AGM

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation

MINUTES OF THE 2023 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday 20 May 2023
Marford Mill
Rossett
Wrexham LL12 0HL

Eoghan Cameron – Chairman

Ian Bell – Chief Executive (CEO)

Angela Davies – Registered Society Secretary/Executive Director of Business Management

Sandra Forkin – Minute Secretary/Project Integration Manager

Simon Starkie – Independent Scrutineer

1. Welcome by Ian Bell, Chief Executive.

The CEO welcomed everyone to the BASC 2023 AGM meeting and made administrative announcements ahead of the AGM commencing:

The CEO stated that this year has been a demanding year for the staff, and on your behalf, they have done an outstanding job.

The CEO presented the annual review.

2. Address from BASC Chairman

Apologies, Lord Dear and BASC Vice-Chair

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the 2023 BASC AGM here at our Marford Mill headquarters.

BASC’s President Lord Dear regrets that he can’t be with us today, but he has asked me to pass on his apologies and best wishes to you all. BASC’s Vice Chair Claire Sadler is also extremely disappointed not be here but is sadly unable to attend due to ill health.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me start by saying that I would urge members and non-members alike to get hold of the 2022 Annual Review, which is available in hardcopy today and on the BASC website. It sets out concisely the Association’s many major actions and achievements over the past year. It encapsulates what BASC stands for and why BASC continues to be the sword and shield of shooting in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The demonstration of BASC’s power and reach in these pages should serve as a warning to those who’d ban or severely restrict shooting. But it might also serve as a cautionary tale for our own community. If, instead of action and results, these pages contained nothing more than indignant commentary, empty fighting talk, offers of bargain basement membership and insurance, imagine what would be at stake. I make no apology for saying that the future of shooting continues to depend largely on BASC’s might – no one comes close. But none of this is possible without strength in numbers – our members, you.

Ladies and gentlemen, make no mistake that BASC is strong, but we can be stronger. There is no prize for second place in this fight. So, I would ask you, our members, to join me in encouraging the many thousands of non-members out there to find a home with the Best in the Field. Because backing BASC is backing shooting and backing a proven winner.

Most of you will by now hopefully be familiar with BASC’s Act Now and That’s What BASC Stands For campaigns. Act Now was born out of the need to mobilise our entire community to respond to two equally dangerous consultations: The Welsh Government consultation on gamebird release and the Scottish Government’s consultation on its Wildlife Management and Muirburn bill. BASC wasted no time in spelling out the far-reaching consequences for all shooting of these self-defeating, ideologically motivated exercises. They have acted as a rallying call for all who care about shooting and to date, the volume of responses has been incredibly encouraging. But Act Now doesn’t end here: We will continue to see hostile consultations in future that deserve and demand thousands of responses from our community in reply. In each case, BASC will lead from the front.

I also mentioned the That’s What BASC Stands For campaign. Act Now is a paragon of what that is, but it is really far broader and will mean subtly different things to different people. Let’s put to one side for a moment the huge range of direct member benefits, millions of pounds worth of discounts and first resort insurance exclusively available through BASC. BASC is home to by far the largest group of subject matter experts in our field. We are the only organisation to genuinely offer interdisciplinary support and expertise on a national and local basis; from firearms to gamekeeping, conservation and training, from head office to our regional and country teams. Our political lobbying capabilities are without equal. BASC is the only organisation with a fighting fund in its armoury. All our teams are passionate about ensuring a bright future for sustainable shooting and the enormous practical conservation efforts underpinned by it.

Thanks to our members, BASC can continue to invest in conservation projects, fight legal battles and deploy the best expertise to develop and deliver the long-term strategy for sustainable shooting in the UK. Put simply, the future of shooting depends on having something to shoot with, something to shoot at and somewhere to go shooting. BASC is, and with your continued support, will remain the only organisation capable of safeguarding all three of these central components. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we stand for.

My sincere thanks for listening. I’m pleased now to introduce our new film which gives some personal colour from members on What BASC Stands For. Thank You.

3. BASC Film was presented.
4. Members questions

BASC CEO opened the floor for questions.

One question has been received by email from David Stewart OBE.

“My apologies for not being able to be at the AGM in person.  I would like to congratulate BASC council and the staff team for making significant progress over the last few years with developing and reporting the contribution that BASC makes to conservation.

• Please can I ask the AGM what measures will be put into place by the society to stimulate and help grassroots BASC members to raise their game to match that of BASC?
• And then what will BASC council do to monitor and publicly report the increasing contribution being made by members both as individuals and in groups?”

In response to the David Stewart OBE.

This year we launched our new Practical Conservation strategy which empowers all our members to improve their contribution to conservation at the grassroots level. It is based on a series of habitat-focused campaigns starting with improving woodland condition and increasing woodland planting this year. Our improved advice on woodlands is already online and our trained member-facing staff are supporting members engaging with it.  This campaign will grow to include cover crops and wetland management in coming years.

These campaigns are developed with regulators and practitioners to ensure our approach aligns with governmental strategic targets on addressing climate change and supporting nature recovery, hence showcasing the contribution of shooting to societal needs.

Furthermore, our Sustainable Shooting strategy has identified an opportunity for clubs and syndicates to develop more proactive management plans that can address the specific threats and opportunities facing our quarry species. We will be working with clubs, and where relevant the regulators, to identify how best to build in this species-specific work.

In terms of monitoring, we are currently developing the first Natural Capital account for shooting across the UK. This account places a monetary value on the environmental services that managing habitat for shooting provides.  For example, shoots plant and manage woodland and protect them from deer and grey squirrels. In turn, these nature-rich woodlands store carbon, improve water and air quality, provide us all food and timber products as well as recreation and wellbeing benefits. Natural Capital is a key environmental policy principle and governments understanding shooting’s Natural Capital value better will help safeguard our future and provide key messages for use in public and political education campaigns.

Separately, but also complimentarily, we have initiatives that provide reporting information on key activities like duck nest tubes and grey squirrel management to both encourage more engagement from the membership and to provide positive news for mainstream media.

Finally next month will see the launch of the BASC Wildlife Fund which is dedicated to funding projects that create and protect our natural habitats; where wildfowl, game, and animal and plant species of all kinds can flourish. This will trigger additional investment in practical conservation on the ground through shooting.

There were no other questions.

5. Obituaries and 1 minute silence

Ian Bell, CEO asked all to stand for 1 minute’s silence in memory of members who have passed within the last year.

All stood for 1 minute’s silence and a list of names of members who had passed away was presented.

6. Adoption of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ending the 31^st December 2022

Angela Davies, Registered Society Secretary placed the Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ending the 31^st December 2022 before the AGM for adoption and asked for approval by a show of hands. The adoption of the annual report and financial statements for year ending the 31^st December 2022 was approved and therefore duly carried by the AGM.

7. Council Elections 2023

Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer announced the Council Election results for 2022.

There are two National seats.

There were twelve candidates for two National seats.

It is confirmed Paul Mayfield and John Furbisher are duly elected to BASC Council.

8. Election of Honorary Life Members

Ian Bell, CEO presented the election of Honorary Life Members:

PAUL ALBASTER

Proposed by Jon Bellamy

Seconded by Grant Arthur

Paul was instrumental in building the foundations of the BASC (then WAGBI) affiliated club South Warwickshire Wildfowl and Woodpigeon Club (SWWWC). To have a Wildfowling club in the middle of the country is unusual but Paul has led wildfowling trips to the Solway, the Dovey, the Wash and Anglesey with his unwavering enthusiasm and skill and still promotes this aspect of the sport encouraging all club members to experience wildfowling.

He joined SWWWC in 1979 and was the treasurer for more than 25 years and then Chairman for the next 5 years, he is still an active and valued member.

He is a keen Wildfowler, game and woodpigeon shot, fisherman, conservationist and loves his gun dogs.

He has been the leading force in recruiting new members to our club and in promoting BASC for over 40 years. He is passionate about showcasing our sport to the public including his involvement in hundreds of gun dog scurries and demonstrations over the years at the Game Fair, Ragley Hall game fair (before the present-day Game Fair was held there) Weston Park and Town and Country Show.  The club, with Paul as an integral part of the display team, still demonstrates gundog training and work and runs scurries at local shows, showcasing the sport and BASC at local events such as Kenilworth, Avon Dassett and Tysoe shows along with supporting the charity Dogs for Good at Warmington at their summer fund raiser with gun dog displays and straw bale scurries.

