Present:

• Lord Home, President
• Robert Irvine, Chairman
• Members, Supporters and Guests of the Association

Minute Secretary:    

• Diane McKenzie

The Chief Executive called the meeting to order and asked the IPS Secretary to make some administrative announcements prior to the start of the meeting.

The IPS Secretary informed members that the proceedings were being tape recorded for the purposes of assisting with the preparation of the Minutes.  Speakers were requested to provide their names when speaking from the floor, and luncheon, fire and emergency arrangements were detailed.  Supporter members and guests were reminded that while they were most welcome to attend and speak, they do not hold voting rights.

The meeting was also being filmed.  The film would be available on the BASC website. 

The President, Lord Home then opened the meeting.

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence had been received from Gareth Owen, Eric Begbie, Michael Jones, Paul Bendel, Martyn Howat, Colin Shedden, Tommy Mayne, Arthur Thirwell, Simon Parrington, Mr B T Ford DL, Mr R Playle (who, as Chairman also gave apologies on behalf of Dengie Hundred Wildfowling Club and the Essex Joint Council) and Graham Downing.

The Chief Executive paid tribute to members who had passed away during the last twelve months; Paddy Bailie, Sam Jennett, Cliff Boardman, Monty Christopher, H R G Robinson, John Seago, Leonard F Hurdle, John Treasure, Major Harry Schulman MBE TD, J Douglas C Barr, Michael “Spike” Cartledge, Tony Waller, Brian Maclean, Malcolm Lyell, Paul Larkin, Dr Jimmy Dunne, Ian Hesketh and David Myles.

The Chief Executive requested all present to stand for a moment to remember those lost.

2. President’s Address

“Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I start by wishing our Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday.  Some of us met him last year when he kindly came to open our new Communications Centre when he was on tremendous form.  On most occasions when a friend has a 90^th birthday one wishes him a long and happy retirement, but I don’t think that our Patron will ever retire and we hope he doesn’t.  Nevertheless I will send him our very best wishes.

This time last year I talked about the warnings given by David Cameron of a tough economic road ahead.   It is indeed a road full of potholes that we are now travelling on.  Whereas the previous government was probably not going to make enough cuts to keep the international markets quiet, it is arguable that this government has gone too far, too fast and the private sector has not yet regained the confidence to pick up what the public sector has shed.  In Parliament we receive a lot of letters from people who have views and one of my colleagues received a particularly abusive and vitriolic letter from a constituent. He sent back a copy saying “I think you should know that some idiot is using your name and writing-paper”.  He heard nothing more.

It is tough now for people who have been made redundant and for those leaving school or university.  Your Association is well aware of the problem and is looking to help members in this position with the Jobseekers Concession renewal rate which is less than half the full rate.  So far shooting has weathered the recession and your Association is in good financial shape.  We will continue to exercise careful cost control whilst at the same time seeking to maintain and indeed develop the services we offer.

A lot of school leavers are now trying to get further education and there are many conferences on how to help them.  One young man was going to such a gathering by car but got lost in South Manchester.  He asked an elderly policeman “How do I get to Salford University?” the answer was “By working very hard”.

Another result of the recession is that there is a cut back in companies taking commercial shoots, where bigger bags are the order of the day.  My own experience in Scotland has been fortunate in that we are almost fully let but there is a marked increase in the demand for rough days, during which 50/60 head with 5/6 varieties might be acquired.

Of greater import are the costs of shooting for 2 reasons. It is too early to tell what the price of feed might be next season but the extraordinary weather, both drought and floods which have affected the South of England, parts of Europe and Australia, could push up the price of wheat and other corns.  Inflation is already twice the target of the Bank of England and the time will come when the Bank will have to put up rates, although probably not much this year.  A rise in due course is inevitable.

The second reason is the cost of fuel.  I returned yesterday from the Middle East, where the potential for trouble is very much there.  At present the Gulf States are fairly quiet whilst we continue to read horror stories about what is happening in Syria and the Yemen.  Whilst all may be calm in the Gulf, we are approaching the Muslim fasting of Ramadan, when all the locals are in a bad temper as they eat all night and work in the day.  That fact coupled with the heat could mean that tempers will explode, although the optimists maintain that it will be too hot for the demonstrators to take to the streets.  If that is so, perhaps global warming has some merit.

