MINUTES OF THE 39TH MEETING OF THE SOUTH EAST
AND EASTERN AREA COUNCIL, HELD AT THE UNION JACK
CLUB, LONDON, ON SATURDAY 26th APRIL 2014
PRESENT:
Air Marshall Sir Roger Austin KCB AFC
President
Mr B A Furness
Chairman
Mr S Colbourne
Mr F Barrett MBE
Mr R Broscomb
Mr D P Craven
Mr J Gilmour
Mr R Green
Mr C Hignett MBE
Mr I Hunter MBE BEM
Mr I McEnnis
Wg Cdr R W Shepherd
Mr C White
Sqn Ldr D Gibson
RAFALO
SECRETARIAT:
Mr K Clarke
Mrs L Withers
Area Director
ITEM 1: OFFICIAL DEDICATION
The Chairman read the official dedication, making special mention
of Mr Bob Eaton who despite his disability had carried on as a
dedicated HWO until the end and the father of the Area Vice
President, AVM Grahame Jones, who had been a member of the
Pathfinder Force. Members stood in silent tribute.
ITEM 2: CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He began by
stating that he had received an e-mail from Air Cdre Carter stating
that he had been extremely pleased and humbled on the gift
voucher received for Best Weston and thanked Council on his
behalf.
ITEM 3: APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from AVM G Jones, AVM A J Stables
Mr R Taylor and Flt Lt A Kerslake.
ITEM 4: MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING (38th)
The Chairman asked if there were any mistakes that needed to be
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corrected. There were none.
The minutes were then signed as a true copy.
ITEM 5: MATTERS ARISING
There were no Matters arising.
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ITEM 6: SECRETARY’S REPORT
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Branches:
The Area Director stated that Harlow Branch had decided to close
and become an RMG. A formal date on this is awaited. An
Extraordinary General Meeting is being held on 13 May to discuss
the future of the Ilford & Wood Green Branch and Club. He went
on to say if there were not sufficient volunteers forthcoming to form
a Committee then the Area will have to take the decision to close
the Branch and dispose of the property. On a more positive note
he was pleased to say that contrary to what had been advised at
the previous meeting, the Chingford Branch had managed to form
a Committee and will continue. The RAF Armourers’ Association
has expressed an interest in becoming a virtual Branch of the
Association and Mr Clarke was expecting to receive a formal
petition from them to form a Branch in the next week or so.
Membership: Mr Clarke said that as at yesterday (25th April), the
Area had a total of 1246 members shown as lapsed. This
consisted of 935 full members and 311 Associate members. Once
again he asked all Area Councilors during their visits to Branches
and regional Meetings to stress how important it is that Branch
Committees make personal contact with their lapsed members. He
asked Council to be proactive when visiting branches regarding
lapsed members.
Fundraising: Wings Appeal workshops were held at Wisbech in
Cambridgeshire on 18th April and at Chelmsford in Essex on 23rd
April. It is disappointing that only 9 people from 6 Branches
attended the Wisbech event and 12 people from 7 Branches
attended the Chelmsford event. A further workshop is planned for
Kenley & Caterham on 30th April. So far only 10 people from 5
Branches were planning to attend. He reminded Council of the
door to door fundraising campaign which had taken place last year
in Lincolnshire. Further campaigns are now planned in the
following areas:
Lincolnshire and Derbyshire from 12 May
Guildford Area from 1 June
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Bournemouth from 12 May
Annual Conference. Annual Conference will take place in a couple
of weeks. The 35 rooms that had been reserved in the Park House
Hotel have now all been taken. However, inquiries for
accommodation are still being received.
ITEM 7: MINUTES OF THE 325TH MEETINGS OF CENTRAL Action
COUNCIL – AREA REP
The Minutes of the 325th Meeting were not yet available. However,
Mr Barrett gave an update on the Meeting. He reported that the
financial statement for the year ending 31st December 2013 was
approved by Central Council. They had also been given an Audit
Finding Report for the same period. This was produced by Baker
Tilly UK. Management Accounts as at the 28th February showed
early signs that there will be a surplus to budget in excess of
£400k. The homes are holding their own in both costs and room
occupancy. Cash flow position of the Association remains strong
and a watching brief will be kept to review cash holdings against a
need to the investment portfolio to maximise financial benefit.
The last KSF receipt was £109k in December last year. This took
our overall recovery to 81.5p in the pound. It is anticipated that in
May this year that KSF receipts are near the end and approx.
86.5p in the pound is likely to be the maximum amount to be
recovered by the Association.