He has also helped organise and run young shots days on behalf of BASC at Wedgnock shooting ground.

Paul is also the shoot captain for New Farm syndicate shoot organising the guns and beaters and takes his place in the gun line alternate Saturdays during the season with his dogs alongside him. He trains his own dogs and picks up with them at various other local shoots.

Now, all this may seem worthy of some formal recognition, but Paul has accomplished this with only one leg! No complaints, no concessions – he just gets on with it.

Just imagine staggering across a marsh at 4.30am in half light on one leg or on one occasion even walking across a grouse moor for walked up grouse!

Paul has been an inspiration to everyone who meets him, and I cannot think of anyone who deserves recognition by BASC more than Paul. He is now no spring chicken (not sure of his age but think he is 74 years young!) but is still actively involved in all aspects of the SWWWC.

This was approved and therefore duly carried.

MIKE HOLLIDAY

Proposed by Colin Shedden

Seconded by Eoghan Cameron

Mike Holliday is a long-standing member whose efforts over 3 decades have been inextricably linked with BASC, particularly in Scotland.

Since 2012 Mike has chaired the Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management Working Group in Scotland.  This group has met regularly over the past 11 years and has not only organised and developed the annual BASC Blair Castle Gamekeepers’ Day in Scotland but has helped BASC ensure that the concerns of the profession are recognised and progressed.  The Group was formed in 2009 and is currently made up of 12 gamekeepers and stalkers as well as representatives from the colleges that train gamekeepers in Scotland. The Group was instrumental in getting gamekeeping students to the annual Gamekeepers’ Day and awarding a student trophy for the clay shoot.  The Group has advised staff on many aspects of legislative change over this period, including snaring, tail docking, air gun licensing, deer management, vicarious liability and on access issues.  Mike, as chairman, has also written about safety concerns when using night vision equipment for pest control and highlighting the key role that gamekeepers and stalkers play in many mountain rescue teams; himself a long-standing member of his local mountain rescue team.  Mike’s leadership, drive and example have been instrumental in ensuring BASC is recognised for its representation of gamekeepers in Scotland.

His work has included public facing media engagement on critical issues; when government funded research showed the level of abuse that gamekeepers receive at work from the public, including physical threats, Mike was the spokesman on BBC Landward, calling on Government to do more to help.  Mike has also worked with Radio 4 on deer stalking features and has hosted a number of MSPs on Glenample Estate to highlight the importance of shooting and stalking to local rural economies.

Mike, as manager of Glenample Estate, has hosted a Young Shots’ driven game day each year for the past 25 years (severe weather and Covid restrictions aside) and for the past 10 years has also hosted a Ladies’ Day.  Priority has always been given to those who were experienced shots but had never had the chance to shoot driven game.  Modest bags of challenging birds have been features of Mike’s shoots.  Never one to seek reward he sees such commitment as part of his contribution to BASC and the Association’s objectives.  He recently hosted the FACE President and Secretary General, highlighting the appeal of highland hill stalking and the associated challenges.

Conservation runs through every aspect of his estate management.  From native bird populations to the creation of ponds and education, Mike is a genuine example of a practical conservationist who is as keen to pass on his knowledge as he is to make a practical difference on the ground.

In addition to the above in the early 1990s Glenample Estate hosted BASC Scotland’s first National Stalkers’ Competence courses (pre-cursor to the DSC 1) so Mike has not only assisted with the training of many deer stalkers but has also been instrumental in giving dozens of youngsters and ladies their first taste of driven game shooting.  Mike has also been a member of the Scotland Committee for over 20 years.

An outstanding ambassador for both BASC and shooting & conservation it would be entirely fitting to recognise his commitment over three decades with this award.

This was approved and therefore duly carried.

9. Resolution

9a     Angela Davies, Registered Society Secretary placed the first resolution relating to rule 2 of the constitution before the AGM and asked for a show of hands. The resolution was approved and therefore duly carried by the AGM.

THAT rule 2 in the Registered Society Constitution are amended: –

From:

2. The role and objects of this Association are to carry on any industry, business or trade so as to:

(a) Act as a representative national body for all sporting shooting.

(b) Promote and safeguard sporting shooting.

(c) Aim at the responsible unification, guidance, education and representation of all engaged in such sport together with the promotion of conservation and scientific research into all aspects of the quarry species and other matters connected with such sport in accordance with the ethics of good sportsmanship.

To:

2. The role and objects of this Association are to carry on any industry, business or trade so as to:

(a) Act as a representative national body for all sporting shooting.

(b) Promote and safeguard sporting shooting.

(c) Ensure that sporting shooting complies with the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability

(d) Promote the benefits that sustainable shooting and its associated management delivers for the conservation of the integrity and diversity of wildlife and the environment

(e) Aim at the responsible unification, guidance, education and representation of all engaged in such sport together with the promotion of conservation and scientific research into all aspects of the quarry species and other matters connected with such sport in accordance with the ethics of good sportsmanship and sustainable use.

9b     Angela Davies, Registered Society Secretary placed the first resolution relating to rule 4 of the constitution before the AGM and asked for a show of hands. The resolution was approved and therefore duly carried by the AGM.

THAT rule 2 in the Registered Society Constitution are amended: –

From:

4. OFFICERS

(a) The officers of this Association shall consist of:

(i) a Patron who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Council or until his resignation.

(ii)     a President who shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for five years.  A retiring President shall be eligible for re-election for further terms of three years.

(iii)    a Chairman, who shall, when necessary, be elected by the Council from their number at the first meeting of the Council following the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman shall be elected for an initial four-year term and may be re-elected for a second term of four years and a third term of two years. Following completion of his third term his re-election is subject to Rule 4(b).

(iv)    a Vice-Chairman and a Chairman of the Executive and Finance Committee who shall, when necessary, be elected by the Council from their number at the first meeting of the Council following the Annual General Meeting. The Vice-Chairman and the Chairman of the Executive and Finance Committee shall be elected for an initial term of three years and may be re-elected for a second term of three years and a third term of two years. Following completion of his third term his re-election is subject to Rule 4(b).

(v)     a Chief Executive who shall be appointed by the Council for such term at such remuneration and upon such other conditions as the Council shall think fit. The Chief Executive so appointed may be removed by the Council.

(vi)    three solicitors, for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively, who shall be appointed and removed by the Council.

To

4. OFFICERS

(a) The officers of this Association shall consist of:

(i)       a Patron who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Council or until his resignation.

(ii)     a President who shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for five years.  A retiring President shall be eligible for re-election for further terms of three years.

(iii)    a Chairman, shall, when necessary, be elected by the Council from their number. The Chairman shall be elected for an initial four-year term and may be re-elected for a second term of four years and a third term of two years. Following completion of his third term his re-election is subject to Rule 4(b).

(iv)    a Vice-Chairman and a Chairman of the Executive and Finance Committee shall, when necessary, be elected by the Council from their number. The Vice-Chairman and the Chairman of the Executive and Finance Committee shall be elected for an initial term of three years and may be re-elected for a second term of three years and a third term of two years. Following completion of his third term his re-election is subject to Rule 4(b).

(v)     a Chief Executive who shall be appointed by the Council for such term at such remuneration and upon such other conditions as the Council shall think fit. The Chief Executive so appointed may be removed by the Council.

(vi)    three solicitors, for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively, who shall be appointed and removed by the Council.

9. Re-appointment of WR Partners as auditors for 2023

Angela Davies, Registered Society Secretary asked the AGM for a show of hands to re-appoint WR Partners as auditors for 2023. The reappointment of WR Partners as auditors for 2023 was approved and therefore duly carried by the AGM.

10. Any other business by leave of BASC Chairman

BASC Chairman advised that there were no items of other business. He congratulated the recipients of Honorary Life Membership and the new Council members, expressed commiserations to Carl Woodall and thanked him for his 5 years of service on BASC Council. He also thanked Alasdair Mitchell who retires from Council after 5 years of service.

BASC Chairman gave a farewell to Colin Shedden who retires in July after 39 years’ service, 29 of which he has served as Director Scotland. BASC Chairman also took the opportunity to thank recently retired Marketing Director David Ilsley for his long service to BASC.

BASC Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the AGM.

