Brigade Council 2003 - Tulliallan, Fife, Scotland
The following notes have been prepared as a guide to the proceedings and decisions of Council:
The Very Revd Dr James Simpson 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.
Copies of the Standing Orders for the procedures at meetings of Brigade Council, previously circulated were accepted
Members of Council were welcomed to Tulliallan by Mr David Richmond, Chair of the Scotland Committee. The Brigade President replied and welcomed members and guests who included Lord Elgin, former Brigade President and Margaret, Viscountess Thurso, Brigade Honorary Vice-President. He also read out letters of greeting from The Girls' Brigade, England; Wales and Scotland. Members of the Brigade who had died in the past year were remembered.
Minutes of Council held in 2002 in Birmingham, which had been circulated were proposed and accepted.
(There were no constitutional or non-constitutional motions for Council. No voting papers had been circulated.)
Mr John Young MBE, Chair of the Brigade Executive, then took the chair for Council. Mr John Neil OBE and Mr Steven Dickinson, Brigade Vice Presidents, presented the Annual Report for the session 2002-03. Several matters in the report were highlighted: Training Developments, Programme Review, Training Centres, Regional Committee work, Millennium Volunteers, International work, National Competitions, Firm Foundations, Crossover, RNLI Millennium project, Business Plan. A tribute was paid to the work of HQ staff. There were a number of comments from the floor.
Mr Ron Dunning, Brigade Treasurer, presented the Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003 and highlighted a number of items including the Brigade's on-going deficit and the annual contributions. Mr Dunning was pleased to report that grants received amounted to an extra £15,000 compared with the previous year, thanks to Scottish Executive Education Department and the Department for Education; Skills, and Department for International Development. Sales have fallen but with tight stock control the gross profit margin has increased to 42% compared to 39% last year. Mr Dunning reported that the Executive has an outline strategy for dealing with the Pension Scheme deficit. A shortfall has to be made up in the next 7 years. In an attempt to strive for a balanced budget cost saving measures have had to be put in place and reluctantly it was decided that three posts should be made redundant and to freeze the position of Brigade Secretary for 12 months. A Finance Review group meets regularly to look at income and expenditure.
Mr Dunning also spoke about company contributions for the session 2003/04. The annual registration fee will be £150 per Company; there will no increase across each of the banded membership fees or in the fees for leaders working in companies. Fees for Battalion/District officials is reduced to £20 in line with company officer fees. 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. Companies were urged to use the appeals procedure if they had difficulties in paying their fees. There were a number of questions and comments from the floor concerning the Brigade�s finances.
A presentation was made by Mr Martyn Waters, Director for Programmes concerning a number of Headquarters initiatives. These included the Disability Advice Network, new training materials for company captains and for Holiday Leadership and the Company Development scheme, which aims to improve the work of local companies. Martyn also spoke about the work being undertaken for the programme review and the Business Plan, which had been agreed by the Executive in March of this year.
Mr Perry Donaldson, Brigade Executive Member made a presentation regarding age limits. Subject to the final agreement of the Brigade�s insurers, the Executive has agreed that the minimum age for Anchor Boys be reduced to the beginning of the school year following the 4th birthday. This change to the regulations was in response to a number of churches that had asked the BB to work with a younger age group. In parts of the UK and Ireland The Girls� Brigade work with younger girls and some parents had also asked for their younger sons to join BB. This reduction in age will not be mandatory and companies would need to apply to their regional HQs for permission. There would also be a requirement for leaders to undertake training and for parts of the programme to be separate for this age group. Further details will appear in the BB Gazette, once agreement is reached with the insurers. There were several questions and comments from the floor.
NB Please note that the current minimum age for Anchor Boys remains at their 5th birthday where permission of the Executive has been obtained.
There were no items of Other Competent Business.
Mr Michael Elliott, Vice Chairman, England Committee made an invitation for Council 2004 which will take place in Leicester.
Mr John Young made a presentation to the Brigade President, His Honour Judge Lockett to mark his retirement as President for the past four years. Mr Young outlined the many roles Judge Lockett had played over 25 years' service in the Brigade and expressed thanks and appreciation for his devotion and commitment to the BB. The President thanked the Brigade for the tribute and cheque which he intended to donate to the work of the KGVI Training Scheme at Felden Lodge, Carronvale and Rathmore together with a donation to the Brigade in the Republic of Ireland. Mr Young announced that the Executive has invited Judge Lockett to become an Honorary Brigade President, the position for which he warmly accepted.
Council closed with worship led by The Very Revd Dr James Simpson.
Brigade Council
6 September 2003
