Peter Skipp (Chairman), Les Preston (Vice Chairman), David Law (Vice Chairman),

Robert Peel (Treasurer) and about 120 members

John Smout, Vice Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Group, welcomed members on

behalf of the Group to Paddock Wood – once the centre of hopgrowing

in Kent.

Peter Skipp welcomed members to the meeting and introduced the other Officers. He

explained that Groups took it in turns to host the AGM and thanked Tunbridge Wells

Group for doing so this year. He noted the tremendous effort that goes into preparing

lunch and expressed appreciation to all involved.

Peter also welcomed our guest speaker, Tom Franklin, the RA’s new Chief Executive.

He had heard well of Tom’s presentation and aimed to get through the formal

business as soon as possible.

Arthur Russ, Area Secretary, was unable to attend the meeting. Peter and Robert

would be sharing the task of recording the proceedings in order to prepare the

minutes. Ken Wright from Bromley Group also sent his apologies.

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 3 February 2007 in Littlebourne

were agreed to be a true record subject to the substitution of “Brian Arguile” for

“Brian Arguiles”.

Peter Skipp presented the Annual Report for the year to 30 September 2007. He

hoped that members had enjoyed the new format with a more “newsy” style and more

colour. As this is the only opportunity to communicate directly with the members,

especially those members who do not walk with Groups, it is important to make it

attractive and encourage people to read it.

For the last year we have been anticipating a new strategic plan from Central Office.

That’s why we felt it so important to get Tom to be here today to talk about the future

and enable us to discuss it with him.

In last year’s report David Law raised some key issues which are still very relevant

today. One was the state of the footpath network, probably the largest of any Area in

England. Some of it is in good order, some not. Footpath workers work hard to keep

KCC on their toes. Over the year there have been changes in the way we do things.

There have been changes to the titles given to our footpath volunteers– this may

sound like window dressing but the new titles do more accurately describe the tasks

and we are trying to provide more focussed resources and backup

to be even more

effective.

A very successful workshop for footpath workers was held in October. KCC

representatives were there all day and made much of their new management system

which shows every footpath, gate, stile etc – over 50,000 individual items. We are

pushing KCC to be open and give the RA access to the system. We have negotiated

that our volunteers can assist with resurveying

using our handheld

computers to

download data, revise it and upload again. The cost to us of £5,000 represents a

significant gesture on our part, demonstrating to KCC that we are prepared to respond

with positive action.

We are also pressing KCC to use volunteers to do essential footpath work. This

already happens in White Cliffs Group but we would like to see this develop much

further if insurance and management issues can be overcome. In return we want to

see KCC improve their performance in dealing with footpath problems.

On publicity and membership recruitment, we need to make more progress. We

ought to have more members in such a heavily populated area. We are currently the

fourth largest Area and should be looking to overtake Hampshire and maybe even

Essex and Surrey. So we need someone to help with the media and a new

membership secretary to replace John Wellard who is standing down today. Les

Preston is standing in for the time being.

We are getting used to computers and email as a way of life. It is so helpful to be able

to communicate this way – no need to write letters etc. We will be moving more in

that direction. We really do want to encourage members who are not comfortable

with IT to help us by considering having an IT buddy who can provide a working

link.

Arthur Russ is standing down as Area Secretary. As stated in the advert in the Annual

Report, Robert would like to take on the role but that means finding a new Treasurer.

That is proving difficult despite approaching outside organisations that specialise in

volunteer recruitment. So for the moment Robert will have to remain Treasurer but as

a result the vital administrative work on which the Area depends will suffer.

We are also looking for someone to help with the web site as Web Correspondent –

writing a few words about this and helping to keep the flow of information going for

inclusion on the site. We now have links to the Central Office site and are hoping for

links to the KCC site. So we hope someone will volunteer to work with our

Webmaster, Margaret Lubbock.

Finally Peter offered a big thank you to Arthur for his work as Secretary over four

years and to Michael Collins who was standing down after heading up the

Countryside Committee for ten years.

The Report was approved nem con.

Robert Peel presented the Annual Accounts and Treasurer’s Report. He explained

that this had been the first year when funding from Central Office had been based on

budgeting rather than a proportion of membership fees. The budgeting process had

gone well and, although there had been considerable variation in particular items,

overall normal running costs had come in less than 2% under budget. However,

exceptional expenditure on computer equipment and joint working with KCC had

been delayed and some of this was expected to fall in the current year.

Income had been higher than expected, the most significant item being the amount

received on winding up the Wealdway Steering Group. So reserves had increased to

over £33,000.

In the current year we expect expenditure to increase but we have sought no increase

in funding from Central Office so a deficit is likely but our reserves are adequate to

cover this. We are still busy planning future activities so that we can estimate the

level of reserves needed for the long term.

The most pressing financial issue is the funding of Groups by Area. The formula that

has been in use for many years is giving some Groups less than they need and some

Groups more. This problem has been noted by Area Council and work is in progress

to develop new arrangements. Something will have to change and Groups will be

consulted before proposals are put to Area Council for approval.

Once again Robert was very grateful to Keith Miles for his efficient independent

examination of the records and accounts.

The Report and Accounts were approved nem con.

Robert proposed the changes to the Area Constitution. The only substantive change

was to reduce the notice required for the AGM from 28 to 14 days. This did not mean

that members would not be told the date or location of the AGM until two weeks

beforehand – it just meant that the formal notice with the agenda and the Annual

Report might not arrive until two weeks beforehand. The date and location would

continue to be set a year or so in advance and those present would be told today where

and when next year’s meeting would be held. But the task of preparing the Annual

Report in time to be printed and posted in December was a challenging one at such a

busy time as Christmas and we really need a few extra days to be sure deadlines can

be met.

The other proposed changes were simply to reflect changes in the organisation of the

Ramblers’ Association that had changed the names and responsibilities of various

groups. It made no sense for our Constitution to contain redundant provisions and

references to bodies that no longer exist. So we were proposing the minimum

changes necessary to put that right. Some amendments to the RA’s M&A were to be

put to General Council in April and further changes may be necessary as a result.

All the proposed changes were approved subject to the following further changes and

to the approval of the RA’s Board of Trustees:

substitute “Vice

Chairmen”

Pat Wilson asked for her opposition to the last of these changes to be minuted on the

grounds that changes affecting financial matters should not be made without prior

notification to members.

Peter Skipp was elected Chairman

David Law and Les Preston were elected Vice Chairmen

Robert Peel was elected Treasurer

The following appointments were also approved by the meeting:

– Colin Bridge (East Kent), Geoff Turner (Mid Kent)

and John Smout (West Kent and Bromley)

Gordon Sencicle and Ken Neville

Keith Miles was reappointed to a round of applause.

Tom began by reflecting on how influential the RA had been over the past 70 years

and on the contribution made by volunteers. He went on to reflect on the even longer

history of walking, illustrated by fossilised footprints from 100,000 years ago. But it

is clear that many people are losing the habit of walking with a very detrimental effect

on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

So the challenge for the future is to get people walking again – to get them to

appreciate that walking is the easiest and cheapest way of keeping fit. And we want

to make the UK a place where walking is easy and enjoyable. This means looking

after and improving the infrastructure – the footpath network – but also improving the

image of walking and assisting those in the community for whom there are obstacles

including those without cars.

The points raised by Tom were widely discussed and the following issues identified:

there will always be tension between the needs of walkers and the needs of

others such as cyclists

Rambling Days

This will be held on 7 February 2009 in Headcorn Village Hall hosted by Maidstone

Group.