Saturday 21 May 2022
Marford Mill
Rossett
Wrexham
LL12 0HL

Eoghan Cameron – Chairman
Ian Bell – Chief Executive
Claire Sadler – Vice-Chair
Angela Davies – Registered Society Secretary/Executive Director of Business Management
Sandra Forkin – Minute Secretary/Project Integration Manager
Simon Starkie – Independent Scrutineer

1. Welcome by Ian Bell, Chief Executive.

The CEO welcomed all to the BASC 2022 AGM meeting and made administrative announcements ahead of the AGM commencing:
The CEO handed over to the BASC Chairman, Eoghan Cameron

2. Address from BASC Chairman & President Apologies

I regret that BASC’s President Lord Dear can’t be with us today, but he has asked me to pass on his apologies and best wishes. Lord Dear is a source of invaluable wisdom for Council, and I’d like to express our gratitude for his active support.

I regularly take the opportunity to discuss key matters with Lord Dear and in his absence, can assure members that the format and substance of today’s AGM are to his satisfaction.

Last year, we established a new, more visually engaging format for the AGM and have decided to continue with this. From personal experience, there is nothing quite so tedious as someone reading out a list of statistics, however impressive. And so, while I will refrain from that, I would encourage all members to read the 2021 Annual Review at their leisure. This extremely informative review contains my Annual Report to members and comprehensively rounds up the highlights and challenges of 2021.
Before I introduce this year’s film though, I would like to briefly address what it means to be a member of this great Association.

I am genuinely thrilled to welcome you to BASC Headquarters, Marford Mill and for at least some of you I imagine it is a first. It is the home of BASC and that means it is also your home. You may live in deepest Carmarthenshire, County Fermanagh, Cornwall, or the remotest corner of Sutherland. It doesn’t matter how distant – this is the place where all our roads meet.

I remember my first visit here quite a few years ago now. Simply walking round, I quickly got a very strong sense that this is more than the symbolic home of BASC. This is the crucible in the promotion and defence of shooting: from deerstalking to wildfowling, driven to walked-up game, pigeon and rabbit control and far beyond. It is the place where the spectrum of shooting across Great Britain and Northern Ireland is understood, cherished and championed – as one.

Your membership of BASC makes you part of the very fabric of these buildings and a proud history spanning two centuries. You are known in this place – you are more than a membership number. Here, your passion for shooting matters, your concerns matter, your desire to see a thriving future for shooting matters.

Whatever your involvement with shooting, whether it be professional or recreational, daily or monthly, with rifle, shotgun, Argocat, whistle or strimmer: we are you and you are us. Membership of BASC makes us part of something greater than individual interests, it unites us under a powerful banner of community. The only distinction as staff and Council members, is that we are privileged to project the voice of shooting each day on behalf of our community.

And yet. We all know people who shoot who do not engage with the issues facing fieldsports and regard membership of the sport’s guardians as inessential. So long as their short-term, personal interests in shooting appear unaffected, they will happily let others – us – carry the burden for representing the sport. Cheap insurance carries the day. The message this sends is one of apathy, not community, and is extremely heartening to the opponents of shooting.

Ladies and gentlemen, you know the awesome challenges we face and the awesome effort that BASC puts in to meeting these. So let me spell out something else you already know: The future of shooting faces a choice: one which is held back by passengers and self-interest or one which is propelled forward by a unified, engaged community.

As your chairman, I call upon your generosity and community spirit to take this message to all who shoot but do not help us fight for it. Because as members of this great Association, you understand that the value of membership transcends insurance and short-term personal interest.

Your Association is “Best in the Field” because, far more than simply holding the line for another season, BASC is at the forefront of ensuring that our sport has a thriving, long-term future. That future is firmly rooted in sustainability and high standards, but also hinges on the steadfast unity and support of our community.

Ladies and gentlemen, my sincere thanks for listening and for your continued support. I’m pleased now to introduce our new film rounding up your Association’s achievements of the past year with an emphasis on what it means to be part of BASC. Thank you.

BASC Film was presented.

BASC Chairman opened the floor for questions.

3. Members questions

There were no questions.

BASC Chairman handed over to Ian Bell, CEO.

4. Obituaries and 1 minute silence

Ian Bell, CEO asked all to take 1 minute silence to remember all those who have passed within the last year.
All stood for 1 minute’s silence and a list of names of those who had passed away was presented.
Ian Bell, CEO handed over to BASC Chairman.

5. Adoption of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ending the 31st December 2021

BASC Chairman proposed for the meeting to adopt the Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ending the 31st December 2021, and asked for a show of hands, this was approved therefore the adoption of the annual report and financial statements for year ending the 31st December 2021 was duly carried.

BASC Chairman handed over to Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer.

6. Council Elections 2022

Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer announced the Council Election results for 2022.

There was one candidate for Welsh seat – Richard Garner Williams.

It is confirmed that Richard Garner Williams is duly elected to BASC Council.

There were four candidates for one National seat.

John Clements = 1268
John Harlow = 1400
Bob Burt = 530
Paul Shaw = 1147

It is confirmed Mr John Harlow is duly elected to BASC Council.

Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer handed over to BASC Chairman.

BASC Chairman congratulated John Harlow and Richard Garner Williams and also gave his commiserations to John Clements, Bob Burt and Paul Shaw and wished them all the very best for the future.

BASC Chairman said it was sad to see Paul Shaw departing from Council after 5 years of dedication to Council and thanked him for all his efforts.

BASC Chairman handed over to the CEO.

7. Election of Honorary Life Members

Ian Bell, CEO presented the election of Honorary Life Members:

KEN ARKLEY

Proposed by Craig Jenkinson
Seconded by A K Risebury

Ken joined Hull and East Riding Wildfowlers Association in 1998 and was co-opted on to the committee as Honorary Secretary in his first year. Ken then set about revamping the way that the club communicated with the membership, bringing information into very concise map books and developed a comprehensive Code of practice booklet. A format which the club still uses to this day.

Ken had a very big impact upon the Upper Humber Wildfowling Committee, becoming the consents negotiator for the nine member clubs as his knowledge of data use in the fishing industry had a direct cross over to wildfowling. The UHWC can now boast to having one of the most complete data sets of information for any wildfowling organisation. If Ken had not been so diligent 24 years ago there may well not be any wildfowling left on the Upper Humber today. As Consents became harder and harder to achieve, Ken dedicated literally hundreds and hundreds of unpaid hours to the process. Indeed, the extant consents that the UHWC now rely upon have all come about from the work that Ken did in these early years.

Over Ken’s tenure as Secretary, together with our late Chairman Barry Upton, Ken has overseen the club’s purchase of multiple pieces of prime wildfowling land on the Humber. Thus, securing the future of the Hull and East Riding Wildfowlers Association.

After 18 years as club secretary, when the sad news came that our respected Chairman Barry had passed away, Ken was “promoted” to Chairman at the next AGM. Ken has continued as Chairman ever since, and still takes the lead consenting role for the 9 clubs of the UHWC and on the North shore of the Lower Humber.

Ian Bell, CEO asked for a show of hands. He was duly elected.

JOHN BISHOP

Proposed by Colonel (Rtd) David Thorpe
Seconded by Bill Harriman TD FSA

John joined WAGBI (now BASC) 53 years ago in 1968 at the age of 15, as a club member of both the South Hampshire Wildfowlers Association and the Lymington, Keyhaven and District Wildfowlers. Although he shoots occasionally on game shoots, his shooting career has been promoting and participating in wildfowling and habitat protection around our coast.

In the mid-1970’s, John studied and worked in California and saw first-hand the wonderful results of wildfowl conservation in the USA and Canada, all made possible by monies raised by the sale of Federal and State duck stamps. For 25 years, John has worked on a voluntary unpaid basis for the Wildlife Habitat Trust, where his professional experience in land transactions has been invaluable to the business of providing loans for land purchase by BASC wildfowling clubs. He has also encouraged Latvia, Estonia and Belarus to monitor the results of the WHT’s flyway investments. This is essential for the conservation of our migratory wildfowl breeding grounds in Eastern Europe.

He was a key contributor to re-unite the lost two barrels of Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey’s famous Holland and Holland double-barrelled punt gun, which is now displayed at Marford Mill. John has carried out in-depth research into the life of Colonel Peter Hawker, considered by many to be ‘The Father of British Shooting’. (Bill Harriman describes John as ‘the UK’s leading scholar on the Hawker family’). With this background, John assisted with information relating to Hawker’s double punt gun contained within the book ‘A Sporting Century’ by the author Graham Downing. The Hawker and Payne-Gallwey guns are probably the two most iconic wildfowling artefacts held by BASC and John has been actively involved with both.
John has made a significant and lasting contribution to BASC over the past 53 years, both at national and at club level and I commend him to members for Honorary Life Membership.

