REPORT ON THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2003
HELD AT THE RIVIERA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, TORQUAY.
24 - 26 May 2003
This location was a substitute for Cardiff which had to be
cancelled because of the unavailability of accommodation. This had been due to
football fixtures. The conference took place over three days with the Standard
Bearers Competition taking place during the Saturday morning. The
conference itself opened at 1330 hrs on Saturday 24 May when there were 627
delegates present. This is the second year when we were able to send two delegates,
and this year we were represented by our Chairman, John Clark and his wife Cathie Clark,
one of our Associate members.
INTRODUCTION (and extracts from presentations)
Elections
The following had been elected to National Council by their regions:
J. FARMER Eastern Region
R.I. GLENDINNING Northern Ireland District
A. GRIFFITH East Midland Region
G. LEWIS Wales
The second preference candidate elected by conference to serve on the National Council was PETER CLEMINSON of Eastern Region.
The following were elected to the Conference Committee for 2004:
Miss S.E. KELLY Northern Region
Mr J. McDONALD West Midland Region
Miss H.B. TRANT MBE South Western Region
Future Conference Venues
2004 Scarborough
2005 Torquay
2006 Blackpool
2007 Bournemouth
National President
The National President, Lt Gen Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson, who was due to stand down at the end of the Conference, was elected to served for a further year to steer the Legion through the changes expected over the coming year.
Summary of Addresses to Conference
National President, Lt Gen Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson KBE, CB
Sir Roderick expounded on the reasons why Earl Hague started the legion in it's present structure, and asked if this structure is sufficient for modern society. Are we still an old man's club? He paid tribute to all the collectors for TRBL and urged everyone to complete a Gift Aid form as this was worth 28 pence in the £ if you pay tax at the normal rate.
When talking about the membership, the President stated that this was dwindling, with the current membership under 200,000. 40% of that membership are Associate members and they cannot benefit generally from benevolence under our present rules. Because of the numbers available, it is likely that the number of Associate Members could rise in proportion to Ordinary Members.
National Chairman, Mr Ian Cannell, MBE, FRICS, MIPR
The Chairman started with instructions to delegates when he said that sometimes delegates represented Branches without these Branches being aware of the fact. Measures had been taken to stop this. It also appeared that some delegates had been told by County or other formations how to vote on Motions or Charter Motions. This was contrary to democratic process and the only organisation to tell a delegate how to vote is the nominating Branch. Should the delegate not follow these instructions and vote with his or her conscience, the delegate should explain later to the Branch.
The Chairman extolled the virtues of THE WAY FORWARD which is being serialised in the Legion magazine. One serious concern was the decline in membership where over the last 3 years we have lost 65,841 persons, of whom 56,441 were Ordinary Members. 40% of our membership are over the age of 70 years. There will be some management changes in the near future with a Board of Trustees being elected. This would include 6 external specialists and 12 elected members (i.e. National COuncil). There would be an Advisory Assembly which would meet once per year and would comprise 25 invited representatives from other organisations. To help the Board of Trustees on membership a Membership Council would consist of 5 of the elected trustees and 5 County Chairmen.
As the conference was the Annual General Meeting of the Legion, the Chairman expressed his disappointment at the fact that ther was not one motion on Pensions and Welfare, bearing in mind that we have 3000 branches. Out new Charter has been signed by Her Majesty The Queen, but has not yet been implemented. This is due in the near future, but meant that the Charter Motions put forward during Conference would apply to the 1993 Royal Charter. Our assets have fallen in line with other large organisations. The increase in National Insurance mean a rise of over £100,000.. Our assets of £8.6billion have fallen. However fundraising is holding it's ground.
The Chairman ended by saying that THE WAY FORWARD will put the Legion in the forefront of all the charities.
Secretary General - I G Townsend
The Secretary General stated that the Legion had achieved the majority of last year's targets. There had been a fall in investments in line with the rest of UK companies. 5440 new War Pension cases had been taken on, and there had been joint caseworking with SSAFA caseworkers. £3.5 million had been paid out on Almonisation, and grants of £9.8 million had been made. Over the last 7 years, the sum of £1.7 million had been raised on the pedal to Paris and Brussels. The major downside was the decline in membership by 3.35%. We can take some credit on this point because our membership is steady - at 13 may 2003 our membership stood at 412. Turnover of the Legion was some £59 million and assets in property stood at 3155 million.
A copy of the Corporate Plan for 2003-2006 was available for all to see.
General Treasurer - Mr J A Tedder
The treasurer presented the final accounts and explained various variances between the 2001 and 2002 figures. He announced that major changed will have to be made to Headquarters in the near future. A decision to move, stay and/or refurbish has not yet been taken. HQ was purchased for some £2.3 million and is worth at the moment £14 million. After a refurbishment of £3 million, the value of HQ should be in the region of £20 million.
