SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2005
Present:
Andrew Burt (chairman) Tony Beadle Jacqueline Bickerstaff
David Davies Michael Edwards Julian Ghosh
Sandy Hamilton Tim Holt David Hurley
Peter Mead Rosy Pugh Mike Young
In attendance:
Ian Edmunds (CBQC) Geoff Smith (vice president) Jim Whyman (secretary)1. Apologies for absence
Lord Montagu; Derek Grossmark; John Billard; Colin Francis; David Marsh.
2. Approval of minutes of meeting of 9 September 2005
After correcting and initialling an incorrect apology for absence, the chairman signed the minutes of the meeting of 9 September as accurate.
3. Matters Arising from the previous meeting and from the AGM
9/9/05 items
2a. All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group
David Hurley and Geoff Smith reported on a meeting with APPHVG that had taken place on 18 October. Andrew Turner, from EPPA – the FIVA lobbying service – had attended. The opportunity had been taken to bring the parliamentarians up to date with FBHVC and FIVA activity. David Hurley said he had also raised the possibility of amending primary legislation to permit vehicle keepers to seek non-transferable status for their vehicle registration marks. The next meeting was likely to take place in January or February 2006.5 Insurance
The secretary reminded the meeting of his remarks at the AGM about the inadequacy of Willis’ proposal in respect of a public liability insurance scheme for clubs. He had since received a revised proposal that looked much more promising, and Willis were keen to present full details to a working group from FBHVC as soon as possible. It was agreed that the secretary, Julian Ghosh, David Hurley, Peter Mead and Mike Young should attend on behalf of FBHVC and the secretary was asked to make the necessary arrangements. JW8 Shows and Displays
David Davies said that it had not been practical to proceed with a stand at the NEC Classic Car Show earlier in the month. An invitation to share another stand had arrived too late to accept. The chairman said that FBHVC had had a low key stand and had made a presentation at “Car Club Expo 2005” at Gaydon on the day prior to the meeting. The show was to give suppliers to clubs an opportunity to show their wares and services to club officials. Although few people had attended, it was likely FBHVC would benefit from two new clubs as a result, giving more return for less cost than a typical NEC show.A stand had already been tentatively booked for Classic Bike Show at Stafford (22/23 April 2006). David Davies said he would be happy to set up the stand and take it down, but he was unlikely to be able to man it as he would be heavily involved with the VMCC stand. Jacqueline Bickerstaff agreed to help, but further assistance from other committee members would be requested nearer the time. DD
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- 2 -3. Matters Arising from the previous meeting and from the AGM (contd)
8 Shows and Displays (contd)
It was agreed that Classic British Quality Charter could borrow FBHVC’s display for the Historic Motor Sport Show in February, and that FBHVC should support the Beaulieu Autojumble in the normal way.The merits of attending future shows at NEC were discussed. It was felt that “missionary” work visiting club stands was more important than having a stand of our own and it was agreed that only the smallest possible stand should be booked for the future unless there was a special reason to do something more (as there had been in 2004). The 2006 show, 27 - 29 October, would clash with the FIVA General Assembly.
It was agreed that FBHVC should seek the highest possible profile at the Car Club Expo 2006 show that was being planned, although no date had yet been fixed. JW
9 Finance and Planning
Mike Young said he had made a first draft of a Power Point presentation. It was agreed to review this at the end of the meeting if time permitted.4. Implementation of Vision 2005-2010
The chairman reminded the meeting of the approval earlier in the year of a plan of action for the next five years entitled Vision 2005-2010. He said that in apologising for being unable to attend the meeting, John Billard had suggested that an in-depth analysis of FBHVC operations and management would be a worthwhile exercise to be undertaken before any substantive work was done to implement the Vision plan. He had explained that the National Traction Engine Trust had gone through such a management audit early in 2005 and had found it very valuable. The secretary said he had attended part of that NTET audit and had found it illuminating. He explained the broad principle was that an independent specialist would interview everyone involved in running FBHVC one day, collate the results and present them back to the team the next day in a way that would highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the administration. It was agreed that such an exercise should be undertaken as soon as practical, preferably instead of (or alongside) the January committee meeting that had already been scheduled for 15 January at the Vintage Motor Cycle Club HQ at Burton on Trent. Ian Edmunds commented that it was essential that the secretary should be a participant rather than an organiser. The secretary agreed to make preliminary arrangements. JW
The meeting then considered the proposals contained within Vision 2005-2010, commenting and allocating responsibility for action (shown in bold) as follows:-
A. Articles of Association and Organisation Rules
Review to be undertaken by Andrew Burt, Julian Ghosh, John Billard and secretary.B. Administrative Structure
Secretary to draft a job description to be reviewed and refined by Rosy Pugh and Mike Young.
