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2021 motions: Mid-year report from the board of trustees (5 October 2021)
This update covers the three motions approved at the AGM this year. An update on all open motions, including a further update on the three motions from this year, will be included as usual in the General Council 2022 AGM papers which will be published by 11 March.
General Council 2022
The General Council AGM in 2022 will take place on Saturday 9 April at the Birmingham NEC. The board has agreed to keep to the same plan that we had in place for this year - a one-day meeting in a decent sized venue, with a full agenda including ample time for motions and debates. Please note that the AGM itself will be for Council members only.
The board will continue to keep the plans under review in the current circumstances. Further information and details of all arrangements will be confirmed later in December, posted on the website and shared with Council members and Area chairs and secretaries.
Dates and deadlines for next year:
General Council 2021
The General Council AGM took place on Saturday 17 April 2021 from 11am to 3.30pm.
GC 2021 papers
SLT & Honorary treasurer presentation
Trustee election results
There were four sets of trustee elections at the AGM (see candidate videos) and the following trustees were elected:
Chair, board of trustees Rebecca Dawson Ordinary member (3-year term) Ronnie Forbes Malcolm McDonnell Lucy Robinson Ordinary member (2-year term) Mark Chung Ordinary member (1-year term) Kate Ashbrook
Full election results.
General Council 2020
The General Council AGM took place on 15 September 2020 as a short broadcast-only online meeting, with Council members having formally participated and voted in advance by appointing the chair as their proxy and submitting a proxy form ahead of the meeting. These particular arrangements were required given ongoing social distancing requirements, and guided by general advice from Companies House and the Charity Commission as well as professional legal advice, particularly in light of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. Over 100 people joined the online meeting and 103 Council members participated by appointing a proxy and voting on the formal business.
Informal Zoom session to discuss 2020 motions
As we were unable to hold a formal motions debate at our AGM this year, Council members were invited to join a Zoom meeting on 19 November 2020 to discuss the nine motions submitted by Areas this year. The session was chaired by Kate Ashbrook, with trustees and members of the senior leadership in attendance along with around 45 members. This was an informal discussion session and did not replicate our usual General Council debate format as set out in the standing orders.
About General Council
Our annual general meeting is commonly referred to as General Council.
Each Ramblers Area, and each national organisation affiliated to us, is entitled to appoint members of General Council. Whilst our Groups and individual members are not directly represented, they can influence the policy of the Ramblers via their Area's Council members. Trustees, our president, vice presidents and members of the Motions Review Committee are also members of General Council.
General Council elects the board of trustees which runs the organisation on behalf of members and for the public benefit. Council considers the annual report and accounts and provides guidance on policy by debating policy motions. It also approves changes to our constitution.
Ramblers is a company limited by guarantee, and General Council is the body of people who are defined as company members for Companies Act and other legal purposes. Members of General Council are entitled to attend the annual general meeting, but remain company members at other times.