North Strathclyde Area

Annual General Meeting followed by walk led by a member of Strathkelvin Group

th Saturday, 20 January, 2018

CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKLET Page 2 Location map. Page 3 Notice of the AGM of North Strathclyde Area. Page 3 Agenda. Page 4 Notice of Motion affecting Area Standing Orders Page 5 Notes on Nominations and Motions. Page 5 Annual Report of Area Council 2016/17. Page 12 Treasurer’s Report and Accounts 2016/2017.

THIS BOOKLET CAN BE OBTAINED IN LARGE PRINT FROM BARRY POTTLE, C/O FRIELS, THE CROSS, UDDINGSTON, GLASGOW, G71 7ES OR [email protected].

North Strathclyde Area comprises Bearsden & Milngavie, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth, Glasgow, Glasgow Young Walkers, Helensburgh & West Dunbartonshire, Mid-Argyll & Kintyre, Monklands and Strathkelvin Groups.

It is part of the Ramblers' Association, a registered charity (England and Wales no.: 1093577 Scotland no.: SC039799), and a company limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales (no. 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TW.

AGM LOCATION MAP

Page 2 of 16 . NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Eighth Annual General Meeting of North Strathclyde Area of the Ramblers’ Association will be held in the lower hall, Lenzie Public Hall, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch on SATURDAY, 20TH JANUARY, 2018 at 10.00 a.m. for a 10.30 start. The Agenda for the meeting is on Pages 3-4 of this booklet. Area Secretary: Mrs. E. Lawie, Burnside Cottage, 64 Main Street, GLENBOIG, Lanarkshire, ML5 2RD.

Please see the location map on Page 2 of this booklet. Copies of the Area Constitution and Standing Orders may be obtained on request from Barry Pottle, 33 Brackenbrae Avenue, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, G64 2BW or [email protected]. Dr. Ann Glen of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland has agreed to give a talk on “Saving Green Places”. After the Meeting, Jim Lawson, Area Chairman and also Chairman of Strathkelvin Group, will lead A Historical Walk Around Lenzie & Kirkintilloch. This walk is approximately 7km long with an accumulated height gain of approximately 100m. It is a circular walk starting and finishing at Lenzie Public Hall. It will be taken at an easy pace giving time to take photos and absorb the history. It can be muddy so best to wear boots and bring waterproofs as the Scottish weather is unpredictable. Members wishing to stay for the walk should bring packed lunches. The start time for the walk will depend on when the meeting finishes.

AGENDA 1. Chairman’s Introduction. 2. Apologies for absence. 3. Minutes of the Seventh Annual General Meeting of North Strathclyde Area held on 21st January, 2017. Copies of the Minutes will be available at the meeting, or may be obtained in advance from Barry Pottle, 33 Brackenbrae Avenue, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, G64 2BW or [email protected]. 4. Matters arising from those Minutes. 5. Annual Report of the Area Council of North Strathclyde and Audited Statements of Account for the year ended 30th September, 2017. See Pages 5-11 of this booklet for Annual Report and Pages 11-14 for Treasurer’s Report and Accounts. 6. Motions affecting the Area Constitution and/or Standing Orders. See notice of motion affecting Standing Orders on Page 4 of this booklet. See notes on Nominations and Motions on Page 4 of this booklet. If any further motions are notified, separate notice will be circulated to members 7. Election of Honorary Officers. Nominations are invited for Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Footpath & Countryside Co- ordinator, Publicity Officer. See notes on Nominations and Motions on Page 4 of this booklet. 8. Election of Representatives of individual members to the Area Council. Nominations are invited for election of Representatives of individual members to the Area Council. The AGM will decide how many representatives it desires to elect, subject to the maximum required to comply with the final sentence of Clause 6(i) of the Constitution See notes on Nominations and Motions on Page 4 of this booklet.

