Report to BCA AGM June 2018
This should be my last report as BCA CRoW Liason Officer as I pass on the baton after three difficult years in the job. The co-opted position is a significant role in BCA, effectively running the BCA campaign to ensure the Countryside and Rights of Way Act applies to caving. There can be no doubt this is the direction the membership want BCA to take after both a poll and ballot on constitutional change were in favour by a large majority.
Looking back over the last three years we [the BCA] have achieved much with just a small group of contacts and confidents. We have gained considerable support for the BCA position with other organisations and influential individuals who find it in their nature to recognise the freedoms we seek and are keen to offer help. We have made our case clearly, beyond our own caving bubble, through mainstream media channels and elsewhere which has put the entrenched authorities under pressure.
We have now arrived at a stalemate where the CRoW Act can easily be argued that it already applies to caving, we just need the will from the authorities to accept that position. There is certainly no need at present to seek a change in the law. However with an entrenched view prevailing at DEFRA/NE we must look for opportunities where change can be made and continue to lobby for that change. There are opportunities ahead which are sure to come from the BREXIT fiasco and a Natural England in its death throws which surely indicates the establishment of a new statutory body. I?m sure my successor will be well placed to take those opportunities.
I am pleased to see that democracy has prevailed at the BCA although it has taken a rather long time. If we look back to the position taken by the BCA before the CRoW ?debate? gathered momentum we can see what a stark contrast it is compared to the position which has been democratically arrived at and before this AGM. I include them both in my report.
The first was drawn up by the then BCA Legal Officer and although never approved by council it was publicised in Descent magazine and on the BCA?s website. Dressed up as such, it was taken by some to be official BCA policy and used by landowners in at least one major access dispute.
This unfortunate set of events was probably the catalyst to the deep divisions of the CRoW debate. To some extent BCA must accept responsibility as the architect of at least some of the problems which have arisen with CRoW over the last five years. BCA largely ignored the CRoW Act during the noughties which were the major years of discussion and implementation and allowed a minority voice to set the scene for years.
At this AGM we have before us a very different policy on CRoW. This policy has followed due process. Beginning with a poll of the membership over the CRoW campaign and later a ballet vote on constitutional changes. BCA council then passed the following motion in January, ?C&A committee to prepare a draft policy statement, kept as brief and meaningful as possible, that BCA believes with good reason that the CRoW Act, as-is, applies to caving.? This was duly done and passed by the C&A committee and handed back to the April council meeting and is now before the AGM for final ratification.
Finally I shall voice the same concerns I have voiced several times over the last three years. Namely the abuse, and efforts to undermine my position, by the anti-crow brigade. This should be an important issue for BCA and it is one where I feel BCA has made a poor account of itself. I was pleased to see the retiring chairman finally mention the subject in his newsletter report but he will remember that some of the on-line abuse I suffered was fuelled by one of his own executive colleagues. I hope that this will not be allowed to continue under our new chairman and that my successor will be much better supported in his endeavours to fulfil the expectations of our membership.
Speaking of my successor, David Rose has put himself forward to take on the role. David has a good understanding of the task in hand with excellent contacts in government and is well positioned geographically to further our policy. I wholeheartedly support his appointment and hope council will co-opt him into the role following our AGM. I have established the basics of a CRoW working group for my successor to take over and I am happy to participate myself where required.
For those who had hoped to see the back of me at council meetings I am sorry to disappoint as for the foreseeable future I shall be acting as CNCC rep to BCA. See you there.
Tim Allen
June 2018
This should be my last report as BCA CRoW Liason Officer as I pass on the baton after three difficult years in the job. The co-opted position is a significant role in BCA, effectively running the BCA campaign to ensure the Countryside and Rights of Way Act applies to caving. There can be no doubt this is the direction the membership want BCA to take after both a poll and ballot on constitutional change were in favour by a large majority.
Looking back over the last three years we [the BCA] have achieved much with just a small group of contacts and confidents. We have gained considerable support for the BCA position with other organisations and influential individuals who find it in their nature to recognise the freedoms we seek and are keen to offer help. We have made our case clearly, beyond our own caving bubble, through mainstream media channels and elsewhere which has put the entrenched authorities under pressure.
We have now arrived at a stalemate where the CRoW Act can easily be argued that it already applies to caving, we just need the will from the authorities to accept that position. There is certainly no need at present to seek a change in the law. However with an entrenched view prevailing at DEFRA/NE we must look for opportunities where change can be made and continue to lobby for that change. There are opportunities ahead which are sure to come from the BREXIT fiasco and a Natural England in its death throws which surely indicates the establishment of a new statutory body. I?m sure my successor will be well placed to take those opportunities.
I am pleased to see that democracy has prevailed at the BCA although it has taken a rather long time. If we look back to the position taken by the BCA before the CRoW ?debate? gathered momentum we can see what a stark contrast it is compared to the position which has been democratically arrived at and before this AGM. I include them both in my report.
The first was drawn up by the then BCA Legal Officer and although never approved by council it was publicised in Descent magazine and on the BCA?s website. Dressed up as such, it was taken by some to be official BCA policy and used by landowners in at least one major access dispute.
This unfortunate set of events was probably the catalyst to the deep divisions of the CRoW debate. To some extent BCA must accept responsibility as the architect of at least some of the problems which have arisen with CRoW over the last five years. BCA largely ignored the CRoW Act during the noughties which were the major years of discussion and implementation and allowed a minority voice to set the scene for years.
At this AGM we have before us a very different policy on CRoW. This policy has followed due process. Beginning with a poll of the membership over the CRoW campaign and later a ballet vote on constitutional changes. BCA council then passed the following motion in January, ?C&A committee to prepare a draft policy statement, kept as brief and meaningful as possible, that BCA believes with good reason that the CRoW Act, as-is, applies to caving.? This was duly done and passed by the C&A committee and handed back to the April council meeting and is now before the AGM for final ratification.
Finally I shall voice the same concerns I have voiced several times over the last three years. Namely the abuse, and efforts to undermine my position, by the anti-crow brigade. This should be an important issue for BCA and it is one where I feel BCA has made a poor account of itself. I was pleased to see the retiring chairman finally mention the subject in his newsletter report but he will remember that some of the on-line abuse I suffered was fuelled by one of his own executive colleagues. I hope that this will not be allowed to continue under our new chairman and that my successor will be much better supported in his endeavours to fulfil the expectations of our membership.
Speaking of my successor, David Rose has put himself forward to take on the role. David has a good understanding of the task in hand with excellent contacts in government and is well positioned geographically to further our policy. I wholeheartedly support his appointment and hope council will co-opt him into the role following our AGM. I have established the basics of a CRoW working group for my successor to take over and I am happy to participate myself where required.
For those who had hoped to see the back of me at council meetings I am sorry to disappoint as for the foreseeable future I shall be acting as CNCC rep to BCA. See you there.
Tim Allen
June 2018