Cat Planet

Delegates attend February 2010 Meeting

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Meeting of Council

Held on Wednesday 17th February 2010

at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London at 1.00 PM

Sean Farrell looking fabulous in an open necked purple shirt and Helen Marriott Power (Executive) dressed to impress in a suit were on the microphones, enabling the hall to hear delegates when they spoke.

The meeting started late at 1.15, called to order by John Hansson, GCCF Chairman.

A minutes silence was called for by John Hansson following the loss of four Judges, Elizabeth Biggie, Rosemary Gowdy, Phyllis Lambert and Bob Worth.

New Delegates were asked to stand and introduce themselves.

1. No Apologies

2. Minutes of Meeting 28th October 2009

John Robinson, West Country Cat Club questioned item C1675, John stated that council had not agreed for Executive to allow the GCCF Solicitor Sarah Coate to examine any documents relating to the incorporation.

John Hansson agreed to have the minute amended.

John Hansson interrupted the minute alterations to introduce Gill Wilson who was sat on the top table next to GCCF Vice Chairman Keith Scruton, John explained that Gill was in attendance to answer questions regarding incorporation.

John Robinson questioned C1676 and that the minute had missed that GCCF Treasurer Tom Hollway had stated whilst representing the GCCF Executive that the GCCF were no longer at risk of insolvency.

John Hansson argued that Tom Hollway had not said that which was met with much collective disagreement from the delegates.

John Robinson reiterated his recollection of the meeting and John Hansson reluctantly agreed to have the minute altered.

The minutes were proposed, seconded and passed.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of Council Meeting 28th October 2009.

Barry Newcombe, Essex Cat Club asked if item C1673 (d) could be made clearer and if it was possible to have someone attend the World Cat Congress.

Betty Shingleton, Jersey Cat Club stood and addressed the meeting by saying that she was attending the World Cat Congress as a judge and would also be representing the GCCF.

John Hansson said that anyone can go to the World Cat Congress, however there are closed meetings and seminars that only the representatives of the invited registering bodies could attend.

Dorothy Tomlinson, Manchester Cat Club asked if Betty Shingleton would be officially representing the GCCF at the WCC.

John Hansson responded that Betty Shingleton would be representing the GCCF at the World Cat Congress.

John Hansson moved the agenda onto item C1675, Incorporation.

Dorothy Tomlinson, Manchester Cat Club spoke to the meeting and said that she had spoken to Gill Wilson in the canteen before the meeting and Gill had explained to her why Incorporation was important to the GCCF and suggested that it would be useful if Gill could do the same to the delegates.

Gill Wilson spoke to the room by saying she was asked how incorporation would effect the GCCF as an organisation and that what had been put on the GCCF website was a model set of incorporation articles with a modification to fit in with the GCCF constitution, Gill pointed out that the ‘hobby’ would not be effected at all, that the incorporation would only effect the running of the business and that the Directors (Executive) would have greater power and control, the reason to incorporate was not just to limit liability. Gill pointed out that she felt the GCCF finances were still poor.

John Robinson, West Country Cat Club said that he was interested in Gill saying incorporation would open new doors and that the documents on the GCCF website do not say how incorporation will improve the GCCF’s situation and wanted to know how taking this course of action would suddenly improve the situation when the same management would be in control.

Gill Wilson responded that incorporation gives whoever is running the business the ability to make decisions in a commercial year, she went on to say that you cannot make business decisions by only meeting three times a year.

John Robinson said that he would be happier if Executive could give him a list of decisions that would have caused financial damage over the last 5 years.

Gill Wilson said that she had come on to committees 2 years ago and the first accounts she saw had immediately alarmed her, Gill asked how many people had realised 3 years ago that the GCCF would be in trouble today.

Tania Murray, Maine Coon Cat Club said that commercially in any business there need to be meters in place to run a business and if the incorporation were to go ahead what meters had been put in place to keep the staff (executive) in check.