Page 3 of 16 9. Determination of representation of local affiliated organisations to the Area Council (if necessary). Each local affiliated organisation is entitled to nominate one representative to the Area Council, provided that, where more than two organisations have made nominations, the places are allocated by lot. In the event that drawing of lots is required, this will take place at the AGM. 10. Appointment of Independent Examiner. Nominations are invited for appointment as Independent Examiner, whose responsibility is to check the Accounts prepared by the Treasurer and certify whether they are a true and accurate record. See notes on Nominations and Motions on Page 4 of this booklet. 11. Ordinary Motions: • Area motions, • Motions to Scottish Council, • Motions to General Council, • Recommendations to the Area Council and/or to local Groups of the Area. See notes on Nominations and Motions on Page 4 of this booklet. 12. Election of Representatives to Scottish Council and General Council. Nominations are invited for: • two representatives of the Area to the Scottish Council of the Association, which will be meeting on Aberdeen on 10-11 March, 2018, and • two representatives of the Area to the General Council of’ the Association, which will be meeting at University of Bangor on 7-8 April, 2018. See notes on Nominations and Motions on Page 4 of this booklet. 13. Any other competent business.

NOTICE OF MOTION AFFECTING AREA STANDING ORDERS

Amend SO 5 of the Area Standing Orders to read as follows: HONORARY OFFICERS In addition to the Honorary Officers specifically referred to in Clause 7(i) of the Area Constitution, there shall be a Footpath and Countryside Co-ordinator, a Publicity Officer and a Training Officer.

Notes: Clause 7(i) of the Area Constitution states: The Honorary Officers of the Area shall be as follows: Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and such other officers as the Area Council shall from time to time determine, to be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The existing wording of Standing Order 5 is: HONORARY OFFICERS In addition to the Honorary Officers specifically referred to in Clause 7(i) of the Area Constitution, there shall be a Footpath and Countryside Co-ordinator and a Publicity Officer.

Page 4 of 16 NOTES ON NOMINATIONS AND MOTIONS Any motions affecting the present Area Constitution and/or Standing Orders must be notified in writing, signed by the proposer and seconder, to the Area Hon. Secretary by 23rd December, 2017. Nominations for election and ordinary motions must be notified in writing, signed by the proposer and seconder, and with the signed acceptance of the nominee, to the Area Hon. Secretary by 13th January, 2018, except that:  the requirement for prior notification of a nomination will be waived if there is a vacancy for any post and no other nominations for that post been notified,  at the discretion of the meeting, emergency motions may be accepted relating to matters arising at a date when it would not have been possible to give timeous notification. All nominees, proposers and seconders must be individual members of the Area or representatives of local affiliated organisations. (Representatives of local affiliated organisations may not be nominated as, or be proposers and seconders of, representatives of individual members.) If notification of any motion affecting the present Area Constitution and/or Standing Orders is received, notice of the motion will be sent to all members in advance of the meeting. Details of all nominations and ordinary motions notified will be available at the start of the meeting itself.

REPORT OF THE AREA COUNCIL 2016/17 This is the seventh Annual Report of the Council of the Ramblers’ Association Scotland – North Strathclyde Area, which came into existence on 1st October, 2010. The period covered by this report is 1st October, 2016 to 30th September, 2017. It is stated in a number of places that copy documents can be obtained on request from Barry Pottle. His contact details are shown on the front page of this booklet. Note on abbreviations: AC - Area Council AEC - Area Executive Committee CEC - Scottish Council Executive Committee CRs – Concerned Ramblers BofT - Board of Trustees of Ramblers as a whole.

AREA COUNCIL AC met on 5th November, 2016, and on 3th February, 13th May and 30th September, 2017. As in previous years, it appointed a Standing Committee comprising the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and two others, to take any urgent decisions between AC meetings. Informal AC meetings were also held on 6th March, to discuss business coming up at Scottish Council, and on 31st March, to discuss business coming up at General Council. Monica Ferguson resigned as one of the Representatives of Individual members to Area Council and AC appointed Muriel Hanlon to fill the vacancy until the next Area AGM. A list of members of AC, as at 30th September, 2017, can be supplied to any Area member on request to Barry Pottle.

