Public and Commercial Services Union

BB/HO/18/09 gave details of the NEC’s decision to authorise a UKBA Policy Forum to be held on 21-22 July 2009. That newsbrief also gave details of the mechanism, terms of reference and timetable for the forum.

This newsbrief is the formal notification of the forum and contains details of the timetable and details of representational entitlements for branches.

Branch secretaries are asked to note carefully the list of important dates which require action to be taken.

Forum timetable

• The closing date for querying delegate and card vote entitlements is 5pm on Friday 19 June 2009
• The closing date for receipt of branch delegation forms is 5 p.m. Wednesday 24th June 2009.
• The closing date for receipt of motions is 5pm on Wednesday 24 June 2009
• The first report of the Standing Orders Committee will be issued by Monday 6 July 2009
• The closing date for reference back and receipt of emergency motions is 12pm on Friday 17 July 2009.
• The forum commences pm on Tuesday 21 July 2009 and finishes at pm on Wednesday 22 July 2009. (Times to be confirmed)

Venue and accomodation

The Forum will be held at the Jurys Inn, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ. Accommodation will be provided at the same venue and will include lunch and an evening meal on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two. Attendees are not therefore required to make subsistence claims.

Travel

Travel to and from the forum must be booked through Baxter Hoare

Motions

Motions for discussion at the Policy Forum must be confined to matters appropriate to the Policy Forum. All motions shall be in the affirmative. For example, motions must carry an instruction to the UKBA Negotiating Committee telling them what action(s) to take. Motions that are simply a statement, in favour or against something, are not usually acceptable because they do not tell the Negotiating Committee what action(s) is required.

Motions should be submitted on the correct form. The form may be photocopied. Please use a separate form for each motion submitted. There is no limit to the number of motions a branch may submit. Motions should be submitted by both hard copy and email format to: tarabl@pcs.org.uk  by no later than 5 pm on Wednesday 24 June 2009.

Faxed motions will not be accepted.

Emergency motions

Emergency motions will be deemed to be valid only in respect of matters arising after Wednesday 24 June 2009. Emergency motions must have been passed at a properly constituted general meeting of the branch and submitted on the correct form by 12 Noon Friday 17 July 2009. Motions should also be submitted in email format to: tarabl@pcs.org.uk

Faxed motions will not be accepted.

Reference back 

presentations to the SOC for Reference Backs should be made on correct form and submitted by both hard copy and in email format to: tarabl@pcs.org.uk  by no later 12 Noon on Friday 17 July 2009.

Faxed forms will not be accepted.

Represenation entitlements 

For home office branches, delegate representation to be on the same basis as Rule 6.13 of the PCS National Rules. For revenue & customs branches, delegate representation to be on the same basis as Rule 6.13 of the PCS National Rules with the caveat that the number of members counted for this purpose are only those transferring to UKBA. Delegates to be determined by branches and do not need to be restricted to those transferring personally to UKBA. Delegations will have a card vote equal to the number of members in their Branch transferring to UKBA. Membership figures to be determined by reference to Commix and Branch records as at 31/05/09.

Branches wishing to challenge the notified figures must do so on the correct form, by Friday 19 June 2009.

Branch secretaries are requested to provide delegate nominations on correct form and return to Paul O’Connor, HQ2, PCS HQ, 160 Falcon Road, London SW11 2NL by no later than 5 p.m. on 24th June 2009.

Faxed forms will not be accepted.

Any of the forms refered to in this briefing can be obtained by emailing tarabl@pcs.org.uk