For the second year running, the KBSA has failed to drum up enough members to vote at another disastrous AGM.
The association needs 25 retail members to pass resolutions but only managed 23 - with one stuck in traffic. Organisers said that 33 had confirmed their attendance, and expressed their 'disappointment' at the failure of ten to show up.
"It's not really their fault," said KBSA treasurer Phil Gibson. "It's disappointing that they haven't made it, but they are running their own businesses and if something happens then priorities take over, so I don't think we should criticise people too much."
However, it was a visible blow to the board members present that, despite their efforts, the 2009 AGM was a repeat of the 2008 debacle which saw 24 retail members turn up.
In all there were approximately 40 people present, however the voting rights are limited to retail members.
This means that, as last year, the meeting has to be adjourned to a new venue within two weeks where it will reconvene to take the votes - probably alongside one of the BCG Big Tour events. However, the rules say that the 25 member limit doesn't apply at that meeting and only eight are needed to pass the resolutions.
This provoked puzzled reactions from those retailers who had made the effort to come to Ansty Hall near Coventry.
"I just can't understand the logic of getting 23 people today, making a supreme effort to get here when it can reconvene at a later date with less people and it can all go through," one said. "It's unbelievable."
The resolutions included ratification of increases in subscriptions and the new deposit protection insurance package that came in after the previous insurer withdrew cover.
Blame for the continuing voting problems was placed firmly with the KBSA's memorandums and articles of association, or legal charter, drawn up when it was founded in 1978. These rules, described as 'antiquated' by ceo Graham Ball, include the 25 retail member voting limit as well as other outdated procedures.
For example, the AGM must be held within two weeks of the annual accounts being released, which is why it couldn't be held at one of the BCG events in the first instance. And, more confusedly, it declares that any changes to the rules must be voted on, in person, by 75% of the membership.
That means gathering over 200 retailers together to solve the problem of finding 25.
"We have got legal firms looking at it, trying to put together some alternatives, but it really isn't straightforward,' explained Gibson. "This year, to be fair, we've been very busy sorting out all the insurance issue and that's sidetracked that process. We desperately need to have a standard set of [rules] where ten people would be plenty to vote and get all the business done, and we could also have voting by email.
"It is a problem and it is a definite priority for this year."
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