Post by Joe K on Nov 13, 2012 14:41:19 GMT
This is a letter I emailed to Carol Francis, chair of the Barton & Tredworth Community Trust, on May 11th, 2011. I never received a reply to it, and consequently, I'm publishing it here, for the record. It might seem a little longwinded, but I think it articulates the points the trust's committee has chosen to ignore as briefly as possible while missing nothing out:
To carol@howardst73.freeserve.co.uk
Hi Carol,
I've finally gone through the files David Mitchell gave me, and the one thing that is notably missing from any minutes is the confirmation of a letter being sent to me, Recorded Delivery and with a 'hard copy' of the Charity Commission's opinion that the BTCT had the right to bar members (see minutes for 13th October 2009, 21st October 2009, and particularly 10th November 2009 -
Perhaps I never received this letter because at around the same time, the trust in actuality re-instated my membership, but in all the minutes I have read, I have seen no recognition of this fact, or that delivery of the proposed letter had been cancelled. I have the trust's letter to me notifying of my re-instatement, but I should like to see it minuted.
What started all this, of course was an opinion expressed at the June meeting in 2007, following the AGM where I volunteered to be a trustee, that there had been 'confusion' in the nominations process. Looking at the text below, from the meeting before the AGM, I can see no confusion, except on the part of a member, one D Francis, who suggested to the meeting that it was unconstitutional for members to be nominated from the floor.
There is a case for arguing that these 'nominations from the floor' were not co-options, and the text below, from November 13th 2007, suggests likewise:
(by this time, there was no mention of the 'sub-group led by Carol would look at the memorandum and Articles of Association and Constitution and recommend changes and amendments. (Action Carol/Chair)' (12th June, 2007) ). I guess there were no 'changes and amendments'.
It's all grist to the mill now, of course, but whether or not I wish ever to be a board member again, or if there is even a board to be a member of, I'd like to see the 'J Kilker' file (minutes, 11th August 2009 - '(Please see file J Kilker for details)'. After all these years, I have never been shown any evidence of the 'breach of confidentiality' I have been accused of, or that the phrase 'Zanu Labour' is in any way an offensive term, or linked with "the rest of the BTCT employees" (June 9th 2009 minutes). I would like to finally see this evidence.
By the way, some two months after the AGM, there is still no word of the 'emergency meeting'. I'd like the date of it to put in the partnership newsletter, along with a report on the AGM.
Cheers, Joe
To carol@howardst73.freeserve.co.uk
Hi Carol,
I've finally gone through the files David Mitchell gave me, and the one thing that is notably missing from any minutes is the confirmation of a letter being sent to me, Recorded Delivery and with a 'hard copy' of the Charity Commission's opinion that the BTCT had the right to bar members (see minutes for 13th October 2009, 21st October 2009, and particularly 10th November 2009 -
2/ MP not yet written to J. Kilker JK had written to charity commission who agreed that BTCT have the right to bar members. MP has requested hard copy from the commission for inclusion in his letter.)
Perhaps I never received this letter because at around the same time, the trust in actuality re-instated my membership, but in all the minutes I have read, I have seen no recognition of this fact, or that delivery of the proposed letter had been cancelled. I have the trust's letter to me notifying of my re-instatement, but I should like to see it minuted.
What started all this, of course was an opinion expressed at the June meeting in 2007, following the AGM where I volunteered to be a trustee, that there had been 'confusion' in the nominations process. Looking at the text below, from the meeting before the AGM, I can see no confusion, except on the part of a member, one D Francis, who suggested to the meeting that it was unconstitutional for members to be nominated from the floor.
3 Membership
The Chair confirmed that resignation notices had been received from Robin, Brenda and Ismail. He had spoken to Brenda and she had reconsidered her decision to resign and has agreed to continue as a BTCT Board member. Robin had given his reasons in his email and his resignation after the A.G.M was accepted. Colleagues wished to record their thanks and appreciation of Robin’s contribution to the running of BTCT. Robin’s expertise and knowledge will be missed. Colleagues wished him a good recovery for his health and good fortune for his future endeavours. The Chair was not sure about Ismail Surty’s position and now the mix up about him not receiving papers had been cleared up, the Chair was confident that he would continue on the Board. The Chair then introduced the membership applications to the organisation that he received:-
i) Junaid Ghanti: membership approved
ii) Sue Martin: membership approved
iii) Juliet Shepard: membership approved
iv) Sarah Cook: membership approved
v) Khadija Goga: membership approved
vi) Ahmed Almadani: membership approved
There was a discussion about the membership application from Mrs Farzana Choonara as she did not live in the area and did not indicate a link to Barton and Tredworth. It was agreed that her application be deferred until the Chair collected further information. It was agreed for the office to write to the applicants advising them of the approval of their request and inviting them to the A.G.M. Colleagues then discussed appointments to the management Committee. The Chair advised that the make up of the Board – constitutionally – should be no less than 13 members and no more than 24 of whom 2 members should be elected members representing Barton and Tredworth ward. At the A.G.M members have the right to elect 18 members to the Management Board. Currently the Board has 13 members in total including councillors. At the A.G.M. with Robin’s departure the Chair will be asking for nominations from the floor of the membership. It is procedure that these nominations properly seconded will be discussed and approved at the Board’s first meeting after the A.G.M (12th June 07). This was agreed by colleagues.