Stability in Saudi Arabia is the key to the oil price and with the 3 top people in the Kingdom all in their 80s, the West is naturally a little concerned that something could go wrong there. Libya is frankly a side show if one looks at the availability of crude oil and Saudi Arabia can easily make up for any loss of crude from Tripoli.  One can debate the rights and wrongs of NATO’s involvement in Libya for days but if we went into Libya for humanitarian reasons to protect half a million people in Benghazi, why did we not go into Iraq to prevent a million Marsh Arabs being murdered by Saddam or into Rwanda and Burundi where a million people died in unspeakable circumstances?

If there is trouble in the Gulf, the price of oil could easily get to $200 a barrel and we can only pray that the problems are contained.  Talking of prayer, there was the occasion when a bishop went to preach in a village and found that the congregation was just 7 people.  “Did you not tell people that I was coming?”  he asked the vicar.  “No, but I am afraid that the news must have leaked out!”

On the Domestic political front, your Association has been very involved with both the Government and Opposition to help with their enquiries following the horrible mass killing in West Cumbria just before the AGM last year.  We expect announcements imminently.

The coalition is going through a sticky period particularly since the Liberal Party did so badly in the local elections.  In the Lords they have decided to show that they have a mind of their own and as a result have put down or supported motions proposed by the Opposition or Crossbench, which meant that the Government has been defeated from time to time.

When Scottish devolution was first proposed, I was assured by the then Secretary of State, Donald Dewar, that a system would be devised that would ensure that the SNP could never get an overall majority.  Subsequent Secretaries of State gave similar assurances.  How wrong can one be?   The new SNP are, we understand, supportive of shooting and 40% of MSPs are on record as supporters of our sport.  They are, however, pretty anti-landlord and it remains to be seen whether that antipathy is translated in anything damaging to shooting.

As you will hear later, your Association faces the future with quiet confidence”.

3. Awards and Presentations

The President asked the Chief Executive to announce the presentation of awards.

The Ian Richardson Trophy

This trophy is awarded to the person who, in the view of BASC employees has done the most for the Association in recent years.  Peter Coe of MediaSpeak had been nominated by Bill Harriman, Simon Clarke and Mike Eveleigh in recognition of the high profile media training given over the last 10 years to BASC staff, which assisted greatly them when crucial issues had arisen, such as the Cumbria shootings. 

The Trophy was awarded to Peter Coe of MediaSpeak.

The Tim Sedgwick Trophy

This trophy is presented to an individual who in the opinion of Council has contributed markedly to the fortunes of BASC in the preceding 12 months, who is not a BASC Council member or member of an advisory committee. Andrew Hitchmough is the barrister who represented BASC in its final VAT tribunal.  The Chief Executive extended thanks as BASC had just received a cheque for a £500,000 VAT refund.

The Trophy was awarded to Andrew Hitchmough of Pump Court Tax Chambers

Special Presentations

Special presentations were awarded to:

Reg and Shirley Grainger -  proposed by William Heal and Peter Marshall

Reg and Shirley have been BASC members for 28 and 24 years respectively, and on behalf of the Association have organised gundog events, Taste of Game dinners, quiz nights and clay shooting days.  Reg became a shotgun coach in 2001 and is now an Assessor.

Shirley has been Gundog Advisor for the Eastern region for the past 10 years.

Bill Sanders of Air Arms – proposed by Mike Montgomery and Jeffrey Olstead

Bill is Sales Manager of Air Arms.  He organises Air Arms’ support for our Young Shots’ programme by providing rifles, he equips and advises CCF cadet rifle training, supports the British Olympic shooting team, Paralympics and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and Help for Heroes.

Paul Sadler – proposed by Lin Oxley and Steve Bloomfield

Paul is always willing to help at any event in the midland region he is asked to, working on the membership stand, sleeping on site in the car or a tent!

