8 SEPTEMBER 2006
Present:
Lord Montagu Andrew Burt (in the chair) Jacqueline Bickerstaff
David Davies Michael Edwards Sandy Hamilton
David Hurley Rosy Pugh Mike YoungIn attendance Ian Edmunds (CBQC) Derek Grossmark (vice president)
Geoff Smith (vice president) Jim Whyman (secretary & treasurer)Dr. Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport, the Rt.Hon. Greg Knight MP and John Beaumont, were
also present for parts of the meeting.Apologies for absence
Tony Beadle; John Billard; Colin Francis; Julian Ghosh; Tim Holt; David Marsh; Peter Mead.
Extra businessThe chairman invited Mr Beaumont (who was present at Lord Montagu’s invitation) to introduce himself to the meeting and to explain his concerns. Mr Beaumont owned several vehicles in varying stages of repair, including totally dilapidated vehicles awaiting restoration. He had noted that a trader in Lancashire was being prosecuted at Preston Crown Court for keeping “controlled waste” on his premises without a waste management licence, a licence that the Environment Agency claimed he needed to have. The “waste” in question comprised the remains of several cars, mainly Rovers, that were either awaiting restoration or were being kept as sources of spares: Mr Brown did not consider them waste. The concern was that if such vehicles were considered waste by the Environment Agency, there would be dire consequences both for other traders and individuals who kept dilapidated vehicles.
The chairman agreed that these were potentially serious issues and said that although FBHVC could not get involved with specific cases, he would ensure that the case was studied to ascertain the basis of the prosecution and then take up any matters of principle arising with the relevant government agency or department. Mr Beaumont agreed to provide the secretary with all relevant information in his possession, and the secretary agreed to seek relevant transcripts from the proceedings so the details could be studied. JW
1. Approval of minutes of meeting of 23 May 2006 and of notes of meeting of 25 July 2006
The minutes of the meeting of 23 May and the notes of the inquorate meeting of 25 July were both
approved and signed as accurate.2. Matters arising
It was agreed the Drive It Day proposals would be considered under other business. There were no other matters arising not already on the agenda.
3. Articles of Association & Bylaws
The chairman gave a brief summary of the work that had been done during the course of the previous six months that had culminated in a meeting of the constitution working group (which had been joined by Mike Young) towards the end of August at which the concerns expressed at (and since) the inquorate meeting of 25 July were addressed and a revised draft set of articles of association and bylaws produced. These had been circulated to all members of the committee with the agenda for the meeting together with a proposed timetable for future progress and a draft information notice to go to clubs with the AGM agenda.
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- 2 -3. Articles of Association & Bylaws (contd)
Following discussion, during which several detail points were clarified, the meeting agreed that the draft met the committee’s intentions and agreed the proposed timetable for implementation, which included the requirement that the draft be checked by the Federation’s legal adviser prior to publication.
The meeting also considered the proposed notice for clubs and asked the secretary to simplify it. JW
Derek Grossmark congratulated the constitution working group on their work.[The remainder of the meeting was taken in a different order to that on the agenda (due to the expectation of guests) but is reported in agenda order. The meeting became inquorate only for items 8 and 9.]
4. UK legislative matters
a. All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group The chairman welcomed Greg Knight, the APPHVG chairman, to the meeting. Due to the imminent arrival of Dr. Ladyman (who was not expected to remain in the meeting but was to be a guest of FBHVC at an informal dinner later), the only topic covered under this heading was the importance of improving links not only with other heritage organisations but also with the government heritage and culture team. Greg Knight said he had written to the Minister concerned before the summer recess to request a meeting, but had had no response: he said he would write again.
On Dr Ladyman’s arrival, those present introduced themselves before Greg Knight, the chairman, David Hurley and David Davies excused themselves from the meeting to accompany Dr. Ladyman on a tour of the autojumble site.
b. matters arising from Legislation Committee activity David Hurley said he had nothing to add to the minutes of the meeting of 23 August save to report that the response to the MoT fee consultation had been submitted and had included strong criticism of the manner in which the consultation had been conducted.
c. other matters None.
5. EU affairs
Geoff Smith said that the work on the preliminary survey results was coming to an end and it appeared to be producing some interesting results. The material that had been analysed was but a small proportion of that which was available and simply pointed at new avenues of research to be followed up at a later date. Geoff outlined the arrangements he had made for FIVA’s launch of the results on 4 October, and similarly for the presentation of the British report in Westminster on 11 October.
