The
Committee’s aims in 1999 were set out in our Three-Year Plan which was to:
1. Increase
participation in Branch Activities.
2. Increase
Branch Membership.
3. To
increase awareness and use of Arbitration and other means of dispute resolution
within the Branch Area.
These are commendable aspirations and to a great
extent are now embodied in Nael Bunni’?s general strategy which the Committee
has fully endorsed. We have made
considerable progress for which I must thank particularly Vice Chairmen Robin
Orme and Derek Ross and also Anne Kenny and Gillian Patch of Head Office who
have been very supportive in our proposals.
Membership participation in Branch activities has slightly increased but
is not anywhere near the halcyon days of the early 90s and took a backward step
when we had to cancel the Surgery through lack of numbers. However, in January we moved our Branch
Meetings from the Magistrates Court at Croydon to the Bridge House Hotel in
Reigate.
Preliminary figures look very promising in increased Membership
participation and the hope is that increased participation will go hand in
glove with increased Membership.
We are also renewing our pro list of contacts with affiliated
organizations such as the Institute of Structural Engineers, RICS, etc, with
the intention of setting up joint meetings.
Increased awareness of Arbitration will be achieved through promotion of
products such as entry courses and it is hoped to run our first course next
year, possibly in liaison with Sussex University.
Major events through the year were:
Mar: AGM and
Expert Determination John
Kendall
Apr: Weighing
the Evidence Rowan Planterose
May: Preliminary
Meetings John Calder
Jun: Case
Law Update Geoff Brewer
Wisley Gardens Summer visit One of the highlights of
the year with a beautiful summer's day to explore the gardens.
Sep: President’s
Forum Dr Nael Bunni
Oct: Branch
Dinner – The Old Ship, Brighton
A very successful event with Professor John Uff QC and
Mr Paul Jenson as after dinner speakers.
Without
Prejudice and Privilege Communications Jeremy
Winter
Nov: Have We
Reached the End of Adversarial Relationships Rudi Klein & Bill Tallis
Jan 2001 Abuses
of Process and the Tricks People play. Tony Binham
Feb Adjudication
Update Dr. Francesco Mastrandrem
Finally, I would like to thank all
the Committee Members for their help and support during the year, particularly
Bernhard Lippmann (Honorary Secretary), Harvey Mason (Meetings Organiser) and
Duncan Shaw (Treasurer) and of course Paul Darrington who pass
David A Bailey
Chairman,
S E Branch