COUNCIL FOR BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY
Minutes of the 2012Annual General Meeting (137th Council Meeting)
The Annual General Meeting (137th Council meeting) was held on 16September 2012 in the rooms of the Creswell Crags Visitor Centre, Worksop. Representatives of 7 institutions and 51 individual members were present. The meeting was chaired by Dr K Pretty CBE, CBA President. Apologies were noted. The CBA Director and staff members were in attendance.
1. Minutes of previous meeting
The Minutes of the 136th Council meeting, held on 27 February2012, were APPROVED. There were no matters arising.
2. President’s strategic overview
The President reported that the CBA continued to face a serious financial situation, but it was one which had eased considerably in recent months, thanks to the hard work of a re-structured Secretariat. In particular the funding of the Young Archaeologists’ Club was now more assured albeit for the short term.
The CBA’s resources continued to be very stretched, but it was now able to look to the immediate future with more certainty after successfully obtaining further funding from key partners and being able to invest in membership growth as a sustainable source of funding for the future.
The past year had seen a growth in community archaeology which the CBA had played a central part. There was, however, some anxiety in planning systems at a time when local archaeological provision was being decimated. The CBA would continue to work to alleviate the situation with the help of its members.
Retiring trustees Rowan Whimster (Vice-President) and Francis Taylor (Treasurer) were thanked for their most positive contribution to the CBA over many years, as was the Director, Mike Heyworth.
3. Annual Report and Financial Statements
The Reports and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st March 2012,as approved by trustees, were placed before Council for adoption.It was noted that the CBA was most grateful to all those individuals and organisations that continued to support its work.
Total income and expenditure for the year was slightly up on the previous year and the result was a modest deficit of some £8k, reflecting the cost of staff re-structuring.The reserves of the CBA stood at £149k at the year end.
The surplus or deficit on each area of activity was closely monitored and the aim was to break even in all areas, but it needed to be remembered that many areas of operation were cross cutting and reliant. It was thus expected that conservation advocacy had a positive impact upon membership recruitment and retention.
The accounts had received an unqualified audit report.
Council ADOPTED the Reports and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2012.
4. Director’s report on current and future activities
The Director noted that there was much gloomy news across the UK in terms of heritage protection.
Local government cutbacks would have a major impact upon archaeology in many ways – including development sites for housing and industrial development. There had been a drop in the number of degree courses and applications so that less trained specialists would be available for the future. In such circumstances the voice of the CBA was even more important in securing a future for archaeological understanding.
The strategic plan of the organisation focussed on two core areas: (i) taking part (including community archaeology work and the Young Archaeologists’ Club) and (ii) discovery (Festival, books, magazines). This was underpinned by advocacy and campaigning work – including working with government ministers and other behind the scenes work.
In the formal education sphere the CBA was working to boost the take up of A-Level archaeology – which in turn would hopefully lead to increased numbers taking degrees. A bursary training programme had been initiated with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In listed building casework the CBA was working increasingly with local groups to deliver an effective reporting system.
A re-structuring of the Secretariat had meant that the CBA had extensive skills to face the challenges ahead. A new website and newsletter would help to get the CBA’s message across and to grow its membership – so vital for a sustainable future.
The Director stressed the importance of joining CBA Groups in England and Wales and Archaeology Scotland. The core of the CBA as an entity was its membership and its impact was greatly strengthened by the well-being of its partner organisations.
5. Election of trustees
The Finance Director reported that each year a proportion of trustees retired on rotation but may be eligible to stand for a further term. Those trustees who had reached the maximum number of years in office and could not stand again were Dr Rowan Whimster (Vice-President) and Mr Francis Taylor (Treasurer).
The candidates standing for appointment as trustees were (in alphabetical order): Dr J Flatman, Ms D Maudslay Cross, Ms H Maclagan (Vice-President), Dr E Plunkett Dillon (Vice-President), Mr J Thomas (Treasurer), Ms K Whitaker, Ms J Wills. Individual statements had been circulated to all members along with notice of the prospective appointments. Ms Maclagan and Mr Thomas were new candidates. There were seven candidates standing for the same number of posts and members present at the AGM were asked to confirmthe appointments. The appointment process was overseen by Dr P V Addyman (Hon Vice-President).
Council CONFIRMED the appointment of the above candidates as trustees of the CBA.
6. Appointment of auditors
The re-appointment of Barron & Barron (Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditor) for the 2012/13 financial year was APPROVED.
8. Applications for membership
Council was asked to approve applications for affiliate membership from the following societies and bodies (requested membership of CBA English Group, CBA Wales/Cymru or Archaeology Scotlandgiven in brackets):
Ashford Arch & Hist Society (South East), Bristol & Glos Archaeological Society (South West), Great Bowden Heritage and Arch Group (East Midlands), Jigsaw Cambridge (East), Leatherhead & District Local Hist Society, North Duffield Conservation & Local History Society (Yorkshire), Ratby Local History Group (East Midlands), Southburn Archaeological Museum (Yorkshire), South Oxfordshire Archaeological Group (South Midlands), Wyre Archaeology (North West).
Council APPROVED the applications and welcomed the above bodies.
9. Dates of future meetings
The Director noted that previous events had tended to focus on cutting edge archaeological research and also tied in current fieldwork and that this seemed to be a popular formula. It was planned that the number and range of events would be broadened in future and ideas were therefore welcome.
The next two years were likely to see weekend events in Wales and Scotland. In autumn 2013 the event would take place in Pembrokeshire in Wales. Further detail would be circulated in due course. In 2014 it was hoped to have the event in Scotland (possibly either Orkney or Kilmartin).
Dr Pretty thanked members for attending and closed the Meeting.