Climbing as an Olympic sport, the BMC's services for hill walkers, the development of a coaching award, the future of the Mountain Heritage Trust and the purchase of Harrison's Rocks - you name it - it was covered at the latest BMC National Council meeting.

The September meeting saw members making long haul to a sweltering hot Swanage for the quarterly gathering of the BMC's main policy making body.  The meeting was ably chaired by BMC President Rab Carrington and a summary report is shown below:

Members present: Rab Carrington (President), Audrey Seguy (Vice President), Anna Gregory (L&SE), Scott Titt (SW), Stuart Llewellyn (Cymru/Wales, South), Deirdre Collier (Yorkshire), Charles Gameson (Midlands), Dave Turnbull (CEO).

Observers present: Bill Renshaw (Access Committee), Ian Carr (Guidebook Committee), Andy Say (MLTE), Martin Doyle (Plas y Brenin), Iain McKenzie (Competitions Committee), Nick Bond (Climbing Walls Committee), Nick Colton (Deputy CEO).

Summary:

• Coaching in mountaineering. It was agreed that the BMC would support the development a coaching award and syllabus covering indoor climbing, sport climbing and bouldering. The award will be developed by Mountain Leader Training subject to final agreement by the Mountaineering Co-ordination Group (comprises the BMC, MCofS and MCI).

• AGM 2010 / proxy voting. National Council agreed to change the date of 2010 AGM to Saturday 17 April in order to fit in with the availability of the preferred venue - the Worms Head Hotel on the Gower. A number of improvements to the AGM proxy voting form were also agreed.

• Climbing as an Olympic sport. Following consultation amongst the BMC Areas, National Council agreed that the BMC would support the idea of climbing becoming an Olympic sport. This support will be based on competitions taking place on artificial structures only.

• The BMC’s work for hill walkers. Ways of developing the BMC’s work and services for hill walkers were discussed in light of recent survey information from Sport England suggesting a higher than expected proportion of BMC members (up to 40%) consider their primary activity to be hill walking. The BMC’s work for hill walkers is integrated into our work programmes sometimes goes unseen.

• Mountain Heritage Trust (MHT). National Council supported the evolving partnership between MHT and the University of Cumbria. MHT has already been allocated some office space at the Ambleside campus

• Area news. Five of the Area’s reported that they had now elected Area representatives for the Clubs Committee. London & South East are planning to investigate the feasibility of creating an outdoor climbing wall (aka the ‘Millenium Crag’) in the London Area).

• Membership & finance. BMC Membership is up by 3536 on this time last year and 66.52% of individual members are now on direct debit. Total membership is now 68716. The BMC is forecasting a year-end deficit of £23.6k.

• Staff & Office. It was noted that Elfyn Jones takes up the Access & Conservation (Wales) Officer position as of 21 September 2009.

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