Précis of the Minutes of the Sixth Meeting (2006 Session) of the Board of Directors of
ACU Ltd at the Offices of the Company held on Thursday 5th October at 10.30am
Present: Jim Parker (Chairman)
Frank Carter
Brian Bonny (Financial Director)
Peter Beardmore
Eddie Bellars
Roger Brown
John Collins
Roy Hanks
Peter Hillaby
Roy Humphrey
Tony Noel
Gary Thompson MBE BEM (General Secretary)
There were no apologies.
Item 2: Confirmation of Minutes of the Fifth meeting (2006 session) of the Board held on
Thursday 31st August 2006
The minutes of the fifth meeting of the Board of Directors held on Thursday 31st August were accepted as read.
Item 3: Matters Arising
Motocross Open Forum. Mr Thompson informed the Board that a letter had been distributed to all Motocross Clubs (Adult and Youth) informing them that a Motocross Open Forum will take place on Saturday 28th October at ACU House, commencing at 10.30 am. Those wishing to attend and any requests for Agenda items were to be with Mrs Goggin by Monday 16th October.
Supermoto Des Nations. The Chairman congratulated the Great Britain team for finishing third in the Supermoto Des Nations event recently held in Northern Ireland. This was a particularly commendable achievement as the whole effort had been assembled and managed by the Riders and Supporters involved.
ACU Handbook. The Chairman noted that the amendments to the ACU Handbook were ongoing and distributed a revision of Chapter Three of the National Sporting Code. The Directors were requested to consider this in preparation for submission to the National Council for approval.
Mr Thompson asked that all amendments to Standing Regulations and other items of the Handbook be given to Miss Emma Connop by Friday 17th November. He hoped to be able to produce the 2007 Handbook in time for it to be available for the winter programme of Seminars for Officials.
It was agreed by the Board that the ‘Serious Incident Checklist’ be taken out the ACU Handbook and be re-formatted into a convenient ‘tick box’ checklist to be included with the Permit and other paperwork issued for each event.
LARA. Mr Carter spoke about a recent document produced by Mr Burk outlining a proposal for the creation of a preferred list or recommended ‘directory’ of professional contacts to assist the Centres and Clubs. Mr Carter thought this could be very useful.
SACU. The Board considered a number of differences in regulations and procedures between the ACU and the SACU. It was agreed that a Working Group be formed and tasked to meet with the SACU to consider the situation in detail and to establish a mutually satisfactory way forward. The Working Group would consist of the Chairman, Mr Carter and Mr Hillaby. Mr Thompson was asked to contact the SACU Board to establish a convenient meeting.
Action: Mr Thompson
Expert Witnesses. The Board agreed that the Company would where possible provide Expert Witnesses on request. All such requests are to be made in writing for detailed consideration by the General Secretary.
Electronic Entry System for the ACU Offices. The Board agreed to the installation of a new Electronic Entry System complying with new Fire Legislation and Safety standards recently put in place.
Youth Sub-Committee – Motocross It was confirmed by the Board that the Youth Sub- Committee of the Motocross Committee are required to ensure that all proposals are presented to the Motocross Committee for approval before being implemented.
Motocross Committee – Remit. Mr Humphrey confirmed that the Motocross Duties, Terms and Responsibilities are available for presentation to the National Council.
Item 4: Finance Matters
4.1 Income and Expenditure Comparisons
Mr Noel commented on the difference in amounts shown regarding SCB Costs. Mr Bonny commented this was because of the process involved in winding up the Speedway Control Board which became the Speedway Control Bureau.
4.2 Budget Screening Process
Mr Bonny stated that the summary schedule normally produced at the end of the Budget Screening Process will be completed and forwarded to the Directors in due course.
4.3 Island Speedway (IOW) Ltd
Mr Bonny reported that, in line with previously accepted ACU practice, a sum of money had been made available to the Island Speedway ((IOW) Ltd as a temporary advance in respect of Prize Money for the FIM Sidecar Gold Cup held on the 5/6th August 2006. This money was due to be repaid to the ACU and Invoices had been issued.
Questions were raised regarding this transaction and the General Secretary was instructed to look into the matter.
Action: Mr Thompson
Item 5: Insurance Matters
The Board welcomed Mr Roger Brown (CEO Alexander Forbes), Mr Kevin Davies and Mrs Dawn Luby to the meeting:
Takeover by Lokton International. Mr Brown gave a presentation to the Board on the takeover by Lokton International. He stated that he had personally taken over the ACU account and was now responsible for the Motorsport Division. As a result of the takeover by Lokton International and the restructuring that had taken place, he was confident that there would be a greater depth and breadth in the support given to the ACU in future and that customer service in general would be improved.
