Road Safety GB Business Transformation Process
Frequently asked questions
Why do we have to do this – why can’t we just stay as we are?
We find ourselves in a very challenging environment in which funding for road safety is under attack and with a government that appears disinterested in our profession.
We want Road Safety GB to provide more support for its members and the road safety profession in the future. To do this we are going to have to increase our income – we are not going to be able to rely simply on our membership fees and other income from local or central government.
We are going to have to raise significant funds through a number of new activities such as advertising on our website, sponsorship, providing training, and bidding for funding from bursaries, grants and donations from organisations such as the National Lottery.
To do this we have to be a legally constituted organisation.
To flourish, any organisation has to evolve and move with the times. Two years ago we took the bold step to change our name from LARSOA to Road Safety GB, and we haven’t looked back since.
While we are stronger than we were, we are still not well positioned to support our members and the UK’s road safety profession. To do this we need further evolve.
If we do nothing, in the very short term little will change. But in the medium to longer term we will almost certainly lose the ground we have gained through the re-brand and find ourselves increasingly sidelined because of our financial and organisational weaknesses. Ultimately, Road Safety GB may even cease to exist if we do nothing.
The costs are made up of fees paid to our advisor Neil MacCallum, who is managing this process for us, the associated legal costs, and the costs associated with the consultation process (arranging meetings, room hire, refreshments and travel costs).
Why is it recommended that we become a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG)?
We are not experts in this field, but we have taken advice from experts – and their recommendation is that CLG is the best route for Road Safety GB to follow. The initial proposal came from Neil MacCallum following a review of many options. Neil has also spoken with other legal and financial consultants who have concurred with his recommendation.
A CLG is the most popular form of registration for “not for profit” organisations and could work well for Road Safety GB. Although the primary purpose is not profit, a CLG can pursue commercial interests with surpluses being re-invested to the organisation in furtherance of the aims and objectives set out in the memorandum and articles of association.
As a CLG cannot distribute any profits to its members, it is therefore eligible to apply for charitable status. Charitable status offers many advantages including tax relief and possibilities to access sources dedicated to charity funding.
The consultation process will take place in the period 1/2/12 – 30/4/12. All the relevant paperwork will be placed in the members’ area on the Road Safety GB website, and everyone with access to the members area will be able to read it and contribute to the consultation.
Comments and suggestions from members will be added to the online paperwork and the proposal will be modified as required and republished for everyone to see before being finalised.
The final proposal will go before the P&M meeting in June 2012, and then be put forward for adoption by the membership at the AGM in 2012. Assuming it is approved, the business transformation will then be implemented during the first quarter of 2013.
