2023 AGM - Agenda Item (e) Fixing of membership fees

Membership fees were increased by 8% at the AGM 2019 (effective 1st April 2020 -2022) and, following a commitment to members to fix the fees for three years, they were raised by 15% at the AGM 2022 (effective 1^st April 2023) to mitigate the £50k deficit projected for 2023-24 at that time. 

Mountaineering Scotland has made significant efforts to remove and reduce non-essential spending across the budget, whilst utilities, public liability insurance cover and other costs have continued to rise at a significant rate. The UK continues to face increasing cost-of-living challenges and our activities in this area have been carried out in that wider economic landscape. New merchandise has been introduced to our online shop, modest price increases have been applied to our courses and events whilst ensuring they remain affordable and staff expenses have also been closely monitored with the introduction of individual budgets. A review of Scottish Mountaineer magazine has also been carried out and a new publication model will be delivered from November 2023, and the introduction of the digital membership card will deliver further savings in the medium term.   

During the year there were staffing changes which resulted from the retiral of three long-standing members of staff. To identify and recruit successful candidates with suitable skills and experience to replace those staff members in an increasingly competitive employment market, salary adjustments were made. This ensured we could continue to meet our organisational objectives and priorities. Adjustments were also made in the budget to deliver a pay award for staff, recognising the challenges of the current economic climate. 

The forecast deficit for 2023-24 is now £23k with the budget updated to reflect a most likely scenario and building in a £10k saving on the magazine costs as a result of not publishing the August edition.  Membership figures have been adjusted down slightly to reflect the actual position up to the end of August 2023 with a 1% increase for individuals and 5% for clubs projected for 2023-2024. With these changes the projected out turn position for 2024-25 is a deficit of £47k.

The Board is working with the staff team to explore medium- and long-term actions to address the longer-term sustainability of the organisation by exploring organisational, commercial and other strategic options. Whilst it has concluded that further cuts at this time would severely impact the organisations’ ability to deliver the priorities expected by our membership, this wider scoping work is continuing with a range of potential options to be developed.

To help address increasing cost pressures in the short term an 8% increase in fees is proposed. When benchmarked against other similar membership organisations Mountaineering Scotland fees remain competitive and provide value for money for members, given the range of activity carried out and available benefits of membership. A comparison of adult membership costs are set out below:  

Please note: This increase will not be implemented until 1st April 2024, so those members with renewal dates over the winter period will not be affected, and communications can start early to the members renewing thereafter.

Proposed membership fees 2024-25: