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The Royal British Legion

Greater London District (GLD)

Saturday 7th

February 2015

Harrow Royal British Legion, 76 Northolt Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 0DW

DRAFT

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The Royal British Legion AGM of Greater London District

Conference

Saturday 7th February 2015

11:00 – 15:00

HARROW ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

76 Northolt Road, Harrow, Middlesex

HA2 0DW

Draft Minutes

PRESENT Members of District Committee Reg Pinney Vice Chairman Joanne Stevens District Treasurer Raymond Harris Deputy District Treasurer Phil Beckinsale Penny Bell-Wright DRO Bryan Binning (2015-18 candidate) Irene Brockey (2015-18 candidate) Reg Burton Parade Marshal Chad Caress Griff Griffin Syed Mahmood (incoming Vice Chairman) Jack Weedon Michael Foster Standard Bearer Stan Heath Ceremonial Officer Guests Ajay Maru, Mayor of Harrow Ms Lou Browning, Head Teacher, Norbury School - Harrow John Graham, RBL Deputy Director General, Ryan Allain, Area Manager, London Sarah Stephenson, Membership Support Officer Visitors from the Greater London Branches and RBL Women’s Section 16 delegates; 5 SB; 18 GLD Committee; 17 Visitors

Item

1. Entry of Standards

The District Vice Chairman, Reg Pinney invited the Parade Marshal to order in the Standards.

Standards present were as follows:-

Greater London District

Harrow

Ashford

Eastcote

Earl Haig

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2. The Exhortation by GLD Vice Chairman

The reading of the Exhortation was followed by a 2 min silence.

The District Vice Chairman, Reg Pinney declared the AGM open.

Reg Pinney gave an announcement about Rob Richier’s resignation made on 25th January 2015.

“According to the Royal Charter governing Regulations 21 (b) (i)

‘If a vacancy occurs for the Office of Chairman or Vice Chairman, the County/District Committee must appoint, for the remainder of its term, the next highest placed candidate for that Office at the previous election.’

The GLD Committee has not met since then nor formally acknowledged Rob’s resignation and therefore has not been in a position to appoint the next highest placed candidate.

Rob was in a position to retract his resignation and remain as District Chairman. He has asked I send his apologies and act on his behalf to oversee the AGM.”

It was questioned from the floor if Rob had retracted his resignation. The Vice Chairman was unsure as to the final decision Rob had concluded in his conversation the night prior to the AGM. The MSO felt that it had been conveyed as such as Rob had sent an email confirming this. The rest of the GLD Committee had not received notification of his retraction. The whereabouts of the Chairman was queried; the Vice Chairman did not know.

Keith Ball wished for the ‘AGM’ wording to be replaced with wording to say ‘Conference’ as it was referred to as ‘Conference’ in the Membership Handbook.

3. Welcoming speech from Harrow Branch President

The Vice Chairman Reg Pinney introduced the President of Harrow Branch, John Nicolay to take the stand as Harrow’s Chairman.

John thanked Harrow Club for the use of the property and gave some history of the surrounding area. He wished all well for the meeting.

4. Mayor’s speech

The Vice Chairman Reg Pinney introduced The Worshipful The Mayor, Councillor Ajay Maru. The Mayor commented on the commendable efforts the Branch had made fundraising over the Poppy Appeal year, totalling in excess of 51K. He highlighted how the Branch proactively supports Council activities throughout the Borough i.e. Freedom of the Borough, signing of the AF Covenant, local Parades and the laying of 12 wreaths at war memorials.

5. Reply and address from Greater London District Vice Chairman

“Firstly, thank you Harrow and Harrow Club for welcoming us to the Clubhouse.” Reg had not visited the Club before.

The Vice Chairman welcomed Ajay Maru, Mayor of Harrow and thanked him for gracing the Greater London District AGM with his presence. He hoped he would be able to spend some time over lunch meeting Members and engaging in interesting conversations.

6. Apologies for absence (Committee and Guests)

Rob Richer, Jim Lowther, John Innes, John Stefox, Jeff Duley

7. Appointment of Scrutineers

Suitable independent non-voting Members to act as Scrutineers for the counting of votes were identified as follows: George Dryburgh; Chris Carr; Rob Cantwell.

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8. Minutes of 11th January 2014 GLD Meeting to be ratified

The AGM Minutes were sent to all Branches on 21 Jan 2014. No feedback received since.

