Public and Commercial Services Union

1. Duties

The duties of the standing orders committee (SOC) are set out in supplementary rule 6.22 of the PCS rules.

2. Categories of motions

The SOC have been in receipt of 601 properly submitted motions. From among the total motions received the SOC have sent 20 motions for the attention of group standing orders committees under conference standing order A35 and the relevant branches have been notified.

Of the 601 motions received, 139 were submitted by 45 branches using the newly available “e-motions online” system. The SOC were extremely pleased with the way the system functioned and the substantial time savings it brought to branches and SOC.

Our thanks go to the branches who utilised this method and SOC will be pressing for the extension of the online submission of motions after a full review of the first year.

A further 1 motion has not been published under the terms of supplementary rule 6.22(g). The branch who submitted that motion has been notified and sent copies of both the SOC request for legal advice and the advice received

This year 155 motions have been marked “A” for debate which includes 3 composite motions. The remaining motions have been allocated to categories “B”, “C”, “D”, “E” or “X” per conference standing order A34. The SOC have corrected spelling mistakes in motions where they have been noticed but otherwise motions have been printed as received.

Motions categorised “D” are those that the SOC believe are “capable of being dealt with by correspondence with the general secretary”. Branches should note that this marking will require them to initiate correspondence directly with the general secretary.

If branches wish to resubmit the same motion in 2010 it will assist the SOC in considering the appropriate marking if copies of any such correspondence are sent to the SOC once the motion has been submitted.

An index of branches whose motions have been included in SOC report No.1 and the location of those motions in the report can be found at appendix 1.

3. Duration of conference

The 2009 conference will commence at 9:00am on Wednesday 20 May and end at 12:30pm on Friday 22 May.

The SOC do not believe that there will be sufficient time for all motions marked “A” to be debated but we have taken steps in timetabling that we hope, with the co-operation of delegates, will maximise the number of motions that will be considered at the conference.

4. References back

References back on this report must be sent to the secretary, national standing orders committee, PCS, 160 Falcon Road, London, SW11 2LN and received no later than 3pm on Friday 15 May.

They should be sent in an envelope on the official form ADC/10/09 which will be issued to branches shortly under separate cover and can be downloaded from the PCS website. No other documents or correspondence should be placed in the envelope. Only one reference back can be entered on each form.

Photocopies of form ADC/10/09 are acceptable provided each form submitted contains an original signature. Faxes or emails will not be accepted. For further information relating to “reference back” see conference standing orders A14 - A16.

Given the successful launch of motions online this year, the SOC would recommend that branches utilise the electronic method of submission, rather than postal method - especially given the timescales involved. Please, however, do not use both methods.

5. Emergency motions

Should branches need to submit emergency motions for consideration by the SOC attention is drawn to conference standing order A6. The official form ADC/09/09 will be issued to branches shortly under separate cover and can be downloaded from this website.

Once your members meeting has agreed the text of the motion it should be sent to the secretary, national standing orders committee, PCS, 160 Falcon Road, London, SW11 2LN on form ADC/09/09 and received no later than 3pm on Friday 15 May.

Only one motion can be entered on each form ADC/09/09. Photocopies of form ADC/09/09 are acceptable provided each form submitted contains original signatures. Faxes or emails will not be accepted.

Given the successful launch of motions online this year, the SOC would recommend that Branches utilise the electronic method of submission, rather than postal method - especially given the timescales involved. Please, however, do not use both methods.

 

6. Meetings with branch delegations to discuss references back and other matters

Under conference standing order A41 the SOC are required to be available to meet delegates on the evening immediately prior to the start of conference to discuss any references back that have been received.

The session for delegates to meet with the SOC will be on Tuesday 19 May between 6:30 - 8:30pm in the Sunrise Room at the Brighton conference centre. No appointment is necessary as delegates will be seen in the order in which they arrive.

7. Seconding and withdrawing motions

Branches wishing to second a motion, withdraw as seconder, or request withdrawal of a motion should obtain form “SOC A” from the SOC during Conference or delegates can use the forms printed at Appendix 2 of SOC Report No.1.

8. Guillotined motions section

It is the intention of the SOC to bring some guillotined motions back onto the agenda in a short session immediately prior to the close of conference on Friday 22 May.

Branches wishing to request that a motion be included in this section should obtain form “SOC B” from the SOC during conference or delegates can use the forms printed at appendix 2 of SOC report No.1.

The SOC wish all delegates and attendees well for a constructive and successful conference in Brighton.

Calum Walker (chair)
Ian Fitzpatrick
Jon Gamble
Derek Mellor
Gordon Rowntree
Steve Farley (secretary)
Laure Mague (admin)