Terence Hopkins – proposed by Glynn Cook and Meurig Rees

A member for 43 years of Carmarthenshire Wildfowlers Association, being on the committee for 32 years, and for the past 21 years club secretary.

Paul Bendel of Baker Tilly – proposed by Philippa Bursey and John Swift

Paul was the instructing accountant working on BASC’s VAT and key to the lodging of the appeal to the High Court which ultimately led to our success in Tribunal.

4. Chairman’s Report

The President invited the Chairman to present his report.

“Good Morning My Lord President, Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I’m told that in China to say “May you live in interesting times”, is actually to curse the person you’re speaking to. Well, over the course of the last year I think we have confounded the curse. We lived through interesting times, a general election, elections in the devolved countries, a coalition government, political scrutiny of firearms controls, an economic crisis and a VAT tribunal. We emerged having met the challenges, stronger and fitter. We were tested and we were not found wanting.

Single Incident Mass Killings have the potential to seriously damage our sport. The tragedies at Hungerford in 1986 and Dunblane in 1996 both led to restrictive legislation. The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 banned semi-automatic centre-fire rifles and restricted the magazine capacity of shotguns to two cartridges. The legislation in 1996 banned the private ownership of handguns. Therefore, it could be expected that the horrific murders in Whitehaven and West Cumbria in June 2010, a few days before the last AGM, would also lead to severe penalties for the law abiding shooting community.     

At present, that does not look like being the case. While we are far from complacent, all the signs suggest that for the first time government will behave sensibly and constructively following the reviews of firearms law over the past year. This is despite the calls to further restrict shooting sports, to ban the storage of guns at home, to stop young people applying for certificates, to tag medical records and to put shotguns on section 1 certificates.

Much of the credit for that is down to your Association. There were those who publicly attacked Council’s decision to build the new Duke of Edinburgh Building. They said that a new Communications facility would be a white elephant. They didn’t say that after Cumbria. Your Association mounted a comprehensive media and political campaign with its nerve centre in the new building. The Home Office and the Shadow Home Affairs team were contacted and briefed within hours of the tragedy. BASC spokesmen used ‘state of the art’ broadcasting and film facilities to instil facts, logic and sound reason into the debate.

Our expert firearms and political staff engaged with the process, briefing MPs and giving written and oral evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee review of firearms control. This is precisely the work that BASC is here to do – as the constitution has it: to act as a representative national body for all sporting shooting and to promote and safeguard sporting shooting.   

Last year saw the continuation of what has been widely described as the worst economic depression since the 1920’s.  We’ve all seen the effects: growing unemployment, government cuts, company failures, rising costs and falling pay. In the face of this challenge a major concern for your Council has been to assist those members who are finding economic conditions particularly tough. We have continued the Jobseekers Concession Rate for those on jobseekers allowance or pension credit. In the spring we introduced phased direct debit to allow members to spread the cost of their subscription. In addition, Council has introduced the Members of Her Majesty Forces concession rate. This demonstrates our appreciation and support for our service men and women who are laying their lives on the line for us in the conflicts that our country is engaged in. Against this background, it is worth noting that in a year of such financial challenge, careful control of costs and development of income sources apart from subscriptions have allowed the Association to deliver yet another surplus amounting to £684,000.

Such a good result is, in part, down to the refund of VAT in the wake of our successful appeal against Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. It’s worth remembering that our case was based on the fact that BASC’s contribution is essential to British shooting sports. In the words of Judge Bishopp  "In my judgement it is an inescapable conclusion that, without its campaigning, advisory, educational and land management activities, sporting shooting in the United Kingdom, in all its forms, would be of materially poorer quality, and in some forms might not exist at all."  This is a splendid endorsement of the excellent work your Association does.

In terms of developing alternative sources of income we have been particularly successful in developing sponsorship. For example Honda is now supporting the work of our Gamekeeping team. Our coaching programmes and clay lines at game fairs, a major operational cost, now have three sponsors. They are Eley Hawke for cartridges, Browning International for shotguns and Promatic for traps. This ensures that we be able to offer a better service and experience at less cost. Development of sponsorship for BASC activities is set to continue to grow.

