Exec Report 26th Mar 2008

Increase student participation in the Union, its elections, meetings and volunteering through high visibility Communication and Engagement Campaigns.

• The Elections 2008 have finished and I would like to congratulate all the successful candidates. Voter turnout was lower than last year which partially reflects the reduced number of candidates running for positions. Lower voting numbers can also be attributed to the gentle campaigning that has defined the election this year.
• Despite the fact that there were fewer candidates, we have filled the Executive and I’m happy to say that the Executive Committee for the year 08/09 will be running at full capacity at the start of the new academic year.
• Union Council has a large number of vacant spaces. This is in part due to the new constitution and the increased number of positions available but also because the main emphasis of the election was to elect the Executive.
• The Seriously Big Student Survey has been delayed and will now be taking place after the University’s Student Satisfaction Survey.

Attract a greater number of students to run in Union Elections and provide access to comprehensive training and information regarding the available positions and the Union in general.

• We hope to be setting up an elections debriefing meeting very soon with all the candidates invited.

To ensure that the Union improves or at least maintains its Sound Impact Award Status.

• I am pleased to be able to announce that the SU has managed to again achieve the Bronze Award standard of the Sound Impact Award.
• At NUSSL Convention we expressed an interest on behalf of OBSU in a follow up project to the Carbon Academy. It involves becoming a pilot SU for new energy efficient equipment from suppliers such as Coca-Cola. It will be great if we could get included as it would support the constructive engagement argument and deliver some quantifiable differences through Coke.

Communicate the achievements and successes of the Union internally and externally using all available media.

• No update available on this objective

Develop the Commercial Services of the Union so they are recognised as value for money by students through establishing provision level agreements and providing a high standard of customer service.

• The Summer Ball, planned for the 17^th May will be key in influencing future student opinion on the ability of the Students’ Union to provide quality services and events that reflect what students want.
• The Line up for the Summer Ball is confirmed and a new wave of Marketing Material is being produced.
• The Ball will only go ahead if we have received sufficient ticket sales! So please buy your tickets asap.
• Peachy and Pleasuredome continue to benefit from heavy advertising as well as a largest ever number of guest appearances. The amount of money being spent on making these events special is considerable and is squeezing the profit margins. However, the extra income from the Virgin Media ‘Ave it’ offsets this increased expenditure.
• There is a questionnaire that focuses on assessing the quality of the services provided by the commercial department the results of which will inform the work over the summer to address the issues mentioned above and to improve our service for the benefit of students.