NRA Journal - Summer 2003 - National Rifle Association

In this, my first “Notes” I believe that it is appropriatefor me to update you on changes that you will see inthe Journal now that the way ahead for the Associationis clearer. Matters which relate exclusively to Bisley -the activities conducted at the National ShootingCentre - will be addressed elsewhere. I willconcentrate on wider aspects of interest to theAssociation and its members. So, whilst much of thatwhich you see below has been provided by others,principally Martin Farnan, I will concentrate on NRAwidematters.The PollThe Scrutineers (Mr J Raistrick for Mr Sarony and MrN Molyneux for the Council) have certified that therewere 1,350 valid votes cast with 31 spoiled papers andabstentions. Of these there were 769 votes cast for thefour Resolutions and 581 votes against.Accordingly I am pleased to report that theResolutions adopted at the Spring General Meetingon 29 March 2003 and put to a Poll have now beenduly passed and the new Rules for our governancenow become effective.MoD Licence Fees and Range FeesThe topic of MoD charges is regularly on the agendasof interested committees and we closely monitordevelopments in the interest of the membership. Asmany will be aware, confronted by increasing financialpressures themselves, the MoD are conducting anoverall review of future charging regimes. However,in advance of the outcome of that review, we haverecently been advised of the charges to be applied forcivilian clubs using MoD ranges during the period1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. Already a number ofsignificant changes have been incorporated in thesecharges. To give the full picture, shown below arelast year’s alongside this year’s charges. All rangecharges are per lane per half day (but see Notes) andall charges are exclusive of VAT.2NOTES FROM THESECRETARY GENERALbyBobFishwick2002/3 2003/4MoD Licence Fee £50.00 £15.00IBSR Range (1) £40.50 £25.00ETR Range (1) £23.00 £7.50CGR Range (2) £23.00 £15.00Gallery Range (2) £12.00 £12.5025/30m Range (2) £13.50 £15.00Zeroing Range (2) £13.50 £12.50Multi Target Range (2) £13.50 £15.00(per lane of four targets)Notes:(1) Based on the total number of lanes available.(2) Based on a minimum booking of two lanes.In essence, this could possibly be judged as having aswings and roundabouts effect on us. Gallery Rangecharges have risen by 4% and 25/30m and MultiTarget Ranges by 11%, but CGR charges have fallenby 35% and Zeroing Range charges by 7%. Theminimum booking criterion of two lanes on the fiveranges to which this applies is unlikely toinconvenience many, (if any) clubs unless theyroutinely book only a single lane.In the case of whole range charges it might, at firstsight, appear alarming that (say) all 12 lanes on anETR must be paid for. However, on closerexamination, things are perhaps not so dire; forexample, comparing the old and the new charges, fourlanes for a full day on an ETR in 2002 would have cost£184, whereas all 12 lanes in 2003 will cost only £180.It is also likely that the number of firers who couldcompete on four lanes in a full day will be able tocomplete the same course of fire, using all 12 lanes, inhalf a day, thus costing the club only £90.Club Secretaries may also have recently received their“Annual Licence to use an Open Range” and may havebeen concerned at the particular wording inconnection with the Club’s insurance liability. Thespecific paragraph refers to the requirement that theclub shall have in force “at all times, a public liabilitypolicy of insurance . . . in an amount of not less than£2,000,000 . . . ”. It then goes on, however, to say“provided that the effecting or existence of suchinsurance as aforesaid shall not be construed to limitor affect the extent of the club’s liability under theindemnities in (the previous paragraphs) which shallbe unlimited as to amount”.This last sentence has been brought to the attention ofour insurers who have stated that this requirement isunacceptable and have advised that this particularform of words should be struck out. They have alsosuggested that a number of other small changes wouldbe appropriate. We have written to the Head of theMoD Business Unit and have asked him to review thispolicy which is clearly unworkable. However, in themeantime, in case of any difficulty with a RangeAdministering Unit (RAU), the club concerned isinvited to contact the NRA (Assistant Director ofShooting) who will try to alleviate the problem.