Decision time for the BMC

The 16^th of June will be a momentous day for the British Mountaineering Council.

Following an organisational review last year, the 2018 AGM will be asked to approve one of two options on a change in the constitution, which details what the organisation does and how it operates.

One of these options, the one recommended by the BMC’s National Council and Board of Directors, has the potential to provide an increased voice to Mountaineering Scotland in the UK walking and climbing community.

Mountaineering Scotland has been in dialogue with the BMC for some time, over improving strategic representation of Scottish mountaineering interests at the BMC. So the Board of Mountaineering Scotland was encouraged to see that the “Amended Recommendations Report” published in March 2018 by the BMC includes a proposal that Mountaineering Scotland should have a place on a newly established BMC Board of Directors.

Our Board has welcomed this as a means of allowing the views of our membership to be represented during discussions of strategic issues at the BMC and input on decisions that have an impact on the climbing community across the whole of the UK

Mountaineering Scotland would reciprocate with the offer of a place for a representative from the BMC on our Board.

The offer of representation for both organisations makes sense, with considerable overlap between our functions and memberships. We estimate that there are 4000 BMC members in Scotland and many of the 76,000 other BMC members will regularly visit Scotland to walk, climb and ski. Mountaineering Scotland also acts on the BMC’s behalf on landscape and access issues in Scotland, with their financial support. There is cooperation in safety and training, and in indoor climbing competitions and youth development, with the BMC acting as the GB governing body for international competitive climbing.

Mike Watson, President of Mountaineering Scotland, said: “This vote is on the future of the BMC, and it’s a critical time for them. But it is also an opportunity to establish new governance arrangements for British mountaineering that will recognise the changing nature of the UK and the need to engage with all the home nations on matters of common interest.”

Detailed information about the choices facing BMC members can be seen here.