The Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom-79th Ordinary General Meeting (draft minutes)

The 79th Ordinary General Meeting of the Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom was held at 14.00 hours on Wednesday 17 October 2007 at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in Westminster, London.

The meeting was chaired by Maura Buchanan, President of the Royal College of Nursing. The President welcomed members to the meeting and introduced the platform party: Bobbie Chadwick, Deputy President, Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary, Eirlys Warrington, Chair of Council, Robert Sowney, Vice Chair of Council, Jane McCready, Honorary Treasurer, and Tim Golbourn, Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

The President then explained the arrangements for the meeting.

1. Minutes

1.1 The minutes of the 78th Ordinary General Meeting of the Royal College of Nursing held on 18 October 2006 were approved by the meeting.

2. Annual Report 2006/2007

2.1 Eirlys Warrington, Chair of Council presented the Annual Report for 2006/2007 under the five key themes of the strategic plan:

how we represent the best interests of nurses and the public
how we extend and use our influence
how we support and protect nurses
how we help our members with their professional and personal development; and
how we build a strong and sustainable organisation

2.2 The Chair of Council took one theme at a time highlighting the key achievements across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as on the European and international stage.

2.3 Eirlys began by giving examples of the many ways in which the RCN had represented the interests of nurses at all levels. She talked about the RCN's campaign for a fair deal for nurses and how the public campaign together with private negotiations, and the first ever national ballot of members had led to an improved deal from the government.

2.4 The Chair of Council then went on to give examples of how the RCN had been instrumental in shaping health and social care policy. Over the past year the RCN had responded to 120 policy consultations, been successful in shaping the Scotland, Wales and North Ireland Election manifestos and had led headline grabbing campaigns such as the "Wipe It Out" and "Keep nurses working, Keep patients safe" campaigns.

2.5 She highlighted the work the RCN did to support, protect and develop its members. She reported that RCN Direct had handled more than 2,000 enquiries from members over the past year. She also talked about the large number of members who took advantage of the unique Immigration Service and the Benevolent Fund and Consultancy Service the RCN provided.

2.6 In addition over 150 NHS Trusts took part in the RCN clinical leadership programme and 600,000 articles had been downloaded and 100,00 members referred to the British Nursing Index on the RCN on-line learning service.

2.7 In closing, the Chair of Council reported that the RCN had accredited nearly 900 workplace activists over the past year and thanked everyone of the RCN's hardworking Activists for helping the RCN support members wherever and whenever they needed it.

2.8 This was Peter Carter's first AGM as General Secretary. He started his address by paying tribute to Eirlys Warrington who was retiring as Chair of Council at the end of the AGM after nearly 45 years as an active member of the RCN.

2.9 Peter then talked about how much he had enjoyed getting out of his office and meeting as many members as possible in their workplaces. He said that he hoped he had shown himself to be straightforward and straight-talking.

2.10 The theme of the General Secretary's speech was about building the future. In doing so he acknowledged the huge strides the RCN had taken over the years as a College, as a profession and nurses but emphasised that if it was to continue to achieve its purpose of changing things for the better the College had to show the courage to change itself and to get its house in order.

2.11 Peter Carter explained that this was why since taking office he had focused significant time, effort and resource on internal change and he highlighted the work he had led to redesign the Staff Pension Scheme; to reform the RCN's pay and grading structure; to address the future of 20 Cavendish Square and update and modernise the services provided to members.

2.12 He also went on to emphasise that an effective RCN was an active and growing RCN that supported its members, drew on their skills and knowledge, sought out their views and input and utilised their influence and experience. It was also an RCN whose voice was heard by government and heard by employers and helped ensure that healthcare reforms actually worked and sustained the NHS.

2.13 In conclusion Peter emphasised that building a better future meant government and society respecting and valuing nurses and not leaving them over worked and underpaid. In this context he talked about the nurses pay deal. The General Secretary explained how by campaigning in public and lobbying in private the RCN persuaded the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to think again and pay the full un-staged award and made the government at Westminster do what they said they'd never do and put an improved offer on the table for nurses in England. He also explained why he supported the decision Council took to reluctantly accept the improved offer and emphasised the four lessons the RCN learned from the negotiations:

when nurses stand up and speak out the government is forced to listen and forced to move
by holding an historic ballot that forced ministers to improve their offer the RCN came of age as a trade union
we have to build on that progress in future pay negotiations; and
we are four countries but one RCN and all nurses deserve the same pay deal.

2.14 The President asked for questions from the floor.

The nurses pay deal and the Healthcare Commission on Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells PCT dominated the questions and answers session. Internal issues also raised included the future role of the Institute, the outcomes of the branch review and the use of e-communications.

Council was also asked to make sure that in future years there was greater recognition in the Annual Report of the work of the Forums.

3. Annual accounts for the year 2006/2007

3.1 Jane McCready, the Honorary Treasurer, formally presented the accounts for the year 2006/2007 by emphasising that:

the accounts showed a significant improvement in the RCN's financial standing; and
the RCN was back in surplus and a plan was in place to address the pension deficit

3.2 The Honorary Treasurer talked about the broader context within which the RCN had to operate and then focussed on some of the detailed facts and figures. She explained why the review of the RCN Pension Scheme had had such a significant affect on the results for the year and emphasised the priority Council was placing on controlling costs. Jane went on to report that the Council had approved a 2.5% increase in the annual subscriptions rate from January 2008 and she announced that Council would be undertaking a review of the RCN's Property Strategy.

3.3 Tim Golbourn, Director of Finance and Corporate Services then gave a presentation to members on the Financial Strategy.

3.4 The President asked for questions from the floor.

Questions were asked as follows:

James Smith asked about the return on fundraising and sponsorship for the Institute over the period 2006/2007. The General Secretary agreed to provide Mr Smith with a detailed response.

On a question from Susan Marcel concerning the increase in the cost of the Executive team, the General Secretary agreed to write to Susan with a detailed explanation.

June Clarke asked for details about income and expenditure on the professional and trade union arms of the organisation and the Director of Finance and Corporate Services undertook to provide her with this information. There was also a request for recruitment figures for the past five years

4. Reappointment of auditors

4.1 The following resolution was proposed by the Honorary Treasurer on behalf of Council and seconded by the Chair of Council.

"That PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be re-appointed professional auditors for the year 2007/08"

4.2 The vote was passed by a show of hands.

5. Professional matters

5.1 The Chair of the Public Policy Committee, Kath McCourt, the Chair of the Membership Diversity and Representation Committee, Mike Travis and the Chair of the Nursing Development Committee, Diane Rawstorne joined the President and the General Secretary on the top table.

5.2 The President invited members to raise any matters of a professional nature which were of importance to the interests of members.

5.3 The meeting discussed a number of matters of a professional nature including health and social care reform, modernising nursing careers, Agenda for Change and KSF work streams, care provided to military personnel and the criteria for RCN Honorary Fellowships.