John Robinson, West Country Cat Club said it was important to get back to the point and that Tania Murray had touched on the point that some clubs had put forward that the GCCF needs business plans and a mission statement, John wanted to know why this had never been picked up and acted on, John said that the auditor was placed in front of the delegates as a ‘bogeyman’ with tales and stories of Insolvency as the only reason for incorporation.

John said that there were more Red Herrings than on a Russian trawler fleet, John went on to say that good management does not require incorporation, that it is what it is and what is required is a business plan.

John Hansson responded that the April meeting was not for discussion but to make a final decision regarding the incorporation.

Carol Pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club asked Gill if the Director’s re-numeration was able to be decided by the Director’s themselves as stated in the paperwork on the GCCF website.

Gill Wilson responded that the Companies Act is a standard document and that it was not able to be altered and that it did indeed indicate that the Directors could decide on their own remuneration package, whether it be a salary or an honorarium, however the Directors in this instance would not receive remuneration at this stage but if the GCCF’s situation financially was to improve then council may want to revisit this.

Carol Pike reiterated that the documents said that the Directors were able to remunerate themselves.

Gill Wilson confirmed that this could not be changed.

Steve Crow, Burmese Cat Club (Executive) addressed the meeting and said that he agreed with Tania Murray and others about what had been said regarding the business plan and he had also said the same over the years and had therefore volunteered to write one which he had done with the input of other Executive Committee Members and had published it on the GCCF website a week ago so not many people had probably seen it. Steve said that Incorporation would not solve all of the GCCF’s problems but that it was part of the journey to build a deeper, more broad and varied business for the future.

Steve went on to say that any commercial business would be run by a chief executive but that the GCCF is a hobby club and need to change that and that the GCCF is unable to pay a Chief Executive or a Company Secretary and need people on board on a voluntary basis to begin with in line with what we can afford, Steve said that what Tom Hollway had said at the last meeting was not accurate or relevant and that Gill Wilson had said she was concerned at the figures and that he was also concerned. Steve implored the delegates not to focus on the Incorporation, that the changes were a package that will take a long time to complete.

Stephen Parkin, Abyssinian Cat Association said that first of all he would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work, he went on to say that people don’t like change and that if anyone in the room was able to receive emails there was no excuse for not knowing about the business plan on the GCCF website as email alerts were sent out to indicate new content and not having them left themselves only to blame and that all delegates had a responsibility to their clubs to keep themselves informed and if they didn’t they had no right to be a delegate. Stephen went on to say that the council elected the Directors (Executive) and that if it isn’t what council want, they only have themselves to blame.

Nicky Goulter, Long Hair and Semi Long Hair Cat Club thanked Steve for the Business plan and said that it was superb and looked at how to take the GCCF into the future and that the only way to achieve that was to become a limited company for a secure future to put the GCCF back as the Supreme Registering body in the world and asked the delegates to support the motion.

Mick Coomer, Shropshire Cat Club wanted to know the legal status and the pros and cons of incorporation, Mick said that he understood at the last meeting that the GCCF would not change in anyway by making this decision.

Gill Wilson responded that incorporation would enable the Directors (Executive) to make day to day decisions without consulting council. Mick Coomer said that bad decisions in the past would have been made by executive like the Official Journal situation where the Executive took the contract away from Our Cats and gave it to someone else, Mick said this would have been pushed through had it not been for Council.

John Hansson responded that fundamentally the matter had to come to Council anyway. Mick said that one person says council will be in control, another says it will be the Directors (Executive)

Gill Wilson responded that the Directors in a limited company WILL have more power as they are taking on more responsibilities and that there are penalties in place so that the Companies Act will give them more power, an AGM will enable the members to have a say but they will not be involved in a day to day basis.

Mick Coomer said Gill stated all decisions will be made by the Directors (Executive) but two seats down John Hansson said not.

John Hansson said that as Gill had pointed out a business cannot run by meeting three times a year and that executive cannot make any decisions that they were elected to make as they have to come back to council, John said that the executive were a body who aren’t allowed to act as an executive and as a result the business (GCCF) was suffering and that the GCCF HAD to compete with other registering bodies nipping at their heels.

