BMC Constitution and Open Forum: the way ahead

Posted by Jon Chittenden on 08/05/2018

What constitutional changes are being recommended at the BMC AGM 2018? A debate was held in Manchester on 15 May. You can re-watch the livestream here.

BMC AGM 2018 – Constitutional options for the future of the BMC

The AGM on 16 June 2018 will be the most important for the last 25 years, as members are being asked to vote on some significant changes to the BMC’s constitution (our Articles of Association) – the legal document which sets out what the BMC does and how it operates. Following a wide-ranging Organisational Review process in 2017, the BMC National Council agreed on 28 April to recommend a new constitution which complies with modern day governance standards, clarifies our decision making structures and ensures continued recognition as the umbrella body for climbing and mountaineering and our eligibility for Sports Council grant funding. An alternative proposal has also been received by a group of BMC members based on a lower level governance standard. The key points of the two approaches are summarised below:

Option A

Key points:

Would put in place a high level of governance in the BMC which better defines roles of National Council and the Board of Directors, ensuring clear lines of accountability and decision making, and much improved organisational transparency.
Would ensure continued government recognition of the BMC’s status as the umbrella body for mountaineering, and continued eligibility for Sports Council funding for the BMC and its partners.
Requires members to accept the need for modernisation and change and for the Board of Directors to have greater operational responsibility than is currently the case.

DOWNLOAD: The full PDF version here

Option B

Key points:

Simple and makes minimal changes to the current constitution, so the BMC would continue to operate much as it does today.
Members would have a similar degree of control over the BMC (via National Council) as they do today.
Would require less organisational change but would create uncertainties over the availability of Sport England grant funding for the BMC and partner organisations.

DOWNLOAD: The full PDF version here

Comparison of recommendations

A more detailed comparison of each set of Articles with the current Memorandum and Articles of Association is also available.

DOWNLOAD: The more detailed comparison

Members' Open Forum: 7.00pm, Tuesday 15 May 2018

BMC members were invited to an Open Forum event in Manchester on 15 May to debate the proposed constitutional changes to go to the AGM on 16 June. The Forum was chaired by BMC Patron Lord Greaves and attended by senior representatives from the BMC, clubs and the wider membership.

Watch the Open Forum livestream

Your AGM: Thanks for your vote!

This year's historic AGM had a record voting turnout, with 6,796 of those votes being made online. We want to thank everyone for having their say and helping to shape the future of the BMC.

READ THE FULL REPORT: The BMC's historic 2018 AGM

Detailed info on the BMC AGM 2018

Find out more about the last AGM. It's a complicated topic, so start with this one:

READ: It's your BMC, and we need your vote

We were asking our members to vote on some significant changes to the BMC's constitution. Part of the discussion was the relationship between the BMC and Sport England.

READ: What are Sport England Tier 3 and Tier 1 relationships?

There were two constitutions to vote for: Proposal A (as recommended by National Council) and Proposal B, proposed by a group of members. To learn more about the two proposals, you can read a detailed comparison written by BMC honorary solictor Martin Wragg.

READ: A comparison of alternative constitutions

How did the recommendations get decided? Read more about the process that lead to this stage, including the reports from the Organisational Review and more.