In accordance with the duties imposed upon it by
Section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986, the Council of the
University has instituted the following Code of Practice regarding the
use of University premises for meetings and other activities of the
type specified in the aforesaid Act.
I
Principles
1.
So far as is reasonably practicable, access to the premises of the
University shall not be denied to any registered student or employee
of the University or to any individual or body of persons invited to
the premises of the University by a registered student or employee of
the University on any grounds relating to:
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the beliefs or views of that registered student,
employee or person so invited: or
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the policies or objectives of that body;
except insofar as the expression of such belief,
views, policies or objectives shall be unlawful and where it is
reasonably anticipated that the unlawful expression of such beliefs,
views, policies or objectives might occur on the relevant occasion.
2.
Subject to
principle 1 above, the University reserves the right to impose
such conditions upon the grant of access to its premises as are
reasonably necessary for the discharge of its obligations relating to
the safety, health and welfare of its registered students, employees
and other persons lawfully upon the premises or for the efficient
conduct and administration of its functions.
II Procedures
1.
The following procedures shall be adhered to by registered students
and employees of the University in respect of:-
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meetings or any other activities which it is proposed
shall be held on the premises of the University and which fall within
the class of meetings or activities defined at
4
below (hereinafter referred to as "designated meetings or
activities"); and
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the conduct to be required of all persons relating to
such designated meetings or activities; and
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any other related matters which the Council of the
University may declare to fall under this Code.
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2.
Any contravention of or departure from the provisions of this Code
shall render the registered student or employee responsible therefore
liable to the appropriate disciplinary procedures of the University.
3.
The Council of the University hereby authorises the Vice-Chancellor to
appoint at the commencement of each academic year an Officer of the
University (hereinafter referred to as the "appointed Officer'') to
act on his behalf to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, due
compliance with the provisions of this Code by all persons subject
thereto. The Officer appointed shall normally be the
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Resources) or, in his or her absence, the
Registrar & Secretary.
4.
Meetings or activities to which this Code applies (designated meetings
or activities).
A designated meeting or activity is one
which it is proposed shall take place on any premises in which the
University has a proprietary interest and at which the organisers of
the meeting or activity or the appointed Officer reasonably anticipate
a real likelihood of unlawful conduct on the part of any person
present at the meeting or activity or relating to the access to or
egress from the premises of the University of any person attending,
addressing or concerned in the organisation or conduct of the meeting
or activity.
5.
Application procedure in respect of designated meetings or activities.
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It is the duty of any registered student or employee
of the University who is involved in the organisation of any proposed
meeting or activity to have due regard to the question whether the
proposed meeting or activity may be a designated meeting or activity
as defined at
4
above . If any such registered student or employee considers that the
proposed meeting or activity may fall within that definition, or if
notified that the appointed Officer so considers, the registered
student or employee is hereby required to proceed according to the
provisions of this Code. Any registered student of the University who
is involved in the organisation of any such proposed meeting or
activity is required to obtain a decision from the appointed Officer
as to whether the meeting or activity falls within that definition.
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The organisers of any designated meeting or activity
are required to appoint an individual, who shall be a registered
student or employee of the University, to act as principal organiser
of the event for the purposes of this Code.
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The principal organiser shall be
responsible, as far as is reasonably practicable, for ensuring that
the organisation of the designated meeting or activity, the conduct of
the organisers thereof and the conduct of any person invited to the
University in connection therewith shall be lawful and shall conform
to the provisions of this Code and to any condition relating to the
designated meeting or activity duly imposed under this Code.
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An application to hold a designated meeting or
activity shall be made to the appointed Officer at least four weeks
before the date proposed for the event. The application must state the
name of any speaker, the subject of any speech and proposed timing of
the arrival and departure of any speaker who is not a member or
employee of the University. The application must be signed by an
individual identified as principal organiser of the event and must
incorporate an undertaking by the principal organiser to accept
responsibility under
(c) above.
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Applications to hold designated meetings or activities
are subject to the University's policy regarding the booking of
amenity and teaching accommodation as laid down from time to time.
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Permission to use University premises for the purpose
of a designated meeting or activity may be granted subject to any
conditions the appointed Officer may consider reasonably necessary to
secure compliance with the University's legal obligations or to
maintain or promote the efficient conduct and administration of its
functions. Any failure to comply with such conditions shall constitute
a contravention of this Code.
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Premises used for designated meetings and activities
shall be left clean and tidy and in good repair. Failure to leave
premises in such condition may result in a charge being levied upon
the principal organiser to cover the cost of any cleaning or repairs
which, in the University's judgement, are required.
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6.
An appeal against a decision made under this Code by the appointed
Officer may be made by the principal organiser of the meeting or
activity to which the decision relates. Such appeal must be made to
the Vice-Chancellor within seven days of the issue of the decision and
the Vice-Chancellor's ruling thereon shall be final, subject only to
the jurisdiction of the Visitor to the University. The Vice-Chancellor
shall report any ruling made in respect of an appeal under this Code
to the next meeting of the Council of the University.
7.
It shall be the duty of the appointed Officer to report annually to
the Council, at its first meeting of the academic year, on all
decisions made under this Code of Practice, to comment on the
implementation of its provisions and to recommend any amendments or
additions thereto for consideration by Council.
