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J. Harcourt
jlh73
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 15
Affiliation: Department of Zoology
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 Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:22 pm |
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| High level Officers of the University are currently negotiating Council Tax exemption with the City Council. A final decision on this issue has NOT yet been reached and, in the light of the latest discussions, we hope the Council will accept that students should be eligible until the end of their 4th year. More information will be posted here as soon as we have it.... Related pages of the GU website: Council Tax
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E.C.R. Green
ecrg2
Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:55 pm |
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If you would like to contact your local councillors about this, you can find your city ward from the map here:
http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/reception-and-office-services/electoral-ward-boundaries.en
and your councillors' contact details here:
http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/councillors/councillors-details.en
You could also contact the MP for Cambridge, David Howarth (also a Fellow of Clare College), whose contact details are here:
http://www.davidhowarth.org.uk/
I've received some conflicting advice from University bodies about what we should do with demands for council tax payment. Below is a summary of advice received this morning from Sarah Pickard at the Board of Graduate Studies. I'd be interested to hear what other people have been told!
1. Pay the first month's Council Tax for the time being, if possible (it should be refunded if the council back down). If you have problems paying, contact Sarah Pickard at BoGS one.
2. Provide the council with exemption certificates from your College and
the Board of Graduate Studies (email Sarah Pickard sjp54@admin.cam.ac.uk for the BoGS one).
3. Write a covering letter to the council, enclosing the certificates
and stating that:
- you are fully funded by [...] for [..>3..] years
- you are actively engaged in research (not 'just' writing up) and are required to attend the Department for a minimum of [..>21..] hours per week.
- you are required to be in Cambridge to do this.Related pages of the GU website: Clare College | Council Tax | GU Board | Board of Graduate Studies (BoGS)
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Henry Gomersall
whg21
Joined: 16 Oct 2009
Posts: 1
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E.C.R. Green
ecrg2
Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:59 pm |
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Certainly the funding is independent of the course (I for example get 3.5 years' funding and am expected to finish in 4 years). I don't think the period of one's funding can affect the legal situation in any way, but I guess if those of us who are lucky enough to have >3 years' funding mention the fact then it helps to establish the idea that full time PhDs are expected, by authorities other than the university, to take more than three years.
I should have said that the advice I quoted from Sarah Pickard was directed specifically to my housemate and me, as research council funded science students, though presumably points 1. and 2. apply to everyone. Sorry about that.Related pages of the GU website: Alternative Prospectus – Funding | Awards and Scholarships (Reporter)
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E.C.R. Green
ecrg2
Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:02 pm |
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| I'm also not sure about the 'engaged in active research, not just writing up' bit - again I was quoting Sarah, but it seems grossly unfair if writing up doesn't count as part of the PhD, given that one can't get the degree without doing it. When I wrote to my councillor I referred to the fact that some of the fourth year would be spent writing up, but pointed out that this was after all essential. |
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Jamie Barron
jaab3
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Information from Councillor John Hipkin |
| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:08 am |
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I have received the following email from Cllr John Hipkin, who is going to raise the issue of Council Tax exemptions for 4th years at the Full Council meeting on Thursday:
"Just to keep you in the picture. I have put down a question at Thursday's Council meeting to the Executive Councillor for Services and Resources asking for an update on the progress of discussions on 4th year exemptions between the City Council and the University and will as a response to that question make the point that exemption from council tax should be extended to all fourth year students irrespective of when they submit etc. I have also urged the City Council's representative in discussions with the University to accept the force of the case for exemption and I am hopeful that he will press for a resolution of the problem along these lines."Related pages of the GU website: Council Tax | GU Exec
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J. Harcourt
jlh73
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 15
Affiliation: Department of Zoology
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:44 am |
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| Just to add that members of the public can attend Council meetings such as this one tomorrow (22nd October). Students affected may well want to add their voice there... |
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Theo Markettos
atm26
Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 210
Affiliation: Computer Lab
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Jamie Barron
jaab3
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Details of the Council Meeting |
| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:30 am |
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Here is some more information about tonight's council meeting, from Cllr Tim Ward, with whom I have been in contact.
The minutes of the meeting are apparently eventually published on the council website but include the answers to neither the oral nor written questions.
Cllr Ward has put in an oral question, which is answered and may be followed by a supplementary question if he chooses to ask it. So I now know that at least two councillors will be asking questions on this matter - Cllr Ward and Cllr Hipkin.
One is permitted to ask questions as a member of the public at the start of the meeting, but you need to talk to the Committee Manager, Glenn Burgess, before the start of the meeting or in advance by email (glenn.burgess@cambridge.gov.uk).
It is possible to be admitted at any point during the meeting, so if you can't get there right at the start that's fine. There is a public gallery, and also some seats at the side of the main chamber, though technically to sit in these on is supposed to be invited by a Councillor. There are theoretically tickets but in practice this is not usually required.
I cannot make the meeting myself, unfortunately, but hopefully some students will be able to attend and both find out what was said and show that there are significant numbers of people affected by this issue. |
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E.C.R. Green
ecrg2
Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:25 am |
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I'm going to the council meeting; I'll post anything interesting that comes out of it.
It's at 6pm at the Guildhall. |
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J. Harcourt
jlh73
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 15
Affiliation: Department of Zoology
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:45 pm |
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From the meeting this evening, it sounds like 4th year students WILL now be exempt. Beyond this they would have to apply for exemption on a case by case basis (if intermitting, having had lab problems etc.)
As soon as we receive official confirmation through Council-University negotiation channels the GU website will be fully updated accordingly... |
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RT
rt251
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 23
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E.C.R. Green
ecrg2
Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences
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| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:05 am |
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I didn't post last night as others beat me to it!
Just wanted to say many thanks to RT for his efforts on students' behalf, and to Jennifer for keeping us in touch through the Grad Union.
It is good to be clearer about where we stand - I hope everyone reading this forum who has had their exemption rejected is restored by this ruling to the 'council tax disregards' category.Related pages of the GU website: Council Tax
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