The Zoom format was such that only the 4 key Exec members were visible, not the whole 134 CCCBR members in Zoom audience.
W&P represented online by Michael Church, Mike Hopkins Till and ARY with apologies from Shân and Adrian Nash.
The meeting was long without a lunchbreak (what had we done wrong to deserve that?) Starting at 10.30 a.m., a break at 12.45 for just 5 minutes, the meeting was forced to adjourn at 2.15 p.m. for the Ringing World AGM (scheduled to start at 2 p.m.). That too was longer than usual, and the CC meeting recommenced at 3.45 p.m. after only a 15 minute break! The meeting finally finished at about 4.30 p.m.!
Most items rolled on without great debate; the elections were uncontested.
The Guild of Clerical Ringers is now affiliated to the Council. Later in the meeting, their Rep offered to help reinforce relationships and the understanding between ringers and the clergy which is a promising offer.
The CC is proposing to hold training courses (à la Hereford Course, Essex, Bradfield) in parts of the country that do not hold courses currently e.g. NW (Lancaster / Manchester), NE, SW … Note that the earlier CC courses offered by the CC, called MTM included Management, Teaching and Maintenance. Now, doesn’t that look as if both M fit very closely with SMWG?
The CC item that took the time was that about the affiliation of small societies. This had already been aired at length in the Ringing World. It was eventually passed with 100 for and 28 against, plus 4 abstentions. Yes, a clear decision but clearly far from straight forward. The issues are too numerous to mention here - read the previous RW articles and I am sure that more will follow, including in the minutes. There was certainly logic to sorting the issue of direct membership of the CC (a commitment in the CRAG proposals) before adding small societies, but we shall see what the Direct Membership Discussions now bring and of course, which small societies wish to affiliate. The issue of Safeguarding in small societies was a key topic in the debate but that should now be supported by Ann White and Dave Basford.
This last point is probably the most noticeable difference between Registered Small Societies and current Affiliated Societies. Registered Small Societies would be able to contribute to the Council’s thinking and debates and would have a sense of belonging, but they would not exercise control. There is consequently no risk that the Council’s accountability to its existing Affiliated Societies, through their Representatives, will be diluted.
Finally, the Registered Small Societies status, including reduced subscription, will be available to any Affiliated Societies whose numbers have declined below 100 and who no longer meet (or feel that they might soon no longer meet) the membership requirement for affiliation.
Future CC and RW AGMs will be on 4th Sept 2021 Nottingham (St Mary’s Church) with some associated training activities open for all during the weekend, but without any “roadshow” style activities. 2022 - no venue scheduled, 2023 Suffolk, 2024 Devon. What the training activities may be is unknown.