Carol Pike from the Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club spoke to the room and said that she hadn’t been aware that the incorporation was to be discussed at this meeting and that she had understood it would be discussed at the extra April meeting, Carol went on to say that her niggles were that the Directors (Executive) would be allowed anyone they chose to come to a meeting or indeed decide who was allowed to speak at all.

John Hansson asked when he ever stopped anyone from speaking.

Gill Wilson said that again the Companies Act documentation could not be changed. Carol Pike said that delegates had to understand by becoming incorporated they were giving away too much.

 John Robinson, West Country cat Club said that he was the first to pat Steve Crow on the back for the business plan and for his genetics work and it was nice to see things improving, John went on to ask if the business plan was negated if incorporation was not voted for and asked if it could still be used if the incorporation was not to go ahead.

Steve Crow, Burmese Cat Club (Executive) said that he was not a legal expert but had been a Chief Executive of a business and that although he could not give a yes or no answer, it would be possible to use in the GCCF’s current format but that the business still could not be run by meeting three times a year, Steve said that his belief and his experience told him that it just wouldn’t work and that the GCCF have to enable a body that makes their week to week and day to day decisions and that the GCCF cannot afford a Chief Executive so we needed to use the Executive. Steve said that his question to the delegates was if the GCCF had a decision to be made then how was it different being incorporated or not incorporated and that the GCCF had to change it to give them more extras and to enable to move the business forward, that incorporation was a major first step forward which would make the GCCF a competitive business.

Frances Peace of the Bengal Cat Club addressed the room firstly by saying she had recently resigned from Executive committee and had been included in the process of incorporation from the first suggestion by the auditor who she has great respect for. Frances said that when Executive arrived at September Executive meeting the matter of incorporation was already well underway and that at the October Council meeting it was left in the air.

Frances said that she had read the business plan documents and that she was pleased that the office was mentioned on Page 16, she went on to say that she felt the office had gone downhill after losing the post of secretary when she retired and that now the office had no one in place with any genetic knowledge and that if ‘the computer says no’ there was no one in place to deal with it. Frances said that she would like to see consideration given to a secretary being employed to help in the office. Frances said that the GCCF was not a commercial entity that the GCCF are different, that the constitution had served the GCCF up until now and that with some judicial input the GCCF could lift the performance of the office and that day to day input was required from the GCCF.

Keith Scruton, Vice Chairman said that he didn’t disagree with the suggestion but that they had to look at things in a pragmatic way, the figures showed that the GCCF was currently spending 60% of their income on salaries and that staffing needs to be reduced to bring the costs under control, Keith said that decision making was currently a lengthy process. Keith said he recalled when the office was run from somebody’s front room which caused all sorts of problems, that the GCCF had to move on, the GCCF had a shrinking income base and that they cant go on as they are, he said cash flow showed we made a loss of over £50k and that the GCCF needed to do much more. Keith said that before the Council meeting there had been a finance meeting but that they were unable to make any decisions because everything had to go first to Executive and then on to Council for agreement, Keith said the GCCF need to make decisions immediately if they are necessary and therefore incorporation was the way forward, he went on to say he would like to see a smaller Executive after the incorporation and that a larger one had been good for differing opinions and decisions and for the majority vote but the GCCF needed to move forward.

John Hansson said that he appreciated what Frances Peace had said about the office not having anyone available with genetic knowledge and that if the ‘Computer Says No’ the office are unable to deal with it.

Barry Newcombe, Essex Cat Club said he would like to congratulate Frances Peace on what she had said, Barry went on to say that he said time and again that disciplinary should be dealt with as it costs so much to run.

John Hansson said that the costs would stay the same even if you abolished disciplinary as the costs attributed to it were merely spread across from various staffing.

Barry Newcombe said that if there was less work, it must reduce costs.

John Hansson asked Barry if he wanted to abolish disciplinary.

Barry Newcombe asked if it could be put on ice during the hard financial times.

John Hansson said you either have it or you don’t, rules are adhered to or not that a halfway house was not acceptable and that there would be consequences to such an action and that the GCCF needed to be wary with welfare issues being so current.

