2012 AGM Minutes - Community Transport Association

Minutes of the CTA UK ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held on FRIDAY 2 ND NOVEMBER 2012 at 9.30am
in The Auditorium, RBS, 280 Bishopsgate, London
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Present:
Name
Philip Mitchell
Debbie Blowers
Nikki Wakeford
Neil Widdowfield
Diane Staines
Doug Stewart
Sammy Betson
Ian Mottershead
Ed Bassford
Paul Beecham
John Griffiths
Robert Machhi
Anna Whitty
Geoff Warren
Peter Hardy
Alan Bently
John Phillips
Christian Evans
Tracy Jessop
Louise Cornell
David Graham
Dr Katherine Luddecke
Elspeth Mallowan
Bob Beaumont
Yvonne Chappell
David Wood
Mike Skinner
Bryan Summerfield
Kathleen Summerfield
Julie Furnival
Chris Stanley
Sandie Abberley
Brian Smith
Stephen Hickey
Organisation
Beccles and Bungay Area Community
Transport Ltd - BACT
Beccles and Bungay Area Community
Transport Ltd - BACT
Bexley Accessible Transport NATS
Bluebird Vehicles Ltd
Centre 81 and NCTA
Coastal Accessible Transport
Coastal Accessible Transport and CTA
Trustee
Community Transport
Community Transport (Brighton, Hove and
Area) Ltd
Cotswold CVS
Crawley Community Transport
Croydon Accessible Transport
ECT
ECT
JMP Consultants
Gloucestershire County Council
Go Start
Merton Community Transport
Norfolk County Council TTS
Norfolk County Council
North Wealden Community Transport
Partnership Ltd
Oxfordshire County Council
Rural Community Action Nottingham
Suffolk Community Transport
Suffolk Community Transport
Suffolk Community Transport
Sutton Community Transport
Syston and District Volunteer Centre
Syston and District Volunteer Centre
Thera Trust
Transport 21/Gloucestershire Minibus
Scheme
Wheels to Work Derbyshire
Volunteer Cornwall and CTA Trustee
CTA Trustee
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Gordon Lewis
CTA Trustee
Alistair Howie
CTA Trustee
Merton Community Transport and CTA
Fitzroy Dawson
Trustee
Gareth Blackett
Third Sector Services and CTA Trustee
Peter Maggs
wmsnt and CTA Trustee
29 proxy voting forms were received prior to the meeting
In attendance:
Name
Keith Halstead (Chief Executive)
Ewan Jones (Deputy Chief Executive &
Director of Operations)
Katherine Moulder (Director of Finance)
Nicky Stevenson (Coordinator)
Tomi Jones (Director for Wales)
Kellie Armstrong (Director for Northern
Ireland)
John MacDonald (Director for Scotland)
Barry Connor
Mark Saunders
Joella Whelan
John Bright
Shannon McCartney
Sue Thomas
CTA UK
CTA UK
Organisation
CTA UK
Norfolk Community Transport Association
CTA UK
CTA UK
CTA UK
CTA UK
Royal Bank of Scotland – Non Member
Royal Bank of Scotland – Non Member
Royal Bank of Scotland – Non Member
Royal Bank of Scotland – Non Member
CTA Governance Committee External
Member
1 WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
The Chair of CTA UK, Stephen Hickey, welcomed everyone to the 2012 Annual
General Meeting.
2 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Ian Lucraft (Pitsmoor and Shiregreen Community Transport and CTA Trustee)
Tina McMillan (Lagan Valley Rural Transport and CTA Trustee)
Michael Gibson (The John Lyon School)
Wendy Field (Slough CT)
Richard Healy (Barnet CT)
Dee Jackson (West Norfolk CT)
3 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING (01.12.2011)
Ordinary Resolution 1: To approve the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held
on 1 December 2011.
Proposed by: Peter Maggs of wmsnt
Seconded by: Yvonne Chappell of Brentwood CT
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A vote was taken and the Minutes were agreed unanimously as a true record of the
meeting. There were no matters arising.
