ARCHIVE - frc 2008

August 2008 - Forge Magazine

 

Archive - Forge Magazine - August 2008
FRC Council Meeting Report

The June 11 Council meeting began with a welcome to new Council Member, farrier, Cliff Barnes, who had replaced Gary Burton on behalf of NAFBAE; Peter Ablett the new training director of the Farriery Training Agency, and the announcement that Vicky Masters had been made assistant registrar of the Farriers Registration Council. This summary reflects the main items considered and discussed by the Council.

 

Training Agency Management Board
A report on the Training Agency Management Board was presented by the training director. He announced that the FTA had applied for recognition under a new standard through the Learning Skills Council.
The Board had noted the CPD steering group guidance.
ATF review panel had suspended one ATF and the appeal panel had upheld this decision.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will provide grants for apprentices over the age of 25 for new apprentices and some existing ones (those that are eligible for grant aid). This was under the same terms as for 19+ year olds. The FTA was still in final negotiation with the LSC on the final amount and would write to ATFs with the result.
Investigating Committee
The complaints received had come from horse owners and had been thoroughly investigated but subsequently closed. However, Mr Curtis reported that advice was being taken on one other case.
Mr Cannon had been successfully prosecuted again and this had received wide publicity.
Under the requirements of the ‘notifiable occupation’ list, disclosure of conviction and other information is mandatory. The registrar had received information from the police concerning five persons since the last meeting. One of these involved an apprentice, and was referred to the Training Director who had taken appropriate action. Of the other four, one was a registered farrier and the other three said they were farriers but were not registered!
The FRC had been asked to define a ‘shoe’. Its response was that any semi- permanent fixture attached to a horse’s foot denoted a shoe. It was emphasised that the Council would prosecute robustly anyone breaking the law under the Farriers (Registration) Act.
Registration Committee
This had been temporarily chaired by Simon Curtis who reported that the date had now passed for farriers practising in the Highlands and Islands to apply for registration. Here, too, the requirements had been rigorously enforced and he reported that some had not met the criteria for registration.
Regarding overseas applicants in general, five had passed their diploma examination in January 2008; three newer applicants had been assessed and were due to embark on their training programmes. There had been two applications for registration from possible European temporary visiting farriers, both had been rejected.
Disciplinary Committee
Two cases had been considered in April, one was a resumed hearing and it was decided that no further action should be taken. Another case concerning an application for restoration was rejected.
A two-day disciplinary hearing had just taken place in Glasgow and the farrier had been found guilty of serious professional misconduct and given a severe reprimand.
EFFA
Six countries now meet the standard as set by EFFA, which is based on the UK NVQ standard. Council was reminded that this year will see the inauguration of the list of Certified Eurofarriers (for further information see page 22). It was reported to Council that NAFBAE had been selected to be the nominating body for this new qualification. UK farriers holding the DipWCF, the AWCF, the FCWF and RSS were likely to be eligible.
Retention fees
Council recommended increasing the annual retention fee to £140; this was accepted.
Matters of note
It was pointed out that some of the colleges offering farriery courses are hosting equine podiatry courses.
House of Lords debate
The chairman thanked Peter Baker for raising the issue of the Farriers Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 that allowed overseas farriers to work in the UK under a temporary application, which Lord Addington had raised in the House of Lords on June 4. As a result Council staff had been approached to brief the Lords and the debate had been well supported by WCF peers.
A delegates Commons Committee would be debating the matter further the next day.
Defra may allow the FRC to interpret the Statutory Instrument and a group of MPs was reportedly looking into the matter.
It was thought that Defra’s stand would be that the FRC must deal with overseas applications under the terms of the legislation made by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) implementing EC Directive 2005/36. The FRC explained that it aims to apply the rules tightly for the sake of the welfare of the horse.
As temporary service providers it was disappointing that the FRC was not allowed to request a test of competence of temporary service providers, since it had been assured this would be the case when the legislation was being drafted. The instruction, members were told, had been ‘reinterpreted’ by government officials acting on EU Commission direction. It was also explained the EU policy is primary policy, taking precedence over national legislation, and although the Council could not change what was written, it had to interpret policy. The Council would be having follow up discussions with Defra regarding the impact of the legislation as soon as possible.
The Council was reminded that the FRC was doing everything to assist but it was not a lobby group.
Judicial review could be sought as a last resort, but it was felt the Council should not pay more than £5000 for this. (Judicial review is where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action by a public body.)
Draft code on equine hoofcare
Chris House said he felt it was possible that the code was a way to establish minimum standards of hoof care.
CPD Steering Group
Alex Chalmers explained that all farriers had received their registration cards. He regretted that the sheet that accompanied it implied that continuing professional development was compulsory; CPD was not compulsory, he said.
Veterinary Surgeons Act
Despite Lord Rooker’s announcement to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that nothing would be done until at least 2011, Council was advised that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) would continue to work on a new Act in anticipation of making some progress after that date. The Council would also be looking at a way forward possibly by updating some of the anomalies in the Farriers Registration Act through the use of a regulatory reform Order.
Special thanks
Simon Curtis presented Miles Williamson-Noble with an inscribed claret jug, cut glasses and a case of wine as a gift from the Council Members on the occasion of his retirement and thanks for all his work over 11 years dedicated service to the FRC/FTA, in particular his successful implementation of the NVQ system and securing of funding for the apprenticeship scheme.

All Council Meetings are open to members of the profession, the press and the public. In order to confirm details of location and timing, and to gain access, applications (in writing, by email or telephone) to attend must be made to the Council offices at least three days before any meeting (email [email protected], telephone 01733 319911). Meetings usually start at 10.30 and finish at about 15.30. Meetings are held in June, November and March in London. The next meeting of the Farriers Registration Council will be Wednesday, November 12, in London.