Minutes from the Major Spectator Sports Division Meeting - 29 September 2016

Major Spectator Sports Division Meeting

Date:   Thursday 29 September 2016

Time:   11:00am

Venue: Sport and Recreation Alliance, 14-16 Caxton Street, London, SW1H 0QT

PRESENT:

In the Chair: Ben Calveley (RFU)

Absent with Apologies Deputy Chair: Jane Nickerson (Amateur Swimming Association)    

MEMBERS: James MacDougall (The FA), Hannah Murphy (ECB), Katie Nixon (LTA), Tim Payton (ECB), Simon Taylor (PPF), Charlie Dewhurst (RFU)

ABSENT WITH APOLOGIES: Richard Baldwin (Honorary Member), Jonathan Day (Motor Sports Association), Angus Farquhar (The R&A), Janice Shardlow (British Equestrian Federation), Kevan Taylor (UK Athletics)

IN ATTENDANCE: Emma Boggis (Chief Executive), Andrew Moss (Chair of Sport and Recreation Alliance), James Allen (Director of Policy, Governance and External Affairs), Chantel Scherer (Director of Marketing, Communications and Member Engagement), Leigh Thompson (Policy Manager), Rob Tate (Governance Officer)

1. INTRODUCTION

The Chair (Ben Calveley- BC) welcomed everyone to the meeting, 

2. STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE AND CURRENT POLICY ISSUES 

UK Governance Code - Rob Tate (RT) provided an update on the Government’s new code of governance which would become mandatory for any organisation in receipt of public funding. UK Sport and Sport England have been working together on this process since early 2016, and were close to releasing the Code.

Brexit - Leigh Thompson (LT) summarised some of the key issues for the sports sector arising from the result of the EU referendum in June. Members discussed a range of impacts including the potential for tighter immigration restrictions on player transfers. Members were asked to feedback if anyone has received any information from UK Borders around appeals process for work permits for international players to LT).

Making Tax Digital – LT briefly summarised the Making Tax Digital proposals which were being consulted upon and highlighted the potential impact on NGBs, county structures and clubs. It was important to ensure grassroots clubs were exempted from the scheme requirements given the likley administrative burden. Members were requested to share their draft responses with LT.

HFSS Sponsorship – Alliance to report back from next working group meeting. Consideration after this of possible guidance document led by Alliance.

3. VOLUNTARY CODE ON BROADCAST MONITORING

LT summarised compliance for the year 2015/16 noting that all signatories compliant with the reinvestment principles had reinvested more than £127m into grassroots sport in the most recent year. Looking forward, the Alliance would be reviewing the Code to ensure it is fit for purpose, notably that it reflects changes in broadcasting technology and the packaging of rights.

4. ALLIANCE’S NEW STRATEGY 2017- 2021

Emma Boggis (EB) provided an update on the Alliance Board’s thinking for a new strategy for 2017 – 2021. 

EB reviewed what the Alliance was good at and also what it is not so good at and suggested the following;

What are we good at?

· The Alliance is currently a leader in promoting leadership in the sector through the publication of the Fit for Future report.

· Policy and research

· Campaign work – for example Mental Health Charter/Get Your Kit On/Try Your Kit On

· Regular source of comment or views from media

· Carried out a number of specific projects this year not included in the Alliance plan.

· Sports Summit and Leadership Convention get great feedback from attendees

Not so good at?

· Trying to please too many people all of the time especially members – do we need to be a bit more strategic about the things we do?

· Because we take on new work, that was not scheduled, has had an impact on resources and staff capacity.

· Need to be able to tell a clearer story about the impact of the work we do for you and for wider stakeholders

Feedback from the Division included:

Things to continue/good at:

Policy advice on issues and thought leadership on areas of relevance for the sector

Specialist work: Sports Betting Group, Tax, CASC etc

Best practice and co-ordinating the sector

Work like the MHC to bring sector together on issues that sport can help with and or help sport on

Comfortable with the Alliance, its people and its professionalism, which is a change from the past.

New areas:

More championing of the sector with decision makers – like GYKO

More front foot lobbying – pushing back on specific issues – like lowered NGB funding

Identifying pan-sector issues and really getting vocal on them – like the sugar tax and school funding letter/initiative

Volunteering

Consolidate all of the ‘voices’ and we become the official voice of sport and rec

RFU mentioned “Structure Metrics” (No idea what this means) in the context of Members holding Alliance accountable for action

More advocacy on School Sport

Stop:

Less ‘teaching’ at Summit - but more of a platform for sport to work out issues that need campaigning/lobbying for

Agreed with board view on training and workshops 

The new strategy would aim to continue the things we do well – and seek to do them better. If members had any further thoughts or views they were encouraged to contact EB, eboggis@sportandrecreation.org.uk or Andrew Moss chair@sportandrecreation.org.uk.

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

6. MEETING DATES FOR 2017

The date of the next meeting was confirmed for 23 November 2016, to be held at the Alliance Offices, Caxton Street, London.

7. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

· Leadership Convention 2-3 November, Manchester. Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

· 2017 Sport Summit 24 May, Kia Oval

Minutes from the Major Spectator Sports Division Meeting - 29 September 2016

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