Barry Newcombe said that he appreciated what John had said but that he felt it should be abolished.

Caroline Roberts, Blue Persian Cat Society asked if the incorporation didn’t take place and the GCCF were to become insolvent if the clubs would be liable to creditors.

Gill Wilson responded that it would depend on the creditors and if they were owed more than the GCCF’s assets and that they could find the affiliated clubs liable for debts and that it could be a free for all.

John Hansson said that it would be a test case and that there was no precedence for this, John said that many clubs had ‘nice lump suns of money tucked away’.

John Hansson and Helen Marriott Power discussed the order of delegates being allowed to speak.

Carole Jones, Abyssinian Cat Club said that she was still sitting on the fence, she reflected on Keith Scruton’s observation that decision making was currently slow and cumbersome but asked why finances were only given to delegates that afternoon before the meeting and that council had no input or effect on the slowness of that. Carol asked if Executive was too large, if the right people were in place to run a company, she said that companies look for the skills they want and need to run their company and recruit accordingly, all the GCCF do is stick their hands up in a council meeting and the same people time and time again were elected, what the GCCF needed was someone in Pr, someone in finance, skilled persons.

Carol went on to address Stephen Parkin, Abyssinian Cat Association to say she resented him telling her if she should or should not be there.

John Hansson stepped in and said that without getting in to a bar fight who had the microphone next.

Carol Jones quipped as she held the microphone that possession was 9/10ths of the law!

Gill Wilson confirmed that it was a test case and said it was not easy to pursue a non incorporated body.

Stephen Parkin, Abyssinian Cat Association said that responsibility to receive updates from the GCCF remained with delegates and that they had a responsibility to stay informed, he went on to say that he had been in the cat fancy only a few years less than Carol Jones.

John Hansson stepped in and said ‘Come on’.

Stephen Parkin said that the debacle over our cats was a debacle and that this was compounded that the decision to move the Official Journal from our cats to another company probably would have resulted in a lot less cost and that the GCCF would probably still have a paper had it been allowed to go ahead, although it didn’t mean he necessarily agreed with the decision.

Mick Coomer, Shropshire Cat Club asked about the office computer system and software and the ability to take PayPal payments on line.

John Hansson replied that the GCCF don’t need PayPal as they have the ability to take payment by credit and debit cards.

Mick Coomer said he had wished John had stopped him sooner which was met by laughter from the room.

A delegate asked who the subscribers were on the memorandum of association.

John Hansson said that it may not be relevant.

The delegate asked again who the subscribers were.

John Hansson replied that the clubs were the subscribers.

The delegate asked if the clubs needed to do anything if the GCCF were to be incorporated and if the clubs or the delegates were the subscribers.

Keith Scruton replied that it was the clubs.

The delegate said that the members were the subscribers.

Gill Wilson said that to clarify under the Companies Act the member of the company could vote and that the clubs had representatives to vote at general meetings.

Anne Gregory, Southern & South Western Birman Cat Club (Executive) addressed the room, but did not wait for a microphone before she spoke.

Dot Woodhouse from the Balinese and Siamese Cat Club said that she had some questions and that they were from members, some being a bit naff but as everyone knew she always said it as she saw it. Dot asked if the shareholders would be be the clubs.

Gill Wilson said there would be no shareholders.

Dot Woodhouse asked who the Directors would be.

Gill Wilson said it was the Executive.

Dot Woodhouse asked who decided that.

John Hansson said it was on the same principal as the current organisation.

Dot Woodhouse asked for confirmation that there would be no shareholders but clubs would be members.

Gill Wilson said this was correct.

Dot Woodhouse asked who would be employed.

John Hansson said office staff would be employed.

Dot Woodhouse said there was some concern over the 3 year term of office.

Keith Scruton said there was no longer to be a 3 year term of office and that it had been removed.

John Hansson confirmed what Keith Scruton had said and indicated it was in the newer papers.

