CUSU Council members will be called to vote on Cambridge’s continued affiliation to the National Union of Students (NUS) on Monday, despite a political crisis within the national organisation and confusion surrounding the cost of affiliation.

A motion of reaffiliation will be presented to voting members from college student unions, liberation campaigns and faculties at Monday’s Council, as part of CUSU’s statutory processes.

This year’s vote could potentially be fraught, however: NUS is currently reeling from the aftermath of claims of bullying made against its leader, president Shakira Martin, by several senior members, with sabbatical officers sent home for the week. Further doubt may be cast by the unclear nature of CUSU’s affiliation fee to the student union: so far this year, NUS have charged the student union just £250 – about £10,000 less than expected.

In similar circumstances last year, following an unexpected rise in the affiliation fee, former CUSU president Amatey Doku, now the NUS vice-president for higher education, postponed the statutory vote. It was held during Easter term instead, where it was approved by Council members.

CUSU is obligated to review its external affiliations once a year, with renewal based on a Council decision. In 2016, students called for a referendum on membership, with 51.2% voting to remain affiliated after a heated referendum. Councillors will also be asked to review affiliations to the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), and the Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service.

A supporting document issued by CUSU ahead of Monday’s vote outlines its relationship with the NUS, and emphasises the benefits of affiliation for organising political action. It makes no mention of the current controversy surrounding NUS’s senior leadership.

In a section dedicated to finances, CUSU acknowledged the current lack of clarity surrounding its NUS affiliation costs, saying: “We do not anticipate our fees to stay at £250 but we are in discussions with NUS about how much they should be”.

CUSU pays a substantial fee to the NUS for access to the national union’s web service, Union Cloud. Last year, it paid £7,776 for access to the service.

The document mentions Cambridge’s history of involvement with the NUS, noting four former students have served as the national union’s president, including politician Charles Clark and Wes Streeting MP, a former CUSU president.