Ian Bell, CEO asked for a show of hands. He was duly elected.

CLIVE ELLISTON

Proposed by Allen Musslewhite
Seconded by Nick Chappell

Clive Elliston is a lifelong wildfowler, BASC member and a current member of 7 wildfowling clubs. Clive has made a significant contribution as a committee member of the Langstone and District Wildfowling and Conservation Association (LADWACA) for over 20 years. Clive’s contribution has ensured the success of a well-regarded wildfowling association.

Clive has been a committee member of the Chichester Wildfowlers Association and is currently the Treasurer and Primary Contact for the Wells and District Wildfowlers, both BASC affiliated clubs.

Clive has been a mentor of probationary wildfowlers, bringing many newcomers into the sport.

Clive has seen many changes to wildfowling. In the late 80s / early 90s Clive was part of the team at LADWACA at the forefront of the transition to non-lead ammunition for wildfowling and part of the team testing non-lead alternatives with BASC. As a committee member, Clive has been active in cementing relationships with RSPB and the local Naturalist Trust with whom the club work closely within Langstone Harbour.

Outside of his commitments to BASC affiliated clubs, Clive has volunteered for BASC for more than 20 years. This has taken many forms, from supporting BASC at Game Fairs and shows, to assisting with young shots days. Over the years, Clive has volunteered for the South-East, Central and Eastern regions as well as supporting the BASC wildfowling department with national events such as the wildfowling conference and the CLA Game Fair. We estimate that Clive has volunteered for BASC in excess of 100 events and is still an active volunteer for the Association.

When attending Game Fairs, Clive provides a significant contribution, bringing historic and modern wildfowling equipment for display and talking knowledgeably about the subject to BASC members, other shooters and the general public. Display materials and artefacts have been built up by Clive for the sole purpose of display at BASC events and to promote wildfowling to others.

Finally, Clive has made many contributions to BASC through his writing and photography which have been feature in the BASC Shooting and Conservation magazine, as well as images used for displays and backdrops for show stands.

Ian Bell, CEO asked for a show of hands. He was duly elected.

JOHN SWIFT

Proposed by Christopher Graffius
Seconded by Steve Bloomfield

As conservation officer, deputy director, director and CEO of WAGBI / BASC, John Swift has given distinguished service to the members, the Association and the sport over a continuous period that far exceeds twenty years.

John, with a background in Zoology and a research interest in snipe, was committed to underpinning the case for shooting with science. The team he created carried out unprecedented work on choke, range judging, duck populations and some of the first tests at Shrivenham on alternatives to lead shot.

John became Director of BASC at a time when the Association was technically bankrupt. He famously honoured his promise to dance a jig in the car park when the Association’s finances went into the black.

John was instrumental in setting up the Deer Management Qualifications, which helped raise standards in deer stalking. He was a key player in setting up the Deer Initiative. John served as a trustee of the Wildlife Habitat Trust which has provided assistance to conservation projects and land acquisitions valued at more than £1
million.

John was involved in the founding of FACE, the organisation of European Hunting Associations. He was the UK expert on the Birds Directive, advising both the British government and the European Commission. He sat for many years on the Board, served as Treasurer and was elected as an Honorary Member after his retirement.
John began the Firearms Team, the only one of its kind in the UK. He oversaw the creation of the communications and operations departments and the establishment of country offices. It was on John’s watch that the Duke of Edinburgh building was constructed, with first class facilities for communicating shooting’s cause to the wider world.

BASC’s reputation as authoritative and expert on its subject, science driven, committed to the highest standards and all party in its approach, flourished under John’s leadership. When John retired from BASC it had a record membership and there were more people shooting over more land in the UK than ever before. Commentators referred to shooting as experiencing a “new Golden Age”. John was a key part of that success.

Ian Bell, CEO asked for a show of hands. He was duly elected.

BASC Chairman handed over to the Registered Society Secretary.

8.Resolution – Motion to amend rule 5, (f)

Angela Davies, Registered Society Secretary asked for the motion to amend rule 5(f) to be approved by a show of hands. This was approved and therefore duly carried.

9. Re-appointment of WR Partners as auditors for 2022

BASC Chairman proposed the re-appointment WR Partners as auditors for 2022 and asked the meeting to approve this by a show of hands. This was approved and therefore duly carried.

10. Any other business by leave of BASC Chairman

BASC Chairman advised that there were no items of other business.

BASC Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the AGM.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation

MINUTES OF THE 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday 22 May 2021
Virtual Meeting

Eoghan Cameron – Chairman
Ian Bell – Chief Executive
Simon Starkie – Independent Scrutineer

1. BASC Chief Executive, Ian Bell opened the meeting.

Welcome to the 2021 British Association for Shooting and Conservation AGM.
Thank you very much for giving up your time to attend this important piece of business. It is a shame we cannot meet face to face, but we have had two virtual AGM’s and hopefully we will meet face to face next year.
The CEO advised some of the housekeeping for today’s meeting as follows :-
· Today’s meeting is being recorded; this is only for assisting the with minutes
· All attendee’s microphones are to be muted
· Questions which were submitted prior to the AGM will be answered at Item on the agenda
· Please be aware that there may be a delay in the transition from one presenter to another and that your home broadband speed may affect the quality of the AGM broadcast
The CEO advised that members must log onto the voting web page as well as the webinar and that the log in details were emailed from UK engage, the CEO advised that unlike last year the voting will take place live during today’s AGM meeting.
The voting window will be open for a minute for each item.
The CEO handed over to the BASC Chairman Eoghan Cameron

2. A review of BASC achievements and address from BASC Chairman – Eoghan Cameron.

BASC Chairman welcomed everyone and gave apologies for BASC President, Lord Dear’s apologies as he is unable to attend today’s meeting. However, discussions take place regularly regarding the big issues with Lord Dear, and BASC Chairman confirmed that the President Lord Dear is content with the substance and format of today’s meeting.

BASC Chairman encouraged everyone to read his annual report which covers the high’s and low’s. We have all enjoyed zoom calls over the last year, however it has become somewhat tiresome, so things have been planned to be more visually engaging for this AGM meeting.

BASC Chairman referred to ‘Pride’ and the importance of what it is that the Association fights for, over the last year BASC have shone brighter than before, and dimmed the lights on those that oppose shooting, BASC have ensured that Covid secure shooting continues to take place, this has not been easy however, today’s BASC thrives in a hard, challenging environment.

BAC Chairman stated that the next time you look at the BASC logo, please take a moment to consider all that it stands for, a pride history of protecting shooting, spanning two centuries’, the passionate, determined teams and your membership that delivers day in day out on all our behalf’s, it is an important factor in the fight for shooting. In the fight for shooing the logo is our regimental badge, wear it and look upon it with immense sense of pride. BASC is by far the largest most effective and capable organisation representing field sports in the UK today, that is a privilege status and is strengthened, not weakened by partnering with our contemporaries, we stand to gain very little from grappling with each other, but we have everything to gain from establishing common grounds and focussing our collective energies on the common threats.

Public facing, strategic coalition are not new organisations but will be central to securing sustainable shooting for the next generation and I can assure you that BASC will be at the forefront of their development.

BASC Chairman stated that he was now thrilled to present a very short film of BASC’s achievements for the last twelve months and what it means to be part of BASC.

BASC Film was presented

3. Response to members questions

BASC AGM Question 2021 from Mr David Stewart
Question “At the 2020 AGM the leaders of the Association responded to my question “from the floor” about demonstrating commitment to Conservation by reporting significant progress made over the year towards meeting its conservation goals.
This last year has been extraordinary in so many ways. Has the association been able to continue to make good progress with delivery of conservation goals alongside those for shooting?

And with concern about the natural environment increasing will the Association please indicate how it intends to encourage and support individual grassroots members to make more of their personal contribution to conservation through shooting?”

For background I am a “senior” retired from a career in conservation, rural affairs and the environment. My wife and I manage a small farm in the North Pennines with an emphasis on managing traditional hay meadows.

Our farm supports a reasonable population of upland birds. It is noticeable this year that the number of predators, particularly gulls and corvids has increased significantly. There has also been an increase in rats, grey squirrels; and sightings of foxes for the first time in 20 years. The impact of this increase on the ground nesting birds is just starting to show in the form of damage to eggs and nests. In my view following the impact of Covid those that shoot need additional encouragement to manage predators for conservation reasons.

