UnratifiedMinutes of the Annual General Meeting of The British Driving
Society – Wales
Held at The Commodore Hotel, Llandrindod Wells
On Sunday 5th April 2009
Present: Mr M. Kesans (Chairman), Mrs M. Greatorex (Vice Chairperson/AC), Mr S. Evans (Treasurer), Miss M. Reid (Hon. Sec), Mrs S. Burrows (AC), Mrs A. Drinkwater-Lunn (AC), Mr P. Edwards (AC), Mrs G. Flannagan (AC), Mrs E. Stevens (AC), Ms J. Williams (AC), Mr C. West (RoW), Mrs A. Birch, Mrs K. Crabb, Mr M. Evans, Mr J. Fletcher, Mrs M. Fletcher, Mr R. Hargreaves (AAC), Mrs C. Jacobs, Mr M. King, Mrs W. Marshall, Mrs E. Matthews, Mr D. Morris, Mrs W. Morris, Miss R. Moyse, Mrs M. Ravenscroft, Mrs C. Ree, Miss R. Rees, Ms L. Russell, Mrs C. Tapp, Master L. Tapp, Mr M. Tapp (AAC), Miss A. Weir and Miss M. Whitehead
1.
Welcome by the Chairman and report on the previous year.
Mr M. Kesans welcomed the members and thanked them for attending the AGM. He remarked that his first year in office had passed remarkably swiftly and had in fact been very busy. Mr M. Kesans reported that following a written proposal from Mr M. Davies the previous year, there would be a Welsh Trek Championship to be held on the 13th September following qualifying rounds which are to be held by each Welsh area. Mr M. Kesans hoped that the members would support the event and that it would be successful. He thanked everyone who helped run the Tandem Meet held in Dinefwr Park especially the stewards and congratulated the four new members of the club; Mrs S. Burrows, Mrs E. Matthews, Mr T. Robinson and Mr C. West, in particular the three Welsh members. Mr M. Kesans reported that the BDS Wales Committee had hopefully resolved the issues with area allocations by issuing BDS Head Office with a list of area postcodes for each area of Wales. He made it clear that this would in no way impede a members’ right to choose which area they preferred to be in, but was simply to be a tool to aid Head Office who have no knowledge of the local geography. He informed members that by emailing the minutes and posting them on the website, this had cut down on a great deal of cost in terms of printing and postage. He also updated the membership with regard to the Young Drivers Training Day at Mark Broadbent’s and how successful it was. He also thanked Dignity Funeral Services for the ‘donation’ of their minibus for the transportation of the Young Drivers to the day. Mr M. Kesans particularly asked the membership to support their local shows, which having been hit by the inclement weather would be feeling the pinch. He stated that the ACs would be getting involved with the local shows to hopefully tailor classes so that attendance increases. Mr M. Kesans reported that he would be keeping close ties with the Forestry Commission and ended by thanking the ACs and Officers for their support and hard work over the past year.
2. Apologies for Absence.
Mr S. Bromham, Mr M. Davies, Ms M. Dicks, Mrs H. Donnan, Mr D. Evans, Mr S. Griffiths, Mr M. Greatorex, Mr & Mrs Ham, Miss E. Ham, Mrs E. Hart, Miss A. Jones, Mr B. Jones. Mrs P. Jones, Mr D. Lloyd, Mrs J. Prytherch and Mr R. Taylor
3. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held 5th April 2009.
The minutes were proposed as correct without correction by Mrs M. Greatorex and seconded by Mrs E. Matthews.
4. Matters arising from the minutes.
There were no matters arising from the minutes.
5. Treasurer’s Report.
Mr S. Evans reported that the accounts were looking healthy and that the total balance had increased. He reported that the donation for the Young Drivers Award had increased, but this was offset by the saving on the AGM expenses (which would be seen in next year’s accounts) which was approx £1.10 per letter for 400 members. He warned that the Trek Championships may impact the accounts. Overall he reported that the accounts were in a reasonable state.
6.
Matters arising from the report.
Increased AGM expenses between 2007 and 2008
Mr S. Evans explained that this broke down into £240 postage, £150 guest speaker and the rest was the hire of the room and sundries. He explained that Mr A. Walters used to cover some of the cost by undertaking the printing and that the guest speaker in 2007 had not cost anything.
Area Commissioner Grants
Mr S. Evans explained that the grant received from BDS Head Office was not based on BDS Wales membership numbers. However BDS Wales calculated its grants to the Area Commissioners based on the number of members in its area (£1.50 per member). He also explained that it was necessary to keep an amount of money in reserve in order to buffer any shortfall in next years’ grant. Currently there is the equivalent of one year in reserve which is a huge improvement from when Mr S. Evans took on the Treasurer’s position.
The accounts were proposed as correct without correction by Mr R. Hargreaves and this was seconded by Mrs E. Stevens.
7. Young Driver’s Award.
Mr M. Kesans reported that 9 Young Drivers submitted portfolios which were sent to Mr and Mrs S. Johnstone (both AACs) in Hampshire for marking following guidelines set out by the Committee. The feedback received was excellent and the markers stated that they were impressed by the overall standard. The winners were; 10-14 year old Miss Ruby Rees
15-17 year old Master Liam Tapp
Mr M. Kesans congratulated both winners, presenting the available trophy to Master Liam Tapp and reiterated that the under 10 category was not a competition in the same sense as for the over 10s. He thanked Mrs M. Greatorex for supplying the rosettes to be presented to the Young Drivers, which would take place at the sponsored Training Day.
There was a discussion regarding Young Drivers driving with four reins which the BDS Wales Committee had raised concern over because of the issues relating to the ‘duty of care’ to the Young Drivers and that this would also place personal responsibility for the Young Drivers on Mr M. Kesans as the Chairman. As a result of the discussion, Mr M. Kesans with the agreement of the membership resolved to discuss and clarify this position with BDS Head Office.
Mr M. Evans raised concern over information that he had received via a Committee member regarding his business which he found detrimental and upsetting. Mr M. Kesans assured Mr M. Evans that the information was incorrect and that there had definitely been a misunderstanding and that he would be speaking to the Committee about this at the next meeting.
8.
Proposals submitted for consideration.
There were no written proposals submitted to the Secretary.
9.
Guest Speaker.
10. Date,
Time and Venue of the next meeting
Sunday 28th March 2010 at The Commodore Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, 12 noon.
Minuted
meeting closed at 1.33pm
11.
Discussion time for members at the discretion of the Chair.