FOOTPATH & COUNTRYSIDE Joint Access meeting for North Strathclyde and other Areas As in previous years, the Area hosted a meeting in November 2016 of Group Footpath Officers, Access Forum members and other interested members of the four successor Areas to the former Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway Area. Matters discussed included local access issues raised by members, an introduction to Pathwatch in Scotland (see below), an update on Ramblers Scotland’s campaigning activity (hill tracks, level crossings, national parks, etc), an update on the national access picture – discussions at the National Access Forum (camping management, core paths on OS maps, etc), update of Local Access Forum activities, Core paths plan reviews and other footpath and access matters.

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Pathwatch The Pathwatch Project was launched in Scotland. The Pathwatch technology has been successfully used in England and Wales, but this is the first time it has been updated to include Scottish OS maps to make it available north of the border. The app gives walkers – and others enjoying Scotland’s outdoors – the opportunity to share their experiences with the Ramblers through an interactive app on their mobile phone. It will help identify any issues which impact upon their experiences, such as missing signs, overgrown paths or busy road crossings. And it will let people celebrate the things walkers value most when outdoors – like views, good trails and interesting plants. National Access Forum The Area’s Footpath & Countryside Coordinator, Jim Lawson, attended a National Access Forum event at Battleby, Perth. In the morning there had been the launch of a new ‘Outdoor Access Design Code’, and in the afternoon quick-fire reports on real life positive initiatives across Scotland: Community Path Groups, St Fillans Group, Kinneil Estate Cycling Route, Smarter choices, Smarter Places. There were also open issue group sessions with small group discussions on dogs, networking, access promotion legal issues and funding. Glasgow City: “The Magnificent Eleven” (Mag 11) Previous Annual Reports referred to “The Magnificent Seven”, a walk through seven green spaces on the south side of the city, devised by Gary Linstead, the South East Glasgow Countryside Ranger. There is a new name for the project, to avoid future difficulties over copyright. As the walk is eleven miles, it is now called “Magnificent Eleven”. Glasgow Group were involved with several path maintenance volunteer days. Steps up to the trig point at Cathkin Braes were replaced as necessary, and work was carried out on paths at Holmbyre Park. Glasgow Group were one of the teams involved in the Scottish Council Challenge, in the format of the “Dragons Den”, by which Groups pitched to the Scottish Council Executive Committee (SCEC) for £500 funding. Mag 11 was the project put forward by the Group. In the end, SCEC decided to award £300 to each of three Groups, including Glasgow. A member of the Group has been working with Gary to set up a Facebook page for the project, to generate further publicity and involve the local community. Funding will be sought for a feasibility study to evaluate the work still to be undertaken, e.g. construction of fencing, inclusion of local communities to assist the project, which would enhance the opportunity to apply for assistance from other funds. Other Access & Countryside within Glasgow City The bridge at Cuningar Loop is now opened to the public and linked to the Clyde Walkway. Glasgow Group Committee members submitted responses to a Glasgow Parks and Greenspaces survey, intended to allow park users to input their views to assist in developing a sustainable, vibrant strategy. Sighthill Park has been undergoing major renovation and, due to this, the standing stones have been removed but will be re-sited after completion of the work. Sighthill is a TRA (Transformational Regeneration Area) which will take several years to complete. The pedestrian bridge over the M8 is still open with access to the sports area and onto the Canal proper. However the pedestrian bridge over the railway at Keppochhill Road has been demolished. At Pinkston Road the pedestrian bridge over Pinkston Road is inaccessible. Seven Lochs Park, between Easterhouse and Coatbridge, has received Heritage Lottery funding for changes. Regarding the Clyde Walkway, there has been a great deal of landscaping activity in the Caledonia Road/Shawfield area. The Polmadie bridge is down and likely to remain so for several years, as there are no available funds for repairs or rebuild of the bridge. However, the bridge from Richmond Park to Ballater Street has re-opened, plus there have been more improvements near the Adelphi Centre. Clyde Walkway now had a phone app in conjunction with North and South Lanarkshire.

