Reference doc 7A – Northern region
Approved by UCU TAC March 2007
Amendment approved by UCU NEC November 2009
Amendment approved by UCU NEC December 2011

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE UNION
Standing Orders for Northern Regional Committee
1.	The name of the committee is the Northern Regional Committee of the University and College Union.  It shall meet in full committee and as Further Education and Higher Education Sector committees, as appropriate.
2.	The terms of reference of the Committee are:
i.	to foster closer contact between members of the Northern region in Further Education and Higher Education institutions in the region;
ii.	to coordinate discussion and activity between branches/local associations, in particular on industrial relations matters;
iii.	to assist branches/local associations where assistance is invited and appropriate; including the co-ordination of campaigning, organising and recruitment work, and the promotion of the Union’s policies on equalities;
iv.	to circulate information dealing with matters of common interest to institutions in the region;
v.	if it sees fit, to establish a Regional Executive Committee to comprise elected Officers of the Regional Committee and any NEC members from institutions in the Region;
vi.	to send delegates and motions to Regional TUCs and other appropriate regional bodies;
vii.	to draw to the attention of and place in front of as appropriate, the General Secretary and the National Executive Committee matters relevant to the work of the Committee;
viii.	to spend monies on the above activities under procedures determined by the National Executive Committee.
3.	The responsibilities of the Committee will in no way supplant those of branches/local associations, the National Executive Committee and its sub-committees regarding consultation and negotiation with individual institutions.  The Committee shall be supported as appropriate by full time officials.
4.	The Committee shall comprise one member per 100 UCU members or part thereof, from each institution within the Committee’s remit.  In addition, members of the National Executive Committee who are also members in institutions allocated by the National Executive Committee to the Sector within the Committee’s remit may attend Committee meetings.  Members of the National Executive Committee may not hold office or vote on any issue within the Committee’s remit, unless they have been nominated as a representative to the Committee by their branch/local association. Pending further consideration by the NEC of the operation of Central Groups, where regions have retired members’ branches, these will be deemed to be ‘institutions’ for the purposes of this standing order. Institutions entitled to only one representative may send an additional non-voting observer.
5.	A minimum of three meetings will take place annually.  One Ordinary Meeting of the Committee will take place within the months of September to December and one within the months of January to March of each year.  One Annual General Meeting will be held within the months of April to July of each year.  Not less than fourteen days’ notice will be given of each meeting.
6.	Motions for the Regional Committee may be submitted by:
i	A properly constituted meeting of any branch/local association, or the committee/executive committee of that branch/local association;
ii	The Regional Executive Committee;
iii	The Regional Higher Education or Further Education Sector Committee; and
iv	In the case of motions for Annual Congress, also by individual delegates.
Motions must be sent to the Regional Secretary to arrive not later than seven days before the date of the Regional committee, or earlier if indicated in the calling notice for the meeting. Motions from branches/local associations must be sent by the branch/local association secretary or chair/president.
7.	The Officers of the Committee will be the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chairs and Secretaries of the sector committees, together with such other Officers as may be deemed necessary.  These posts shall be elected by an Annual General Meeting each year for a period of one year.  Officers shall be eligible for re-election.  In the event of an office becoming vacant between Annual General Meetings, Officers may be elected at Ordinary Meetings.
8.	Nominations for all lay officer positions, including chair, vice chair, secretary, equality officer, treasurer, training officer, minutes secretary and chair, vice chair and secretary for both sector committees shall be forwarded in writing to the regional office at least seven days before the annual general meeting. Nominations must be proposed and seconded by members of the Committee (separate letters or e-mails from the proposer and seconder will be accepted).  If no nominations for a post are received within this timescale, then nominations shall be invited at the Annual General Meeting.  Such nominations must be proposed and seconded by members of the Committee present at the meeting. As far as practicable, elections shall be conducted in line with the procedures contained in the model branch / local association rules, and any issues of procedure shall be referred to the NEC for determination.
9.	Regions shall be funded under procedures determined by the National Executive Committee.
10.	The Committee will adopt these Standing Orders, and may amend them subject to approval by the National Executive Committee.