4 REVIEW OF 2011/12 BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Chief Executive of the CTA, Keith Halstead (KPH) provided a review of the
Association’s activities during 2011/12, under the strategic directions contained in
the CTA’s Strategic Plan: Support and work with our members; Provide a national
voice; Connect locally; Promote high standards; and Ensure an effective UK-wide
Association.
Specific achievements under each of these five strategic directions were:
Support and work with our members
During 2011/12 the CTA: Reviewed our communications with members; Developed
a new three-year contract with Hampshire County Council for the MiDAS scheme;
supported and promoted the ABI Insurance website for volunteer drivers; developed
a new Volunteering Strategy in Northern Ireland; and secured funding from the
Department for Transport (DfT) for CT On-line.
Provide a national voice
During 2011/12 the CTA: Contributed to new DfT guidance to local authorities on
community transport in England; launched State of the Sector for Scotland Report in
the Scottish Parliament; presented to the Regional Development Committee in
Northern Ireland; and established a Cross-Party Group on CT in Wales.
Connect locally
During 2011/12 the CTA: Provided events across the UK attended by 750 delegates;
delivered 20 consultancy projects; managed the Northern Ireland Road Safety Grant
programme; engaged with 76 local authorities in England; developed 4 pilot projects
for deep rural localities in Wales; and supported Section 22 provision across
England, Scotland and Wales.
Promote high standards
During 2011/12 the CTA: Achieved Charity Commission and VOSA endorsement of
the CTA Quality Mark; engaged with traffic commissioners and VOSA; supported
members through our work with local authorities in England; and supported nonemergency
patient transport projects in Wales.
Ensure an effective UK-wide Association
During 2011/12 the CTA: Elected 4 new trustees to the Board; invested in
communications/IT; developed a new Governance Handbook; and implemented
improved financial reporting systems.
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The Chair invited members to ask questions.
Neil Widdowfield of Bluebird Vehicles asked what the CTA can do to reinforce their
link to Bluebird and other corporate partners, as these links have weakened since
the Annual Event ceased in March 2011. KPH provided brief details on the new
Corporate Supporter Scheme that has been recently launched which aims to reestablish
and develop these links with manufacturers and suppliers. KPH stressed
the desire to work together strategically and that the CTA would like to look wider
than simply advertising, for example the new CT Online system will create
opportunities for working closer with corporate partners.
Ed Bassford from Community Transport Brighton, Hove and Area Ltd stressed the
importance of keeping the wow-factor that the Annual Event created, and that the
event ensured that Community Transport Organisations (CTOs) remained
aspirational regarding their vehicles and equipment. He also said that the event
shouldn’t be judged on its financial impact although he didn’t advocate doing
anything financially reckless. The point was noted by the Chair and Chief Executive.
Bob Beaumont from Suffolk CT also stressed the importance of the need for a
national event both for meeting the trade and also networking.
David Woods from Suffolk CT said that through the CTA’s role as the national voice
to government it was clear that the CTA has strong links to the Department for
Transport, however CTOs have services that are very relevant to other government
departments. David asked what the CTA is doing to engage with the other
departments to raise the profile of community transport and the contribution CTOs
are making to society. KPH explained the strong links that are in place with a
number of other government departments. Through the Transport Minister, the CTA
have raised the issue of Non-Emergency Patient Transport with the Health Minister
on two separate occasions. Both times the CTA have been informed that this is a
local issue and have been advised to find a supportive Primary Care Trust or Clinical
Commissioning Group to highlight best practice and work from there. Strong
relationships are also in place with Defra, the Cabinet Office (evidenced by the
Minister for Civil Society’s involvement in the England Policy Conference today) and
the Department for Communities and Local Government, with whom the CTA will be
doing more work in the coming months.