Dot Woodhouse said that the person who had asked the question had obviously only seen the earlier papers and said that with no disrespect the GCCF was considered to be made up of housewives who knew nothing and that it wasn't her opinion but one of a member of her club.

Dot Woodhouse asked if the Directors would be salaried or would receive an honorarium.

John Hansson replied that the GCCF had no money to pay either. Keith Scruton said that the treasurer may receive an honorarium.

John Hansson tried to move Dot Woodhouse along but she asked him to let her finish and asked if there was any future intention to pay a salary.

Gill Wilson stepped in and said that and Directors of any company must have any salary/honorarium agreed by members at an AGM.

Sally Rainbow Ockwell, Long Hair Cream & Blue Cream Cat Association thanked Steve Crow for the business plan and congratulated him on it, Sally went on to say she was listening with interest and was still sat on the fence but felt that the key issue was not about the incorporation but about the decision making process and that the hobby and the business being separated would make it all clearer. Sally asked if on April 7th if the delegates would be presented with a business plan and budget and asked if delegates would be asked to agree it on that day.

John Hansson said April 7th was the final discussion.

Sally rainbow Ockwell said that April 7th was to say yes or no to incorporation but when were delegates expected to agree a business plan.

John Hansson said delegates could say yes or no to a business plan when they wanted but asked what purpose the business plan was if they didn’t agree to incorporation.

Sally Rainbow Ockwell pushed for a date.

Steve Crow, Burmese Cat Club (Executive) said that the GCCF should have a 3 year rolling strategic plan which should be signed off at the February council meeting each year and that if the plan was not signed off by April this year then it should be binned until next year. Steve said that if the GCCF did not incorporate they needed to discuss management and the way forward, he said it all has to go together and that it was about structure and that things had to be taken as a package and that if the GCCF didn’t take a leap of faith it would be too late. Steve said his concern as a member of Executive if the GCCF is not incorporated at some point is that the people elected to a post have to think about their own liability, Steve said that accounts can look great in February and by June could be terrible, Steve agreed with what John Hansson had said about it being a test case and that Executive could lose personal finance and property.

Sally Rainbow Ockwell, Long Hair Cream & Blue Cream Cat Association said that they should say they are making a plan and will make a decision on April 7th and went on to ask if the April meeting would become the AGM and if elections would take place then or in June as in the past.

John Hansson confirmed elections would take place in June.

Suzie Hall from the Northern Siamese Cat Society said she was asked by a member to ask if a club was not prepared to sign the memorandum of association if they would become unaffiliated.

John Hansson said that was correct. John Hansson asked the room to round up the discussion regarding incorporation.

C Patey from the Kentish Cat Society said that the Kennel Club was a similar entity and asked if it was incorporated.

John Hansson said it was not as far as he was aware.

Gill Wilson said that the Kennel Club was an incorporated entity, that it has a management company which all admin costs, salary etc went through and the registered charity held the assets, Gill explained that the Kennel Club had spread its risk amongst incorporated companies; she also explained the Kennel Club was worth millions.

C Patey said that the business plan said nothing regarding the office manager that Frances Peace had spoken of.

John Hansson said the business plan had not yet been agreed.

Tania Murray, Maine Coon Cat Club offered her Pr & Marketing service to Steve Crow and was met with a round of applause and a ‘Well Done’ from John Hansson.

The meeting adjourned for a tea break.

4. Minutes of Meetings

a) Executive Committee 09/09/09

Carol Pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club asked that EC2454, last paragraph should read 4 weeks or 6 weeks regarding action against non compliant judges and their report submissions.

John Hansson explained the judges were to be given 28 days but would not have action taken until after 6 weeks.

Carol Pike asked that it be minuted which was met with laughter across the room.

b) Executive Committee 25/11/09

Sue Kirk, Essex Cat Club said that she wanted to make the room aware that Essex Cat Club and East Sussex Cat Club had been able to reach an agreement regarding the show date of April 11th and neither club had a problem with running on the same day.

John Hansson asked Sue Kirk to put a note into Executive to that effect.

