolving Union Council and shifting decision-making power to “Student Committees”- which are Societies, Sports and Clubs, Education and Services – which will manage themselves independently and any student can join.

A new termly forum, UEA 50, will see 50 students, randomly selected each time – who will be paid – discuss broader topics submitted by any student via the SU’s platform. Decisions made by UEA 50 will go to the Executive Committee (SU full-time and part-time Officers), who can approve, reject with explanation, refer back or call a referendum or AGM. Referendums are a general vote on a single question and can also be triggered by a majority vote at UEA 50, a trustee resolution, or a petition signed by 1% of students.  

This new model was developed with support from James Coe of education consultancy organisation Counter Culture LLP, who presented the proposed changes and highlighted key concerns with the previous system. After consulting with students, SU Officers and staff- and reviewing existing policies- Coe identified major barriers in the current structure noting that it was “extremely complex”, limited officers’ autonomy and created unnecessary hurdles for students trying to take initiative. 

After several rounds of for and against arguments and questions, such as how much Counter Culture’s consultancy cost (around £26,000), the motion finally passed!

Here’s what Opportunities and Activities Officer Olivia Hunt, who led the arguments in favour of the model, told Concrete: “I’m so please that the Democracy Review has passed, both the Byelaws and Articles of Association, there’s been so much work that has gone into it.  I’m so pleased to say as the Activities Officer that I have the pleasure of passing it at Union Council tonight, I’m so excited to bring in this change, to bring in more representation, to bring the change for clubs, societies, for services, for education. It’s going to be fantastic and I’m so grateful for all this support and I cannot believe how many of you turned up because I was only expecting 30 and we had almost 200 so thank you everyone and I look forward to next year!”  

Chris Kershaw – the SU’s Campaigns and Deomcracy Officer told Concrete: Chris’ comment:

“Students have known there was a problem with our democratic institutions since at least 2019 when the Democracy Review started. Reform and restructuring have been a consistent theme in the manifestos of four consecutive Campaigns & Democracy officers, me included. If it hadn’t been for some events earlier this year showing just how open our (now) former system was to abuse by a highly dedicated minority of students, we might have just kept limping on.  

Hundreds of working hours of staff, FTO’s, and students have gone into this process over 6 or so years, and I’m so glad to say that the SU can finally move away from a system that we all agree was unrepresentative, combative, and only really enjoyed by a tiny clique that it provided disproportionate power to. 

This change really couldn’t have done this without the support of James from Counter Culture, Jumara our CEO, and particularly Olivia the A&O officer. I’m really looking forward to next year and the chance to get this new system up and running and set it on a great footing for future generations of students. 

Thank you to everyone who turned out to UEASU Union Councils over the years. It’s been an expearience, even if it hasn’t always been productive!“

Image Credit: Nathan Wyatt.