Katie - the trustees already have "collective responsibility" for the organisation. See, for instance, the Charity Commission guidelines here: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc3.aspx#e8

 I am not exactly sure what Fae thinks is being proposed. Certainly, we've received advice saying that on issues like those we've been dealing with in the last couple of weeks, we ought to minute which trustees are in favour of, and which against, particular proposals. (i.e. putting us more in line with the Wikimedia Foundation's practice). I don't know where the idea " It may also be used to ensure all trustees vote the same way in a public vote" comes from.

The relevant part of the existing Trustee Code of Conduct says; "I will participate in collective decision making, accept a majority decision of the board and will not act individually unless specifically authorised to do so."

http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trustee_Code_of_Conduct (under "Meetings").

Many thanks,

Chris

On Sat, Oct 6, 2012 at 5:36 PM, Katie Chan <ktc@ktchan.info> wrote:
Fae has opened a discussion on the UK wiki water cooler on a current discussions within WMUK Board to institute a concept of collective responsibility[1].

This is an absolutely horrendous proposal and goes right against the heart of the principles of openness and transparency which underpins the Wikimedia movement, and upon which Wikimedia UK was founded on. Even the WMF Board now list individual trustees' votes on a resolution[2]. This is nothing more than a half-assed attempt to hide division within the heart of the current board of trustees that only serve to reduce accountability of individual trustee and damages the chapter.

Whoever proposed this, shame on you!

KTC

[1]: <http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Water_cooler#Trustees_and_.22cabinet_voting.22>
[2]: <http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_of_Trustees_Voting_Transparency>

--
Experience is a good school but the fees are high.
    - Heinrich Heine

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