ARCHIVE - frc 2008

June 2008 - Forge Magazine

 

Archive - Forge Magazine - June 2008
FRC Council Meeting and AGM

The AGM and Council Meeting of the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) were held on March 7. This summary reflects the main items considered and discussed by the Council.

AGM
2007 Audited accounts

The chairman of the Finance Committee presented the FRC and FTA 2007 audited accounts to the Council for approval. It was reported that the auditors had met with the Finance Committee to look at the accounts and were satisfied that the accounts had been properly prepared.
Mr Vincent reported that there had been a healthy increase in retention fees and a substantial reduction in disciplinary costs. It was pointed out that disciplinary costs were unpredictable. The surplus for the year had been added to the FRC reserves.
He also said that the FTA Management Board should be congratulated on showing a healthy surplus; it was also in a position to meet contingencies, he said. Council approved the accounts and the balance sheets were signed.
Annual Report
The text of the Annual Report was approved. For the third year it was confirmed that the Annual Report would be sent to farriers who requested a copy, and newly qualified farriers, and would appear on the Council’s website.
Annual declaration
All members had signed the declaration except one who had partially completed and signed the declaration.
Committee Chairmanship and Membership
The Committee membership and Chairmanship of all Council Committees was considered and remained unchanged. It was reported that Cliff Barnes would sit on TAC/Lantra. Mr Vincent would become Acting Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee to cover cases when the Chairman was not available.

COUNCIL MEETING
The Council meeting began with clarification of points from the minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising. Guidance notes on the responsibilities of council members had been put to the Registration Committee.
The chairman informed the Council the issue of apprentices working for other ATFs had been reported in Sefton House News, January 2008, and that he had brought the subject up during his speech at the recent diploma presentation ceremony in February.
Following discussion with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), the FTA will continue as the assessment body for Oatridge College.
The chairmen of the Farriery Training Agency Management Board and the various Council committees presented their reports:
FTA Management Board
The Training Director presented the Farriery Training Agency report on behalf of Howard Cooper. He said that behind the scenes pressure on the LSC had secured funding for 68 apprentices.
The ATF of the year awards had been very successful and well received; the nominees were of a high standard. This year, the award had been won by J. Hughes of Cheshire.
In 2007 the TAMB had appointed a working group to make recommendations for its future structure. So far as the future of the FTA was concerned, it was felt that the risks of flotation outweighed the gains so the status quo would remain.
There had been 45 applications for the role of Training Director; 20 had been interviewed and six of these would be selected and invited to visit Sefton House the following week.
The Learning and Skills Council financial audit had gone well and had found no concerns with the FTA’s administration. There had been one minor observation made on the operational and development plan.
The report was approved.
Finance Committee
John Vincent (chairman) recommended reviewing the Council’s reserves policy on an annual basis although be believed it was still valid. It had been agreed that reserves of £300,000 should be held for both the FRC and the FTA; both already held in excess of this figure. It was agreed that the reserves policy should be maintained.
The appointment of a new Training Director needed to be ratified and approved by the Chairman and the Council.
The CPD Steering Group had decided that it did not have the time or resources to provide administrative support and had come to the conclusion that the FTA should be the approved body to administer CPD. It would receive £30,000 over three years (this amount would be matched by NAFBAE and the WCF), however, the requirement was more likely to be in the region of £9000 in year 1 and £5000 in years 2 and 3. This was approved.
Discussion followed on the potential knock on effect if CPD were administered by the FTA. The Finance Committee suggested carrying out a feasibility study looking at the future role of the FTA, independent from the Council. The opinions of the Registrar and Training Director had been sought to clarify the issues for Council. Concerns included dilution of quality; it was felt that a strong interest in training should be maintained. It was proposed that the Council would fund a feasibility study to investigate flotation of the FTA, but this would be capped at £10,000. The proposal was approved.
Investigating Committee
Simon Curtis said that seven complaints had been received and one of these had been referred to the Disciplinary Committee. He also gave an update on prosecution of those involved in illegal farriery.
Registration Committee
At a recent tripartite meeting it had been agreed that NAFBAE would be the nominating body for an EFFA based Register for European farriers. All farriers with the Dip WCF or RSS would be eligible to use the title Certified Euro-farrier and it was a future aspiration of EFFA to make CPD a requirement of registration.
Defra had made an SI amending the Farriers Registration Act to cross refer to the DIUS Regulations implementing EC Directive 2005.36 concerning the recognition of European farriery qualifications and introducing Part V to the Register.  Staff were working on changes to the procedures and the website.  An amendment to the Council’s Disciplinary Committee Rules would be require to increase the appeal period regarding registrations from two weeks to four months.  The Council would carry out a consultation exercise in due course.
Mr House reported that the National Equine Welfare Council had now releases its draft equine footcare code for general consultation.
Guidance notes for Council Members
The FRC had produced guidance notes for Council Members modeled on those provided by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for its members. These explain the rules and procedures for those wishing to sit on the Council; they were approved.
Visitation report
Gary Burton reported on the visit to Warwickshire College that had taken place on March 3 and 4. The previous visit, in 2005, had been satisfactory, and the recommendation made following that visit had been acted upon. The college, he said, was devoted to farriery training and he recommended that his report be approved.
CPD Steering Group
Alex Chalmers said that his group had been looking at CPD software systems for recording CPD. He had a further meeting planned with Lantra who were helping in the search for a suitable program.
Veterinary Surgeons Act
It was reported that Lord Rooker had reported to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that Defra had neither the finance nor the staff to amend the Veterinary Surgeons Act and that consequently it was unlikely to change before 2011.
It was possible that the Farriers Registration Act could be amended using regulatory reform orders, however, these cannot be used to introduce constraints, such as revalidation or barefoot trimming.

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.