Frances Peace, Bengal Cat Club asked if the Executive were practicing their new powers by agreeing the application for separate Grand Classes for Exotic Shorthairs as mentioned in EC2478.

John Hansson said it was a typographical error and missed the humour in Frances’ question although it was appreciated by many in the room.

c) Finance Committee 08/04/09

No corrections

5. Finance Treasurer’s Report

John Hansson addressed the room by explaining Stephen Bunce’s position as treasurer and said that council gave permission to Executive to appoint a treasurer and that was Stephen.

John Hansson then thanked Gill Wilson for coming along and answering council’s questions.

Stephen Bunce then told the room that he had taken the position up on 4th February 2010 and apologised for the lateness of the figures being given to council and that it was result of Tom Hollway retiring and the handover and that he had only seen the figures himself that morning but would do his best to talk council through them.

Steve started with the Supreme Cat Show account and said that some of the entries needed to see an increase, receipts from stands were down but he expected that to see an increase and that there had been a big saving on the cost of the hall and understood that more money from sponsorship was to come. This information was met with a round of applause.

Carol Jones, Abyssinian Cat Club, said that she did not have a question, but asked that everyone put their hands together for the team that had turned a deficit into a positive position.

Carol Pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club pointed out that the recharge to the office in these accounts was much less than in previous years which meant that in fact the show had made a similar loss to previous years.

John Hansson pointed out that in previous years the Supreme had been overcharged.

Carol Pike asked how much was saved by dropping a hall.

John Hansson replied that the saving had been £34k

6. Genetics Committee Update

Steve Crow addressed the room and said that the breeding policy had achieved a final sign off and was now available for purchase, being a profit making product having been sponsored. Steve said that he and Jen Lacey had both been in touch with Dr Leslie Lyons from UC Davis about genetic testing. The genetics committee have been looking at what they need to do to give guidance to new breeds seeking recognition. Steve praised the Ragamuffin breed for arranging a recent seminar that was successful. Any information in the breed policy that is wrong or misleading will be changed on the web based copy immediately and Steve envisages there will be a reprint in around 3 months.

Steve Crow said the breed policy had received good feedback from research vets and that it showed we are doing right by our cats. Steve sat to a round of applause.

Nicky Goulter, Long Hair & Semi Longhair Cat Club, said that the breed policy was fab and said well done to Steve and asked about co efficiency.

Steve Crow said that it did need to be more sophisticated and that they were working to improve it.

Karen Guidera, Turkish Van Cat Club asked if there was a template on breed policies for clubs to work to.

Steve Crow said that there was and all BAC secretaries would have a copy in the next few days with the Asian breed policy attached.

7. Rules

Naomi Johnson of Lincolnshire Cat Club stood and put forward the club’s proposal asking delegates to support the new rule that would prohibit titled cats entering classes below their achievement.

Irene Roos, Maine Coon Cat Club asked if the changes would affect the Non Pedigree section.

John Hansson responded by saying that ‘like it or not’ the Non Pedigree section was now in line with the pedigree section and so should have the same rules.

Carol Pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club said that Imperials don’t always like the Imp or Gr judges and vice versa.

John Hansson said that some exhibitors find it unfair that Imperial can open 3 open classes.

A delegate asked delegates to remember that all cats are eligible for the BOB, so all have a crack at the cherry.

Dorothy Tomlinson, Manchester Cat Club said that if you don’t like the judges, then not to enter the show, that the cat fancy needed younger exhibitors.

John Hansson said it was just a suggestion.

A delegate said he objected because cat shows are competitive and their objective is to improve our breeds by competition and that if younger is better, then it WILL win and felt that it was a detrimental move.

Tania Murray, Maine Coon Cat Club said that a good cat is a good cat, there are plenty of shows and sometimes they see a kitten get Overall Best in Show and that if judges are judging to the Standard of Points then we have to trust the best cats win.

Margaret Hardy of Notts & Derbys Cat Club said that many exhibitors stopped showing because of this happening and asked delegates to remember that they were there representing their members and it was them that wanted this proposal passed.