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There is, still, no access at to the River Clyde at Mavisbank. On the opposite side where the quayside collapsed there has been no repair work. A weir on the River Clyde, upstream of Albert Bridge has been damaged, resulting in water levels falling, in turn resulting in parts of the river bank collapsing, with a loss of pathway in a few places near Adelphi Centre. The south bank walkway here did not run for any great length, so will be missed most by locals and cyclists. Repair will be costly. Maryhill Stockingfield Junction on the Forth and Clyde Canal is to have a new 3 way bridge, suitable for walkers, wheelchairs, cyclists, financed by Sustrans.. This will end the requirement for people to leave the path to continue their walk. Byres Road is to be more cycle, people friendly with less furniture on pavements. Sauchiehall Street is also to have traffic reduction and to have a footpath environment for pedestrians & cyclists. Problems regarding overgrowth and difficulty on the Kelvin and Allander Walkways had previously noted by Glasgow Group, are to be taken further with Glasgow City Council. East Dunbartonshire A new East Dunbartonshire Access Officer has been appointed - with effect from 14th August, 2017, Nicola Duenas took over from Alistair Kyle as Access & Paths Development Officer at East Dunbartonshire Council. The East Dunbartonshire Outdoor Access Forum has discussed Core paths were discussed. Ramblers Strathkelvin Group’s Jim Lawson requested an update on status of core paths i.e. the number of paths that could be walked and those that did not as yet exist. Bridge at Waterside Bing is closed and will be costly to replace. Lady’s Mile path is badly overgrown and needs cleared.

North Lanarkshire Following the success of the first Walking Festival in September 2016, North Lanarkshire Council’s Access Team in partnership with the North Lanarkshire Outdoor Access Forum organised a second Walking Festival in August 2017. Anne Thomson of North Strathclyde Area Council attended the AGM of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS), which included a presentation and visit to the threatened Faskine/Woodhall area of North Lanarkshire’s Green Belt, between the M8, Carnbroe, Cairnhill and Calderbank.

FINANCE 2015/16 External Audit Samples The Treasurer received notification from Ramblers Central Office that, for the year ended 30th September 2016, the Auditors were changing their approach to testing income and expenditure at Areas and Groups level. This would involve identifying the reason for significant fluctuations in income and expenditure year on year, rather than testing individual items by requesting additional supporting documentation from selected Areas and Groups. Ramblers don’t select any Area or Group for this exercise. The Auditors request this information and will come back with any queries when they complete their final audit. Central Office hope that this request from information up front should reduce the burden for Areas and Groups. Central Office Funding for 2016/2017 and Group allocations When Central Office informed the Area Treasurer of the funding to be provided for 2016/2017, they indicated the total for the requested funding exceed the available finances and that the decision had been made to hold the funding for this year to the same level as that provided for 2015/2016. When preparing the Group allocations for 2016/2017, the “flat rate” and “per member” payments were kept the same as those for 2015/2016. However, resulting from the changing numbers in Group Memberships, most Groups received increases, all be them modest, in funding for 2016/2017.