Mr Tedder also gave a presentation on the National Memorial Arboretum with which the Legion is considering becoming involved. This, however, would be subject to two conditions - 1) a grant in Aid from the Ministry of Defence and 2) the current trustees and management team would have to resign to which they have agreed. Should the Legion not become involved with the NMA, the site may have to close.
Lord Bach of Lutterworth - Under Secretary of State and Minister of Defence Procurement.
Lord Bach, who was appointed in 2001 and who is an Associate Member of the Legion, spoke on the Veterans' Initiative and emphasised that charity is not a substitute for Government assistance. He also gave the Government's view that it did not accept the existence of Gulf War Syndrome.
Lt Gen Sir Robin Ross - Chairman SSAFA (Forces Help)
Sir Robin retired as Commandant General of the Royal Marines in 1996 and gave an interesting talk on the work carried out by caseworkers of SSAFA and also on their joint working with the Legion caseworkers
Mrs Maureen Cole - Chairman of the Women's Section and
Mr Robbie Allen, Chairman of TRBL Scotland.
Both of the above gave a short presentation on the workings of their respective organisations.
Noel Rogers - National Council member and Chairman of the Poppy Appeal
Noel announce that the amount collected for the Poppy Appeal in 2001 was £21,454,947 and that the figure for 2002 (with one week to go before the fund closed) was £20,927,405.
Memorial Parade and Service
On Sunday 25th May 2003 a parade was formed and marched with 105 Standards, accompanied by the Central Band of The Royal British Legion and the Ilfracombe Royal British Legion Youth Band to the War Memorial in Princess Gardens. One of the National Branches, BEWSA, because of their disabilities formed a contingent of their own, but there was no provision in the parade for any other national Branch. Your two delegates marched with the Metropolitan Region. Your Vice President, Terry Whittles was also present in the parade, but took post with the Alton Branch in his capacity as Vice Chairman. Following the service, the parade marched passed the Saluting Dais where the National President and the Mayor of Torbay took the salute.
Band Concert
On the evening of Saturday 24th May, a Band Concert was given by the Central Band of The Royal British Legion under the baton of it's Director of Music, Captain E P Whealing MVO. A varied programme of music was enjoyed by the distinguished guests, delegates and their families.
Delegate Numbers at Conference
Voting
Non Voting
Total
Saturday pm 581 46 627 Sunday am 551 44 595 Sunday pm 554 44 598 Monday am 545 45 590 Monday pm 434 46 480
CHARTER MOTIONS
(Charter Motions are worded to show all changes to all appropriate paragraphs in the Charter – most of these have been removed to save space)
1. Page 14, Rule 3(b), delete "and who has obtained an honourable discharge"
National Council
Carried ( 480 for, 52 against)
2. This Conference agrees that a new class of membership be introduced for Ordinary and Associate Members as "Members" and therefore confirms the Charter Motion set out in the addendum to this Agenda.
National Council
This was an emotive subject involving many passionate speeches for and against. If passed, it would mean that everyone would be eligible for election to all offices in the Legion. Both your delegates voted for the motion.
Lost ( 343 for, 219 against, 19 spoiled papers, 24 delegates did not vote - Therefore no 2/3 majority.)
3. Page 14, delete Rule 3(c), substitute:
"(c) (i) Any man or woman who served with the Mercantile Marine afloat in hostile waters and is in receipt of the relevant campaign medal.
(ii) Any man or woman who served as a full time member of the Allied Civil Police Forces.
(iii) Any man or woman who is entitled to the campaign medal issued to the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force in direct support of, or under command of whom he or she was at the time"
Liskeard, Cornwall County
Your delegates voted against this motion as it would mean that ANY police office would be eligible for membership. The motion should be reworded, and re-presented.
Lost (145 for, 402 against, 9 spoiled)
4. Page 26, delete Rule 46, and substitute:
"The Annual Conference shall be held over a two-day weekend preceding the Spring Bank Holiday in every year, or at such time as the Annual Conference may decide, at a place normally to be decided by the Annual Conference four years previously."
Portishead, Somerset County
John Buckby made a statement on behalf of the National Council. Your delegates voted for the motion.
Carried ( 383 for, 180 against, 3 spoiled)
5. Page 26, Rule 47, in line 5 delete all after "Conference" and insert:"Any Branch which has not, by the 31st day of March immediately preceding the Conference, submitted its receipts and payments accounts for the previous year and Form MS1 and affiliation fee for the current year shall lose its entitlement to send a delegate or delegates to that Conference."
