AGM 2018 Chairman’S Report
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AGM 2018 Chairman’s Report 0151 317 9500 [email protected] nwrfca.org.uk the Volunteer Estate, we have been able Introduction to bring in additional revenue which has not only benefitted the units, facilitating Col Nick Williams, Chairman, NW RFCA the activities on their sites by receiving 30% back, but has enabled those units Reserves and Cadets “valuable and valued” that simply don’t have the marketable estate to raise income. Additionally, we Another financial year has come to an end and as have been able to support some excellent you read this Chairman’s Report we will be coming activities through our entrepreneurial up to the end of month three of this year. The in- outlook – more of which will be covered further into this report – but the multi- year financial pressures last year put a squeeze skilled operative in Cheshire and on our outputs but whilst the fiscal arena is tight we seem to have come Merseyside, and the installation of our away remarkably unscathed from this New Year’s in-year financial 1.1MW solar array at Altcar as well as the battery storage/gas peaking installations pressures. Certainly we are in a better position this year as at the time of both in Altcar and potentially across a the AGM last year we had already been faced with our third in-year cut number of Army Reserve Centres, will within the Grant-in-Aid Army Regional Command allocation; a significant bring in additional revenues to support the reductions of budgets. In addition, reduction was against the Army Cadet Force (ACF) operating grant, as in partnership with Army Headquarters well as other cuts across our funding lines. With support from the Council North West (HQ NW) we are going to trial of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (CRFCA), NW RFCA has an Army initiative in scoping the potential remained heavily focussed on these financial challenges. to offer up The Dale (Chester), Weeton Barracks (Weeton with Preese) and I was extremely pleased that, through Headquarters around the three main Fulwood Barracks (Preston) under the the proactive salaried staff, we bid outputs and delivery pillars: stewardship AV initiative. Any income would be ring- for and received just under £1m of in- of the Volunteer Estate, support to fenced and ploughed back to the units and the Army for use in infrastructure. It year underspend from the Defence Cadets & Youth, and Engagement, which is an interesting concept being trialled by Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). This I outlined in last year’s report. This will Greater London RFCA and ourselves. was received in late January and enabled happen by December, when we will have us to undertake a number of small three Grade C1s looking after each pillar I mentioned last year the Future Reserves projects which had to be completed – it is the engagement C1 that is currently 2020 (FR20) programme – the rebasing and paid for in year. The largest sum un-recruited. This will put us and all the of North West Reserve units, including received was used for CCTV for Altcar other associations into a position where the disposal of various sites. The Training Camp, an area where we had we can meet our commitments against enhancements have all been completed; been failing each year in our security the five Service Level Agreements and, it is the disposal programme that is inspections. Also, with a duty of care to more importantly, be held to account by lagging behind and we still await DIO the many users of the site, I am delighted the single Services, MOD and DIO for our direction to undertake the sale of a small that we now have CCTV covering the actions against the allocated funding. number of sites: Army Reserve Centres main areas of the camp. at Old Street Ashton under Lyne, Myrtle I am delighted that through the excellent Street Crewe, Ardwick Green Manchester, We have still not completed our work of our Alternative Venues team, who Canterbury Street Blackburn and Crown restructuring of the Association let out irreducible spare capacity across Gate Barracks Runcorn. 2 AGM 2018 Chairman’s Report : Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for the North West of England and the Isle of Man Still a significant challenge for us commence parading in September, under a team drawn from the volunteer base all, whether in the RFCA or serving the CEP 500. There are potentially another of the Associations and also external in the Reserve Forces or the Cadet 11 North West schools in the pipeline. subject matter experts. We look forward organisations, is that of recruiting – not You will have heard this morning a truly to a visit from either or both teams to only more Reservists but cadets and humbling talk by the Headmaster of The the North West this coming year as they Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs). Royton & Crompton School in Oldham. discharge their duties. Last year I used the strap line Reserves The story you have heard, I am sure, is This January, on behalf of the President are recruiting & Cadets are growing. This very similar to a number of other state and his Vice-Presidents in their roles of year I have used Reserves and Cadets schools who have joined the programme. Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants’ and the “valuable and valued”. Sadly, recruiting Our engagement – both with employers Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, has now become, for many, the focus of and local communities – goes from we screened the nominations for this everyday life. The challenges are there strength to strength. There are now well year’s Lord-Lieutenants’ and Lieutenant to see across all organisations. With the over 2000 Armed Forces Covenants Governor’s Awards. We were humbled remit, on the Reserves side, to meet signed across the country, with well by the many submissions but would ask, the Ministerial Statement Government once again, that those in the Chains of targets by 1 April 2019, less the Royal over 300 represented in the North West. A continual piece of work is to try and Command nominate suitable individuals Auxiliary Air Force, the targets are still in recognising the outstanding work that somewhat of a challenge. When you have organisations sign up to support the cadets and CFAVs as well. Nearly 12% of is being undertaken. We appreciate the read this report in this month of June, difficulty in writing citations but would the Trained Strength against target those covenants signed in the North West have not explicitly signed up to supporting ask every unit and organisation to spend figures (for the Reserves) as at 1 April a little bit of time towards the end of read as follows: the cadet community; a sad statistic. I was also pleased to note the annual facilitation each year in seeking out the exceptional of the Defence Employer Recognition individuals in their own structures. For us, All Services – 32,230 against a on behalf of the counties and the Isle of 1 Apr 19 target of 35,060 Scheme (ERS) Silver awards alongside the HQ NW Business Awards last September Man, we do really enjoy facilitating the Navy – 2,740 against a in Manchester. We were delighted to awards; it is one of the real highlights of 1 Apr 19 target of 3,100 have the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater the year for us. So, I would urge you all Army – 27,070 against a Manchester – and an association member to look long and hard at all those involved in the Reserves and Cadets and submit 1 Apr 19 target of 30,100 – present the awards. citations to recognise those outstanding RAF – 2,420 against a I also mentioned last year, for the first time, achievements. 1 Apr 19 target of 1860 a couple of relatively new roles CRFCA Increasing the number of cadets and have been charged with undertaking, CFAVs, which still are in decline, needs which report directly to Ministers on the all the support we, as an association, can delivery of the Reserves and Cadets. bring. That said, the work undertaken Firstly, the External Scrutiny Team is a by the School Cadet Expansion statutory role placed on the Chairman of Officer (SCEO), working alongside the the Council through the Defence Reform single Services, has produced great Act and is a key tool for working with our results. There are five schools currently Service Customers to aid the support of parading under the Cadet Expansion Reservists of all Services. Secondly, the Programme (CEP) 100, and a further 14 Cadet Health Check performs a similar schools parading, with three schools to but advisory role and is discharged by Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for the North West of England and the Isle of Man : AGM 2018 Chairman’s Report 3 Holcombe Moor Cadet Training Centre New joint ACF/ATC Cadet Centre in Upton, Wirral New boiler installation, Alamein Barracks, Huyton You will read on the following pages January into what is known as Gladstone updates on the Association’s various House – the previous Gladstone Mess Infrastructure strands of outputs as well as the other and prior to that the Sergeants’ Mess parts of the organisation that are viewed and before that the Red Rose Club. The Reactive maintenance is our most as our jewels in the crown – Altcar Training move was absolutely the right thing to sensitive and emotive subject Camp and Holcombe Moor Cadet do – if nothing else as a “spend to save” Training Centre (CTC). I am delighted to measure. The staff fought through the because it relates to that which see that the work – particularly on Altcar turbulence of the move and are now our stakeholders can see and Training Camp – with the introduction of benefitting, in my view, from a facility that touch.