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Area Budget 2017/2018 Submission to Central Office The Area Treasurer’s submission, approved by the Area’s Standing Committee, was based the figures on the budget submission for the 2015/2016 Financial Year, i.e. the same level of funding to which the Area and Groups were restricted for the 2016/2017 Financial Year. Complaint by Group A complaint was made from an official in a Group within North Strathclyde Area to Ramblers Scottish Council Treasurer, Alistair Cant. It was indicated that the Area had been operating a policy/procedure whereby Groups were fined one quarter of their Group allocation if they were late in submitting their submissions to the Area. The Area Treasurer’s previous practice was to submit to Central Office those Returns which had been received from Groups, indicating that the outstanding Returns would follow when received. However, Central Office indicated that this was not acceptable, suggesting he should take more proactive action to secure receipt of the returns by the specified deadline. Accordingly, the Area Treasurer now indicated that, in the event that the deadline was missed by a Group, the funds which would have been transferred to that Group from Area would be reclassified as Group Support Funds and retained by Area pending the submission of a business case for financial support from the Group. Any Group which provided their Return after the deadline could apply for a payment from the Group Support Fund to support its activities and such payment may well be of the same amount as it would have normally received. The Area Chairman sent to the Scottish Council Treasurer a response to the complaint, as above. The Scottish Council Treasurer acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Area Chairman, but no further correspondence has been received, so it is presumed that the matter is now complete. Email from Central Office on potential fraud issues associated with Unity Trust Bank The Area Treasurer received an email from Central Office, referring to reports that scam emails, purporting to be from a member of a Ramblers Committee, requesting for a bank payment to be made to a particular account, have been doing the rounds. The email was a reminder that, before any payment is made, Area and Group Treasurers should have an authorised invoice/claim. If they are in doubt over the validity of the request, they should contact the person requesting the payment by telephone or by using their usual email address and not the email address used to send the request. Central Office had also been made aware that direct debits have been setup from Ramblers bank accounts by fraudsters, so Areas and Group should not put their bank details in the public domain i.e. on websites and should check your bank account regularly and the bank will give a refund of any non- legitimate transaction under the direct debit guarantee. It is likely that this email was sent by Central Office direct to Group Treasurers but, in case it was not, the Area Treasurer forwarded it to the Treasurers of Groups within North Strathclyde Area.

PUBLICITY & RECRUITMENT Area website This is now live at www.ramblers.org.uk/north-strathclyde. Meetup The 2015/16 Annual Report indicated that AC had funded a 6 month trial by one Group of publicising its walks through the Meetup website. The Group concluded that it did not wish to continue with this, principally because of confusion caused by the different systems of circulating information, as between Meetup and the Group’s own Programme. However, it felt that it could still be of use to advertise Ramblers’ Groups, with links to Group websites, rather than including full details of Group walks. This has now been set up by the Area Publicity Secretary.

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MEMBERSHIP Individual membership figures for Area The membership figure of the Area, as at 1st October, 2016 was indicated in the 2015/16 Annual Report as 1,220. As at 1st October, 2017, the Area membership was 1,214, a net decrease of 6 (-0.5%) over the year (compared to increase of 3.2% during 2015/16). The 2016/17 changes for Scotland were decrease of 0.6% and for the Ramblers’ membership as the whole, decrease of 1.2%. Individual membership figures for Groups Individual membership figures for each Group in the Area, as at 1st October, 2017, with changes over the year were as follows: Bearsden & Milngavie 304 (-1 = -0.3%) Mid-Argyll & Kintyre 45 (+3 = +7.1%) Cumbernauld & Kilsyth 177 (+11 = +0.7%) Monklands 83 (-6 = -6.7%) Glasgow 256 (0 = 0%) Strathkelvin 148 (0 = 0%) Glasgow Young Walkers 67 (-9 = -11.8%) Helensburgh & West Dunb. 120 (-8 = -6.3%) Not in any Group 13 (+1 = +8.3% Affiliated organisations The 2015/16 Annual Report indicated that five organisations affiliated to the Ramblers were allocated to the Area as at 1st October, 2016. During the year, two previously affiliated organisations reinstated their affiliations, so that there were seven affiliations (six independent walking clubs and one community council) as at 1st October, 2017.

GROUP SUPPORT Group AGMs 2016 As in previous years, AC arranged for visitors to attend each Group AGM in 2016. A summary of the reports from those who attended AGMs can be supplied to any Area member on request to Barry Pottle. Amendments to Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Group Constitution AC delegated to the Area Chairman and Secretary power to approve amendments to Group Constitutions. During the year, one Group updated its Constitution to replace “Strathclyde Area” with “North Strathclyde Area” and “National Executive Committee” with “Board of Trustees”. The Area Chairman and Secretary approved these amendments under the delegated powers. Proposal to start a group of family led walks in the West of Scotland Glasgow Group offered to set up a Family Walking Group and coordinate a trial programme of walks for three to four months, involve Groups in North Strathclyde Area, plus possibly some in adjoining Areas. It was hoped that fortnightly weekend walks could be arranged, on the basis of an interesting 2 to 3 hour walk of about 4 miles. Families would have to make their own way to the start of the walk so ideally walks should be accessible by public transport. Parents, grandparents, carers would take responsibility for their own children at all times. The guidelines stipulated by Ramblers would be closely followed. AC at its May 2017 meeting gave approval in principle. Following that, the support had been very good and enough leaders were found to run a fortnightly programme from February to May 2018. The Family walking Group will be run as a 'programme' under the auspices of the Area. Anyone joining would become a member of their local Group. The programme will be publicised through existing Groups and North Strathclyde Area’s Meet Up group. The Area Treasurer is liaising regarding costings.