Central Council looked at the Risk Register. Mr Barrett had raised
a point under Welfare, It was stated that “Sufficient numbers of
welfare volunteers are in place to cover all areas of need”. This is
currently classed as a low risk. Mr Barrett thought it should be
medium risk and had proposed, and it was agreed, that it be
moved from green to amber to mitigate the risk that in the near and
far future we do not have enough trained volunteers to cover all of
the UK and Europe.
A draft performance review 2013 paper was discussed; this
included a five year plan covering 2011 – 2015. They then looked
at a paper “The Way Forward 2020” which was on the Agenda.
Everyone had seen this. It was agreed to bring forward the
operational plan and review annually.
An information paper on Data Management was looked at.
Communications within the Association are an issue and there are
various ways to resolve these. It was agreed by Central Council
that the Association buys into a company with a proven track
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record that they can deliver what the Association needs and more.
The cost will be £70k plus an annual fee.
A confidential paper from the Nominations and Remunerations
Committee regarding staff pension scheme was discussed.
Unfortunately Mr Barrett was unable to comment further until the
Central Council Minutes were released.
Papers concerning Annual Conference, resolutions for Conference,
Story Book Wings and schools engagement programme were all
looked at. Mr Barrett said that council had received a report from
the GPC and a review of that committee. Other papers from the
Welfare Department had given them an overview of current and
planned work. The Families Federation had given council a
progress report on meeting, surveys and visits and Mr Barrett
noted how busy they were.
ITEM 8: CLUBS UPDATE – CLUBS LEAD MEMBERS
Mr White gave an update on Illford and Woodford Branch, he had
contacted them and there will be an EGM on 13th May to see if
they wanted to carry on as an active branch. He was awaiting an
update. He commented on the HMRC VAT Refunds on gaming
machines and how some of our Clubs might be affected and that
the pay back could be up to £12k in total.
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ITEM 9: AREA CONFERENCE 2014
The Chairman asked Council for thoughts on the Bracklesham Bay
venue and the feedback that had been received.
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Mr Craven had commented that the National President had been
told to be quiet by members of staff while talking to our members
during the entertainment and he thought that this was offensive.
The Chairman had received a complaint that if Conference was
held in the same venue again then a number of members would
not attend. Mr Clarke had also received a complaint about the
standard of accommodation.
Mr Hignett then said that he had spoken to a number of members
who had thought it had been value for money and Mr Broscombe
said that the staff had been very helpful.
Mr Hunter commented on the bar not being open regularly and Mr
Clarke said that this was due to a lack of staff but that alcoholic
drinks were also available in the coffee shop.
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Mr Hignett commented that the people working the PA system
were appalling.
The Chairman asked Mr Clarke to update the council on the 2015
Conference
Mr Clarke had spoken to Potters regarding the 2015 Area
Conference. They have offered us the weekend of 20th- 22nd
March 2015 at a cost of £160-£170 per person. Considering that
the current brochure price for a weekend break during
autumn/winter 2014 was £199 - £209 per person he thought the
prices were still competitive. He had made enquiries of other
venues in the Essex and Milton Keynes areas but prices were over
£200 per person plus we would have to pay for, and organise,
separately the evening entertainment. Mr Clarke therefore was of
the opinion that Potters be considered.
Sqn Ldr Gibson agreed that £160 per person for food and
entertainment for the weekend was very good value. Summing up,
the Chairman agreed and thought that Bracklesham Bay too had
been value for money but agreed to look at other options for
venues for 2016. Mr Clarke said he had already been looking at
other options, one of which was Langbourne Hotel on Hayling
Island which had quoted £160 per person for a weekend in 2015.
The Chairman thought that we should opt for Potters for 2015.
Mr Barratt proposed that the Area Conference for 2015 be held at
Potters and this was seconded by Mr Shepherd.
All were in favour
Area Director
ITEM 10: APPOINTMENT OF AREA COUNCIL REP TO
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The Chairman stated that Council needed to elect an Area
delegate for National Conference. It was proposed by Mr
Shepherd and seconded by Mr Barrett that Mr Furness be the Area
Delegate. All were in favour.
ITEM 11: CONSIDERATION OF NATIONAL CONFERENCE
RESOLUTIONS
1. Northern Area - This Conference resolves that Byelaw 26 be
amended by inserting the following after Byelaw 26(1): If a vacancy
occurs amongst the Elected Members, it shall be filled by the
Annual Conference Committee by offering the vacancy to the
unsuccessful candidates at the last election in turn, starting with
the candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes. If there
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Mr Furness
were no unsuccessful candidates or if none of these candidates
are willing to fill the vacancy, it shall be filled by the Annual
Conference Committee by appointing any member who is eligible
for appointment.
