Maintenance Fee

Site: CotH, Section: History, Page: Maintenance Fee.

DSU Firmly Believes

That under no circumstances should the maintenance fee rise by a greater percentage than the grant.

That the Durham Colleges Maintenance Fee is currently one of the highest in the country.
That the student grant is unlikely to be raised by more than 10% and a figure of 8% would not be pessimistic.
That the colleges after getting in their opinion 'a rough deal' last year are likely to be requesting an increase in excess of 15%
That excessive increases in Hall of Residence fees relative to the increase in the student grant are already forcing halls to close through their inability to compete with the cheaper options available.

That within the Durham Colleges it is possible to minimise the necessary increase in the maintenance fee by adopting some form of cross subsidisation be it through a 'conference income tax' or some other method. This would reduce the minimum necessary maintenance fee for the poorer colleges to survive and bring and end to the deplorable state of affairs in recent years where the more affluent colleges are transferring huge amounts to reserves at the expense of their students.
That in accumulating these reserves the colleges have always argued that they are to be set asidde for 'times of severe financial hardship'. Surely such time have arrived and the colleges ought to be using these reserves to offset the worst effect of the recession.
That bearing in mind the two points above it would be betrayal of our membership for our student reps on the maintenance fee committee to accept an increase in the fee above that of the grant. No such increase can possible be accepted.
In order to protect themselves from the likely consequences of an excessive maintenance fee increase combined with the imminent halt in the increase of student numbers as a result of government policy, it is probably that the colleges will attempt to impose further restrictions on the option to live out. Any such restrictions must be opposed.

To communicate the sentiments of this motion to the University and Heads of Houses
To organise as first priority a campaign amongst the membership to explain the issues at stake and to rally support for our arguments.
To set aside the initial sum of £150 from the campaigns budget solely for this purpose......AND TO SPEND IT.
To make it clear to all concerned. THAT WE WILL NOT ACCEPT A FURTHER INCREASE IN THE MAINTENANCE FEE OVER AND ABOVE THE CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE STUDENT GRANT. Should such an increase be imposed its implementation will be opposed by the student union in all possible ways.

The Executive to organise the campaign and to report to the next and each successive council until agreement is reached.

That the maintenance fee is one of the most important issues affecting students over which DSU has representation.
That according to our constitution (ratified by the university and all JCRs) one of DSU's functions is
'to constitute the main recognised means of communication between the students and officers of the University of Durham'
That Senior Men and Women's Committee is not a part of the DSU and is hence not accountable to Council.
That the DSU sabbaticals should liase with and seek the cooperation of Senior Men and Women in all aspects of their work especially those aspects which affect the colleges directly.
The Senior Men and Women's Committee should be encouraged to take an active part in any maintenance fee campaign and should be congratulated for the interest they have taken this year however the DSU sabbaticals must:
1. Take an equally active role and no way should they leave it for Senior Men and Women to get on with.
2. Argue that DSU Council is the proper place to debate the options available and decide on a strategy.
3. Ensure that Council is kept adequately informed on all developments and decisions.
That the DSU sabbaticals have failed inexcusably in this respect.

Site: CotH, Section: History, Page: Maintenance Fee.