You are here:
Members meeting 12 May 2008
MINUTES of a MEMBERS’ GENERAL MEETING
held on 12 May 2008 at Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP
Present:
B2L Public Affairs Darren Caplan
Cicero Iain Anderson
Cogitamus Paul Beckford
College Public Policy Warwick Smith
Connect Public Affairs Gill Morris (in the Chair)
Consolidated James Page
Edelman Michael Burrell
FD-LLM Sean McKee
Foresight Consulting Mark Adams
Helen Johnson Consulting Helen Johnson
Lexington Communications Gidon Freeman
Mandate Gavin Devine
Open Road Martin LeJeune
Policy Partnership Joel Feyerherm
PPS John Mills
Precise Public Affairs Robbie MacDuff
Tetra Strategy James O’Keefe
Weber Shandwick Samina Ansari
Whitehouse Consultancy David Hare
APPC Mary Shearer (Secretary)
Apologies:
APCO
Champollion
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
EUK Consulting
Fishburn Hedges
Grayling
1. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Members approved the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2008. Matters arising and not elsewhere on the agenda were:
1.1 Judge Business School
Robbie MacDuff reported that he had had met a Chinese delegation organised by the Judge Business School of Cambridge University. As a result, APPC had been invited to participate in the School’s work on business and ethics.
2. Annual Report
Members noted the annual report since the last AGM.
3. Membership
Gill Morris reported that, since the last meeting, two new members had joined, PLMR and Tetra Strategy, bringing the number of members to 57.
4. PASC Inquiry
Gill Morris said that, despite nearing its conclusion, the Inquiry still did not seem to have any clear direction. She referred to recent oral evidence, the last session being scheduled for 22 May, but felt it unlikely the report would be issued before the summer recess. Members discussed possible outcomes and timings.
Robbie MacDuff pointed out that the EU Constitutional Affairs Committee was looking at issues around lobbying in the context of the ETI mandatory register. It was not clear whether these discussions would have any impact on the PASC Inquiry, but APPC would monitor developments in the EU.
5. Complaints Procedures
Gill Morris reported on a recent meeting with CIPR GAG and PRCA as a preliminary investigation into the possibility of co-operating on complaints and disciplinary issues, maybe sharing a pool of Adjudicators. However, APPC was at a more advanced stage than the other two organisations, so it would take a long time to reach any conclusion.
Noting members’ agreement in principle to the appointment of an Adjudicator at the March meeting, and that a complete review of the Complaints Procedures would take some time, Gill Morris said that the management committee would discuss at its next meeting how to introduce an interim amendment to allow an adjudication process.
6. Guiding Principles
Gill Morris reported that she was taking forward the possibility of a “round table” meeting with the Law Society, TUC, etc.
7. Any Other Business
There was no further business.
Closing Remarks
Michael Burrell proposed a vote of thanks to Gill Morris for chairing APPC for the past three years.
Date of Next Meeting
8 September 2008 at 5.30PM at the offices of FD-LLM
8th floor, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Building, London WC2A 1PB