Response
Thank you for the question. BASC retained capacity to push forward the conservation work under our conservation plan in spite of challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and judicial reviews by careful use of staff resources and our legal fighting fund.
Supporting and encouraging members to act personally is hugely important. With changing societal values and an increasing demand from regulators for evidence of sustainability, members need to both do more for conservation and also record and share hard evidence of that contribution.

We have encouraged and supported members in a number of ways. We have expanded our guidance for members for sustainability and demonstrating a net gain for the environment from their activities. This is part of a sustained programme of work under the Association’s conservation strategy.

The guidance released to date this year covers what we ought to already do, such as how to build a pheasant release pen that complies with the advice contained within the code of good shooting practice. It also builds on what we could do, for example boosting the breeding success of mallard through the use of nest tubes to protect them from egg predation and recording the results. This is in partnership with international hunters through the Waterfowlers Network to build an international database on efficacy. The guidance we have and continue to produce is promoted through all our media channels and our regional teams are trained to support members on the ground implementing them.

We’ve also retained focused effort in non-quarry species where shooting has a key role. We are deeply engaged in curlew conservation action at the strategic level throughout the UK and provide support to many projects and partners. The WHCT grant to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust led project, Combating the Curlew Crisis Project, is an example of funds from the shooting community supporting key programmes of work. We have also further built upon our work for water vole conservation, through partnership in the Waterlife Recovery East project, and grey squirrel management through our membership of the UK Squirrel Accord, who were named as a key partner in the England Tree Action Plan just this week. Honest partnerships are key to building member confidence to contribute to conservation schemes. They also build trust with those partners through shared delivery for nature which develops into them advocating for the benefits of shooting for conservation.

We wholeheartedly agree with the spirit of your question on grassroots members to make more of their personal contribution through shooting. BASC will provide leadership and support to people that shoot and partners. However, members themselves must also show leadership within their peer group and local communities and engage openly in conservation activities and critically sharing the outcomes. Only by acting together will we secure a better environment and the future of shooting.

BASC CEO handed over to BASC Chairman

4. Obituaries

BASC Chairman stated that it is customary to read out the names, however, that it had been a year of tragedy within the UK and overseas over the last twelve months, it is with sadness that he announces there have been over 400 members passed away during this time and this also is with deepest sadness includes HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, BASC Patron.
A minute silence will be held and a slide presentation shown in respect of those members who have sadly passed.

BASC Chairman handed over to BASC CEO, Ian Bell.

5. Adoption of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ending the 31st December 2020

The CEO stated that one element that he would like to highlight that despite a significant drop in income the Association is still in a very good and robust position and able to take forward the fight for shooting and associated conservation forward into both this year and for the coming strategic horizon.

BASC CEO asked everyone to vote to adopt the annual report and financial statements for the past year and the voting window will be open for 1 minute.

Resolution – Agenda item 5

Adoption of the Financial Statements – 100% votes
Duly carried
BASC CEO handed over to Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer

6. Council Elections 2021

Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer announced the results.
There were two candidates for one National seat
And one uncontested candidate for the England Seat
6795 were received for ballot voters and were as followed :-
3942 – Christopher Barker
2153 – Paul Mayfield
Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer therefore duly declare that Christopher Baker is duly elected onto Council for the National seat
Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer therefore duly declared that Robin Marshall Ball is duly elected onto Council for the England seat
Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer handed over to BASC Chairman
BASC Chairman congratulated Christopher Barker and Robin Marshall-Ball and also gave his commiserations to Paul Mayfield and all the very best for the future.
BASC Chairman handed over to the CEO

7. Election of Honorary Life Members

The CEO stated that he will highlight each Honorary life membership with an extract from each recommendation. The CEO will then ask everyone to vote after each nomination.

Alan Wykes
Alan has been secretary of Wigtown Bay for over 20 years and over that period has guided the club through both land purchase and establishment of the local nature reserve, (LNR), the largest in Scotland.
Proposed by Colin Shedden & Seconded by Jake Swindells
The voting window opened for 1 minute
CEO Ian Bell congratulated Mr Wykes on his election of his Honorary Life Membership of the Association.

Robert McKay
For over 20 years Bob has been the Chairman of Forres, Nairn and District Wildfowlers Association. Over this period, he has sat on the Findhorn Bay Management Committee and most recently has been closely involved with the development of a permit scheme for wildfowling on Findhorn Bay, hopefully to be underwritten by byelaw.
Proposed by Colin Shedden & Seconded by Jake Swindells
The voting window opened for 1 minute
CEO Ian Bell congratulated Mr McKay on his election of his Honorary Life Membership of the Association.

Robin Francis
Robin has been a club member of the South Hampshire Wildfowlers Association (SHWA) since it started over 50yrs ago, he has been a committee member for over thirty years and chairman of the club for over twenty-five years, recently became a trustee.
Proposed by Mrs S Maidment, SHWA & Seconded by Mr M Humphreys, Chairman SHWA
The voting window opened for 1 minute
CEO Ian Bell congratulated Mr Francis on his election of his Honorary Life Membership of the Association.

William Hutton
William has been a club member of the South Hampshire Wildfowlers Association (SHWA) for 40yrs, a member of the committee for twenty-five years, recently become a trustee.
Proposed by Mrs S Maidment, SHWA & Seconded by Mr M Humphreys, Chairman SHWA
The voting window opened for 1 minute
CEO Ian Bell congratulated Mr Hutton on his election of his Honorary Life Membership of the Association.

8. Resolution – Office Holder Tenure
The CEO stated that he will now move on to the one resolution today and that of which is office holder tenure and the Council of your Association commend this resolution to you in order that we can: –
a) Delivery a governance regime fit for the 21st century
b) Delivery strategic advantage for BASC when compared to other Organisations and government
c) Achieve continuity aligned with strategic planning and delivery
The voting window opened for 1 minute
CEO Ian Bell announced that the resolution had passed with the following votes.
For = 22
Abstain = 3
Against = 2
The office resolution is passed.

9. Re-appointment of WR Partners as auditors for 2021

The CEO stated that he will now move on to the last item of the AGM which is the re-appointment of WR Partners as auditors for 2021.
The voting window is now open.
CEO Ian Bell announced that the re-appointment of WR Partners as auditors for 2021 had passed with the following votes.
For = 27
Abstain = 0
Against = 0
The CEO handed over to BASC Chairman for the closure of the AGM

7. Any other business by leave of BASC Chairman
There were not items of other business.

8. AGM Closure

The BASC Chairman thanked Simon Starkie and all for attending the AGM, and best wishes for safe season ahead.

Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting

Saturday 11 July 2020 – Virtual meeting

• Lord Dear – President
• Eoghan Cameron – Chairman
• Ian Bell – Chief Executive
• Simon Starkie – Independent Scrutineer

1. BASC Chief Executive Ian Bell opened the meeting.

“Welcome to the 2020 British Association for Shooting and Conservation AGM.

It is a rather more unusual AGM than what we are used to, due to these strange times. Thank you for attending the AGM, we hope you and yours are all well and are looking forward to the coming season.

“Some of you may already have seen some of our officers in the field, as they visit shoots and provide Covid-19 compliance advice for the coming year.”

The CEO confirmed that the meeting was being recorded, for the purpose of assisting with the minute taking – and that attendees’ microphones were muted, which is why questions were sought in advance of the AGM. These questions will be answered immediately after the preliminaries.

The CEO advised that there may be a delay between presenters appearing on the screen due to home broadband speeds etc.

The CEO advised that he would be asking members to vote on four elements during the meeting
1. Adoption of the financial statements
2. Appointment of auditors
3. Resolution regarding BASC committees
4. Election of Vice President – Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

The CEO advised that voting will be open for 10 minutes from the time when it is announced that the voting has begun.

The CEO gave further information on the resolutions regarding the BASC committees and the election of Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown as a Vice President of the Association:

“Our current constitution allows us to invite only BASC members onto our committees. We have found that this is restrictive and we do not get the breadth of information and the engagement required in order for us to be provided with a full range of opinions when debating BASC policy and BASC decisions.

“It is important for us to be able to invite all experts, whether they wish to be a BASC member or not. For example, some of those that we would wish to have on these committees are members of other organisations and other bodies that perhaps do not wish to be members of BASC.”