Rates for One Event RTA Cover. Mr Davies confirmed that the established rates will continue for 2007. He also advised that a Limited Mileage annual policy was available and would be launched with the branding of the new company - Lokton International, once the takeover was complete.
Alexander Forbes Renewal 2007. Mr Brown stated that subject to ACU approval, he was happy to renew the existing policy for 2007.
Brit would be a offering a Force Majeure type clause in the policy to cover any possible strategic disasters in the future – along the lines of Foot and Mouth, BSE etc. This would protect the ACU’s financial position.
Item 6: Legal Issues
Mr Thompson updated the Board on the legal action taken against Gareth Hockey and RHL Activities Ltd.
He explained that RHL Activities had placed a second appeal towards the end of the appeal period. RHL’s first appeal had been poorly presented and had been dismissed by the Court. A further Appeal had been lodged just within the time limit and Mr Ewin of Freethcartwright, our Solicitor, has lodged a counter appeal.
Secretary’s Afternote. An appeal date of 1st November has been set by the District Judge. However, the Judge is currently considering whether this appeal should be dismissed in its’ entirety based on the argument presented by Mr Ewin. The District Judge is to make a decision by Wednesday 18th October, fourteen days before the appeal is due to be heard.
Item 7: Business Development Update
Mr Carter made the meeting aware of the Business Development and LASU Budget applications received from Mr Luscombe.
After some discussion it was agreed that the responsibilities of the LASU Department, separate to that of the increasing role of Business Development, be clearly defined and outlined in the next issue of the ACU Magazine. It was considered extremely important that ACU Members are made aware of the ACU’s responsibilities as Governing Body covering many motor cycling issues not limited to competition.
Item 8: Any Other Business
Dirtbike Show. Mr Thompson made the Board aware of arrangements made thus far regarding an ACU presence at the forthcoming Dirtbike Show being held at Stoneleigh over the period 16th – 19th November. There would be a staff presence on the ACU stand over the period and arrangements were being made to have a Motocross machine, a Motocross sidecar outfit, a Trials bike and a Grass Track bike on display.
ACU Awards Evening. The ACU Awards evening is being held on Saturday 27th January 2007. Mr Thompson told the Board that Mr Nelson was making suitable arrangements for some TT footage to be screened on the evening and that the TT Senior Trophy would be on display. Miss Baker who organised the Awards last year would be visiting ACU Head Office on Monday 6th November to discuss contractual arrangements to organise this year’s Awards.
Course Guidelines Handbook. Mr Thompson noted that the Course Guidelines Handbook had been distributed by email to those individuals responsible for amending the publication. He was keen that the Handbook be amended and distributed earlier this year, so that Officials had them in readiness for the forthcoming round of Seminars.
Refreshments for Participants at Rugby Seminars. The Board agreed that with effect 1st Jan 2007, all food and beverages for Officials Seminars will be free of charge to those attending.
Training Liaison between Mr Luscombe and Sport Committees. The Chairman confirmed the arrangements for ‘On Bike’ and ‘Off Bike’ training. During the budget screening process held the day before, the budgets for On Bike and Off Bike training had been confirmed, however, the delivery of ‘Off Bike’ training for each discipline would be coordinated with Mr Luscombe.
Recognised Promoters. The Board considered questions arising regarding the affiliation of Recognised Promoters. An application had been received from a Track Day operator who wishes to form a Company in the name of a Club to promote Road Racing. As such he has no previous accounts and the application does not fit into the Company’s original concept of a Recognised Promoter.
It was agreed that the Board would consider applications of this nature on a case by case basis and that Promoters without accounts would be asked to provide Bank and Trade references, together with a CV and a Business Plan.
Secretary’s Afternote. Following detailed consideration of the application in question, the Non-Territorial Board have agreed to accept the applicant as a Probationary Club for one year during which the situation will be kept under review.
Datatag. Mr Carter stated that a review was being carried out amongst those individuals who had a Datatag scanner to establish at how many events the scanners were being used and how effective the scanning was proving to be. Mr Thompson was asked to write to those individuals in possession of a Datatag scanner and ask for the information given above, i.e. How many events did they attend and with what success.
Action: Mr Thompson
MCRCB. The Chairman updated the Board on current MCRCB matters.
Item 9: Date of Next Meeting
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 4.25 pm. The date of the next meeting will be Friday 3rd November 2006.