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Groups’ training needs Groups were asked to submit a list of courses they ran or arranged, and whether they would be willing to open the training up to other Groups, or provide help arranging training. As there was a need to identify training required, so Area can look at providing or arranging suitable training to fill the gaps, Groups were also asked to submit a list of their training needs to Area. Five Groups responded, all asking for First Aid Training, two for navigation courses, one on using a GPS, and one on Leadership Skills. Muriel Hanlon of Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Group has been appointed as Area Training Co- ordinator. Ultimately, the role will involve establishing the training needs of groups across the Area, planning a yearly training programme, based on needs, finding suitable trainers for the courses, booking suitable venues, publicising the training to Groups across the Area, taking bookings and managing the events, and managing or keeping track of the Area training budget. Initially, Muriel is focusing on organising a first aid training course. Ramblers Roadshow events The above events, organised by Ramblers Scotland Office were held in Edinburgh in July 2017 and in Glasgow in September 2017. Supported by Ramblers Walking Holidays, these events aimed to help members to find out more about how to get the most out of their Ramblers membership, provided an opportunity for them to meet other members and volunteers, and provided direct access to walking experts and specialist partners. They were also an opportunity for members to learn more about the organisation and vision, what we do as a charity and the impact that we make, as well as the chance to develop or bush up on skills and knowledge as a walker or as a volunteerAC member Karine Davison attended both events, and AC member Anne Thomson attended the Glasgow event. Topics covered basic First Aid for walkers, introduction to map reading, planning your walk, how to be ambassadors for walking in Scotland (Scotland’s access rights are among the best in the world but everyone needs to know their rights and responsibilities and the best way to promote and improve local paths), and using social media to promote your Group. Safeguarding Policy Central Office intimated an update has been made to the Ramblers Scotland safeguarding policy. This is to reflect advice from partner organisations and best practice. The main change is that, following lengthy consideration, everyone under 18 now needs to be accompanied by a responsible adult, such as a parent, guardian, teacher or youth worker, when they participate in Ramblers walks and other activities. Unaccompanied 15-17 year olds with written parental consent are no longer able to participate in Ramblers’ activities, and the consent cards previously issued for 15-17 year olds are no longer valid. Children 1st have advised that this change be introduced to ensure that Ramblers does not fall into regulated work with children. It simplifies the policy and avoids potential confusion, reducing the risk of harm to everyone who participates in Ramblers activities, and improves support and protection for our volunteers, ensuring that Ramblers complies with the law.

SCOTTISH COUNCIL 11TH/12TH MARCH, 2017, DUNBLANE HYDRO The Area’s delegates were Isobel McQueen and Anne Thomson. Whilst motions from the Area to Scottish Council are normally passed at the Area AGM, it was subsequently heard that the Ramblers Scotland Office had sent a letter of protest to Highland Council after hearing that there was a possibility of them axing Ranger services in their area. AC agreed that a motion should be submitted by the Area to Scottish Council in support of this action, which was later amended to be of more general application: This Scottish Council gives full support to the Ramblers' Scotland Office regarding any protests to any Local Authority who show intention of axing Ranger services in their area. The motion was passed by Scottish Council.

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The report of the meeting, prepared by Ramblers Scotland office, can be supplied to any Area member on request to Barry Pottle.

