THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE
OF ARBITRATORS
EAST MIDLANDS BRANCH
(Chairman: Bill Fisher)
BRANCH
NEWSLETTER
January
2003
CHAIRMAN'S
NOTE
The main activity within the Branch has been
the consideration of the proposed Agenda for Change. The Institute is preparing
a report on proposed changes to the Constitution; the Bylaws, Rules and this
will involve how Branch representation is made. A sub-committee has been formed
and is to report to Council in May 2003, with the aim of obtaining Privy
Council approval to the changes by autumn 2003. The Branch Committee and each
individual member will have further opportunities to comment on the proposals.
Since the Strategic Review in 2000, Council
and the Executive Board has made great strides towards tackling the issues
raised. Just to remind you, since 2000 the Institute has:
· Achieved
a successful transition to new headquarters;
· Created
a new library and the beginnings of an on-line information and resource centre;
· Substantial
improvements to the web site which gets more than 10,000 “hits” per week;
· Increased
membership globally by 7%;
· Adopted
new Branch Rules, new Regulations, a revised Code of Ethics and a bespoke code
for mediators;
· Introduced
lay members to the Professional Conduct Committee to ensure transparency in the
disciplinary process;
· Prepared
revised Entry Courses for Arbitration,
Adjudication and Mediation;
· Opened
our doors to civil and commercial mediators ;
· Created
a raft of new dispute resolution schemes with appointments for Mediators in
rosters at the London County Court and elsewhere in
Your Branch Committee continues to work
effectively with Headquarters in this continuing workload.
Branch activities are being planned in order
to provide CPD for our members and your attention is drawn to the latter pages
of this Newsletter. I would particularly draw your attention to the Mock
Mediation, being held at the
I would also draw your attention to the
Annual Branch Dinner, being held this year at the Yew Lodge Hotel at Kegworth
on 16 April 2003. Guest of Honour will be Tony Canham, President of the
Chartered Institute – a welcome return to the Branch. Guest speaker sees
another welcome return for Tom Sutton. Some of you will remember he gave a very
well received speech at our Dinner at the Donnington Thistle, some years ago.
Please ensure you reserve your table as soon
as possible.
My best wishes to you all for a health, prosperous and dispute-free 2003.
Email: chair@CIArb-EM.org
HON.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
New Members
We are pleased to welcome the following new members since the last Newsletter:
Ms
J Tucker of
Mr A P Johnson of Earls Barton, Northamptonshire
Mr P J English of Thornby, Leics
Dr DRV Jones of Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts
Mr A J Granger of Market Harborough, Leics
Mr S E Winslade of Worksop, Notts
Mr
R S Holland of
John
Evans
Honorary
Secretary
Email: sec@CIArb-EM.org
REPORT OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOLLOWING COUNCIL
MEETING HELD ON 3 DECEMBER 2002
The meeting was split into two parts due to
the need to attend the Members Lunch. Your representative was not able to be
present in the afternoon session.
In the morning session the following matters
were approved:
1. Agenda
For Change.
The setting up of a sub-committee to
investigate and recommend changes to the Constitution, the Rules, Charter and
Bye-laws, and to incorporate the change of name for the Institute.
Expert advisors are to be appointed to
consider the changes proposed and both individual members and all Branches will
be given the opportunity to contribute.
The committee is asked to report by May 2003
whereafter Privy Council approval is expected in November 2003.
Your representative has been asked to serve
on the sub-committee.
2. Election
of President for 2003/2004
Mr James Leckie was appointed, unopposed
3. Election
of Vice Presidents for 2003/2004
Mr Brian Eggleston
Mr Paul Jenson
Dr Eugen Salpius
Were elected following a vote
4. Election
of overseas Vice President.
Ms Dominique Brown-Berset was re-elected
following a vote.
The other candidate was Mr Sundra Rajoo of
5. Appointment
of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Council for 2003/2004
Chairman – Mr James Leckie
Deputy Chairman – Mr Brian Eggleston
were elected un-opposed
6. Budget
for 2003.
