| Content Note | Topics discussed:
Welcome
Welcome to Mr Short, Mr Nicholson, and Mr Noakes.
Honours And Awards
Announcement that Mrs Laura Meo MBE, Executive Officer (Administration) Western Mediterranean Area, had been appointed a Commendatore della Republica Italiana by the President of Italy.
Mentions Professor Prance had won a botany award for his work towards conservation, particularly in the Amazonian rainforest.
Announcements
Mentions that the Hon David Collenette had been appointed Minister of National Defence and Veterans' Affairs, Canada, in succession to Mr Peter McCreath, and that the Hon Warren Cooper had been appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, New Zealand, in succession to the Hon Graeme Lee.
Deaths
Mentions death of Sir George Taylor, the Commission’s Honorary Botanical Adviser from 1956-1971.
Minutes Of The 594th Meeting Of The Commission
Mentions that several amendments had been made subsequent to the circulation of the minutes and these would be gone through at the meeting.
Matters Arising From The Minutes Of The 594th Meeting Of The Commission
Mentions that that three young Dutch men had recently been arrested in connection with the vandalism at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in The Netherlands. All three had been remanded on bail and would appear in court again later in the year.
Corporate Plan 1994 – 1999
Refers to draft corporate plan which incorporated suggestions made by the Finance Committee at its meeting in October. Refers to activities of the Commission across the world, particularly in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Mentions improvement in the value of sterling had allowed several items previously postponed, such as base site and irrigation projects and the start of a new film, to be brought back into the current year's programme. Mentions restoration work in Iraq and Germany (particularly Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery), and the marking of graves of casualties of 1914-1915 Rebellion in South Africa. Mentions construction of base sites and the scanning of registers for database to be completed in January 1994. Also refers to new premises for Western Mediterranean Area and considers United Kingdom Area office at Leamington Spa.
Estimate Of Expenditure 1994-1995
Mentions the net estimate was £435,000 less than that put to the Finance Committee due to changes in the programme and more favourable exchange rates. Discussion about the Commission’s budget with the following resolutions:
i) approved an estimate of net expenditure for the financial year 1994-95 in the sum of £27,770,236 and accepted that in order to fund this expenditure, member governments should be asked to contribute the sum of £25,745,236.
ii) agreed that the possibility of restoring the reductions in the estimate should be pursued with the Chairman.
Progress Of Operations And Forecast Of Outturn 1993-1994
Refers to revised format and presentation of the paper and mentions the Commission took note of the forecast of outturn for 1993-1994.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Supernannuation Scheme – Appointment Of Trustee
Resolution acknowledging service of Mr I D Sylvester as a Trustee and approval of the appointment of Miss G S Stedman as a Trustee of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme for a period of 3 years in place of Mr Sylvester.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees: Appointment Of Members
Resolution for the approval of one appointment set out under section A of the paper and took note of the eight appointments set out under sections Band C. Also agreed that the Vice-Chairman should approve future appointments to Joint Committees.
Burials And Commemorations
Mentions the Chairman was considering the need to present cases so formally to the Commission. Resolution approving the alternative commemoration of the four war burials as outlined in the paper.
Schedule Of Documents Executed On Behalf Of The Commission
Resolution that the Commission took note of the execution on its behalf of the documents serial numbers 676 and 333 and 334 referred to in the Schedule laid before the meeting and signed for identification by the Commission's Legal Adviser and Solicitor.
Diary
Refers to a visit by HM The Queen to Waynes Keep Military Cemetery, Nicosia. Reports on ceremonies to commemorate the Unknown Australian Soldier, reflecting on all of the work involved in the project and mentions excerpts were shown of the ceremony in Canberra. Thanks given to Commissioners for participation in Remembrance Day events. Mentions Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall where the Commission received a mention. Refers to Sir Nigel Mobbs raising the issue about the CWGC’s interests in Hong Kong and assurances around uncertainties of post-1997 arrangements. Also mentions Mr Nicholson’s visit to Commission sites in France and Yokohama War Cemetery in Japan.
Other Business
Discussion about Pakistan’s membership of the Commission, providing update on this topic and that there had been regular correspondence in recent years with the Pakistan Government regarding resumption of membership of the Commission. Discussion regarding June 1994 meeting and proposal to host the meeting at the Commission’s office in Arras. Suggestion for reduction of briefing material for Commissioners on tour. Mentions final meeting to be attended by Mr Smith, the Australian High Commissioner, and Mr Gair, the New Zealand High Commissioner. Closing of the meeting with Seasons’ Greetings to all in attendance.
Attendees:
Air Chief Marshal Sir Joseph Gilbert KCB CBE (Vice-Chairman of the Commission (In the Chair))
His Excellency Mr R J Smith (High Commissioner for Australia)
His Excellency The Honourable G F Gair QSO (High Commissioner for New Zealand)
His Excellency Mr F Eaton OC (High Commissioner for Canada)
Dame Janet Fookes DBE MP
Sir Nigel Mobbs DL
Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt GCB LVO
The Viscount Ridley KG TD
Professor R J O’Neill AO
Mrs L Golding MP
Sir Harold Walker KCMG
General Sir John Akehurst KCB CBE
Mr J M Stewart CB (Representing the Secretary of State for Defence in the United Kingdom)
Miss D A Nichols (Representing the Secretary of State for the Environment in the United Kingdom)
Brigadier B S Malik AVSM (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Mr H Short (Representing the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa)
Advisers:
Professor Sir Peter Shepheard CBE BArch PPRIBA MRTPI PPILA (Honorary Artistic Adviser)
Professor G T Prance MA DPhil FRS FLS (Honorary Botanical Adviser)
Secretary:
Mr D Kennedy (Director-General)
Also in attendance:
Mr D Nicholson (Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Veterans' Affairs, Canada)
Mr T F Penfold (Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General (Administration))
Mr R J Dalley (Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General (Operations))
Mr G C Reddie (Legal Adviser and Solicitor)
Mr D R Parker (Director of Personnel)
Mr A Coombe (Director of Works)
Mr P J Noakes (Director of Finance (Designate))
Mr J P D Gee (Director of Information and Secretariat)
Mr D C Parker (Director of Horticulture)
Mr T V Reeves (Director of Finance)
Miss E Kennedy (Secretariat/External Relations Officer) |