The CEO advised that he had received one question about this from a member. The member understood that we require that level of expertise but was concerned we would not be able to protect BASC’s confidential information. The member asked if BASC would be able to hold those individuals to account while they are on the committees. The CEO confirmed that each committee has its own rules and regulations and members should be assured that any confidential BASC information will not be shared with those who are not BASC members.

This move will only affect a small number of committees as and when it is required. Safeguards will be put in place and it is important that BASC has the confidence and the ability to invite members across a broad spectrum onto those committees in order that its decision making is based upon the very best information available.

Proposal for the election of Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown to be a Vice President of BASC

Proposed by Christopher Graffius

Seconded by Jak Abrahams

“In 2020, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was elected as the third chairman for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Shooting and Conservation, as such he became the key person for the representation of British shooting in politics. He has since been re-elected by MPs and peers as chairman in each subsequent year.

“BASC provides the secretariat for the APPG and we work very closely with Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown on a range of matters. Sir Geoffrey is a keen shot and, as a member of the APPG since 2010, has brought his extensive political experience and great knowledge of shooting in the countryside to Westminster. The result is that the group has grown to be one of the largest in parliament. It plays a crucial role in informing parliamentarians and securing their support and action to promote and protect shooting and conservation in the political arena.

Sir Geoffrey also serves on several committees and maintains a broad portfolio of international and political interests; he is a man with credibility in Westminster, on every issue of late – from firearms licensing fees and home office consultations to medical involvement in licensing, general licences for pest control and the promotion of game.

“Sir Geoffrey has been a sound and protective ambassador for our sport and the countryside way of life – a commitment that he intends to continue in the future. An outstanding example of his dedication was his leadership of the campaign to preserve civilian .50 calibre target rifle shooting. This was in the face of ministerial opposition and an effective backbench MP pressure group. It is a testament to his impact and influence. Sir Geoffrey has appeared in BASC’s Shooting and Conservation magazine on many occasions, to inform our members of the political work he and others are doing to represent shooting and conservation. We have no hesitation in recommending Sir Geoffrey for his election to Vice President of BASC.”

The CEO confirmed that concluded the four items of business for voting.

The CEO announced the opening of the voting for the four items outlined and stated that voting would be open for 10 minutes.

2. Answering of questions submitted

The CEO advised members he would answer the questions that had been submitted by members prior to the AGM.

The CEO advised that changes had been made to the agenda so that members’ questions could be dealt with upfront and before the President and Chairman’s addresses.

The CEO thanked those members who had submitted questions. Four members had submitted questions for the AGM. Some of these questions overlapped and consisted of several parts.

Question 1 from Mr Chris Manning

I note your removal of legal expenses insurance at a cost of roughly £13.50 per member. It was part of the benefits package that I paid for with my subscription and I regret that BASC is no longer honouring this contract.

Please can BASC at the AGM:
1. Provide details of annual legal expense premiums over the last 10 years against claims?
2. Notify members if they have any plans to replace this service via some other mechanism?
3. Tell members what the c£1,000,000 surplus is being spent on, and why this is more important than refunding/reducing subscriptions.

Reply to Question 1 from Mr Chris Manning
BASC ensures that its policies are worthwhile to members, provide value for money and are of sufficient benefit across the membership. The increasing cost of LEI insurance (which was not passed on through increased membership fees), the number of exclusions, the increasing excess, the 6-month exclusion clause and the low numbers of members seeing successful outcomes, all meant that this cover was no longer meeting the requirement.

The legal expense cover has only been in place since 2014. In 2014, the premium was £250k a year; due to the net loss that the underwriters experienced in 2017, the premium almost doubled in 2018 to £463k.

In 2019, this almost doubled again to around £940k. This was despite re-tendering and moving the policy to another underwriter.
Due to the premium increases, the Association re-tendered the policy in 2017 and again in 2019. The market for this cover has shrunk significantly and due to the loss ratio on the policy, most underwriters do not wish to provide the cover. Those that do demand significant exclusions, excesses and limited numbers of cases taken to a successful conclusion.

The BASC firearms team, the very best of its kind, offers support and advice to all members on all aspects of firearms licensing. Our firearms team will still be on hand to provide support, advice and guidance to all members on firearms licensing matters.

Our public liability and personal accident insurances are unaffected and include:
• up to £10 million Public Liability Cover
• up to £10 million Employer Liability Cover
• up to £10 million Product Liability Cover
• up to £50,000 cover for personal accidents resulting in the loss of sight, hearing, or limbs.

The Association has frozen membership subscriptions for the coming year when other organisations are putting theirs up. As previously stated, the increasing cost of LEI insurance had not been passed in its entirety to members. BASC Council ensures that the Association invests its well-managed finances where they have the greatest effect, while continuing to meet the strategic objectives and invest in the protection of shooting for everyone.

Question 2 (part 1) from Mr Michael Alldis
1. A very small time notification in Shooting and Conservation [was] received on Thursday 2 July for completion by 9am on Monday 6 July [in order for members to attend the AGM]. Also, those without computers or broadband [have been] disenfranchised.

Reply to Question 2 (part 1) from Mr Michael Alldis
The country faces the challenges of a worldwide pandemic that has impacted every facet of our lives. BASC is already the first organisation to be out providing services to members on the ground.

Prevented by law from holding a face-to-face AGM, BASC considered Financial Conduct Authority and sector best practice, legal requirements and government guidance.

In the May edition of Shooting and Conservation (S&C), we informed members that the decision regarding the AGM, due to Covid-19 restrictions, would be published on the website as soon as possible. Council decided in early June that there was no option but to have a virtual AGM to ensure legal and Association requirements were met. The decision was announced via the website on the 19 June 2020 and in the most recent S&C.

Yes, those with broadband and computer issues will find it difficult to attend. But we are prohibited from holding a face-to-face

AGM at this time. Even if we were allowed to run a face-to-face AGM, this would also mean that some members are disenfranchised if they are unable to travel to the event.

It is worth noting that far more members have joined this AGM than have attended in recent years.

Question 2 (part 2) from Mr Michael Alldis

1. [Regarding] the Accounts loss of half a million pounds: was this deficit agreed by F&GP or did they fail to rein in this profligate over-expenditure? Staff numbers increased by 16 per cent after many years of very little growth. Staff costs are up by over a million pounds. The dismissal of the former Chief Executive has still not been resolved and no provision has been made for what a tribunal may award.

Reply to Question 2 (part 2) from Mr Michael Alldis

Yes, the Council and Executive and Finance Committee did agree the deficit. The deficit was due to planned investment in the Association to achieve our strategic objectives, plus a significant increase in the legal expense’s insurance premium at renewal in August 2019.

Prudent financial planning has allowed us to invest previous surpluses when we have needed them to meet strategic objectives.
Staff numbers and costs are approved by Council in order to ensure the successful running of the Association. In 2019 this included a number of temporary roles – in particular, political officers in the run up to the general election.

(No provision is required to be made regarding to any legal cases – but I do not intend to answer this part of the question).

Question 2 (part 3) from Mr Michael Alldis

2. Lead – gross lack of consultation. What will this cost BASC in lost membership?

Reply to Question 2 (part 3) from Mr Michael Alldis

Reactive and rearward-looking policies will not save shooting for future generations. BASC Council is elected to set the strategic direction of the Association and, in this case, with the eight other signatory organisations we are providing leadership in the aspiration to transition from lead shot and single use plastics for live quarry shooting within five years.

Yes, there has been a small dip in membership, but we have also seen new members who agree this demonstrates true leadership and will help secure shooting’s future.

Question 3 from Mr John Harlow – Chairman, Holbeach & District Wildfowlers Association

1. Wildfowlers are the historic guardians of BASC and we find ourselves at the forefront of threats to our sport through the consenting process with Natural England and further restrictions on our ammunition. Will Council agree not to further erode our sport by the imposition of adaptive harvest management without first allowing it to be fully discussed AND agreed by the Wildfowl Liaison Committee?

Reply to Question 3 from Mr John Harlow

Threats to shooting are faced across all disciplines and in many guises.

It is recognised that wildfowlers are often the first line of defence against attacks on shooting; restrictions imposed on wildfowling could easily affect other disciplines in the future. It is for this reason BASC is working proactively to ensure we are well placed to deal with such threats – only yesterday Council agreed significant financial and legal commitment to ongoing appeals against NE decision making.

Part of the broader wildfowling portfolio is fully understanding the practicalities, pros and cons of schemes like adaptive harvest management (AHM).

