RCN AGM 2012 – resolutions

Below is the actual wording of the resolutions you will be asked to agree, together with more information about each proposal.

Membership subscription resolution -  this resolution requires a majority of 50 per cent of those voting to be passed

From 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2014 the annual membership fee will be:
£198.72, an increase of 32p per month, for full nurse members
and
£99.36, an increase of 16p per month, for health practitioner members.

Inevitable cost pressures in these challenging times present a threat to the RCN. Every effort has been made to increase efficiency and make savings. Since 2007 subscription increases have been kept below inflation and in 2012 there has been no increase at all.

This rate would stay in place until at least 2015.The student rate will not be affected and will stay at just £10 per year.

Standing Order amendments  - these require a two thirds majority of those voting to be passed

Standing Order amendments - want to see the small print? - you can also download a copy of the actual proposed changes to the Standing Orders (PDF 36KB) [see how to access PDF files].

RCN election cycle

To amend the RCN Standing Orders to enable the alignment of RCN elections to the calendar year.

For practical reasons members have already agreed to holding the AGM and Congress at the same time and this will happen from June 2014.

The Standing Orders currently align the RCN election cycle to the AGM. It wouldn’t be practicable, however, for new Council members to take up office at Congress time so the proposal is for terms of office start on 1 January.

RCN activists and representatives

To amend the RCN Standing Orders to provide for the definition of RCN activists and representatives and to provide for the policies and processes associated with fulfilling their roles.

When the RCN’s constitutional documents were revised in 2010, members voted to replace the RCN rules with regulations. Some rules require to be updated and developed before being approved as regulations. This includes rule six which covered the definition of RCN “representatives” and the process for removal from office. Rule six was very limited in scope and did not apply to all those holding RCN office.

This process for accreditation and dis-accreditation of RCN representatives is currently being reviewed and members are being consulted as a new policy and procedure is developed. In addition, policies and procedures associated with the roles of committee members, for example, need to be developed - again, these will be developed in consultation with members.

In the meantime an “enabling” Standing Order has been developed. This will provide for subsequent regulations, policies and processes and to update and replace the old rule six. You are being asked to agree to this new Standing Order.

Health practitioners

To amend the Standing Orders to enable one of the elected Health Practitioner Council members to become chair of the Health Practitioners Committee in line with the arrangements for the Students Committee and Country and Regional Boards.

At the AGM in 2011, RCN members voted to establish two health practitioner seats on Council to represent health care assistants and assistant practitioners and in July 2012 RCN Council formally constituted the new Health Practitioner Committee to represent that constituency of members.

To ensure consistency with the RCN Students Committee and the RCN country and regional boards it is proposed to amend the Standing Orders to provide for one of the elected health practitioner Council members to become chair of the RCN Health Practitioner Committee.

Casual vacancies on Council

To amend the Standing Orders to require that casual vacancies on Council are filled by election.

Standing Order 11 provides for casual vacancies on Council to be filled by appointment if the remainder of the term of office is less than two years. Casual vacancies are those that arise if a member steps down from their seat part way through a term of office.

The Trade Union and Labour Relations (consolidation) Act 1992 does not specify how casual vacancies should be filled on a trade union executive except to say that all members of the executive should be elected.

It is proposed therefore to amend the Standing Order 11 to be in line with the legislation.