A scheduled meeting of the Board was held on 25 November (13:00 until 18:15), with some matters needing to be referred to a subsequent phone meeting.

All ten current directors were present at the meeting and as a first item the Board accepted the Nominations Committee’s recommendation that Paul Drew be appointed as a new Independent Director: Paul was welcomed to the meeting at that point.

The main matters covered were as follows:

a. “Digital/Blue” Membership:  The Board reviewed a summary of risks and mitigating actions: following some modifications, including more specific identification of some of the risks, a report was forwarded to National Council to evidence the Board’s robust consideration of risks associated with this initiative.

b. Accounts to 31 December 2018:  At the time of the meeting, confirmation was awaited from Companies House regarding the filing of a supplementary note alongside the accounts: within a few days of the meeting, the supplementary note has appeared on the Companies House website, thereby completing all actions relating to the 2018 accounts. The Chair will prepare a note for the 2020 AGM clarifying the course of action taken on all matters relating to the 2018 accounts and how that relates to the resolutions made at the 2019 AGM.  

c. Organisational Development – Competition Work Group:  Rab Carrington attended for this item to assist the Board’s consideration of the Work Group’s final report. Following lengthy consideration of the options presented, the Board agreed to progress new arrangements based on an internal department but with the same formality and robustness of arrangements as if a subsidiary was being set up. The immediate next step is to develop an implementation plan for agreement by the Board.

READ: Competitions 2020: the way forward

d. Business Plan and Financial Plan 2020-24:  The Board considered a draft financial plan for 2020 that showed a small operational surplus but recognised that there is more work to do in order to model the costs of proposed staffing changes and update the plan to reflect the decision taken in relation to management of Competitions. Potential capitalisation of some of the investment in IT systems also needs to be taken into account. Alongside the further financial modelling, the business plan narrative needs to be developed to indicate the deliverables, outputs and outcomes.

e. Climate Emergency Declaration:  The wording of a draft declaration was reviewed, the main change made being to remove references to an “off-setting scheme” by replacing with “credible and recognised climate change project”. The amended declaration was forwarded to National Council for comment at its meeting on 7 December. It was recognised that further work is needed to develop operational policies consistent with the declaration, together with advice for members and clubs.

f. Related Trusts:  Progress on a number of governance matters relating to Trusts was reviewed. In relation to the Access & Conservation Trust, it was noted that the Mend our Mountains income had now been paid out in accordance with intentions and that there was a need for greater clarity regarding initiatives that were in fact led by the BMC and not ACT (i.e. Hills 2 Oceans and The Climate Project); further discussions will be held with ACT following its forthcoming strategy day. In relation to the Mountain Training Trust it was noted that a meeting involving the BMC is to be held with Sport England (on 13 January) to discuss future possibilities in relation to the Trust’s role at Plas y Brenin.

g. Governance Working Group (GWG) report:  The initial report from the GWG was discussed, from which a number of comments emerged for further consideration by the group.

k. Board Diversity Action Plan:  The plan was approved with a suggestion that baseline information needs to be included.

At the end of the meeting, the opportunity was taken to celebrate the contribution of Will Kilner, whose period as a Council-nominated director was ending on completion of his six- year term as a member of the National Council. Will was thanked for his invaluable work on behalf of the BMC and for his continued involvement in a number of matters including the Wales strand of ODG and as the BMC’s representative on the board of MTUKI.

The next meetings of the Board are in January and April, with further meetings in July, September and November 2020.

Gareth Pierce
Chair, BMC Board of Directors

READ: previous Board meeting summaries and minutes

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