Young people are the future of our sport. Many of them do not have the opportunities that we had as children. Many are deprived of contact with the countryside. This year we will be launching an appeal for a fund to assist BASC to help young people understand the countryside and grow into shooting sports. In partnership with the Countryside Foundation for Education we will be taking our message to children in the inner city and in the classroom. I hope this will have your support.

In this context, I wish to pay tribute to the generosity of BASC members who, in tough times, contributed over 50% of the cost of the new building. They have my sincere thanks. Without this contribution from members prepared to contribute a little more than their subscription we would not be so financially secure or have the resources to deliver the excellent services and representation that BASC is noted for.  

BASC is also developing its technological capacity. For many of us the rapid growth of computer technology and applications can be off-putting and we can feel left behind by the speed of change. That isn’t an option for your Association. The new building has allowed us to enter the video age with a fully equipped editing suite that began, last year, to produce BASC films and video press releases. We now have a fully equipped and soundproofed radio studio that allows us to give studio quality interviews. Our website – already the most comprehensive online resource for shooting in the UK – goes through a constant process of updating and development. It is beginning to make a financial contribution through advertising and sponsorship. We’ve also entered the world of social networking. If you’re a Facebook fan or avid “tweeter”, you can follow the Association on the BASC Twitter site and Facebook page.

I’m told that our Royal Patron, Prince Philip takes a keen interest in new technology. As Chairman, I was proud to welcome him to the Mill, in November, to open the new building. Prince Philip has taken a keen interest in the growth and work of the Association since the 1950’s. He is enormously knowledgeable about shooting sports and conservation, and we have been fortunate to have the benefit of his experience and advice. I was particularly glad that he gave the time to join members and staff for lunch at the Mill.

Looking forwards, I believe that conditions will remain challenging. Government spending is set to fall dramatically over the next four years. This will have a major impact on the capacity and resources of the government departments we deal with and the agencies which deliver policy on the ground. Both have a major impact on shooting. I believe that it is important that we recognise the opportunities as well as the threats that are likely to materialise. For example, as job cuts take effect in government agencies, so the private sector will be required to take up the strain. This may have many and lasting effects for shooting. An example is that recreational stalkers may be required to take a greater responsibility for achieving effective deer management in the future. Government may depend more on stakeholder advice as the number of departmental staff fall.  

Our marketplace, like many others, will continue to come under economic pressure. Members will continue to see impacts on their employment and incomes. Supporting businesses will continue to find the market hard.  This climate of austerity means that BASC must work smarter and deliver added value if we are to continue to maintain support for our members and deliver effective representation. Council and staff are well aware of this and have been preparing and providing for the future.  I would like to thank my fellow members of Council for their commitment to the Association. I would also like to commend the Association’s staff for their work. We are fortunate to have their expertise and dedication.

Despite the challenges ahead I am confident that the resilience of shooting sports will win through. We continue to maintain all-party support. In trying circumstances our membership levels are holding up well. Our finances are strong. Shooting is our passion as well as our recreation. The joy of good company and good sport keeps us coming back for more, whatever the pressures. As I look forward, in my opinion, despite the fact that we live in interesting times, the future for shooting sports and for this Association are bright and full of promise.“

The Chairman offered members the opportunity to ask questions; there were none.

The Chairman then introduced a short video and message from Andy Marsh of DCC, who leads for ACPO on firearms licensing matters. 

Andy Marsh introduced himself as the new Chairman of the ACPO Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group, following a good handover from Adrian Whiting the previous Chairman, and gave his apologies for not being present at the AGM.

Andy Marsh commented that BASC has a growing membership, and during the firearms licensing process safety needs to be balanced, there is a need to minimise bureaucracy during renewal processes, but he does think changes will be necessary and looks forward to working with BASC.

The Chairman summed up that this is one of the key agencies that interacts with our Association and it is good to see the police are taking note and moving forward with regard to proposed legislation. 