Anne Gregory, South & South Western Birman Cat Club (Executive) said that what this proposal does is make it a level playing field and will be fair making cats only able to enter one open.

Suzanne Griss, Teesside Cat Club said that at every meeting she had been to all members voting on this matter had voted unanimously for it to go through, that the exhibitors wanted it and so it should be passed.

The vote was taken and the results after 2 counts were confirmed as:

In Favour – 74

Against – 42

John Hansson said that in order to be passed there must be a 2/3 majority, therefore the motion was not passed.

Anne Gregory said that in the constitution it stated that only a constitutional change needed a 2/3 majority and that this was a rule change.

John Hansson said that Anne was correct and therefore the motion was passed.

Frances Peace, Bengal Cat Club said that in fact the constitution said that a 2/3 majority was required to make a change to both constitutional changes as well as rule changes.

John Hansson confirmed the proposal was not carried.

Dorothy Tomlinson, Manchester Cat Club asked why it wasn’t passed and that she was confused.

John Hansson said that Lincolnshire Cat Club could not bring back the proposal for another year but it would not stop another club bringing it forward.

Anne Gregory said that what was proposed was a change of rule on Section 2, rule 7f, it was only changing a rule and not the constitution.

Keith Scruton said it was a constitution and rule that required a 2/3 majority.

John Hansson said “It does Anne”.

Frances Peace said that there are no alternatives, it was a misunderstanding some years ago but we put it right.

Mick Coomer asked for confirmation of the pass or fail of the proposal.

John Hansson replied that it has failed.

Carried

Dorothy Tomlinson, Manchester Cat Club asked if a marked catalogue was sufficient.

John Hansson said that Marcia needed it for the website.

Dorothy Tomlinson asked if Marcia couldn’t read a catalogue.

John Hansson said that Marcia did not see the marked up catalogues.

Anne Gregory, South & South Western birman Cat Club (Executive) suggested a photocopy of the catalogue front page with a line through for non present judges.

Carried

Carol Pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club asked what would happen to non complying judges.

John Hansson said they would be reported.

Carol Pike asked “and?”

John Hansson said they would be reported to Investigations and would receive fixed penalties.

Carried

8. Registration Policies

Passed

9. Prefixes

Passed

10. Application for Preliminary Recognition The Executive Committee proposes the following with immediate effect. British Shorthair BAC Colourpointed and White British Shorthair (additional item)

Passed

11. Show Matters Executive Committee recommends the following with effect from 1 June 2011 Exotic BAC proposal for separate Grands for Persians and Exotics.

Passed

Anne Gregory, Southern & South Western Birman Cat Club (Executive) stood speaking on behalf of the Exotic BAC and had received complaints regarding the length of time a decision can be made regarding a change of class and when it is seen in a schedule, Anne went on to ask if the change regarding Grand Classes could be seen in the schedule of the Exotic show in June 2010.

John Hansson said that on a personal note he felt not as it would set a precedence.

Anne Gregory asked why not.

John Hansson replied that he was just saying.

Maria Chapman, London Cat Club (Executive) said that she had nothing against Exotics but if it were allowed then it should be applied across the board to all breeds at all February council meetings.

Keith Scruton said that October was put in place as a date for show changes before schedules were computerised and that Executive could be mandated to change the rule.

John Hansson said the decision Anne had asked for could not be done without it being an agenda item. Anne Gregory asked why not with a grumbling from the floor.

John Hansson said council could take the vote if they wanted to but to be aware it was setting a precedence.

A delegate said she agreed but it was a rule change and must be on the agenda.

Mick Coomer, Shropshire Cat Club said it could be a typo on the agenda.

John Hansson laughed.

Frances Peace, Bengal Cat Club said that if council were to relax this then they must also relax promotions etc.

John Hansson said that was his point exactly.

Frances Peace said it does make a nonsense of the rule if London Cat Club said they could deal with it in the time scale.

Anne Gregory said that enabling it to be implemented for the June show would increase entries.

John Hansson said he was willing to compromise and add it to the April meeting’s agenda.

