Untitled Document

Andrew Burt (chairman) Tony Beadle John Billard
Colin Francis Derek Grossmark (vice president) Geoff Smith (vice president)
John Symes (MSA) Jim Whyman (secretary)

Lord Montagu; Jacqueline Bickerstaff; David Davies; Michael Edwards; Ian Edmunds (CBQC);
Julian Ghosh; Sandy Hamilton; Tim Holt; David Hurley; David Marsh; Peter Mead; Rosy Pugh and
Mike Young.

There being too few elected committee members present to form a quorum, the chairman said the meeting should follow the routine agenda in an informal manner with any decisions necessary either being deferred to the next meeting or being agreed by a poll of all committee members.

3.3.3.5 Insurance
The secretary said he had written to Willis as suggested at the 23 May meeting; there had been no further complaints following a change of staff.

3.3.3.9 Power Point presentation
Steve Day, the web master, had put up an experimental website shortly after the 23 May meeting and had attached the Power Point presentation to it. The address of this hidden site had been circulated to all committee members with e-mail addresses asking for comments about a proposed new style for the site, but the secretary had had only two replies (both favourable) and had consequently taken no further action. Those present felt the revised site layout should be put into operation on the basis that the change could be reversed if it was subsequently found to be inappropriate. JW

4.B Accounts & budget
The secretary said the result for the year to 31 May 2006 had been slightly better than predicted at the last meeting. Most clubs had now renewed for the current year, and all but £10,000 of budgeted subscription income had been banked. The secretary said that the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society had rejoined.

4.C Revisions to newsletter format
A copy of the proof for the new format newsletter was passed round. The secretary said that it was on schedule for distribution at the end of July.

5. Drive It Day
Tony Beadle had prepared a paper with some ideas for enhancing Drive It Day which included a relay around the 1000 mile trial route with a “baton” being passed from one historic vehicle to the next, local club runs over sections of the route and the preparation of DID stickers. The meeting congratulated Tony on his ideas and commented that it was essential that plans for specific activity that day should not detract from the general message that historic vehicle enthusiasts should use historic vehicles for whatever they do that day. Colin Francis was concerned that a relay round the whole 1000 mile trial route might be over ambitious and John Billard stressed the need to ensure that any plans included the whole range of the movement. The meeting considered the potential benefits of association with a charity and considered the possibility of plaques and logos. It was suggested that Drive It Day should (if possible) be registered. The meeting asked Tony to refine his thoughts for further discussion at the next meeting, and asked the secretary to look into registering Drive It Day. TB; JW
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The secretary said that shortly after the last legislation meeting, a report in the house magazine of the Motor Insurers Bureau that all vehicles would have to be insured all the time had caused a flurry of enquiries. The secretary said he had received confirmation from the Minister of State for Transport that there was no intention to require vehicles long off the road, or under SORN, to be insured.

The response to the DVLA fee proposal consultation had been sent, repeating FBHVC’s opposition to the principle of administration charges.

Geoff Smith said he was disappointed that he had yet to receive a date for a meeting with representatives from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to further explore heritage connections. It was pleasing that Greg Knight had been successful in persuading Dr. Stephen Ladyman, the Minister of State for Transport, to attend the post-Beaulieu dinner.

Geoff Smith reported on progress with the survey. The results of the European wide survey would be announced in Brussels on 4 October where John Surtees would be speaking. The UK results would be presented at a function in Westminster on 11 October. Some 300 politicians had been invited to the Brussels function. The London event would be limited by the size of the room to around 50, and invitations had been sent to some 30 MPs – press invitations would be going out shortly.

