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MAG NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11th December 2004
Masonic Hall, Rugby
Present
Ian Moore Chairman
Gerard Livett Director & Regional Rep – Greater London
Steve Wykes Regional Rep – Scotland
Andrew Timms Deputy Regional Rep – Yorkshire
Alan Waldron Acting Regional Rep – East Midlands
Tony Cox Regional Rep – North West
Andrew Meredith Observer – Western Region
Paul Turner Regional Rep – Cumbria
Robin Straughan Regional Rep – North East
Derwen Hinds NC Liaison – Western Region
Rick Hulse Chairman NABD
Alan Woolley National Clubs Liaison Officer
Justine Travis Finance Director
Dave Elrick Managing Director – MAP
Jane Chisholm Regional Rep – Yorkshire and North Lincs
Ian Mutch President
Meeting commenced 14:00
Apologies
Shan Tedder (East Anglia), Mike Baker (South West),
Ian Churchlow (Vice Chairman),
John Mitchell (South East),
John Thomson (Southern),
Gary Olphert (Secretary Northern Ireland),
Rick Phillips (Thames Valley),
Eddie Lowe (West Midlands),
Simon O Connor (Essex and Herts).
Items of a Commercial or a sensitive business nature to MAG have been omitted from these minutes.
Removal of any item not deemed by NC to be appropriate or related to Regional Reps
No items were identified for removal.
Minutes of last Meeting
After some minor amendments the minutes were accepted.
Proposed Robin Straughan, seconded Jane Chisholm
Vote unanimous
Matters arising
Review of pink forms – Completed.
Raffle tickets for 2005 have been printed. The draw to take place at Stormin the Castle in 2005 and the NEC in 2006.
WMS – This matter had been fully discussed at the RAM’s meeting and no further action was required.
Appointments and Resignations
Brian Williams resigned as a director of the Foundation, but is still willing to help with technicalities. Neil Stevenson was proposed as a director in Brian’s place. Ian Moore proposed Neil as a trustee of the foundation who received the unanimous backing of the NC for this position.
Steve Travis has resigned from the National Network Communications Officers role. Reps were urged to try and find a suitable replacement for this position.
NATIONAL OFFICER REPORTS
National officers presented reports. Ian Moore said that he had been busy mediating in disputes recently, but was pleased to say that now that these had been resolved, MAG were once again moving forward. Ian also looked
forward to a new year that promised to be a busy one for MAG in which real progress could be made.
Justine Travis indicated that MAG had remained in surplus this year despite a fall in membership as a result of a careful control over expenditure and the tremendous contributions made by MAP and Stormin the Castle.
Alan Wooley indicated that progress was being made on the clubs front, but that contacts at local level were very important where club affiliations were concerned. He urged that all reps hold club affiliation packs for reference and get the message across to clubs at a local level. In addition better promotion of the clubs affiliation package’ was needed on the MAG UK web site, with the provision of secure facilities to allow affiliation on line.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR POLITICAL REPORT
In Trevor’s absence at the FEMA executive committee Ian Moore presented his report indicating Trevor’s involvement on the following issues;
DfT
Dft Continuous Enforcement of Motor Insurance Requirements.
A consultation proposing a new offence to allow for a scheme of continuous enforcement of motor insurance requirements has been circulated and a draft response has been drafted.
While MAG does not condone evasion of VED and TPO insurance when vehicles are being used on the road, the current proposal gives the insurance industry free reign and risks law abiding riders being prosecuted under the proposed law.
DVLA Consultation on Continuous Registration of Vehicles
A response to the consultation has been formulated and sent.
DfT Consultation – Update on Circular Roads 1/93 Setting Local speed Lim its
This consultation seeks to:
§ provide up to date and consistent advice to Traffic Authorities;
§ better reflect the needs of all road users;
§ improve the balance between safety, accessibility and environment
objectives;
§ help road users recognise the risks on different types of roads,
§ improve compliance through appropriate speed limits
§ and help reduce the number of accidents where excessive or inappropriate speed is a contributing factor.
A response is being formulated.
Road Safety Bill
Trevor is looking into the announced Road Safety Bill. An initial meeting with David Jamieson will take place through PACTS and an appropriate response and position needs to be determined.
IHIE Engineering Guidelines for Motorcycling
MAG have been asked to respond to the draft guidelines and have advised the IHIE about our concerns regarding cattle grids and closed loop sensors at traffic lights, further consultation is anticipated.
Highways Agency – Improving Road Safety Leaflet
After having initially been excluded, the Highways Agency have been reminded about our credentials in representing motorcyclists. Consequently MAG have now been invited to assist in developing the leaflet aimed at motorcyclists.
FEMA
FEMA have conducted interviews for a new member of staff and Filipo Mariano has been employed.
Understanding on the Global Harmonisation of Motorcycle Technical Regulations
Areas being considered for action under Global Harmonisation of Regulations fall into the following categories;
The World Health Organisation and global road safety;
Working Party 1’s 45th Session and the global road safety issue;
World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC);
Motorcycle and noise regulation developments;
Considerations and actions.
Under considerations and actions MAG have been asked what our position on filtering is. We need to determine the pros and cons on this issue and formulate our policy accordingly.
