Frequently asked questions

This section was put together to answer members' questions on the 2011 AGM vote.

Q. What were members asked to vote on at the 2011 AGM?

Members voted on important proposed changes to the RCN Royal Charter and Standing Orders. These proposals were put forward to embrace the wider nursing team, and to enable efficient management of the RCN’s finances.

The three proposals are briefly outlined below.

To make health care practitioners full members of the RCN and be represented through the establishment of two seats on RCN Council.
To enable RCN Council to approve annual subscription rate increases over the current rate of up to 2% above Consumer Price Index (CPI) in any given year, with the proviso that members are asked to review this arrangement with a vote in general meeting every five years.
To amend the RCN Royal Charter to ensure that in the unlikely event of the RCN being wound up, any surplus is passed back to the members.

Q. Why were these proposals put forward?

The first two of these proposals just missed being passed at the 2010 AGM, missing out by the narrowest of margins to receive the required two-thirds of votes required. Because Council believed that members strongly support these proposals, they were brought back for the 2011 AGM. Council listened to the concerns of members who did not vote to pass these proposals in 2010, and amendments were made to address these concerns.

The third proposal is a new, special resolution and ensures that, like other membership organisations, the RCN can attain mutual trading status – this is important for tax reasons. Mutual trading status means that the RCN does not have to pay tax on any surplus we generate through mutual trading, which is important to the RCN’s financial situation.

Q. Why did members have to vote on these changes?

All changes to the Royal Charter and bye-laws required membership approval before they could be passed to the Privy Council, which must then agree to the amendments.

Q. What is a proxy vote?

A proxy vote allows you to vote without attending the AGM. It gives the President, the Chair of Council or a member that you nominate (who must attend the AGM) the permission to vote on your behalf in the ways that you have stated – ensuring you have a say on important matters.

Q. Were members consulted before the proposed changes were put together?

These proposals directly reflect the feedback we have had from members on these issues.

Q. When will the changes be made?

The first resolution, which passed with 81.2% of the vote, comes into effect immediately. The second resolution did not receive the two-thrids majority of the vote required to pass. The third proposal passed with 98.4% of the vote. As it is an the amendment to the Royal Charter it will now go forward for formal approval by Her Majesty the Queen.