London Bicycle Messenger Association | Minutes LBMA Extraordinary Meeting 12th November 06

Minutes
Extraordinary LBMA meeting
Sunday 12th November, 1pm
Waterloo Action Centre
14 Baylis Road, SE1

Present: Jon, Gertie, Tofu, Scott, Jakob, Ben, Ross, Lewis, Jacqui, Von, Therese (quorum met).
Apologies: Selim, Tomas, Debra, Crissima

1. Welcome

2. Apologies

3. Update from the Treasurer

- Accounts have been prepared by the Local Accountancy Project. This has achieved two things: 1) to fulfil requirements of Companies House & Inland Revenue. 2) Second benefit is that we now have an accountant (produced a very sympathetic set of accounts). Cost for services is £150 (very good price for all the work that they have done). Their whole business is to support small local groups. Next set of accounts should be around £200 (-£150 is an introduction fee).
- We need to appoint a new treasurer to hand in accounts for 2005-2006 (in by the end of March –end date of accounts is January).
- Therese has set up a spreadsheet to track spending and income. Also invoice system for outgoings and income as backing up. So should be very easy to do accounts for 2005-2006.
- In order to sign accounts off, we do need to have 3 trustees in place. Proposed for someone to step forward as treasurer in order to sign off the accounts. Martin Kinsey (Gertie) will be the treasurer (unanimous decision).
- Fee for Local Accountancy Project has to be paid within 1 month plus papers have to be collected that have been used by the accountant.

4. Proposal to change objectives of the LBMA. The LBMA objectives are currently as below:

To ensure the successful realisation of the successful 2003 European Bicycle Messenger Championships.
To foster a spirit of cooperation and community amongst London cycle messengers.
To promote the use of pedal power for commercial purposes.
To provide and promote events, which create a social environment in which all types of cyclists can engage including bicycle messengers, commuter cyclists and racing cyclists.
To create links between the LBMA and other cycling organisations.
To promote safe and conscientious riding amongst bicycle messengers.
To ensure the future of the bicycle messenger industry by raising the industry’s profile, creating a better understanding between the businesses they serve and the communities with which they interact.

Proposed changes to the LBMA objectives:

Remove the realisation 2003 ECMC. Amend to: To attract the international courier community to London and to promote international courier events in London.
Incorporate reference to BMEF – To maintain a fund for the relief of incapacitated working couriers (As the LBMA and the London Courier Community has already been heavily active in supporting the BMEF it was suggested that this should be incorporated into the objectives of the LBMA).
Amendments to objective no 3: To ‘support’ the use of pedal power for commercial purposes. (leaves it more open and flexible).
Amend objective 4 to ‘to provide and promote ‘local’ events (as oppose to international events.
Amendment objective 6: change from promote to support and take out conscientious out. To support safe riding among bicycle couriers
Add an objective: To develop the LBMA website as a hub & forum for the organisation’s activities in order to facilitate the exchange of information & expression of views.

• Agreed unanimously.

5. Proposal on LBMA membership.

- Members are the ones that form the governing body. Members can’t be given benefit. It should be stated more forcefully that activities of the association should benefit couriers. New article is just to reinforce this fact.
- New article: Any person who works or has worked as a bicycle messenger for a London company shall be a beneficiary of the activities of members of the Association. Should be inserted on page 2 in no. 5 (anywhere in point 5).
- Proposal withdrawn for the time being because it is not clear have it will benefit the organisation.

6. AOB

Westminster Planning Meeting: LBMA (Scott & Jon) were invited to discuss planning cycling routing through Hyde Park to Knightsbridge. Discussion was about very small but quite significant details of the cycle route. Scott felt that they were able to add quite a few points: Authorities didn’t know about which cyclists use the park & lots of tourists. (Monday 13th November, a group of planners are riding the route and looking at the feasibility of making changes to the routes). Scott will be attending the consultation tomorrow.
Update on organisation of pre-event: Meetings every Monday at 96 Webber street at 7pm. Need input and help organising – get involved now!
Space on the web on myspace: Londonscalling07 & londonscalling2007@yahoo.co.uk (email address).

• Poster produced to be sent abroad

• Accommodation front: 4 hostels just off Hyde Park. Guy who runs hostels has asked for info to be able to give discount.