General News
Crossing the Channel 2023
"Submit a Pleasure Craft Report (sPCR) is a new means of submitting passage info to Border Force and HMRC. Follow Sailing pleasure craft to and from the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to learn more. The C1331 can still be used but this promises to be more convenient - but nothing like as convenient as before bureaucrats stuck their nose in following Brexit!
From 1st June to 30 September 2023, several marina destinations will benefit from some sense regarding customs/immigration concessions - you will not have to travel to the bureaucratic centres on arrival and departure. Go to rya.org.uk/temporary-concessions for more info.
NEW OCEAN FLAME IV
We have bought a Bavaria 36 to replace Solent Flame IV. The 36 is designed to allow short-handed sailing and we plan to allow Coastal Skippers to charter her - as we do with the similar sized Hebridean Flame II.
Crew size will normally be limited to 6 (based upon onboard safety equipment). Any charterer wishing to have a crew of 7 or 8 (the theoretical maximum of berths) should contact the Fleet Manager to discuss.
There is a video of the delivery trip from Benfleet to Shamrock Quay - click the link to go to the video page.
AGM Update: Audit
In reply to a question at the AGM, the Commodore said he would ask the Committee to consider the adequacy of current provisions regarding the audit process.
This discussion took place at the March meeting.
We looked at the guidance offered by the Charities Commission, as suggested as being a useful starting point by a member attending the AGM.
The guidance differentiates between different sizes of charities, and we concentrated on the guidance for those with annual income of less than £250,000 i.e. comparable to our own income.
This guidance provides for “independent examination” of accounts in contrast to full audit. Although not specifically stated, it seems the Commission recognises that the overhead of a full audit would make significant inroads into the resources of smaller charities.
Basically, the Committee concluded that the guidance was an appropriate model for GSA, and that it reflected the established practice of the GSA. In reaching this conclusion, the Committee felt that if the members at the AGM were satisfied with the accounts presented to them, with the support of an independent examination, then that was sufficient for the proper management of the Association's financial activities.
It was decided that it would be helpful to set out the conclusion within the Bye-laws as a transparent description of how it was intended that the constitutional requirements should be implemented.
A draft bye-law, drawing heavily on the wording of the Charities Commission guidance, was discussed. The draft was put to the Trustees, and accepted by them. The Committee then adopted the wording shown below:
4.14 Audit
The audit by the Honorary Auditor required by the Constitution will be an independent examination of the Association's accounts and is only required to confirm whether any material matters of concern have come to his/her attention.
The Honorary Auditor is to be an independent person who is reasonably believed to have the requisite ability and practical experience to carry out a competent examination of the accounts.“Independent” means that the Honorary Auditor must not be influenced by their relationships with the Association and its trustees. For this purpose, the Honorary Auditor can be a member of the Association, provided that they are not a Trustee, a member of the Committee, a Bosun or otherwise involved in the day-to-day administration of the Association.
The provisions are included in the revised Bye-laws i.e. with the revisions following on from the adoption of the new Constitution and agreed by the March committee meeting.