EU Enlargement Campaign With the enlargement of the EU FEMA are investigating riders organisations in the new countries. MAG have been tasked with forging links with riders groups in Poland and Malta. A riders organisation in Malta has been contacted. Their biggest issue is working with their authorities on safety. In conjunction with this MAG has also been corresponding with riders groups in Australia on sharing research and knowledge of riders issues.
Third European Driving Licence Directive (DLD)
This is still ongoing both in the UK and in Europe. DLD positions have changed since the last report and still remain in flux. FEMA have been holding meetings with the MEPs responsible for the file. Although a politicalagreement has been reached on the motorcycle part of the proposal, some member state (particularly Germany) may wish to reopen discussion once the European parliament carries out its first reading. Following that the Council will formally adopt its common position. If the joint position of the motorcycle lobby is not accepted, MAG will need to lobby MEPs.
Directive 98/71/EC on the legal protection of design
The EU Commission has presented a proposal to amend directive 98/71/EC on the legal protection of designs. The current situation is unsatisfactory where design protection on spares exists in 16 member states, but does not in the other 9. FEMA will submit the results of research on the effects of liberalisation on the motorcycle spares sector. The aim being to demonstrate that prices are higher where design protection is still granted and to press for liberalisation of spares design protection, resulting in cheaper spares.
Daytime Running Lights
The (DG transport and Energy) Commission has released the final report of its research project. MAG National Research Officer Elaine Hardy has prepared a response for MAG in liaison with BMF and FEMA. Our response is being used by Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (French Federation of Angry Bikers).
Crash Barriers
The proposed launch of a MAG UK campaign at the NEC show in November was delayed due to concentrating on the consultation for continuous taxation.
A rewrite of MAG’s position is in progress.
DIESEL
Met the Diesel SpillKills team at the NEC. They intend maintaining their campaign and repeating the successful rally in London in 2005. Ian Mutch played host to a representative of MAG Netherlands and a full report is in Streetbiker. Feedback on where all the stickers have gone is required. An order for another 5,000 stickers has been placed.
TFL
Gerard Livett attended London Motorcycle Working Group while Trevor attended the TRL HQ.
TRL
Trevor attended the launch of the TRL data bike and gave a presentation on safer riding.
DEFRA
The Countryside Agency have done a Discovering Lost Ways study in order to look for Rights of Way missing from the definitive map. It was discovered that many are missing. Though there still appears to be no sure way of get routes made into guaranteed access for users. The LARAGB web site www.Laragb.org has an updated map which shows BOATS, RUPPS etc The industry could lose large amounts of income if off-roading becomes illegal and are investigating educational materials providing guidelines for use off road. While the ACU are investigating noise levels, ensuring training in the use of sound meters is available, so that noise level testing can be carried out at all meetings. For 2005/2006 there are plans to reduce noise levels for certain disciplines. The ACU would also like to see the decibel level stamped on certain after-market products.
Two meetings have also been held with DEFRA, who will now either accept or reject the submitted solutions to green laneing.
In addition Trevor attended and presented Safer Riding presentation at Aston University, attended MAG Foundation meetings, the ACPO conference, the DVLA conference, a ROSPA seminar, PACTS meeting, the NMC and a Northern Ireland Motorcycle show.
BOARD REPORT
Following the resignation of Steve Travis as National Network Communications Officer (NNCO) the Board recommends that a replacement NNCO be identified and appointed as soon as possible.
The Board recognises that despite the current financial surplus there is a need to review the finances of MAG UK Ltd in depth and recommends that a Finance Working Group be set up to examine MAG UK finances and report to the Board.
Regional mandate Constitution changes to be tabled at AGC
Uncle Sol indicated that MAG represents freedom. The freedom to ride a motorcycle. Its strength does not come from the top – the national committee or the board, it comes from the members, the local groups and the regions.
The voting members of the National Committee are the Regional Representatives whose role is to represent the interests of their region. As the constitution currently stands, regions which choose to have a more informal committee structure, are effectively disenfranchised at National Committee level because they choose not to have a single representative as a regional representative.
To address this situation and enfranchise regions choosing to operate by committee the following changes to the constitution were proposed;
7.iiiA Regional Representatives, their delegates or other duly elected person, elected by their respective regions.
7.viI To appoint any National Officer or Regional Representative (or equivalent) in an emergency or where it is not practicable to fill any vacancy by election at group conference.
8.ii MAG members living in regions listed below shall decide the best structure for the effective management of their region, subject to the approval by the National Committee. Each region shall elect a Regional Representative, or an officer to represent the region on the National Committee. – No MAG member shall participate in elections for regional committee members in any region other than that in which they reside. The National Committee shall determine any dispute as to the region in which a member is entitled to vote.
Proposed Uncle Sol, seconded Alan Wooley – accepted unanimously.
Action Regional Reps. to advise Ian Mutch of Streetbiker requirements.
AOB
A request for club affiliation had been received from an Australian Bike club – after consideration it was agreed that the Nationality of the club would not debar them from affiliation if they so wished.
East Yorkshire MAG were looking to operate a merchandise franchise utilising ex-MAG stall products under the Image banner.
Meeting closed at 5.30 pm.
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