MINUTES of the Annual General Meeting held on 24 April 2004 at the Guildhall, York, commencing at 2.00pm

Present: Pam Ashton, Ray Wilkes, Jackie Wilkes, Paul Chattwood, Colin Speakman, Fleur Speakman, Graham Collett, Brian Whitty, Peter Davies, Simon Geller, Tony Ross.

1. Apologies. Anthony Rae, Clive Barton, Roderick Thompson.

2. Minutes. These had been circulated beforehand and were agreed as a correct record. There were no matters arising other than those arising in reports.

3. Chair's Report For The Year 2003/2004. Pam Ashton.
This year the TAR has consolidated in strength and extended its reach. We have fulfilled all our commitments to our funding body by reporting our activities on a standard quarterly report template and have met with our sponsors, the Countryside Agency twice during the year. We have held one excellent seminar, planned the next, and have continued to produce "Focus" to a very high standard. We have signed up as a TAR to the Way to Go campaign
Individuals have represented the TAR in many regional arenas and have campaigned for sustainable transport in a multitude of ways. Some of these individual contributions are listed below. We have been able to participate in several very important regional strategy making bodies such as the Regional Transport Forum but have been denied a place on the steering group overseeing the Sustainability Appraisal and Environmental Impact Appraisal of the Regional Spacial Strategy. Despite pressing for transport input from us we have still been told that the only voluntary sector representative will be from the Environmental Forum.
Our activities have been adequately supported financially through the year by the grant from Countryside Agency through T2000, but this has now ended. Graham Collett has made a major contribution to the search for further national funding.
I should like to thank all those who have represented or worked for the TAR in whatever way. I hope that we shall all manage to continue with this work albeit probably on minimal funding for expenses. Ray Wilkes has organised and communicated and Graham Collett has kept an eye on any development of interest to the TAR as well as being our representative to the National TAR. Many others have worked ceaselessly for sustainable transport. I am standing down as Chair but not ceasing to take an interest.
Individual contributions have included:
Participation by a member in a freight initiative in North Lincolnshire
Individuals have responded to the A64 consultation.
Campaigning to secure safe routes for active travel following the construction of the Bingley Bypass.
Organisation of a national Cycle Campaigns Conference (bi-annual) in the region SG
Involvement in the Highways Agency Road Users Committee by PA
Several members participated in English Regions Cycling Development Team's LA review
S. G. Took part in Transport 2000 "National Day of Action on Road Traffic Speed" and gave paper at Velo-city conference.
P.A. gave presentation on Trans Pennine Trail at CC N conference
Correspondence with ATN on carriage of bikes Harrogate-Leeds - S.G.
Participation in Public Examination of Y&H Draft Revised RPG
Preliminary work on preparation of PPS11 submission
GC attended founders meeting of Minsters Rail Campaign (for reopening of York- Beverley line)
RW participation in YHREF , Nidderdale AONB, Leeds Ring road study
Response to Mechanically Propelled vehicles on ROW consultation (PA)
Attempt to get a place on Steering Group for regional EA and SA of spatial strategy
Lobbying against cycle helmets bill (PA)
York Centre of Excellence Transport Conference (RW)
Attended Metro re timetable publicity issues (RW)

4. Vice-chair's Report. Colin Speakman. Colin paid tribute to Pam's two years of splendid work. Colin had written two polemical pieces in "Focus" and had spent three minutes talking about buses on television. He attended one Countryside Agency meeting. He had been busy in West Yorkshire Transport 2000 and had attended a major walking conference. He wishes to give up the vice chairmanship, and suggested such a post may not be needed, but would continue to support the work. Pam thanked Colin for getting the TAR up and running.

5. Treasurer's Report. Graham Collett.
The three year Countryside Agency funding had finished in March. We now had to be very careful with the budget. Friends of the Earth Wakefield had made a donation and the only regular funding was payment by West Yorkshire Transport 2000 for the "Focus". We have now cut "Focus" to three issues a year to keep costs down. The Airport Watch campaign was now over and this had resulted in fewer expenses to be paid out. Headquarters would now fund directly fares for attending meetings in London. He appealed for suggestions for more sponsorship. For the future we depended mainly on Transport 2000 HQ getting more sponsorship nationally. Graham thanked the officers and supporters. The Accounts were approved. Pam thanked Graham for all the work he does.

6. Co-ordinators Report. Ray Wilkes.
Regional Transport Forum. Ray had attended the meetings and argued the case for greater safety and a higher priority to buses at every opportunity. He made a similar case at the public examination, as a representative of the National Federation of Bus Users. (Anthony Rae represented FoE, Graham Collet YHTAR, Gill Graham CPRE). Councillor Hoare (Doncaster) is the Chair of YHRTF but is stepping down as a councillor but wishes to be involved with YHTAR
Strategic importance of buses. A problem Ray had perceived at these meetings was that buses were dismissed as a local issue along with safety. He had argued, to some extent successfully he thought, that if any of the region's aspirations on sustainability, Green House targets, pollution and casualty target and freight transport efficiency were to be attained then bus transport had to be paramount. Therefore buses were strategic.
He also used the illustration that if an escalator manufactured in Keighley was being delivered to the Department Store in Sheffield, then the bus modal share would determine the journey time for the delivery vehicle. He guessed that an articulated lorry cost about the same as a new bus and their owners face the same productivity problems as bus companies when face with traffic jams.
Other campaigns: Ray was still pressing authorities on sustainable transport for Airedale following opening of Bingley Relief Road. In this connection he was working with 2 Bradford Councillors, Paul Flowers and Lynne Joyce, to have a Sustainable Transport Seminar in Shipley. This may include a trip to Oxford to see best practise there.
Funding. In connection with Bus Campaign he had met Dave Kaye of FirstGroup who indicated that First might sponsor "Focus".
Mailing list. 350 on list, - up 60 from last year. We now have names for Hull, East Yorkshire and the North Lincolnshire districts. We also now mail to T.A.S, Road Hauliers Assn. and FTA. Ray was able to keep West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire up-to-date quite easily because he received feedback. For other councils he was dependent to some extent on reports back from other people. The mailing list is using up much more of our print run. Ray had needed to 'dump' some of edition 12 in libraries. However, he thought this will be a minor problem in future. He still gave out many by hand to the WYPTE, Bradford & Leeds MDC at the Bus User Group's and Ramblers Association meetings.
Pam thanked Ray and Colin added thanks to Ray for all the research, attendance and the strength of electronic communication.

