Red Bill
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2011
- Messages
- 2,882
Last year's AGM and TB elections generated more enthusiasm than I can remember since I became a member and sparked off some very healthy debate. Much of that was caused by the 4 candidates who stood together on the 'accountability' ticket of which I was one. We had relative success with two of us getting elected and Terry and I garnering enough support to run close, which to me demonstrated that a large proportion of the membership that voted genuinely does want to see all club employees held accountable to the Trust. However, even if we had all been successful and joined the (at least) two sitting trustees to make up 50% of the TB, none of us would necessarily have been in the only positions where the memberships desire for ongoing accountability can be monitored and assured, i.e. the Trust appointed club directors.
I have the greatest respect for anyone who serves on the TB, regardless of whether I agree with them or not, its a thankless task that involves a large amount of unpaid time and effort for very little reward, usually quite the opposite it seems, so anyone undertaking these roles has as far as I'm concerned demonstrated that they are all dedicated City fans who want only the best for our club. However there are very different opinions about what role the Trust should play in the running/steering of the club, and the present incumbents are all probably at the other end of the spectrum from my personal opinion. From the number of people who voted for the four of us last time this seems at odds with the wishes of the membership.
I have been told that club directors are legally duty bound to act individually according to their conscience and are banned from representing anyone else or any other body or organisation (company law experts feel free to correct me). With this in mind I therefore feel it is important that the views of individual TB appointed club directors are proportionate to the views of the membership as demonstrated by the TB election results in respect of candidates manifestos. I am therefore intending to put forward an AGM motion calling for Trust appointments to the club board to be selected by a ballot (election by) of the entire membership.
I would foresee this as a simple election process where interested candidates put themselves forward. The process starting maybe one month after the TB elections to allow newly elected TB members to put themselves forward, with elections taking place a further month later and successful candidate taking their places by 1st January for example. This would obviously mean a term of office would have to move forward a few months and outgoing TB members who have been sitting on the CB remaining in place after the TB elections.
I would really welcome people' thoughts on this, but particularly things like;
a) do you think its a good idea?
b) Should candidates bee restricted to TB members or should any member be able to put themselves forward?
c) should TB members be banned form standing?
d) what term should they serve, one year or would the lack of continuity be detrimental to the operation of the CB?
e) are there any legal issues (fit and proper person test issues for example)?
I'm at the very early stages with this one so all comments are welcome agree or disagree. Unless I hear a very persuasive argument as to why this could be a bad idea, I will be putting this to the AGM, so if you do agree with the essence of this I'd be very grateful of some help drafting the motion as I think it will need to be very carefully worded.
I have the greatest respect for anyone who serves on the TB, regardless of whether I agree with them or not, its a thankless task that involves a large amount of unpaid time and effort for very little reward, usually quite the opposite it seems, so anyone undertaking these roles has as far as I'm concerned demonstrated that they are all dedicated City fans who want only the best for our club. However there are very different opinions about what role the Trust should play in the running/steering of the club, and the present incumbents are all probably at the other end of the spectrum from my personal opinion. From the number of people who voted for the four of us last time this seems at odds with the wishes of the membership.
I have been told that club directors are legally duty bound to act individually according to their conscience and are banned from representing anyone else or any other body or organisation (company law experts feel free to correct me). With this in mind I therefore feel it is important that the views of individual TB appointed club directors are proportionate to the views of the membership as demonstrated by the TB election results in respect of candidates manifestos. I am therefore intending to put forward an AGM motion calling for Trust appointments to the club board to be selected by a ballot (election by) of the entire membership.
I would foresee this as a simple election process where interested candidates put themselves forward. The process starting maybe one month after the TB elections to allow newly elected TB members to put themselves forward, with elections taking place a further month later and successful candidate taking their places by 1st January for example. This would obviously mean a term of office would have to move forward a few months and outgoing TB members who have been sitting on the CB remaining in place after the TB elections.
I would really welcome people' thoughts on this, but particularly things like;
a) do you think its a good idea?
b) Should candidates bee restricted to TB members or should any member be able to put themselves forward?
c) should TB members be banned form standing?
d) what term should they serve, one year or would the lack of continuity be detrimental to the operation of the CB?
e) are there any legal issues (fit and proper person test issues for example)?
I'm at the very early stages with this one so all comments are welcome agree or disagree. Unless I hear a very persuasive argument as to why this could be a bad idea, I will be putting this to the AGM, so if you do agree with the essence of this I'd be very grateful of some help drafting the motion as I think it will need to be very carefully worded.