Summary Report
This report summarises the main points that were discussed during a meeting of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Council that took place on Tuesday 25th January 2011 at the Society’s offices in Bronaeron, Lampeter.
PIO Status
A letter received from the Welsh Assembly Government on behalf of DEFRA was received and circulated to trustees prior to the meeting. Considerable discussion took place during the Council meeting regarding the content of the letter (please click here to view). The communication noted DEFRA’s intention to move to a single equine passport identification organisation and this was of grave concern to the trustees, with the future potential impact discussed.
Council decided that the Society would be making representation to DEFRA and lobbying to retain the Society’s PIO status. Statistics from the National Equine Database show that the Society is the 3rd largest passport issuing organisation out of the 81 PIOs registered in the UK, surpassed only by Weatherby’s and the Horse Passport Agency Ltd.
The Society will also be looking to link with other native breed Societies and work collaboratively with these to desist the proposed changes and Council would like to encourage members to likewise make personal representations to the relevant bodies (Email: horse.passports@defra.gsi.gov.uk). The Finance Committee has further been tasked with considering the financial implications of the proposed changes and will be reporting back to Council on possible financial ramifications.
WPCS Young Ambassador Elect Interviews
Interviews were held on the 22nd January for the position of the Society’s Young Ambassador Elect for 2011/12. It was reported that the standard of applications this year was particularly high, with excellent candidates coming forward. The successful applicant will be announced at this year’s AGM which is going to be held in the Celtic Manor on Saturday 5th March 2011. Council wishes to encourage those that applied this year but were unsuccessful to re-apply next year.
Society Business Plan
With the change in the Society’s financial year to align with the business year, the Society’s business plan is likewise being amended to match. Changes to the sub-committee structures are also being undertaken as from March 5th 2011 and this has likewise required adjustments to the Plan.
Trustees were circulated with a revised draft business plan for 2011-2013, which will be finalised at the next Council meeting which is to be held on Friday 4th March 2011. The new business plan will thereafter be made available on the Society Web site.
Quarterly Accounts
This financial period’s first quarterly accounts for the Society (1st October 2010 to 31st December 2010) were presented to trustees by the Finance Committee and ratified by Council.
It should be noted that the change in financial year will result in a 15 month period being included in the Society accounts for 2010/11, covering the period 1st October 2010 to 31st December 2011. Thereafter, the financial year will match the calendar year and contain information relating to memberships and registrations over the same period, making the accounts more pertinent to core business activity.
2011 AGM
Arrangements for the Society’s 2011 AGM were discussed and it was decided that an Area Associations meeting would be convened on the morning of the 5th March, from 9.30am until 10.30am. Area Associations will be contacted to nominate up to 3 representatives to attend the meeting, with written questions requested prior to the meeting.
Following the Area Association meeting an open Forum meeting will be held from 10.30am until 11.30am.
It was confirmed that the AGM will commence at the earlier time of 1pm this year, at the request of the Society President. The meeting will finish by 4pm.
It was further reported that the President had arranged for a hot buffet meal and disco to be made available to those who wished to attend on the Friday evening prior to the AGM, for a cost of £15. This event will be held at the Manor House, Celtic Manor and tickets will be available from the office.
Gwent Association Forum
Trustees had received an invitation from the Gwent Association to attend a forum on the last Friday of February 2011, with the invitation accepted. Any Area Association that would like to invite trustees to attend similar events are encouraged to submit a request to the Society.
Showing and Judging
The Judging and Showing Standing Committee put forward judges for award of asterix and these were accepted, as were those listed for inclusion in the new Driving Panel.
The Society’s 2011 Judging and Showing Handbook will shortly be sent to print and will be made available to all panel judges (FOC) and exhibitors (£3.00 + p&p).
Society Journal
A report by the Journal Editor, Mr David Blair, was circulated and it was confirmed that the Journal had now been printed and was ready for distribution to members. The mailshot to members is scheduled to take place during the first week of February.
Anna L. Prytherch
Principal Officer
26th January 2011
