Brigade Council 2002 - Birmingham, England
The following notes have been prepared as a guide to the proceedings and decisions of Council:
The Revd Richard Taylor, Chaplain, 52nd Birmingham Company conducted the opening service.
The Brigade President, His Honour Judge Lockett, read a message of loyal greeting that had been sent to our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen on behalf of Council. Council then stood to receive her reply. The President spoke of the letters of condolence that had been sent to Her Majesty upon the death of Princess Margaret and Her Majesty The Queen Mother. Also of an illuminated scroll of greeting that had been sent to The Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee.
Copies of the Standing Orders for the procedures at meetings of Brigade Council had been previously circulated and were accepted.
Members of Council were welcomed to Birmingham by Mr, Tony Wakeman, President, Birmingham Battalion. The Brigade President replied and welcomed members and guests. He also read out letters of greeting. The President welcomed Dantes Kashingrwe, Secretary of the BGB Uganda to Council, also Don McLaren, Brigade Secretary to his first Council. The President announced that Alan McLoughlin, former member of the Executive, had been appointed as an Honorary Brigade Vice President.
Members of the Brigade who had died in the past year were remembered.
Minutes of Council held in 2001 in Northampton, which had been circulated were proposed and accepted.
(There were no constitutional or non-constitutional motions for Council. No voting papers had been circulated.)
The President, presented the Annual Report for the session 2001-02. Several matters in the report were highlighted. The President spoke of his travels during his year in office to many parts of the Brigade. His Honour Judge Lockett then informed Council that he intended to step down as Brigade President at the end of this new session. He paid tribute to the work of Mary Care, Assistant to the Brigade Secretary, for all her work. John Young, Brigade Vice President seconded the Annual Report and paid tribute to the work of all the Brigade staff. There were no questions or comments from the floor.
Mr Ron Dunning presented the Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2002 and highlighted a number of items including the significant reduction in the deficit, the annual contributions and the reduction in administration costs. Mr Dunning was pleased to report the surpluses earned by the Training Centres at Carronvale and Felden Lodge each of which have benefited from refurbishments. The relocation of BB Supplies and Business Centre from St Neots to Felden Lodge was reported upon. A new line had been added to the accounts to show the pension provisions under new accounting standards requirements. Mr Dunning also spoke about company contributions for the session 2002/03. The annual registration fee will be £135 per Company; there will no increase across each of the banded membership fees. Fees for leaders will each rise by £2: Company Officers £20, subsequent Officers at the same address where only one copy of the Gazette is required £17.00, Officers in fulltime training or education £14, Officers in receipt of a state retirement pension £14. Provision will be made on the annual stat return form for companies to indicate if they wish to pay their leaders invoices in one amount. There was one comment from the floor concerning the fee burden on small companies.
Tuck Yeen Poon, Andrew Oakley, Stuart Mathers and Laura Shears, members of BB International Team made a presentation to Council to launch 'On the Edge.' This new project, which is being funded by the Department for International Development, considers issues of youth marginalisation and how the BB can respond to the needs of disadvantaged young people. Illustrations were given of how BB Jamaica and BB Uganda have responded to such social needs. The presentation included an interview with BGB Uganda National Secretary, Dantes Kashingrwe. Members of Council were encouraged to use the resources of 'On the Edge' in their companies, and to promote the project in their battalions.
Messrs Alistair Burrow and Alasdair Ross made a presentation to Council concerning Global Fellowship; which is the new name for World Conference. Global Fellowship has recently undergone a strategic review of its work. Consultations were undertaken with all member organisations, the Regional Fellowships and some external partners. The purpose of Global Fellowship remains the same as World Conference, the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among the young people of the World. Members of Council were encouraged to continue their valuable support to enable Global Fellowship to help deliver meaningful programmes to young people.
A presentation was made about Millennium Volunteers by way of a video; John Borgagno, a young BB leader from Birmingham had put this together. The video highlighted a number of things that young people have undertaken in their companies, churches and local communities to achieve their awards. 905 young people are now signed up to the BB MV scheme. To date 243 young people have gained their 100-hour MV Awards and 138 their 200-hour Awards of Excellence.
Several short presentations were made concerning a number of Headquarters initiatives:
Grant Joiner, HQ IT Manager highlighted a number of information technology projects including the work undertaken to encourage companies, battalions and districts to have their own web pages under the umbrella of the BB web site, the free email service available to all leaders via bbonline, and the redesign of the BB web site. Grant also spoke about the new membership records database.
Karen Jay, Director for Training spoke about the recent evaluation that had been undertaken to measure the impact of the Youth Leader Training material that was launched at Council last year. Also the new Company Development Scheme material that had recently been circulated to each BB Company to encourage staff to plan and develop effective programmes, to improve the quality of their work and to highlight training needs. Council was also informed about the Disability Advice Network that was being put in place to increase access to the BB by children and young people with disabilities and impairments. Karen paid a tribute to the work of the Brigade Training Officers and Conveners who work hard in the planning and delivery of training across many levels in the Brigade.
Martyn Waters, Director for Programmes spoke about the Programme Review launched earlier this year with consultations being undertaken in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. The purpose of the review is to improve the quality of BB work by across the various sections. Responses were already being received following information in the BB Gazette and on the web pages. A small number of working groups will shortly be set up for the various sections and young leader training. Martyn also spoke about the criminal record checks that the Brigade plans to undertake from the end of September, initially in England, Scotland and Wales using the services of the 'Criminal Records Bureau', and 'Disclosure Scotland'; Northern Ireland will follow at a later date once the government has a scheme in place. Checks will be undertaken for new leaders and re-registering at the end of every five years.
Don McLaren, Brigade Secretary, made a presentation regarding the work that had been undertaken in the current three-year Business Plan. Work had mainly focused around issues of quality; the quality of training, and the quality of programmes. Other areas of work had included communications and information technology, a new equal opportunities policy and also a staff development policy. Staff and members of the Executive would soon commence work on a new three-year Plan to build upon the good work of the past, and to develop and sustain our work with young people. The views of companies and young people would be an important part of the consultation process., Council were encouraged to respond to information to be published in the Gazette and on the web pages.
Rev Steve Chalke made a presentation to Council about the Oasis Trust project 'Faithworks'. After the presentation several questions were asked from the floor. John Winchester and Gareth Eakin, members of the Executive, then made responses to the issues raised by Steve Chalke, each speaking about the current involvement of local BB companies in their local communities. Don McLaren highlighted several other matters and closed the presentation by thanking Steve Chalke and encouraging members of Council to explore opportunities to extend their work.
There were no items of Other Competent Business.
David Richmond, Chairman, Scottish Committee made an invitation for Council 2003 which will take place at Tulliallan Castle near Stirling.
Council closed with worship led by Brian Morris, Chaplain 78th Birmingham Company and member of the Birmingham Battalion Chaplaincy Team.
Brigade Council
31 August 2002