Committee to consider appointment of new secretary and other issues in due course.C. Exploit Heritage Aspects of Historic Vehicle Movement
Closer liaison with the Transport Trust (TT), of which Julian Ghosh is a Trustee, was identified as an obvious route to improving FBHVC’s heritage credentials. It was recognised that TT has a strong railway bias, but its interests include all forms of transport. No responsibility for action was decided.D. Legislation
David Hurley said he would discuss the appointment of a deputy with colleagues at the next legislation committee meeting. Discussion had already taken place on improving record keeping. The secretary said he recognised the importance of full and proper records, and knew it was his responsibility to ensure that happened but he admitted he was struggling to achieve a workable system.E. Fuels
The recommendation that the word “fuels” in relation to the legislation committee be dropped had been implemented. The meeting considered whether or not to continue additive sampling and testing and agreed to do so on a random basis, probably testing two products a year. David Hurley would remain responsible for making the arrangements.
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- 3 -4. Implementation of Vision 2005-2010 (contd)
F. DVLA
Sandy Hamilton agreed to remain responsible for DVLA liaison and agreed to consider how best to introduce someone else to the work to provide back up.G. FIVA
It was agreed that this topic was of critical importance and required a greater debate than was possible within an already busy meeting. The matter would be a major topic for the March committee meeting.H. Communication and PR
Changes to the postal system coming into force in August 2006 would increase the cost of distributing the present A4 size newsletter by 50%. It thus made sense to consider re-designing the format to fall within the minimum postage band. It was agreed that a complete review of the format, style and content of the newsletter should be undertaken by Rosy Pugh and Tony Beadle for consideration at the March meeting.
David Davies agreed to retain responsibility for organising attendance at shows.I. Finance
The meeting agreed that it was important to continue to make a surplus on normal activity in order to ensure that funds were available to carry out special projects, such as the current EU wide survey. It was agreed that Mike Young should assist the secretary with budgeting and accounting matters. There was full support for Geoff Smith’s comment that FBHVC should be taking initiatives or carrying out research projects almost as a matter of routine and it was essential that such work could be funded.J & K Recruitment, Resource, Succession & Contingency Planning
Julian Ghosh was invited to take the lead on such planning with a particular view to developing more commercial activity and to encourage younger people into the movement. Tony Beadle offered two ideas to promote FBHVC and encourage wider interest in the movement – first, a press campaign to highlight the possibility that disused vehicles might have a value for an enthusiast so owners should check with a club before scrapping them and, second, setting up a “Drive Your Classic Day” – a nominated day, perhaps 23 April, when people would be encouraged to use an historic vehicle for their routine activity. There were practical difficulties with the former, but the meeting agreed that the latter was an excellent idea and asked Tony to do further work on how best to implement it and to gain exposure for FBHVC as a result.5. UK Legislation
David Hurley said there was not much to add to the minutes of the meeting earlier in the month, but outlined the problems arising from the proposal to bring fire engines into the vehicle testing regime, and said that he was preparing a letter to send to the Minister on the subject. DH
David Hurley said that he felt he was beginning to get somewhere in his dialogue with civil servants in respect of the effects of the Disability Discrimination Act on services using historic vehicles.
Sandy Hamilton reported that DVLA had published a summary of responses to the 2004 consultation on vehicle inspection procedures. Although he was yet to study it in full, a recommendation that consideration be given to “the timely withdrawal” of the V765 scheme had emerged in the classic vehicle press. The meeting agreed that every effort must be made to ensure the continuance of that scheme.
The secretary reported that the Home Office had agreed to changes in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill that had satisfied the Military Vehicle Trust.
The secretary mentioned that he had received a letter from a subscriber organisation asking FBHVC to continue to seek a reversal of the regulations preventing owners from obtaining like-for-like replacement number plates for 1973-2001 vehicles. It was agreed, however, that there should be no new initiative on this matter for the time being.
6. EU Legislation
David Davies expressed some reservations about Geoff Smith’s replacement as chairman of the FIVA legal commission, but commented that nothing was changing for the time being. There was nothing to add to EPPAs October report.
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- 4 -7. FIVA Report & Survey progress
The chairman reminded the meeting that a decision had already been taken to have a major discussion on FIVA at the March meeting. Topics that would have to be discussed would include level of subscription, committee structure and allocation of budgets. There was also the need to increase UK representation within FIVA, which meant the need for one or more committee members who were not currently involved to step forward.
The distribution of survey forms around Europe was continuing with relatively few problems. The club surveys were unlikely to be ready before 2006. In UK, the trade questionnaire had seen a 17% return, but returns from club members had yet to reach 8%.
8 Finance, including review of expense system
Copies of accounts showing the financial position for the first six months of the financial year had been handed round prior to the meeting. The secretary said he felt comfortable with progress and had not spotted any trend that might throw the budget off course. He commented that the question of expenses for attending committee meetings (25p per mile over 200 miles travelled) was beginning to look unfair, and felt that this should be re-considered when time permitted.
9. Schedule of meetings and events for 2006A draft schedule of meeting for 2006 had been distributed with the agenda for the meeting. The schedule was approved, although it was recognised that John Billard, in particular, would have trouble with some of the dates.
10. Other matters
Michael Edwards enquired about the proposed distribution of the Drivers Code – Geoff Smith remarked that he was expecting it to be ready in the Spring of 2006, and clubs would be invited to publish it then.
Mike Young went through the Power Point presentation he had prepared, and one or two comments were noted. It was agreed that a print-out of the presentation should be distributed with the minutes of the meeting to enable committee members to consider it at their leisure.
………….…………………………….. Chairman P H J Whyman, Secretary.