7. Bus Campaigns Co-ordinator. Ray Wilkes
York Centre of Excellence Conference. Ray had attended the York Centre of Excellence Conference - reported back in the recent "Focus". Exciting developments in sustainable transport taking place in York and Harrogate. There is also the possibility that the Yorkshire bus project, a partnership between West Yorkshire PTE and the bus companies will also deliver sustainable transport. However in West Yorkshire there is a seriously insufficient recognition of active transport.
Ray had continued to attend Transport 2000, Bradford Passengers Consultative Committee, Harrogate Bus Users Group and (as chair) Keighley Bus Users Group. He had also attend Ramblers Association meeting, Executive Committee and Local Access Forum.
Controversially possibly Ray had lobbied West Yorkshire PTE on their plans for re-regulation which he thought were ill-thought out and judging from the public statements they are making they would be seriously underfunded. Colin Speakman has had the opportunity read this and as a result it was submitted as a personal contribution rather in Ray's position as bus campaigns co-ordinator. (It was never intended as a TAR position paper).
Ray had also been lobbying Metro about bus stop publicity, bus stop clearways and bus priority. He am happy to report the Yorkshire Bus Initiative may take us some way towards our goals. Unfortunately both WYPTE & its constituent Councils are not giving much priority to active travel and this is a major area of concern.

8. Rail Co-ordinator Peter Davies. Peter continued to attend Rail Future events. The main concerns were the franchises especially Northern. Brian Whitty commented on community rail partnerships and said that Arriva had been very good. Peter Davies had done a response to the rail passenger transport committee on this issue.

9. Walking Co-ordinator. Colin Speakman. Colin had attended the Transport 2000 Birmingham rural sustainable futures conference. Colin went the workshop on walking and cycling. Colin reported that there had now been a Dales Way promotional campaign to walk into the Yorkshire Dales rather going by car. Ray reported on Access Forum, advisory role taken seriously three local authorities. Colin expressed concern about the implication of the implosion of the Countryside Agency which had funded buses, cycling routes etc. YHTAR should pressurise Yorkshire Forward and the regional assembly to fill the funding her gap.

10. Water Transport. Fred Andrews was very knowledgeable about water transport but was too old to come to meetings. He could be asked to write a piece for the newsletter. Colin will give Ray his address. Ray would e-mail at British Waterways to try find an activist who would work with us.

11. Cycling Co-ordinator. Simon Geller. Simon reported that the helmets for young cyclists bill had been defeated. Simon had arranged a CTC conference held by the TAR's and pedal pushers in Sheffield. The next one would be in Dublin. Many Y&H councils are participating in a Regional Benchmarking exercise in July, which will look at Best Practice (and not-so-good-practice) for cycling facilities in towns and cities round the region. Simon will participate in the Sheffield part of the project. In the National Cycling strategy Board's audit of cycling strategies York came out the best in the region but still scored less than 90 per cent. Simon was still campaigning about bikes on trains. Midland Main Line had only provided spaces for two bikes even on nine car trains. There were plans for a celebration Liverpool to Hornsea cycle ride at the end of May to celebrate the Trans-Pennine trail opening.

12. Aviation and roads co-ordinator. Anthony Rae was not present.

13. Website and Newsletter Co-ordinator. Paul Chattwood. Paul had redesigned the website, using existing content. The site needed occasional updates. The newsletter was added in PDF each time. Section leads could put content on the website. Similarly, press releases and news items. He thanked the contributors to the last three issues of "Focus" which he had edited. He also thanked Graham for proof-reading. He would like more photographs along with the articles.

14. Other matters. Tony Ross described the boundary proposals for Selby which would be moved into the East Riding. For transport Selby would be better in West Yorkshire because of the PTE transport policies.

15. Election of officers. Anthony Rae had offered to be the chair, but would not deal with financial matters or sign cheques. This offer was gratefully accepted. Pam agreed to continue signing the cheques. We decided to dispense with the Vice-Chair for this year. Graham continued as treasurer.
Section Leads:-bus RW, rail PD, walk CS, cycling SG, aviation/roads Anthony, website/ newsletter PC.

16. Subscriptions. Despite the funding problem we would continue with zero subscriptions but would appeal to affiliates for more money. Local authority community chests would be investigated. An E-mail discussion to follow.
The financial situation would be reviewed next year. We can manage one year with our current balances.

17. Date of the next Annual General Meeting. Ray suggested an earlier date to avoid clashes with other meetings. Colin agreed to check the constitutional position of the accounting year. Graham agreed to check with TAR HQ on the scope for changing our financial year. We agreed to stay in York but explore self-catering. The seminar would be about active travel and the involvement of towpath and canals.

The meeting closed 15.20.

A brief Committee Meeting followed and Ray Wilkes was re-appointed co-ordinator and Paul Chattwood was re-appointed newsletter editor. Fees paid would be dependent on the TAR's financial position; Graham Collett was asked to liaise with Ray and Paul on this.