REPORT ON SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

Held Saturday 23rd. January 2010 at Pavilion Theatre Rhyl.

 

1. In October the WCGBA Steering Group on Child Protection met to review the existing situation on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. The Group expressed disappointment that there was a small number of clubs still to comply with the policy advocated by the Group and accepted by WCGBA. It was agreed that the policy of expecting ALL affiliated Clubs to nominate Child Protection Officers was to remain the official policy of the WCGBA.  Thus the Group made a proposal to the WCGBA Management Committee at its November 2009 meeting that action would be taken against any Club continuing to fail to nominate and appoint a CPO, by withdrawing that Club’s right to affiliate to the Association or any Area within WCGBA.

 

2. That proposal was defeated at the Management Committee meeting by 10 votes to 8.

 

 

3. Glyndwr CGBA at its AGM on 22nd November agreed to support the original Steering Group proposal to change the Constitution of the WCGBA so that it would be mandatory for all affiliated Clubs to appoint CPO’s. 18 clubs signed a motion to seek to request the Chief Executive to convene a Special General Meeting of the Association to consider these requisite changes in the Constitution and Rules of the WCGBA.

 

1. All Clubs; Leagues and Officials were invited to the SGM and a full agenda was circulated in advance.

 

 

2. The SGM was held on 23rd. January and duly convened by the Chief Executive with all clubs informed within the terms of the Rules and Constitution.

 

3. All representatives were asked to register on arrival at the SGM and issued with a unique voting card.  In all 55 voting cards were issued. It was made clear that for a motion to be carried it was necessary for that point to be carried by a two thirds majority of those voting.

 

 

4. The opening 5 points on the SGM Agenda were concerned with creating a separate point in the Constitution and Rules under a new point 29 headed ‘Child Protection’ 

 

5. Point 6 on the Agenda was intended to enshrine in the Association’s Constitution and Rules the need for all Areas within the Association to appoint Area CPO’s and to manage Child Protection within their Areas. As this is already has already happened no change was involved and the motion was carried with one vote against. This now is shown under paragraph 29.1 of the Constitution and Rules

 

 

6. Point 7 dealt with the need for ALL clubs within the WCGBA to nominate CPO’s and to have these officials in place by 1st April each year. The motion proceeded to state that any Club not conforming to the policy would have affiliation to the Area and the Association withdrawn. Voting figures: -   For -41; Against - 7; Abstentions - 4.  Point 29.2 of the Constitution and Rules states the new WCGBA policy.

 

7. Point 8 set out to deal with any Club whose CPO resigns the post for whatever reason. The recommendation proposed by the motion before the SGM gave any Club in this situation one month to nominate a replacement CPO.  Voting figures: -   For -43; Against -4; Abstentions -6.  The motion was carried and is now shown under paragraph 29.3

 

 

8. Point 9 was concerned with the provision of information and support for Club CPO’s by way of Seminars. The recommendation discussed was that CPO’s are expected to attend Seminars of this nature when available in their Area. Voting figures: -   For -41; Against - 2; Abstentions - 4.  The motion was carried and is now shown under paragraph 29.4.

 

9. Point 10 on the agenda was intended to regularise the Association’s procedures in dealing with any with serious cases contravening the WCGBA Child Protection Policy emanating at any level of the Association through the establishment of a Case Management Committee comprising the Chief Executive; The President; the Chairman and the WCGBA CPO. Voting figures: -   For -47; Against - 0; Abstentions - 3.  This motion was carried and is now shown under paragraph 29.5

 

 

10.   The final point of the SGM was to agree that the current paragraph 29 be re-numbered as paragraph 30.

 

Established in October 2007 and reporting to the Management Committee WCGBA at all meetings

This policy had been announced at the 2009 AGM with the expectation that all clubs would follow the  recommended practice for the 2009 season.

 

Ivor Williams

CEO WCGBA

February

 2010