6. FIVA mattersa. preliminary consideration of volunteers to assist with FIVA representation The secretary said the notice in the recent newsletter had produced several expressions of interest, resulting in a list of five people all of whom (on paper) could be of valuable help. It was agreed that the original plan of asking someone to attend the 2006 General Assembly was now impractical, but that the chairman and secretary should speak to those concerned with a view to getting one (or possibly two) into the FIVA committee system during the early part of 2007. AB; JW
b. nominations for General Assembly The chairman outlined the positions in FIVA that were open to election at the 2006 General Assembly. It was agreed that FBHVC should nominate David Davies for re-election as Director of Communications and the secretary was asked to ensure this was done. The chairman described the present incumbents of the other posts and considered likely alternative candidates. It was agreed that FBHVC should support the candidacy of George Ioannides for the position of Vice President and Chairman of Events Commission. The meeting was content to leave decisions on other candidates to the chairman as he felt appropriate. JW
c. other issues A mock-up of how the Drivers’ Code might appear had been prepared by the secretary and discussed at the recent legislation committee. Copies had been sent to FIVA for comment, and David Davies reported that Michel de Thomason had been happy. Publication of the code was FIVA’s obligation as signatory to the EU Road Safety Charter. It was agreed the secretary should proceed to have the code professionally prepared to proof stage for final approval before printing during October or November. JW
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- 3 -7. Annual General Meeting and conference arrangements
The draft agenda for the AGM and notice for the conference were approved for circulation with the report and accounts and the paper on the constitution (after revision and approval by the chairman – see item 3). JW
8. Vision 2005-10 – review of progress [Derek Grossmark in the chair]
The secretary said that time pressures had made it impossible to pay more than passing attention to the Vision paper since the management audit earlier in the year and the chairman had asked that the subject should be the major topic for the November committee meeting (which had been booked at the George at Dorchester on Thames, a venue where a buffet lunch could be served). This was agreed. The one item that required immediate discussion was a paper that had been prepared by Mike Young following discussion between himself, the chairman, Julian Ghosh and John Billard concerning future secretarial arrangements.
Mike Young outlined the thinking behind the paper which was that it was better to find the right person and build the contractual arrangements around that person’s circumstances than it was to decide the employment terms and find someone to fit. The paper went on to say that it was almost certain that more than one person would be required and suggested that it was likely to be more cost-effective, provide better back-up and be easier to staff an arrangement where there was a part time secretary/manager with a full time office worker than it would be to have a full time secretary/manager and part time help.
Derek Grossmark thanked Mike and his colleagues for their work and commented that VCC of GB had tried the arrangement of having a part time secretary with full time office worker and found it unsatisfactory as the office worker ended up doing virtually all the work.
Geoff Smith congratulated Mike on the paper and said he agreed with the principles it outlined, but felt more was needed before action to find a new secretary could be taken: the model arrangement proposed needed to be costed – and if it could not be afforded within the existing budget (which seemed unlikely) action would have to be taken either to adjust the model or to increase income.
After the present secretary had remarked that he hoped his replacement would be more willing to travel and be more interested in improving external relationships on a face-to-face basis than he had been, Jacqueline Bickerstaff said she was not sure if that was really what FBHVC either needed or could afford.
Derek Grossmark summed up by asking Mike Young and his colleagues to relate the thinking behind the recent paper to job descriptions for the part-time secretary and the full time office worker and to attach outline costings so that the proposals could be related to future budgets. MY; AB; JG; JBd
9. Other matters [Derek Grossmark in the chair]
The paper produced by Tony Beadle revising proposals for a 1000 mile relay over the Drive It Day weekend were considered, and applauded. It was agreed this should be discussed further at the November meeting when it was hoped Tony would be present to enlarge on his ideas.
The revised Newsletter format had been well received, and Mike Young said it might be worth mentioning that Royal Mail’s new Post in Proportion scheme had resulted in a 24% saving for JEC.
Mike Young agreed to pass a professional eye over a new letter of engagement that Haines Watts, the auditors, had requested. MY
………….…………………………….. Chairman P H J Whyman, Secretary.