The Minutes from 11 January 2014 AGM were taken as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

Proposer: Keith Ball; Seconder: Felicity Cork; carried

The Vice Chairman duly signed the final version of the Minutes.

9. Matters arising from the 2014 minutes

It was carried that forthwith the meeting would cease being referred to as an AGM and referred to in documentation as ‘Conference’. Carried

At the AGM last year, Conference venues were Minuted as follows:

2016 Richmond

2017 Croydon

Richmond was no longer an option as the Club was closing and Croydon was too small to host an AGM.

Haig House was an option for the meeting location for 2016 and 2017.

Proposer: Keith Ball; Seconder: John Evans; carried

10. Adoption of number of Delegates in attendance

Final figure submitted from the door registration by Conference Committee Officer

16 delegates; 5 SB; 18 GLD Committee; 17 Visitors Proposer: Ken Radley; Seconder: Michael Foster; carried

11. Adoption of Treasurer’s Report and Management Accounts

The Vice Chairman invited Jo Stevens to present the figures.

Jo presented the report which had been circulated with the delegate pack. This is the second year the RBL had seen the use of LOMAS. The GLD had eight Independent Examiners and all attended the refresher course. There were seven Branch accounts still outstanding from the 85 Branches in the District. The year would see the introduction of the new BFI initiative, for Branches to transfer surplus funds in excess of £5K to the BFI.

Jo handed over to Ray to present the management Accounts and balance sheet. The accounts had been approved by the GLD Committee at the September 2014 meeting. The balance sheet had not seen much movement - which was encouraging. The expenses had not fluctuated much either. Any questions: none.

Ray stressed the strength of the BFI interest rate and forecast the 2015 figures would be similar.

Proposer: Jo Stevens, Seconder: Linda Reynolds, carried

The Vice Chairman signed the balance sheet.

Ray encouraged all Branches to reduce the amount of bank accounts to one per Branch. Ray would be happy to answer any questions over lunch regarding RBL accounting.

12. Chairman’s Report and Adoption of District Reports

The Reports had all been circulated prior to the AGM. Comments were invited on the reports from the Chairman / Recruiting / Training / Membership / Operations / Ceremonial.

There were no comments.

Proposer: Jackie Pinney; Seconder: Ian Richie; carried

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13. Adoption of District Plan

The District Plan had been circulated prior to the AGM. Comments were invited.

There were no comments.

Proposer: Felicity Cork; Seconder; John Evans; carried

The Vice Chairman signed the District Plan

14. Head Office Speaker - Mr John Graham, Deputy Director General

The Deputy Director General, John Graham (JG) was introduced and presented the essential messages of the Corporate Key note speech to the GLD Conference.

JG talked on Fundraising, Brand Awareness, Armed Forces Engagement, Operations, Campaigning and Membership. He commended Harrow on the impressive PA total of £51K.

Nationally, the PA forecast was £6M higher, due to heightened publicity with the WW1 Commemoration. New income streams such as the highly successful Sainsbury’s corporate partnership raised £500K for the PA with 100% of profits from the sale of WW1 Christmas Truce chocolate bars. He thanked and recognised the volunteer PAOs and Collectors for their commitment and hard work to the PA.

The ‘LIVE ON’ rebrand would be seen more as time goes on.

The Harris brand awareness report showed TRBL as second on the list; the best it had achieved . ‘Help for Heroes’ dropped to 9th position. TRBL gained support from sporting areas not associated with TRBL such as the Wembley NFL Wembley last year.

HO had major events on the radar such as the VE/VJ Day (seen by HO as a weekend affair due to elections around that time). The Battle of the Somme would also be a major commemoration event.

The contact centre had assisted a great deal with understanding beneficiary needs.

RBL viewed employability as high on the list to address for beneficiaries.

The Government allocated £16M for those with impaired hearing due to serving in UK AF and protection for War Widows’ pensions - due to campaigning.

Paying in slips were being considered to enable Branches to pay in cash direct to HO on behalf of cash paying Members.

The IEs had proved of immense value to TRBL and provide a quality service.

The Membership database had been addressed; next was the volunteer database.