The secretary read a letter from the Historic Rally Car Register. The letter had accompanied their subscription renewal and suggested there had been some reluctance to renew as a result of an over prescriptive approach to the issue of FIVA ID cards by Alan Putt, especially in respect of tyre sizes where Alan’s interpretation of the rules sometimes put competitors at a disadvantage against those issued with ID cards in other countries. The secretary commented that he felt Alan Putt applied the rules correctly, if strictly, especially when familiar with the subject (such as in respect of tyres) but the secretary also acknowledged that when in new territory, such as coachbuilt luxury cars, Alan could be rather less consistent. Colin Francis felt that Alan was over strict and inflexible, a view partially echoed by John Symes who remarked that Alan did not recognise shades of grey, only black and white. The meeting agreed that it was important to resolve this problem and Geoff Smith offered to meet Tony Barron of HRCR to get a better understanding of their discontent. The secretary was asked to reply accordingly. JW

A paper outlining the possibility of FBHVC becoming associated with the Powderham show had been circulated prior to the meeting. Derek Grossmark suggested that there was no point in discussing the detail, just the principle of whether or not FBHVC should risk members’ funds on a commercial venture: he felt it should not. Geoff Smith took an opposite view, commenting that it was essential for the future success of FBHVC for it to be more outgoing and to raise its public profile, and he could see no objection to an element of risk to achieve this aim. The comment was made that it was far more important to attend such shows than to organise them. After further discussion, the consensus of the meeting was that FBHVC should not become involved with the organisation of Powderham, or any similar event. In view of the need for Powderham’s organisers to know FBHVC’s position in time for an early August committee meeting, it was agreed that the secretary should seek the views of absent committee members and decide accordingly. JW

The usual stand had been booked for Beaulieu. It had already been agreed not to attend the NEC Classic Car Show, but it was hoped there would be an opportunity to make a presentation on the results of the survey. The secretary said that Gaydon would be running another Club Expo event in November, again on the day before the November committee meeting. He said he had agreed to mount an FBHVC display, and also to make a presentation if required. John Billard said he would be happy to help. JW

The meeting limited its discussion under this heading to the draft articles of association that the secretary had prepared to reflect the discussions on future constitution that had taken place over the previous few months. The secretary pointed out that the draft was based on a general template and so included elements that had not been discussed, such as a limitation on the number of periods of office a person might have and proxy voting.

After much discussion, the meeting considered that the draft articles were close to what was required, but that further refinement was needed in some areas: in particular, it was felt:-
• that the detail contained within articles 14.1 and 16.4.2 would better be taken out of the articles and encapsulated within bylaws to improve future flexibility;
• that the implications of proxy voting and the possibility of postal voting should be considered in depth by the constitution working group;
• that the possibility of admitting traders to full membership should be considered; and
• that the constitution working group should meet to consider and review these points in time to present a firmed-up draft at Beaulieu together with an outline presentation for the AGM.

It was agreed that the secretary should seek the views of all committee members on this subject, and if there was general agreement, make arrangements for the constitution working group to meet to take matters further. JW

Tony Beadle suggested that FBHVC should consider publishing an annual handbook with lists of events. There was concern that this would be a costly exercise that would require considerable work, but improving the web listing of events might be a practical alternative. No specific action was decided.

The chairman said that an organisation called E-FAITH (European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage) was proposing a European contact weekend for volunteers working in this sector. This would take place in Beringen, Belgium over the weekend of 7/8 October and the participation cost would be low, at 20€ to encourage maximum attendance. It was agreed that either FIVA or FBHVC should be present.

The chairman said that recent French legislation in respect of events for motor vehicles was causing some confusion. The secretary said that a mention was being made in the newsletter to warn UK organisers of events in France, and that following the recent legislation meeting, David Davies had asked Patrick Rollet of the French federation to explain what the new decree actually meant in practical terms. Details would be published in a future newsletter. JW

………….…………………………….. Chairman P H J Whyman, Secretary.

SUBSEQUENT NOTE: At 4 October, the secretary had received approval to the tentative decisions recorded at items 7 and 8 above from: Lord Montagu; David Davies; Michael Edwards; Julian Ghosh; Sandy Hamilton; Tim
Holt; David Hurley; David Marsh and Rosy Pugh – Jacqueline Bickerstaff, Peter Mead and Mike Young are on holiday and would not have received the note that was circulated on 26 July. The organisers of the Powderham show have been advised, and a meeting of the constitution working group will take place on 23 August to consider all the views received by then.