SU Governance Structure

See how the committees and councils are structured and also who chairs.

How to submit a motion

Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the major meeting of the SU Calendar. Budgets are set, student representatives are elected and submitted motions are discussed and voted on to become union policy. Make sure your union stands for the right reasons. Find out how you can submit a motion and when the next AGM is due.

General Meeting.  The General Meeting is of a similar format to the Annual General Meeting. It's your opportunity, mid year to discuss current policies and submit motions. For example it was at a general meeting where it was decided to ban all Nestlé products from SU shops. Find out when the next meeting is taking place.

Union Council. The Union Council formulates and determines Union policy. The council also holds the Executive Committee to account, approves and reviews the strategic plan, delegates work to the Executive Committee and is responsible for bestowing commendations upon members of the Union.

Executive Committee. Consisting of the elected sabbatical officers and non-sabbatical officers, the committee’s role is to oversee and co-ordinate union business in accordance with the policies agreed upon by the Union Council or General Meetings. It establishes and receives reports from the exec officers and the relevant sub-committees. It reports to Union Meetings and other bodies as appropriate.

Reps Council. Reps Council is a chance for all reps from across the University to get together and discuss the academic issues affecting everyone - libraries, exams, Academic Offering, Turnitin, assessment and feedback, Space to Think...

Halls Committee. This Committee is made up of Hall Presidents. The objective of this meeting is to hear proposals from Hall Presidents about events or purchases they want to make for the benefit of their hall residents, to vote on whether this proposal is valid and release funds from the inter-hall fund to pay for it.

Welfare and Membership Services Committee. This is a monthly meeting chaired by the Vice President: Welfare and Equal Opportunities to review any welfare issues that are relevant to our membership. Attended by all Vice Presidents, it is an opportunity to hear from the Membership Services manager who reports on how the Students’ Union is delivering their non-commercial services.

Societies Executive. The purpose of Societies Executive Committee is to discuss society budgets, affiliations, events and entertainments run by or requiring the support of societies. Societies Executive can also pass societies’ Special Development Fund (SDF) applications and Events Funds applications which are applications for funds from the Students' Union over and above any money that is held a particular society account.

Finance Committee (Closed). Deals with all the financial affairs of the SU, ensuring the union complies with the financial regulations required under the charitable law. It scrutinises the accounts and transactions carried out in the name of OBSU and its trading subsidiaries such as TheSU.com

Commercial Services Committee (Closed). Maintains a detailed overview of all aspects of the Students' Unions commercial services including the bars, clubnights, shops etc. As well as keeping a close eye on day to day activity the committee also examines proposals for special events such as winter or summer balls. The committee receives close support from the Commercial Services Manager as well as reports from the Operational Managers of the various services.