Anne Gregory said April would be too late for schedules.

John Hansson apologised and said that he could not concede to a rule change without it being an agenda item.

Maria Chapman said that as one of the show managers it would affect, schedules would be out but asked if it were possible to publicise a schedule change.

John Hansson said it was possible.

Maria Chapman asked if she would be hauled over the coals for such an action, John Hansson said that no one would be in trouble for adding a change to a schedule and went on to say he point blank refused to take a vote that day on the matter.

The Kentish Cat Society delegate asked if they could make an amendment to the agenda to enable the change.

John Hansson said no.

Julian Hague from the Colourpointed British Shorthair Cat Club said that he thought the April meeting was purely for the matter of Incorporation and should only have that item on it.

John Hansson said “the agenda will have whatever I decide to have on it Julian”

Frances Peace said the April meeting was an extra council meeting and not a ‘Special One’.

12. Supreme Show Update

John Hansson addressed the room as the show manager Celia Leighton is unwell. John asked the room if they had enjoyed The Supreme, the room all seemed to have enjoyed it.

Mick Coomer, Shropshire Cat Club said that the hardest thing to achieve was the buzz and that this year’s Supreme had the buzz back!

Carol pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club asked if it were true that 3 halls had been booked for the 2010 show.

John Hansson responded that it was not true and only 2 halls would be booked and used.

Jane Haggar, Cambridgeshire Cat Club said that the car parking was atrocious and that they had been sent one way and another.

John Hansson shouted STOP! and asked Jane to put it in writing.

Sue Kirk, Essex Cat Club said she had a complaint that her cat hadn’t won.

This was met with much laughter.

John was asked for future plans for the 2010 show. John said that cats from other registering bodies would be invited to attend and compete.

Carol Pike, Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club pointed out that any cat shown at a GCCF show must be registered by the GCCF.

Kitten classes would be more serious than those introduced last year and would take place at the beginning of the day.

The room was excited to hear that the rosettes would be a different colour this year.

John in contradiction to his earlier comment said that the halls booked for Supreme 2010 were 6, 7 and 8 which are in the area that gave so much of a problem in 2006 with car parking but that he was in negotiations with the NEC to have them moved.

Carol Pike then asked who would be replacing the Hall Manager (Ketill Game)

John Hansson asked Carol how she knew that the Hall Manager had resigned.

Carol Pike responded that she was sure most people knew.

John Hansson replied that the Supreme Committee were looking for a replacement.

Sue Kirk, Essex Cat Club asked if it were possible a non registered cat could win Supreme 2010 if we were to invite them.

John confirmed that this could happen but that we have no problem competing with ‘the best’.

Sue McParlin, Oriental, Shaded, Smoke & Tabby Cat Society asked why we don’t open up the entry to unqualified cats.

John replied that it was a qualifying cat show.

Sue McParlin said that he was allowing unregistered and unqualified cats to compete from other registering bodies so why could cats and kittens from the GCCF not also enter.

John made no comment.

Stephen Parkin, Abyssinian Cat Association said special thanks to Celia Leighton who had turned around a mad defeat to a great amount of money which was met with a round of applause.

13. Judges

Carried

14. Discussion Item

John Hansson asked if the delegates would like to change the dates and times of council meeting so that they no longer fell inside the school holidays.

Doreen Goadby, Short Haired Cat Society asked that consideration was also given to moving the February meeting to March.

Janet Tonkinson, Havana & Lilac Oriental Cat Club said that she would agree to anything that meant she could sit down in the train.

Dorothy Tomlinson, Manchester Cat Club said it was bad enough on the train without screaming children to endure.

Nicky Goulter, Long Hair & Semi Longhair Cat Club asked that the meeting start earlier in the day.

Barry Newcombe said that he liked the meetings being in school holidays.

15. Any Other Business

John Hansson closed the meeting with the agenda being complete.

This report is constructed from contemporaneous notes and no part should be accepted or construed as a complete, verbatim account of any or all conversations during the meeting.

If there are any errors or omissions, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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