BASC has been discussing the concept of AHM for at least three years. It has been discussed at length during the last two Wildfowling Liaison Committee (WLC) meetings and the minutes of these meetings are available on request.

At the WLC meeting on 8 Feb 2019, a recommendation was made for BASC Council to fully explore AHM. A report produced by BASC’s Head of Science was circulated to WLC for comment. No comments were received. BASC Council has supported the requirement to fully explore all permutations of AHM.

There is a drive from AEWA for AHM to be brought in across the flyway. It would be remiss of BASC to not recognise the possibility that such a scheme could be forced upon us in the future or that it could offer solutions that allow us to continue to sustainably take legitimate wildfowl species instead of species being removed from the quarry list. The system has already been used to increase the harvest of greylag geese in Scotland – AHM can work in in our favour, an extension to a season to allow a greater harvest is just one such example.

WLC will continue to be engaged on this topic. BASC needs to work across all levels to ensure we act in the best possible way to protect the sport, today and for the future.

Question 4 from Mr David Stewart

1. 1. Over the last couple of years there has been a welcome increase in references in BASC’s member material to BASC’s conservation role and activity. What is the overall conservation goal of the society: how will we know that the goal has been achieved? And what contribution can the ordinary grassroots member make to help achieve that goal?

Reply to Question 4 from Mr David Stewart

BASC produced a conservation strategy for the organisation which was signed off by Council in September 2019 and is available on the website. It set BASC’s ‘Conservation Vision’: To have inspired every shooter to enhance their environment; and ‘Conservation Mission’: Enhancing the environment through sustainable sporting shooting
BASC’s strategic aims for conservation

BASC’s key strategic aims for 2020-2025 are part of a long-term commitment by the organisation for sustainable sporting shooting to deliver public benefits through increased biodiversity and habitat management, and produce a sustainable supply of healthy game meat.

The key conservation strategic aims are:
• Sustainable ammunition
• Sustainable management of quarry species
• Eradication of wildlife crime
• Net gain in natural capital from sustainable sporting shooting

Each of the key strategic aims are underpinned by action plans which show how BASC intends to take these areas of work forward. Individual members can support the organisation’s key strategic aims by moving to the use of sustainable ammunition, supporting the zero tolerance statement on raptor persecution, ensuring that they follow the GWCT Guidance for Sustainable Gamebird Releasing, and undertaking work to enhance the habitat on their shoots.

——————

The CEO stated that it is important to answer the questions that members have put forward and challenge the Association, challenge our decisions and support our objectives through the Council decision making and I hope that I have answered the details that were proposed.

The CEO handed over to the President, Lord Dear

3. President’s address

“Can I start off first of all by saying that this is my third AGM as President and, to repeat what I said before, it is a very great privilege for me to maintain that office. I am grateful for your support in supporting me as your President. And the counter point of that is, that in the many things that I do, in various fields in public life, I get more enjoyment and a greater sense of fulfilment I think from the work with BASC than I do with almost any of the others.

“The CEO talked about change and you only have to look out of the window or look at your newspaper or turn on the television to know, had you missed it, that we are in an era of enormous change, enormous challenge and of course the foremost one that effects all of us in one way or another is coronavirus. Although, I want to touch on other challenges and changes in a moment.

“In the question of coronavirus, it could have brought down many organisations bigger and longer established than BASC. And my first comment is a word of thanks and very fulfilling word of thanks to the Chairman and to members of Council who have handled this crisis so very well. We’ve come out of it, or are coming out of it, I think very well. And because of that I pay that tribute.

“A particular word of thanks to the CEO and staff, and all the people at the Mill and elsewhere in the country who have done so much of the detail to do with coronavirus. A very fulsome word of thanks to all of them from me. I think you have done a brilliant job and are continuing to do that. And we will continue of course to try and do what I wrote about in one of the issues in our magazine a few months ago, to protect the key workers, as I think I called them. And I think most of you will know who I mean by that; the keepers, the ghillies, the stalkers, the people in the retail trade who rely on shooting as an essential part of their life and the way they run their business. They could have so easily gone out of business and some have of course, sadly. But we should do everything we can as members to support them and ensure their wellbeing as we look at our own situation and wonder where our sport is going.

“So where is our sport going? Well there are problems and many of the problems have been problems we have addressed in the AGM, in my time and in the past. And I make no apologies for repeating those. Medical reporting is but one of the three that I want to mention. Medical reporting is still there, and I do not know how it will end. We have a police service which is at odds with itself and cannot come up with a national policy that makes sense. And some forces are taking a line which I feel is totally unsupportable. We have the Home Office who typically, I have to say, are proving no leadership of any consequence at all on that. And of course, we have medical professionals which on the fringes vacillate from trying to make a great deal of money out of the membership all the way through to those who want nothing to do with shooting at all and refuse to grant certificates. All of that is an issue which has exercised the minds and the activities of the staff at the Mill for a long time and I fear will continue to do so because I don’t see a quick end to this. But we shall do our best as your Association to come up with a solution that is fair and equitable.

“The issue of lead shot, the CEO has already mentioned that and I endorse entirely. Steel shot is going to come in. Steel shot will be here in the years to come and I think we would be very wise as membership of an organisation like this to move to steel shot or similar as quickly as we can. And in doing that we enhance our conservation credibility, which I ought to mention again in a moment. We advance that and are seen to be an organisation which is willing to be at the forefront of change rather than being dragged, as it were, kicking and screaming into the future. And lastly, an issue which does not affect many of our members and that is the persecution of raptors. As an example, it is largely grouse moors as we know which are the focus of tension on this. And yet there is no doubt in my mind that one relatively small issue, although serious as it is in terms of raptor conservation, small in terms of the overall shooting agenda, can cause enormous damage to us as a shooting organisation and as members of it.

Because there is no doubt in my mind, that sitting as I often do in the centre of machinery of government in Westminster, no doubt in my mind that shooting, if you pardon the analogy, is very much in the cross hairs of public opinion. We are living in very strange and I think really quite worrying times. You only have to look at the way in which Black Lives Matter has taken off and the fringe elements that are now supporting it. Putting to one side the awfulness of the incident in the USA that sparked it all off, the tearing down of statues and the demands, and sometimes quite outrageous demands, on the coat tails of that is something that society has only just woken up to and is not at all sure of how to handle. You have got the total, I call it cluster, approach of smash everything. Everything that was once cherished and accepted is now there to be challenged.

“You’ve only got to look at the way in which free speech is now under very grave threat – generally, in the media and certainly in the universities – to ask yourself what is going on? Well I don’t know what is going on, except that I am absolutely sure that the organisations like ours cannot automatically expect an umbrella of protection from parliament and from government. Government and parliament will be swayed by public opinion. And if there is a strange current running through public opinion which is to challenge absolutely everything that once stood as something that was unassailable, then shooting is going to be, as I’ve said just now, right there in the cross hairs. Because in so many people’s minds, shooting is equivalent to slaughter. Shooting and slaughter go very cleanly/neatly together for those who oppose what we are doing. And yet shooting as the CEO has already mentioned, and I make no apologies for coming in on his coat tails for this, shooting and conservation, the two essential words in the title of our organisation, shooting and conservation are critical. So, what can we do as members to reinforce that?

“Well there is a lot we can do. But I think there are three things that I would put in this very short address to you today.

“For a start, the shooting code is there to be adhered to. It was the subject of great debate as it was being fashioned but it has stood the test of time. It is absolutely essential for the wellbeing of shooting, the wellbeing of membership and the wellbeing of the environment that we all adhere to it.

“I think we should speak out when raptor persecution and illegal activities occur. Speak out! And say quite openly that this is nothing to do with us, we deprecate it, we do not support it, it is not what we stand for. I’ve pinched for myself I suppose, the old Tony Blair vision of three messages for education, when I say ‘education, education, education.’ I make no apologies for the pun. I think so far as this organisation is concerned shooting sits side by side with conservation, conservation and conservation. And that way, we can do what we can to put a balanced view in front of those who would seek to curb or destroy the sport that all of us at this meeting subscribe to.

“So, I conclude really with not warm words of everything is okay in this particular garden, because I don’t think it is. But my thanks go to the membership for supporting BASC so very warmly. It is a great organisation, a very well-run organisation, and one of the biggest organisations in the western world in this particular field and I think we should all take pride in being members of it.