Elspeth Mallowan from Rural Community Action Nottingham asked what the CTA is
doing about the EU State Aid issue. KPH responded that the CTA is engaged in an
on-going discussion with the Department for Transport on this important issue. KPH
suggested that this would be a good question to ask John Dowie, from the
Department for Transport, who would be speaking at the England Policy
Conference. KPH said that the Department for Transport are very supportive of
community transport and that they are currently awaiting a response from the
European Commission about the complaint that had been made by a commercial
operator. While taking the issue very seriously, the CTA have chosen against a high
media profile as this would only inflame the situation in the trade press. Elspeth said
that the CTA’s position has not been communicated and that this is causing anxiety
within the sector. KPH explained that the CTA’s position was stated in the current
edition of CTA Journal (which all members receive) but acknowledged the CTA
would review its communications. KPH stated that the issue has been raised with
the Cabinet Office in a briefing for Nick Hurd MP who is a speaker at the England
Policy Conference.
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Chris Stanley from Gloucestershire Minibus Scheme asked if the AGM could be held
outside of London and not so early in the day so that supportive members could
attend. The Chair responded that the Board of Trustees are reviewing various
options for the AGM included making better use of the internet and moving it to
locations other than London.
5 TO RECEIVE THE TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR 2011/12
The Treasurer of the CTA, Gordon Lewis (GL) introduced the Trustees’ Report and
Financial Statements for 2011/12.
GL confirmed that we finished the year with £66k surplus, a good cash balance and
reserves on target within the reserves policy set by the Board of Trustees.
GL confirmed that the Board of Trustees has decided to amend the designated
reserve for ICT to £35k in the 2011/12 accounts. This fund will support the
development of our internal database and website.
Looking ahead to 2012/13, it is anticipated that we will end the year in a deficit
position but remain in a healthy overall position when the cash reserves are
included.
GL informed members that the Board of Trustees has reviewed the reserves policy
and increased the target level of reserves to allow for the additional risk that the
Association is now facing.
Dr Katherine Luddecke of Oxfordshire County Council asked what the size of the
forecast deficit is and whether this is of concern. The CTA’s Director of Finance,
Katherine Moulder (KM) responded that it is forecast at £20k, however it was
important to note that this was due to the fact that restricted income had been
reported in 2011/12 and the associated expenditure would be incurred in 2012/13,
therefore creating an in year deficit. KM stressed the importance of reviewing the
health of the organisation by the cash reserves position which will remain healthy.
6 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Ordinary Resolution 2: to approve the appointment of Mitchell Charlesworth as
auditors until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting and to authorise
the Board of Trustees to determine their remuneration.
Alistair Howie (Trustee) proposed the appointment of Mitchell Charlesworth as
CTA’s auditors for 2012/13. Sammy Betson of CATS seconded the proposal. A vote
was taken and the resolution was agreed unanimously by the meeting.
7 CTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
a) Up-date on the Board of Trustees
The Chair, Stephen Hickey, gave members an update on changes to the Board of
Trustees:
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Yvonne Chappell, Vice Chair, stood down from the Board today after serving two
three years terms as a trustee. Yvonne was thanked by the Board and those
members present for her significant contribution to the CTA.
Peter Maggs has been appointed by the Board as Vice Chair of the CTA.
Alistair Howie has been co-opted by the Board for a second three year-term as a
trustee.
Tracy Jessop has been invited by the Board to fill a casual vacancy as a trustee until
the AGM in 2013. Tracy is Assistant Director, Travel & Transport Services at Norfolk
County Council and is currently Chair of ATCO (Association of Transport Coordinating
Officers).
There will be two vacancies for elected trustees in 2013 when Fitzroy Dawson
stands down after serving two three year terms as a trustee. Members were
encouraged to consider becoming a trustee and further recruitment information will
be made available to members in May 2013.
b) Board of Trustees 2012/13
The CTA Board of Trustees for 2012/13 was confirmed as:
Dr Stephen Hickey (Chair)
Peter Maggs CBE (Vice Chair)
Gordon Lewis (Treasurer)
Sammy Betson
Gareth Blackett
Fitzroy Dawson
Alistair Howie
Tracy Jessop
Ian Lucraft
Tina McMillan
Brian Smith
8 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
The meeting closed at 10.25am.
22 nd November 2012
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