Northern Ireland District
Carried (398 for, 117 against, 7 spoiled - your delegates voted for)
6. Page 10, delete Article 14, substitute:"The Head Office of the Legion shall be located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (excluding Scotland)."
Estepona, District South Spain and North Wales District
Carried ( 422 for, 115 against, 3 spoiled - your delegates voted for) Article 14 says that HQ will be in Central London.)
7. Page 11, Article 21, delete existing Article and insert:
"21. For the purpose of Articles 19 and 20 of this Our Charter a Special Resolution means a Resolution of:-
(a) the Annual Conference, on a motion of which due notice shall be given before the Conference and passed by a two-thirds majority of those present at the Conference, entitled to vote and voting by ballot and confirmed by a resolution of the National Council, or which due notice shall have been given to the members of the Council before the meeting at which the motion is to be considered and passed by a majority of two-thirds of those present, qualified to vote and voting.
or
(b) the membership, if so deemed by the National Council, on a motion of which due notice shall have been given to all Members and passed by a two-thirds majority of those Members, entitled to vote and voting by postal ballot and confirmed by a resolution of the National Council, of which due notice shall have been given to the Members of the Council before the meeting at which the motion is to be considered and passed by a majority of two-thirds of those present, qualified to vote and voting."
Lost ( 84 for 452 against - your delegates voted against)
8. Page 29, Rule 61, delete first sentence, substitute:
"The Membership of each County/District Conference shall consist of two representatives from each branch in the County/District."
Sutton Vallence and District, Kent County
Lost ( 332 for, 206 against, 2/3 decision not achieved - your delegates voted for)
9. Page 19, Rule 11(c) delete "County and". For "levels" substitute "level". After "offices" insert "of County President and".
Haddenham and Wilburton, Cambridge County
This would allow Associate Members to progress to the offices of President, Chairman or Vice-Chairman at National and County levels.
Lost ( 332 for, 186 against, spoiled 1 - your delegates voted for)
MOTION OF URGENCY
1. This Conference deplores the Iraqi bias shown by some elements of the British media who reported from Iraqi dominated territory during the recent Iraq conflict
Bitton and Oldland, Glos
Lost
MOTIONS
Subject of Motions marked * is already Legion policy. These Motions were proposed and seconded. No debate was allowed but a statement was read out on behalf of national Council before the vote was taken.
GROUP "A" - PENSIONS AND DISABLEMENT
No Motions on these subjects were received.
GROUP "B" - REMEMBRANCE, FUNDRAISING AND PUBLICITY
1. This Conference calls upon the National Council to increase the cost of tickets for the evening performance of the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall to £10.00
Limavady, Northern Ireland District.
An amendment for £8 from York was withdrawn
Carried - your delegates voted for
2. This Conference recommends that, in order to reverse the trend in falling membership, a national advertising campaign be launched, using television and national newspapers to inform the general public of our existence.
Lurgan, Northern Ireland District
Fell, as no delegate appeared to propose the motion
3. This conference considers that the amount of manpower and costs involved in producing per capita league tables for the Poppy Appeal are wasted and unnecessary and moves that they be terminated.
Torre Del Mar, District South Spain
Carried - your delegates voted for
GROUP "C" - WELFARE AND RESETTLEMENT
4. This Conference requests the Legion to scrap its policy that unassessed self-funding applicants for admission to the Legion's Residential Homes must have sufficient funds to pay the Home's fees for at least two years.
Nerja, District South Spain
Doug Smith made a statement on behalf of the national Council.
Lost - your delegates voted against
5. This Conference recommends that, in the event of regular and reserve British Forces deploying to the Middle East, welfare funds be made available through County Field Officers to help fund a range of activities designed to maintain the morale of the separated service families.
Winnersh, Berks County
Doug Smith made a statement on behalf of National Council.
Lost - your delegates voted against.
6. This Conference views with concern the evidence that Social Service Departments are referring requests for welfare assistance from ex-Service people or their dependants to The Royal British Legion Benevolent Fund and other military charities instead of dealing with them through Social Service channels.
Newbridge, Gwent County
Carried - your delegates voted for
GROUP "D" - GENERAL (INTERNAL)
7. This Conference resolves that the Annual Conference, with effect from 2007, will be held in alternate years in Blackpool and Bournemouth.
Huddersfield, South & West Yorks County
Lost - your delegates voted against
8. This Conference requests the national Council to review the decision of the 2002 Annual Conference on its refusal to accept the proposal to establish an outside, independent body in the setting of the annual affiliation fee.