If a vacancy occurs amongst the Members of Council on the
Annual Conference Committee, it shall be filled by the Council. –
All were in favour of supporting this resolution.
2. Northern Area – This Conference resolves that Central Council
investigate a way forward to ensure that Members on Area and
CHQ Membership Rolls are not disenfranchised and each roll is
represented by a voting delegate an Area and Annual
Conferences, and that the governing documents are amended
accordingly. – All were in favour of supporting this resolution.
Mr Furness
Mr Furness
3. Trinidad & Tobago Branch – This Conference having approved a
new category of Youth Membership, rafa YOUTH, now agrees that
the Association extend the eligibility of the rafa YOUTH scheme,
subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence by Central
Council, to include all air cadet organisations in the British
Commonwealth. – Area Council had no strong feelings either way
about this resolution and it was agreed that it should be left to left
Mr Furness
to Annual Conference to decide.
4. Dover & District Branch – This Conference resolves that,
following satisfactory due diligence by Central Council, a larger,
more substantial Wing emblem, should replace the sticky backed
wing, currently given out by our collectors for our Wings Appeal. –
As this resolution had been approved at our Area Conference then
the Area Delegate was obliged to support it.
5. Bognor Regis Branch – This Conference resolves that Rule 8
(1(c))be superseded, as follows, that a spouse, partner, widow,
widower and sons and daughters (on reaching the age of 18
years), of personnel who are serving or who have served in the
Royal Air Force be eligible for Ordinary Membership of the Royal
Air Forces Association. - As this resolution had been approved at
our Area Conference then the Area Delegate was obliged to
support it.
6. Aylesbury & Halton Branch – This Conference resolves that with
effect from 1 January 2015 only Full Associate Members of a
Branch shall be eligible to become an Associate Member of a
RAFA Branch Club and that Standard Club Rule 9 (2) be amended
accordingly. - As this resolution had been approved at our Area
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Mr Furness
Mr Furness
Conference then the Area Delegate was obliged to support it.
Mr Furness
7. Central Council – This Annual General Meeting of Conference
agrees with immediate effect, all future memberships are run on an
Anniversary basis, i.e. the date of joining is the date of renewal,
and the Admin Handbook is amended accordingly. – All were in
favour of supporting this resolution.
Mr Furness
8. Central Council – This Annual General Meeting of Conference
agrees that the Conference venue for 2016 should be in Harrogate
from 13 – 15 May 2016 subject to all diligence being carried out by
Central Council. Although some concerns were raised by
members about Harrogate not being as flat as Blackpool or
Eastbourne – All were in favour of supporting this resolution.
Mr Furness
ITEM 12: ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Mr Broscombe reported on the Hemsby Chalets stating that he had
visited the week before. Last year they had a very successful
season providing breaks for 355, which was an increase of 3% on
2012. Of a possible 144 chalet weeks 136 had been taken. The
weeks not taken up were at the very end of the season which ran
for a couple of weeks longer than previously. There were a large
number of repeat bookings, but there were 49 new applicants, a
trend he hoped would continue.
The 2014 season commences on Monday 4th May and runs
through until mid October. The fees will remain the same as last
year:
£140 per chalet per week – Full rate
£100 per chalet per week – Welfare rate
The chalets have all been fitted with replacement carpets
throughout, new interior doors, exterior decoration, bedroom
furniture and blankets. Old crockery, dining tables and chairs,
saucepans and kitchen blinds are being replaced. If any Branch
would like to make a donation to help us with the cost towards
keeping the chalets and the Selsey Holiday home running it would
be greatly appreciated.
The chalet leaflets are being updated and will be sent to all
Branches, RAFALOs and Chief Clerks at RAF Stations.
The Chairman reminded Council of his previous comments at the
Area Conference. Following a discussion there was support for
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asking the Area Director to request the Secretary General to
review the options to best support the administration of the Area.
Area Director
The Chairman suggested that if any branches wanting to make
donations then they might consider the care core system for
Storrington housing which goes towards rent and upkeep.
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Mr Shepherd said that some of the members had not been happy
with the counting at Area Conference and he proposed that we go
back to pre-appointing tellers so that the counting can be formally
carried out for voting, the Chairman agreed.
Area Director
The Chairman went on to welcome our new President Air Marshal
Sir Roger Austin to his first meeting. Sir Roger thanked Council
for inviting him to the job and promised to do the best of his ability
in support and was looking forward to working with everyone.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 3.15pm.
B A FURNESS
Area Chairman
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