15. Election of Greater London District Committee Members

Two nominations were received at the District Office as follows:

Irene Brockey – Sunbury Branch

Bryan Binning – Greenford Branch

Each to serve 3-year terms

Proposer: Steve Newson; Seconder: Mike Foster; carried

Due to a shortfall in nominations, the acting Chairman invited Members wishing to stand for cooption as voting Committee Members for a period of one year to identify themselves. The following came forward:-

George Dryburgh – RomfordChris Carr – RomfordLinda Reynolds – Elm Park Ray Harris – SouthgateJack Weedon – Ilford

Jackie Pinney – Southgate volunteered

Proposer: Ken Radley; Seconder: Sharon Bonner; Carried

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16. Nomination of Greater London District Committee Conference Committee

The general consensus was for those on the Conference Committee (all present) to continue.

Three (3) from the floor agreed to serve, as follows:-

Ken Sprowles; Finola Turner; David Justice

Proposer: Ken Radley; Seconder; Dave Hobbs; carried

(The 3 from the Committee are determined at the 1st immediate Committee meeting after the Conference)

17. Election of Greater London District Committee Delegate to Annual Conference (Nominations accepted from the floor)

All delegates wishing to attend National Conference as the GLD representative were asked to identify themselves. The Vice Chairman volunteered himself and there were no opponents.

Proposer: Sharon Bonner; Seconder: Felicity Cork; Carried

Lunch (12.17pm)

18. Speaker - Ms Lou Browning, Head Teacher, Norbury School in Harrow

The Vice Chairman welcomed Lou Browning to take the floor and address Conference. Lou spoke of her history, her family’s Naval background and also the extent TRBL featured in her upbringing and why she was a strong supporter of the Poppy Appeal. She told of being rejected by the Navy as they deemed her too short but it did not shake her belief and support for the UK AF. She felt privileged to be in her current role at the Norbury school which each year raises funds for the Poppy Appeal. At Norbury School one day a year, they celebrate their heritage which is personal to each and every one.

In November 2014, Ofsted introduced an idea on British Values. Norbury School already had a strong understanding of contribution to self, others and Community; an appreciation of these fundamentals, value of self to others, heritage and the ability, not to reject others for differences in their background is key to the pupils’ growth.

November 2014 was very special; the School held week long Remembrance activities, climaxing in a Remembrance service with RBL and RAF Standards. 568 pupils all respected the 2 minute Silence. Lou Browning read the poem ‘Battle of Jutland’ and thanked Harrow Branch for making their Service so special.

19. Motions

20. Motions of Urgency

There were no Motions or Motions of urgency submitted to District.

21. Seek permission to destroy ballot papers

It had not been necessary to use ballots.

22. Confirmation of venue for 2018

2018 venues to be proposed from the floor and supporting rationale

Jackie Pinney from Southgate Branch felt if there were no other offers, Southgate would be happy to host the GLD Conference 2018.

Proposer: Jackie Pinney: Seconder: Ken Radley; carried.

23. Presentation of awards

The Vice Chairman said it is a great honour to carry a Standard at Branch level and an even greater honour to carry the District Standard. The Chairman presented Michael Foster from Richmond Branch with the GLD Standard Bearer Winner’s Cup for coming first in the 2014 GLD Standard Bearers’ Competition. All applauded.

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24. Vote of thanks

The Vice Chairman handed over to Phil Beckinsale who thanked the Conference Committee, Vice Chairman, the guest speakers and especially Lou Browning for her inspiring talk.

25. Handover to incoming Vice Chairman

In the 2014 GLD Vice Chairman elections, Syed Mahmood was elected. Syed wished to take up the Vice Chairman role immediately until National Conference in May 2015. This was because Syed also stood for election in the Membership Council elections unopposed. Therefore he would take up the MC role in May 2015 at National Conference and step down as GLD Vice Chairman. Reg Pinney congratulated Syed and wished him the best of luck with his Membership Council work.

26. Charging of the GLD Standard

All Standard Bearers stood at the Order. The Chairman called for silence and for all Members to stand. Standards were brought to the Carry.

Michael Foster was charged ceremonially with the Greater London District Standard and affirmed his responsibilities and commitment associated with these duties.

Closing of the Meeting

27. The Kohima Epitaph

At 13.39pm, Reg Pinney spoke the words of The Kohima Epitaph to close the Conference

which was followed by:-

28. National Anthem

All remained standing to sing first verse of the National Anthem.

29. Retirement of Standards

The Chairman ordered the Standards to fall out, as the final act of closing the Conference.