The Chair confirmed that resignation notices had been received from Robin, Brenda and Ismail. He had spoken to Brenda and she had reconsidered her decision to resign and has agreed to continue as a BTCT Board member. Robin had given his reasons in his email and his resignation after the A.G.M was accepted. Colleagues wished to record their thanks and appreciation of Robin’s contribution to the running of BTCT. Robin’s expertise and knowledge will be missed. Colleagues wished him a good recovery for his health and good fortune for his future endeavours. The Chair was not sure about Ismail Surty’s position and now the mix up about him not receiving papers had been cleared up, the Chair was confident that he would continue on the Board. The Chair then introduced the membership applications to the organisation that he received:-
i) Junaid Ghanti: membership approved
ii) Sue Martin: membership approved
iii) Juliet Shepard: membership approved
iv) Sarah Cook: membership approved
v) Khadija Goga: membership approved
vi) Ahmed Almadani: membership approved
There was a discussion about the membership application from Mrs Farzana Choonara as she did not live in the area and did not indicate a link to Barton and Tredworth. It was agreed that her application be deferred until the Chair collected further information. It was agreed for the office to write to the applicants advising them of the approval of their request and inviting them to the A.G.M. Colleagues then discussed appointments to the management Committee. The Chair advised that the make up of the Board – constitutionally – should be no less than 13 members and no more than 24 of whom 2 members should be elected members representing Barton and Tredworth ward. At the A.G.M members have the right to elect 18 members to the Management Board. Currently the Board has 13 members in total including councillors. At the A.G.M. with Robin’s departure the Chair will be asking for nominations from the floor of the membership. It is procedure that these nominations properly seconded will be discussed and approved at the Board’s first meeting after the A.G.M (12th June 07). This was agreed by colleagues.
There is a case for arguing that these 'nominations from the floor' were not co-options, and the text below, from November 13th 2007, suggests likewise:
5) Membership
The membership request from Joseph Blackwood to become an ordinary member of the Organisation was presented by the Chair and approved by Colleagues. The Chair read out the email received from Ismail Surty offering his resignation. Colleagues after discussion accepted the resignation of Ismail Surty. It was agreed that the Chair would write to him advising him of such and point out that the Organisation was no longer in receipt of Big Lottery Funding. The Chair then asked Colleagues to clarify the position of J. Kilker as a BTCT Board Member. The Chair reminded Colleagues that J. Kilker had been a member of the Organisation for several years and at the 2005/2006 AGM he was proposed and seconded by Rev. R. Simpson and Pat Scanell to join the Board of Trustees. Colleagues agreed that the matter had become confused and confirmed that from 13th November 2007 Joe Kilker would become a full Board member of the Barton and Tredworth Board of Trustees.
The membership request from Joseph Blackwood to become an ordinary member of the Organisation was presented by the Chair and approved by Colleagues. The Chair read out the email received from Ismail Surty offering his resignation. Colleagues after discussion accepted the resignation of Ismail Surty. It was agreed that the Chair would write to him advising him of such and point out that the Organisation was no longer in receipt of Big Lottery Funding. The Chair then asked Colleagues to clarify the position of J. Kilker as a BTCT Board Member. The Chair reminded Colleagues that J. Kilker had been a member of the Organisation for several years and at the 2005/2006 AGM he was proposed and seconded by Rev. R. Simpson and Pat Scanell to join the Board of Trustees. Colleagues agreed that the matter had become confused and confirmed that from 13th November 2007 Joe Kilker would become a full Board member of the Barton and Tredworth Board of Trustees.
(by this time, there was no mention of the 'sub-group led by Carol would look at the memorandum and Articles of Association and Constitution and recommend changes and amendments. (Action Carol/Chair)' (12th June, 2007) ). I guess there were no 'changes and amendments'.
It's all grist to the mill now, of course, but whether or not I wish ever to be a board member again, or if there is even a board to be a member of, I'd like to see the 'J Kilker' file (minutes, 11th August 2009 - '(Please see file J Kilker for details)'. After all these years, I have never been shown any evidence of the 'breach of confidentiality' I have been accused of, or that the phrase 'Zanu Labour' is in any way an offensive term, or linked with "the rest of the BTCT employees" (June 9th 2009 minutes). I would like to finally see this evidence.
By the way, some two months after the AGM, there is still no word of the 'emergency meeting'. I'd like the date of it to put in the partnership newsletter, along with a report on the AGM.
Cheers, Joe
