Report on ECF Board Meeting No. 21

The 21st meeting of the ECF Board took place on 26th April, 2008 at the Euston Square Hotel, London NW1. This report is a digest and summation of the decisions taken. It is not an official ECF document.

Present:

Martin Regan (MR)
Robert Richmond (RR)
Claire Summerscale (CS)
Peter Sowray (PS)
David Welch (DW)
Mike Truran (MT)
Peter Wilson (PW)

Invitees:

Mike Adams (MA) – Chairman Finance Committee
John Philpott (JP) – Chairman of the Governance Committee
Cynthia Gurney (CG) Office Manager

1) Apologies were received from Gerry Walsh, John Wickham and (as invitees) John Philpott and Cynthia Gurney.

2) Matters arising:

RR outlined his meeting with PIF trustees and confirmed they were broadly supportive of the Board’s policy reference the CCL and would further, if asked, adopt an investment policy which would provide more income to the ECF on an annual basis.

3) Counties Championship

MR said he would accept the blame personally and apologise to Council for the lateness of the provisional draw and the mistakes made. It also resolved that the 2009 procedures would follow the guidance provided in the rules

4) Child protection – affiliated organisations.

CS wished to clarify the application of the ECF’s own NSPCC approved child policies to affiliated organisations. The Board felt that in the case of organisations that had been recommended by the ECF – ie Centres of Excellence – the ECF’s child policy should be adopted.

5) A.O.B

There was some discussion about the flexibility of the trustees of the John Robonsin Trust (JRT) in moving income into various areas outside junior chess. Some Board members felt that JRT should consider flexibility, particularly around the British Championships.

It was confirmed that John Philpott had been appointed Chairman of the Governance Committee.

It was decided that all International Arbiters (NOT FIDE ARBITERS) should be allowed to claim the ECF Arbiter title, subject to enhanced CRB and ECF Membership. This puts BCF Arbiters and IA's on the same footing.

Mary McDermott was awarded the ECF Arbiter title.

The Fees charged by the ECF for FIDE tournaments are to rise in line with the rise proposed by FIDE. As per ECF practice the rise in Euros will be mirrored by a rise in Sterling. New FIDE tournaments will be exempt from the charge for their first editions.