From Major (Retd) IL George – Assistant Controller The Royal Engineers Association (Registered under the Charities Act 1992 and a charity registered in Scotland) Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN All correspondence to: The Controller RE Association Brompton Bks CHATHAM Kent ME4 4UG Telephone: 01634 822407 Fax: 01634 822394 Website: www.reahq.org.uk Email: [email protected] Reference: REA/A/1/2 See Distribution 23rd Feb 2018 MINUTES OF THE 128th MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION, HELD IN 052MR05, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, MAIN BUILDING, LONDON, ON TUESDAY 16th JANUARY 2018 PRESENT Col M Quare MBE Corps Colonel Lt Col M Heffer RE TD Reserve Army WO1 (RSM) S Allen 170 (Infra Sp) Engr Gp Mr M Payne BEM Central Southern Group Mr B Simm East Anglia Group Mr G Doughty South East Group Mr S Lipscombe North Midlands Group Mr T Webb South Wales Group Mr D Ormsby East Anglia Group Mr K Street South Midlands Group Mr W Halloran North East Group Mr R Tootle Scotland & NI Group Lt Col P Taylor Airborne Engineers Branch IN ATTENDANCE Lt Col (Retd) N Jordan REA Controller Mr K Kirk REA Controller (Des) Maj (Retd) I Sidebottom Corps Treasurer Maj (Retd) IL George Assistant Controller and Secretary APOLOGIES Maj Gen A S Dickinson CBE Chairman Maj J Walker RE Serving Officer WO1 (RSM) M Eastly 3 RSME WO1 (RSM) K Rank 1 RSME Mr J Allerhead BEM London Group Mr K Gover South West Group Mr A Bulmer North East Group 1. The Corps Colonel opened the meeting and welcomed those present, especially those who had come from afar. He extended season’s greetings to all assembled. 2. The Corps Colonel noted that apologies had been received from those listed above. He welcomed the following new members to the Committee for whom it was their first meeting: WO1 (RSM) S Allen 170 (Infra Sp) Engr Group Mr R Tootle Scotland &NI Group Mr D Ormsby East Anglia Group Lt Col P Taylor Airborne Engineers Branch 3. The Corps Colonel also welcomed the following new HQ REA staff to the meeting: Mr K Kirk REA Controller (Des) Maj (Retd) IL George Assistant Controller ITEM 1 - TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE 127th MEETING 4. The Committee accepted that the Minutes of the 127th Meeting were a true record of the proceedings. The Chairman signed the Minutes ITEM 2. TO CONSIDER MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 127TH MEETING 5. There were no matters arising from the proceedings of the 127th Meeting. ITEM 3 – TO NOTE THE REPORT OF THE BENEVOLENCE COMMITTEE 6. The Controller presented the Benevolence Report for the 12 month period ending 31st December 2017. The report is at Annex A. 7. The Controller pointed out that the amount of Individual Benevolence grants and the number of cases for Reservists had increased. He also discussed that there is a big push for Reservists to join the Day’s Pay Scheme and that they are given the right information to ensure that they are aware of the benefits. 8. The Controller reminded members that at its last meeting, Council agreed that with effect from 2018, the REA grant to ABF would be increased from £40k to £50k and the grant to SSAFA would be increased from £15k to £20k; Council also agreed to remove the standing grants to Combat Stress and BLESMA and retain the £3k per annum for other charities to be nominated annually by Council. 9. The Controller discussed the REA Welfare Grant and highlighted the 32 ER Marne Pavilion project which is £270,000,00 in credit and waiting for other agencies before it can progress. The under-spend from the welfare grant will not be carried forward and the initiative is finished. 10. Mr K Street – South Midlands Group asked if Benevolence cases need to have SSAFA or TRBL input. The Controller explained that all cases must be staffed through SSAFA and TRBL. It was then discussed that if branches have SSAFA caseworkers in their Branch this could assist members and speed the process. Mr Rick Tootle – Scotland & NI Group explained he is a trained SSAFA caseworker and mentor which works well in the Branch and encouraged other Groups and Branches to train caseworkers. ITEM 4 - TO NOTE THE CORPS COLONEL’S REPORT ON THE CORPS 11. The Corps Colonel presented his report and urged members to share this information with Branches and members. The report is at Annex B. ITEM 5 – TO AWARD THE BADGES OF MERIT FOR 2018 12. The Controller explained that a new system for considering Badge of Merit nominations for REA members was put in place last year. Under the new system, nominations are received at HQ REA and considered by an Awards Board on the 7th December 2017 and considered the nine submitted nominations. Of the nine nominations, six were selected to receive the award. 