“This is how your Council works with the staff.  People on the ground do not see this.  It is good our Association gets recognition”.

The Chairman asked for comments from the floor; there were none.

5. ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31^ST DECEMBER 2010

The President invited the Chairman to present the Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31^st December 2010.

The Chairman highlighted that BASC is working under FRS regulations, i.e., changing the way the accounts are represented.   There will be more notes with the Accounts.  The healthy balance is not just because of the VAT refund, but over the past couple of years staff have been working well within our means.  Previous years have been re-stated because of the VAT refund. 

The Chairman asked for any comments or questions from the floor; there were none.

The Chairman then proposed the adoption of the Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2010.  Peter Glenser seconded the proposal.

All present agreed by a show of hands.

The Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements were duly adopted.

6. Elections

The President called upon the Chief Executive to introduce the results of the elections.

a. Honorary Life Membership

Peter Chomiak – proposed by Glynn Cook and Steve Bloomfield

Peter has been a member of North Worcestershire Wildfowling and Rough Shooting Club for over 40 years, serving as secretary and wildfowling permit secretary since he was 22 years old, and secretary to the Dyfi Wildfowl Management Panel for over 20 years.  Peter is very supportive of the Midland region and Wales.

Michael Jones - proposed by Glynn Cook and Meurig Rees

Michael has been a member of the Carmarthenshire Wildfowlers Association for 43 years, serving as a committee member for 32 years, and secretary for the last 21 years.  He has been involved in various Crown and Ministry of Defence leases for wildfowling, and helped at BASC Young Shots activity days, game fairs and events.

Eric Begbie – proposed by David de Gernier and William McIntosh

Eric has given long service to wildfowling in Scotland.  He was a member of Eden Wildfowlers Association for 31 years, holding offices of chairman, secretary and treasurer.  He has served on BASC’s Wildfowling Liaison Committee and was elected to BASC Council in 1987 and 2005.  Eric also edited the third edition of The New Wildfowler and donated his royalties to the Wildlife Habitat Trust.

The Chief Executive read out a message from Eric as he was unable to be present:-

“It is with deep humility that I accept this honour.  As a membership organisation BASC has a duty to carry out the wishes of its members, the two do not always sit side by side”. 

By a show of hands Peter Chomiak, Michael Jones and Eric Begbie were awarded Honorary Life Membership.  

b.   Members of Council

The President invited Jill Jones (of Baker Tilly), the Scrutineer to present the results of the elections to Council for 2011.

National Election	Totals
Ballot papers received	2,215
On-line voters	490
Total voters	2,705
Number of papers received after the deadline	2
Number of spoilt papers	44
Number of papers for checking and validating	2,659
Number of papers deemed void	11
Number of valid papers	2,648

The votes from these valid papers were cast as follows in order they appear on the ballot paper;

National election candidates	Number of votes
S Ogden	972
M Sherman	987
R Garner Williams	492
H Abbott	463
A Jarrett	940
G Owen	365
C Zambuni	1,229
C Allan	372
P Culley	1,003

Therefore the following are duly elected to Council:

Michael Sherman

Claire Zambuni

Paul Culley

c. Wildlife Habitat Trust – Trustees for 2011/2012

The President introduced the nominations for the election of Trustees for the Wildlife Habitat Trust.

Alan Jarrett had been proposed by D N Thorpe and seconded by R S Stead, and was happy for his name to go forward.

The nomination was carried by show of hands and Alan Jarrett was duly elected.

Anthony Holliday had been proposed by Graham Downing and seconded by Tom Gee, and was happy for his name to go forward.

The nomination was carried by show of hands and Anthony Holliday was duly elected.

7. Appointment of Auditors for 2011/2012

The President proposed that Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP be re-appointed as Auditors for the year ending December 2011 as recommended by Council.

Peter Glenser proposed the motion and Alan Balfour seconded.   By a show of hands all agreed.

The motion was carried and Baker Tilly UK was duly re-appointed as Auditors to the Association.

8. Any Other Business by Leave of the Chair

There was no other business.