GENERAL COUNCIL 1ST/2ND APRIL, 2017, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON A mistake had been made by Barry Pottle, who had prepared “Booklet 2” for the 2017 Area AGM, which listed the candidates nominated for election. The nominees as representatives to General Council should have read Karine Davison and Anne Thomson, but had incorrectly listed Eleanor Peacock in place of Anne Thomson. Whilst the meeting had proceeded to vote on the election of Karine Davison and Eleanor Peacock, the election of the latter was invalid as no signed nomination form had been received in accordance with the Area’s Standing Orders. There was therefore a vacancy for the second place. AC appointed Anne Thomson to fill the vacancy, but also agreed that Eleanor Peacock could attend as a visitor, at the Area’s expense. An informal report of General Council was previously available on the Ramblers website, but appears no longer to be there. A copy can be supplied to any Area member on request to Barry Pottle.

MISCELLANEOUS “Tell us your views on improving support for Ramblers groups and areas” Central Office carried out a survey to help improve the support provided for Groups and Areas across England, Scotland and Wales. Area members submitted responses to this survey. PPL Partnership and the future of Walkabout Through the long-term partnership with the players of People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL), Ramblers was been awarded £450,000 for 2017. This additional award gave the Ramblers the chance to improve the support that is in place for Groups and individuals to help everyone, everywhere enjoy walking. The PPL award will help showcase Ramblers’ walking activities twice a year through GB wide walking festivals. These festivals will help attract new people to discover the joys and benefits of walking and to encourage them to keep walking with the Ramblers. Walk About will become an annual event in the Ramblers calendar and PPL will start to support the long-running Festival of Winter Walks. One piece of consistent feedback about Walk About 2016 was the relatively short lead-time. To allow for plenty of preparation time, the next Walk About will take place next in spring 2018. This gives everyone plenty of time to prepare. Holding Walk About in late spring will mean benefiting from longer days at a time of year when the countryside is bursting into life: great for anyone who has let lapse their New Year’s resolution to walk more often. Death of George Sinclair AC was sad to learn of the death of George Sinclair, who had at one time been a member of the Area Council of the former Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway Area and had led walks for several Groups in the former and present Areas.

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TREASURER’S REPORT 2016/2017

The use of online banking has continued with no issues to report. Main Account With an opening balance of £7,859.44, the credits to this account were: - £7,224.00 Area/Group and Walk Leaders’ Recce expenses funding from Central Office, in four equal payments. This was the same as for the previous financial year, Ramblers Central Office having restricted the Group funding to this level for financial reasons.

No interest was received from Unity Trust in this financial year. Expenditures from the account were: -

£6,683 distributed amongst the Groups as Ramblers’ funding and Walks Leaders’ Recce Expenses. In the previous financial year this figure was £5,762. The variance being due to: - • In the 2015/2016 financial year one Group received only the basic allocation as calculated by Ramblers Central Office resulting from the failure to provide the information necessary to generate at budget submission. A second Group received a reduced allocation following the application of the Area’s reserves policy. • The allocations to Groups are proportional to Group membership numbers. The increase in membership as at 1st October 2016 over that at 1st October 2015 resulted in an overall increase of funding to the Groups. £48.36 as payment for three months subscription for the Area’s Meetup page.

£1,150.83 to cover Area Council meetings and Area AGM costs. The increase of £224.16 over the previous financial year being due to an increase in the travel expenses claimed to attend the Area AGM, Area Council and Group AGMs and the travel cost of sending an Area guest representative the 2017 Ramblers General Council. £6.70 administration costs. The transactions listed above resulted in a deficit of £664.89 for the financial year. Three cheques remained uncleared through the Bank as at 30th September.

Group Support Fund Account

With an opening balance of £1,489.49, the credits to this account were:- £259.00 received from the sale of 37 copies of the Milngavie Walks Books

No interest was received from Unity Trust in this financial year. The single expenditure from the account was: -

£413.00 for the purchase of 45 copies of the Milngavie Walks Books The transactions listed above resulted in a deficit of £56 for the financial year.

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Other Points of Note Main Account funds have been designated for spending in 2017/2018, £3.5000 and in 2018/2019, £3,500.00. The Area does not hold any restricted funds, fixed assets, investments, stocks or loans. No self-funded activities were undertaken by the Area during the Financial Year. Following examination of the Area’s financial records for the 2016/2017 financial year the Annual Accounts have been signed off by the Independent Examiner.