“I wish all of the membership well and thank all of the membership for their support and their understanding. And during these very difficult times, for their tolerance for what we are all trying to do. I think overall, against the backdrop of what I’ve said about the challenging times, if we keep our heads and if we go forward sensibly, I think in the end we are going to come through. But it’s going to be difficult and I think we are very fortunate to have a Chairman, the Council, CEO and the staff to help us to do that. I conclude by saying good luck and good shooting.”

4. Chairman’s address – BASC Council’s report on the Association

“Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, most in our community will be keenly aware that shooting sports have never faced so many challenges on so many fronts. Indeed, some have no doubt imagined that the final redoubt will soon be within sight, except that this is by no means reflected by the reality on the ground; BASC has never before conducted operations in so focused and strategic a manner. We are a small but highly professional and dedicated organisation which punches well above its weight in multiple arenas as the President has already touched upon. I would like to add to that the combined strength of our sister organisations, and the effect is a united front whose mindsets and actions could not be further from those of gradually shrinking defence.

“The days of reactivity are numbered. We are now entering the over-the-horizon era – an era in which the focus shifts to ensuring our treasured way of life is both available and appealing to those who come after. If, as we believe it is, the survival of shooting beyond our generation is important to our community, then it is the duty of our representative organisations to lead the way.

“BASC and its allied organisations’ aspiration to transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting within five years is but one facet of this. We and our allies realise we cannot force a single shooter or manufacturer to transition away from lead shot. Nor, for that matter, can we force anyone who persecutes protected species to stop doing so, but what we can do is drive cultural change, change which will ensure the self-regulating, law-abiding shooting community is master of its destiny rather than the servant of legislators without sympathy for the survival of our way of life. Some among us may construe this as surrender, that their organisations have given up the fight; on the contrary, if we exhaust precious resources fighting for the indefensible, eventual surrender is inevitable. By identifying and eliminating the very few chinks in shooting’s armour well in advance of our opponents, we prevail. If the only argument left to the antis is that they simply don’t care for who we are or what we do, we prevail. With BASC’s increasingly focused approach naturally comes a leaner, more strategic budgeting model than in previous years and the CEO touched upon this earlier. This is reflected in BASC’s latest accounts, which demonstrate both financial health and capital efficiency. Members can be assured that their subscriptions are resourcing the right activities in the right areas at the right time. Put simply, if it doesn’t help to protect shooting, we don’t do it.

“It therefore gives me enormous pleasure to announce that today BASC is launching a new legal fighting fund for shooting and conservation. This fighting fund, which is the first of its kind, is designed to make a significant contribution to the promotion and protection of shooting and its benefits to the rural environment. The fighting fund is being established with a seven-figure sum from the Association and will be ring-fenced for proactive legal initiatives to benefit shooting and its contribution to the countryside. In addition, the fund will assist BASC in mounting legal challenges when shooting and conservation are threatened.

“We are now seeing a growing trend of disputes about shooting and conservation being taken to the courts rather than being resolved by co-operation and consultation. BASC will always take the offensive to meet such legal challenges whether they come from government, overly risk-averse police forces or anti-shooting organisations. Indeed, we are already fighting cases in England and Wales, with other potential cases in the wings. Being heard by the court depends on the ability to fund these actions and, thanks to the generosity of our members and sound financial management, BASC has the means to do so. This fighting fund gives us the dedicated financial teeth and muscle to make sure that shooting can take effective legal action whenever it’s required.

“Everything BASC undertakes is geared to protecting shooting now and for generations to come. That is our overarching purpose. Our staff are dedicated, professional, passionate and extremely hard-working. Behind them stands BASC’s democratically elected Council, ordinary members who have stepped forward to represent you and shape strategy. Your membership buys much more than insurance, representation and advice; it is your important contribution to ensuring the sport continues to thrive. Without this BASC family, shooting is considerably weakened.

“I am delighted to inform you, therefore, that our membership continued to show positive growth through 2019. This boosted BASC’s membership income by some £625k – a clear demonstration of the confidence placed in us by new and existing members. But what is this down to? Some of the many direct member benefits developed further by BASC in 2019 included:

• The further expansion of member training and education events.

• The augmentation of our member benefits portfolio. During 2019, for instance, our offers on vehicles saved members a staggering £5.4m across 23 different manufacturers.

• We’re also constantly looking at members’ value for money and we found the firearms licensing legal expenses insurance package to be wanting in this regard, with only 1 in 1,000 members making a claim and only 1 in 2,000 members having their cases taken up, at an annual (and rising) cost of £1million to BASC. This was clearly unacceptable.
• Although not an easy call, Council decided it was right to withdraw this element of the membership package which the vast majority of members will never use.
• Of overriding importance to us is the fact that BASC’s membership package is one of the most competitively priced, even though our insurance package remains the most comprehensive.
“In the wider context of 2019, the Association also invested its income and some of its reserves to support delivery against its strategic objectives. Some examples included:
• The expansion of political and public engagement, with particular emphasis on general licences and the protection of shooting.
• Investment of around £1million in specialist staff focused on:

o Promoting and improving access to shooting
o Training and education
o Championing game as food
o Boosting our social media presence and resources to improve member awareness and educate the wider public about the benefits of shooting
o Expanding UK-wide political engagement
o The establishment of a new Eastern England regional team
• Supporting the British Game Alliance financially and by providing expertise and knowledge to help them grow and succeed.
• Investment of £106k of legacy funding in projects such as Let’s Learn Moor, launching the BASC Scholarship programme and the osprey conservation project in northern England.
• Launching a new website to improve information quality and delivery to members.
“None of this is possible without you, the members. BASC’s strength lies in the breadth and loyalty of our membership and we are extremely grateful for the faith that you continue to place in us. Let us, with you the members, continue to take the sport forward and make our grandchildren’s grandchildren proud of what we did to ensure their place in the field.”

5. Council elections

Independent Scrutineer Simon Starkie addressed members to announce the results for 2020.

There were ten candidates for two national seats and one uncontested candidate for Northern Ireland.

Simon Starkie confirmed that 5,214 votes were received from valid voters and were cast in the following order as they appeared on the ballot sheet.

• Duncan Greaves – 1,126
• Karl Waktare – 680
• Mike Madgwick – 553
• Paul Mayfield – 601
• Mark Shillito – 860
• Ann Mortimer – 2,530
• David Fry – 690
• Al Gabriel – 1,500
• Geoffrey Burgess – 529
• Martyn Jones – 1080

Simon Starkie stated that he therefore declared Ann Mortimer and Al Gabriel duly selected for two national seats and Oliver McCullough duly elected for Northern Ireland.

6. Obituaries

The CEO read out the obituaries:

Jack Charlton OBE, Mr J Wardell, Mr Clive Rogers, Mrs Kim Chesworth, Mr Leonard Collins, Mr J Ashbrook, Mr Roger Lindop, Sir Henry Riley, Mr A Thomson, Mr A Spicer, Mr Gary Smith, Mr C Witt, Mr Geoff Cook, Mr Harvey Harman, Mr D Ausobsky, Mr Paul Taylor, Mr John Kidd, Mr James Jennings, Mr J Hewins, Mrs Katharine Robinson, Mr David Dance, Mr Dominic Brown, Mr Peter Anderson, Mr Rod Coult, Mr Ivan Haynes, Mr M Funnell, Mr Peter Elliott, Mr Ron Rollason, Mr Keith Morley, Mr F Allen, Mrs B Willmington, Mr A Marsh, Mr J Dobney, Mr J Gittens, Mr Kenrick Barter, Mrs Helena John, Mr John Gorman, Mr Christopher Rooke, Mr P Cooper, Mr Jonathan Wood, Mr F Howsam, Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, Mr I Pritchard, Mr Steven Masters, Mr Ken Hocking, Mr Nigel Steele-Mortimer, Mr Tristram Turton.

The CEO asked all to observe a short period of silence to remember our fellow shooters and members.

7. Results

Simon Starkie, independent scrutineer, announced the results as follows;

Resolution 1
Adoption of the financial statements: 37 for; 0 against; 1 abstained
Duly carried

Resolution 2
Appointment of auditors: 37 for; 0 against; 1 abstained
Duly carried

Resolution 3
BASC Committees: 36 for; 2 against; 0 abstained
Duly carried

Resolution 4
Election of Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown as a Vice President: 38 for; 0 against; 0 abstained
Duly carried

8. AGM closure

The BASC Chairman thanked everyone for attending the AGM. He confirmed this concluded the AGM and passed on his congratulations to re-elected Council members and the new elected Council member.