13. The Committee took great pleasure in awarding the prestigious REA Badge of Merit to the following members: Name Branch Group Mr Peter Bain Minley Branch Central Southern Group Mr Alan Bulmer Birkenhead branch North West Group Mr Ray Lambert Lowestoft & District East Anglia Group Mr Alan Marks Peterborough Branch East Anglia Group Mr David Ormsby Junior Leaders Regt RE Branch South East Group Mrs Sue Simm Cambridge Branch East Anglia Group 14. Their commitment to the Association and their comrades was remarkable and worthy of recognition through the award. The Controller will notify award winners officially. ITEM 6 – ANNUAL FINANCIAL SUMMARIES - UPDATE 15. The Corps Colonel asked the Controller to update the Committee on Branch submissions. 16. The Controller said there were still 50% of Branch Summaries outstanding. He confirmed that he was in contact with the Group Secretaries of those Branches and that hastening action had been taken. The Controller was also concerned that summaries he had checked had inaccuracies and accounts do not balance. This was concerning as two members of the Branch had signed to say the figures were correct. Branches need to spend more time over their accounts. ITEM 7 – HQ REA MANNING UPDATE 17. The Corps Colonel confirmed that with the arrival of Ken Kirk and Iain George, HQ REA is now fully manned. The current Controller will be taking the remainder of his annual leave from AD 16 February 2018 and will handover to Ken Kirk on that day. ITEM 8 – TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE REA RISK REGISTER 18. The Risk Register was distributed to all members of the Committee prior to the meeting and the Corps Colonel stated that he would not discuss the Risk Register in detail as the whole format will change this year as directed by the Chief Royal. The Corps Colonel discussed with the Committee some of the serials and invited all to have a look, take notes and comment on its validity. All members were content to accept the Charity Risk Register dated 10 January 2018. The Risk Register will be reviewed again in July 2018. ITEM 9 – REA STRATEGY DOCUMENT 19. The Corps Colonel relayed the Chairman’s thoughts on the REA Strategic Plan. Although there are Strategic Objectives the Chairman is keen to develop these as a plan and show how we intend to meet them. The Strategic Plan will focus on two aims; one is to maintain the Esprit of the Corps from cradle to grave. The second is to ensure that we have a wide reaching benevolence strategy in place that meets the diverse needs of those eligible. There will be different courses of action and lines of operation that will need pulling together and the recommendations of the recent Membership Scoping Study will form an important part of the strategy. The final strategy will be put to Council for their endorsement in due course. 20. The development is long overdue, but has not been possible due to the manning problems experienced at HQ REA. Now that HQ REA is fully manned the focus will be on the future in terms of what the REA is about. The Chairman expects that over the next year or so we will see some interesting developments that would ensure the REA is well positioned for the future. 21. The Controller (Des) who will be heavily involved with the Strategic Objectives spoke on the requirement for Groups and Branches to have an input with this process as feedback and bright ideas will be required from them. ITEM 10 – REVISION OF REA RULES 22. The Controller advised members that the Association Rules will need revising this year. The review is necessary due to the following: Recent Changes in the responsibilities of both the Controller and the Assistant Controller Recommendations made in the Membership Scoping Study Strategic Plan development The closer integration of Corps units with REA Branches 23. The REA Rules need to be in a format which is more understandable for those at grass roots level. Groups and Branches will be involved with this process as feedback and input will be required. The changes to the REA Rules will not happen overnight and could be a long process as ratification will be required from the AGM. 24. The Controller gave an update on the realignment of Branch Boundaries. The work was 50% complete and had to be put on hold because of the manning issue. There will be an update of the progress at the next meeting. ITEM 11 – BRANCH MATTERS 25. Inglis Bridge. Mr S Lipscombe – North Midlands Group gave a detailed update on the recovery of the Inglis Bridge by the Doncaster Branch. The Highways Agency was involved with the removal of the Inglis Bridge which was now in Chilwell being refurbished in the workshops.