M. McManus, Treasurer, North Strathclyde Area

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RAMBLERS' SCOTLAND NORTH STRATHCLYDE AREA MAIN ACCOUNT INCOME/EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDING 30th SEPTEMBER 2017 GROUP NORTH STRATHCLYDE CODE: SL 2015/2016 2016/2017 INCOME 7,224.00 FROM CENTRAL OFFICE (FUNDING) 7,224.00 6.75 BANK INTEREST 32.43 OTHER: (total only) 1. - - 2. - - 3. - - 4. - 7,263.18 TOTAL 7,224.00

EXPENDITURE 5,762.00 TO GROUPS (FUNDING) 6,683.00 - TO GROUPS (OTHER) - - WALKS PROGRAMMES - - WALKS RELATED - - WALKS LEADER TRAINING - 64.86 NEWSLETTERS/PUBLICITY 48.36 - PUBLICATION/GOODS COSTS - 23.80 CAMPAIGNS/CASEWORK - PRACTICAL WORK - - FUNDRAISING COSTS - 926.65 MEETINGS (INC. AGM) 1,150.83 7.70 ADMIN 6.70 347.76 OTHER (total only) 1. - 2. - 3. - 4. - 5. - 7,132.77 TOTAL 7,888.89

130.41 SURPLUS / DEFICIT -664.89

BALANCE SHEET AT 30th SEPTEMBER 7,859.44 BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS YEAR 7,989.85 130.41 SURPLUS / DEFICIT -664.89 7,989.85 TOTAL 7,324.96 REPRESENTED BY STATEMENT BALANCE AT 30th SEPTEMBER 2016 7671.21 ADD CASH IN HAND HELD - ADD RECEIPTS NOT ON STATEMENT - SUBTRACT PAYMENTS NOT ON STATEMENT 346.25 TOTAL 7,324.96

HAVING CARRIED OUT PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AREA AND GROUP INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION GUIDELINES, I CONSIDER THE NORTH STRATHCLYDE ACCOUNTS TO GIVE A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF THE AREA’S/GROUP’S FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2016.

The Ramblers Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SW1 7TW.

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RAMBLERS' SCOTLAND NORTH STRATHCLYDE AREA GROUP SUPPORT ACCOUNT INCOME/EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDING 30th SEPTEMBER 2017 GROUP NORTH STRATHCLYDE CODE SL 2015/2016 2016/2017 INCOME - DAY WALKS - HOLIDAYS (total only) 1. - 2. - - SOCIALS (total only) 1. - 2. - 3. - 1.24 BANK INTEREST - OTHER: (total only) 1. Sale of Walk Books 259.00 2. - 3. - 1.24 TOTAL 259.00

EXPENDITURE - DAY WALKS - - HOLIDAYS (total only) 1. - 2. - - SOCIALS (total only) 1. - 2. - 3. - - TRANSFER TO MAIN ACCOUNT - - OTHER: (total only) 1. Purchase of Walks Books 315.00 2. - 3. - - TOTAL 315.00

1.24 SURPLUS / DEFICIT -56.00

BALANCE SHEET AT 30th SEPTEMBER 1,497.25 BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS YEAR 1,498.49 1.24 SURPLUS / DEFICIT -56.00 1,498.49 TOTAL 1,442.49

REPRESENTED BY STATEMENT BALANCE AT 30th SEPTEMBER 2016 1,442.49 ADD CASH IN HAND HELD - ADD RECEIPTS NOT ON STATEMENT - SUBTRACT PAYMENTS NOT ON STATEMENT - TOTAL 1,442.49

HAVING CARRIED OUT PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AREA AND GROUP INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION GUIDELINES, I CONSIDER THE NORTH STRATHCLYDE ACCOUNTS TO GIVE A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF THE AREA’S/GROUP’S FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2016.

The Ramblers Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SW1 7TW.

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Lenzie Public Hall