January Update to SU Council

Hi everyone,

It’s been a bit of a hectic month since the last blog, but a really productive one. January has mostly been about finishing things properly and getting work to a point where it can actually move forward, such as the Bidet project.

A big focus this month has been taking ideas that students had shared and doing the less exciting but necessary work behind the scenes: scoping, costing, checking feasibility, and lining everything up with University processes. The goal has been to make sure projects don’t stall later because the groundwork wasn’t done.

Campus Facilities Bidet Pilot Proposal

One of the main pieces of work finished this month is a full pilot proposal to improve toilet facilities through installing bidet spray units in one campus building.

From the Students’ Union side, all required work is now complete. This included:

• Writing the full proposal
• Confirming realistic cubicle numbers (2 men’s, 2 women’s, 1 accessible)
• Producing a clear and accurate cost breakdown
• Covering health and safety and compliance requirements
• Clearly setting out that Estates would lead on delivery

The proposal and costings have been finalised and shared. Any next steps now sit entirely with the Estates team, with the SU only involved if input is needed.

Governance and Paperwork

Alongside this, time was spent making sure documentation actually fits University standards, including policy templates, review dates, and approval routes. It’s not glamorous, but it makes a big difference in stopping projects from getting stuck later on. You can read the full dissertation like proposal here (it's 4900 words) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZoOUO_HFgG4OsmLIEqongyX0vgbHq2M-/view?usp=sharing

Keeping Things Visible

Finished work was also shared for senior visibility so there’s clarity on what’s been done and where responsibility now sits.

Looking Ahead

In February, the focus will be on:

• Supporting Estates if they decide to progress the pilot
• Continuing delivery of student- ed activities and events
• Developing new ideas that are ready to hand over

January has been busy, but it’s been about getting things finished properly. That puts us in a good place going into the next few months.