This was approved with 2 votes against and 1
abstention. Your representative was one of the votes against.
This was because it was felt the budget had been
prepared on defective information – eg an increase in membership numbers, and
therefore fees, of 7%, when actual increase in numbers for 2002 stands at
merely 3%.
There was however a further slightly worrying
feature. As the Institute has suffered substantial losses during the past two
years (mainly due to investment losses on the Stock market) the President and
the secretariat had proposed changes to the way in which the Institute is run.
This, without giving Council an opportunity to comment – other than by voting
against approval of the budget. (one example was the reduction in Council
meetings from four to three per year)
7. Increase
in subscription rates for 2004.
Council missed the opportunity to increase
subscription rates for 2003 and an EGM is to be called to allow increases in
subscriptions in 2004 by the RPI rounded up to the nearest £5.00. There is also
proposed an extra levy on all Fellows of £20.00. There should be voting papers
circulated.
8. Disciplinary
measures.
There was substantial discussion concerning
the Disciplinary powers of the Institute. The discussion centres on two members
and their failures.
Publishing the details of the failures and
disciplinary measure taken, in both the Journal and the Annual Report, without
including names was approved.
Publishing details of proven, or admitted,
failures in future is likely to include the names of the members. This is an
option already available to Council in the current regulations.
9. Overdraft
facilities.
This discussion was deferred until the
afternoon session.
On the last occasion this was raised, in
December last, Council refused authority to obtain overdraft facilities. It is
anticipated that, with a new Hon Treasurer, and the discussion on the
Institute’s financial state, it would this time be approved.
10. Reimbursement
of expenses for Office holders and Members.
This matter had been the source of many email
transmissions over recent months. The working party had virtually completed its
review and Council were to be asked to confirm the new regulations.
I expect the recommendations would be
approved.
11. The
next meeting of Council is on 11 March 2003. This will be the last occasion on
which I shall be acting as joint Branch representative, having served for three
years.
Email: council@CIArb-EM.org
BRANCH
TREASURER’S REPORT
Bank Balance
The
balance in the bank is £6346.44. There is £235.00 that has been paid in, but
not yet credited to the account. This is money raised from the seminar held in
VAT
The return for the Quarter ending December 31st. 2002 has been completed & sent to HQ
Functions
The
Mock Adjudication held in November at
There were costs of £119.85, giving a profit of £115.15
Future Events
A
Mock Mediation is being held at
Email: treas@CIArb-EM.org
WEB SITE
EDITOR’S REPORT
You
will note that on our web site, www.ciarb-em.org, there is a members'
listing, which as been updated. Would you please check your membership details.
If incorrect, please e-mail us at web@ciarb-em.org.
Additionally,
if you want your web address to be listed with a link, this can be arranged for
the sum of £10 per annum which will become part of the branch funds. If you
would like this, please send your request to web@ciarb-em.org.
Any additional events or updates to current events will be posted on the website.
Web Site Editor
Email: web@ciarb-em.org
Branch AGM
and Election of Committee Members
The Branch AGM will be held this year on Wednesday 9 April 2003. A formal notice convening the AGM will be sent to you soon, with full details of the venue and time.
In the meantime, we are required by Branch Rules to follow a timetable
aimed at ensuring that the Nomination Forms for election to the Committee reach
Branch Members in ample time for submission.
In accordance with Branch Rules, five members of the existing Committee retire this year. They are
Bill Fisher
Robert Ridgewell
Gary Martin
Paul Nicholson
John Evans
All are eligible for re-election.
I attach a Nomination Form for your use. You will note that anybody wishing to be nominated for membership of the Branch Committee needs to indicate his agreement to be proposed, and then obtain a signature of a Proposer and a Seconder. Don’t let this be a problem to you. If you do not happen to know a suitable Proposer and/or Seconder, please give me a ring; I’m sure we can sort something out. Please note that these Nomination Forms must be in my hands not less than 35 days before the date of the AGM, i.e. not later than Wednesday 5 March 2003.
Contributions to the Newsletter are always welcome.