Saltash, Cornwall County
Lost - your delegates voted against
9. This Conference resolves that using the £10.00 affiliation fee for 2002/2003 as the baseline figure, future increases in the affiliation fee over any rolling 5-year period should be capped at 5% above the accumulative rate of inflation for the previous 5-year period.
Kentisbeare, Devon County
Lost - your delegates voted against
10. This Conference does not agree with the National Council's ruling that legacies, over £5,000, left to a specified Branch, be held in trust at HQ.
Burnham on Sea, Somerset County
This Motion invoked a great deal of passionate discourse.
Carried - your delegates voted against
11. This Conference calls on delegates present to support the National Council in the task of reforming the Royal Charter to allow more democracy in the conduct of Royal British Legion business
Lost - your delegates voted against
12. This Conference requests an amendment to Rule 46 in the Schedule of Rules to the Royal Charter, at page 26, so that the words "Annual Conference" where they appear for the second and third times are replaced with the words "National Council".
Kedington and District, Suffolk County
Lost - your delegates voted against - the scrutineers were required to record the vote - 228 for and 257 against.
13. This Conference urges the National Council to look at other means of generating income for the General Fund other than by raising the affiliation fee
Middleforth, Lancs County
Nantwich & Districh, Cheshire County
Ian Glendinning spoke on behalf of National Council
Carried - your delegates voted for
14. This Conference requests the national Council to review the whole of the Legion Year taking into consideration dates and timings of (1) Financial Year (2) National and County Conferences with a view to relieving the heavy work load in the last three months of the year.
Wembley & Sudbury, North West County
Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford and District, Hants County
Carried - your delegates voted for
15. This Conference agrees that the take-over of the National Memorial Arboretum should be discussed by Annual Conference before the National Council makes a decision
Burnham on Sea, Somerset County
The General Treasurer made a statement on behalf of the National Council
Lost - your delegates voted against
16. This Conference requests the National Council to allocate ten per cent of the affiliation fee of each Branch back to the Branch to assist in its normal running costs.
Redcar, North Yorks County
This Motion was withdrawn as there was no proposer present.
GROUP "E" - GENERAL (EXTERNAL)
17. This Conference urges the National Council to approach the Ministry of Defence, Honours and Decorations Committee, with a request that the decision to deny the award, granted by the Russian President, of the Arctic Convoy Medal to the surviving veterans of the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy may be reviewed.
Torpoint, Cornwall County
Carried - your delegates voted for
18. This Conference urges the Legion to make representation to HM Government to increase the applicable amount to a more meaningful figure when assessing Income Support for the ex-Service community
Lytchett United, Dorset County
Doug Smith made a statement against the motion on behalf of the National Council
Lost - your delegates voted against
19. This Conference views with considerable concern the reported lack of resources, equipment and support given to Service personnel being deployed on active Service
Beverley, The East Riding of Yorkshire
Carried - your delegates voted for
*20. This Conference requests that the National Council takes urgent action to campaign to remove all local authority assessment policies and procedures - contrary to statute law which discriminate against the United Kingdom and Overseas EU Elderly ex-Service populations who need care in the community and residential care home support.
Nerja, District South Spain
Carried - your delegates voted for
21. This Conference urges the National Council to press HM Government to extend the grant in aid scheme for visits to War Graves to include sons and daughters of deceased ex-Service personnel.
High Ercall, Shropshire
Carried - your delegates voted for
22. This Conference requests the National Council to approach the appropriate government body to inquire why some Service qualifications such as Paramedics are not recognised in civilian life.
Ruislip, North West County
Carried - your delegates voted for
23. This Conference calls upon the National Council to approach the appropriate body with a view to amending the date of eligibility for the Northern Ireland Clasp for the General Service Medal from 1969 to 1964
North West County
There was a comment from the Ministry of Defence that HM Government chose August 1969 because this was when troops were first deployed to the Province in support of the Civil Power.
Lost - your delegates voted against
*24. This Conference is concerned at the poor response from HM Government to the plight of Service personnel suffering severe illness following Service in the Gulf War and urges the National Council to press HM Government to take immediate corrective action.
Worcester County
Dough Smith made a statement on behalf of the National Council.
Carried - your delegates voted for
25. This Conference requests the national Council to make representations to HM Government to review the method of deferring the payment of retirement State Pensions until the first Monday after the recipient's qualifying birthday, thereby causing financial hardship to ex-Service personnel in the short tem
Lutterworth and District, Worcester County.
This Motion was withdrawn.
26. This Conference requests the National Council to make representations to HM Government to review the method of paying Retirement Pensions in some cases up to four weeks in arrears from the recipients' retiring date thereby causing financial hardship to ex-Service personnel in the short term,
Lutterworth and District, Worcester County
This Motion was withdrawn.