The governing Board consists of 29 unpaid members and includes both elected and nominated members.
Eleven of the members are elected directly by the electorate in the parishes and wards that pay the precept. 17 are nominated by local authorities and one is nominated by the Church Commissioners
The Board meets at least five times a year, to consider the reports presented by its committees and officers and to set policies and strategic aims of the organisation.
All meeting dates, agendas, papers and minutes can be found in ourevents calendar.
Minutes from previous meetings can also be viewed in our archive. Meeting minutes are signed off at Board meetings therefore minutes from the most recent meeting will be available in draft only.
Committee and Board meetings must now be held face to face.
Although the Government has removed legal restraints on indoor gatherings, the responsibility for conducting these safely has been passed to individual organisations. Some venues have not changed their conditions of hire and continue to operate under Covid safe rules. In addition, for the safety of all attending the meetings, the Trust will carry out its own risk assessment for each venue. Social distancing will be maintained at meetings and all present will be asked to wear a face mask (unless exempt). Numbers of people attending meetings will be limited.
Public attendance and speaking at meetings
All the Committee and Board meetings are open to the public, except where personnel matters or commercially sensitive matters are to be discussed or where legal professional privilege applies.
Committee and Board meetings are now being held face-to-face. However, some venues are not changing their Covid precautions and in addition, for the safety of all attending the meetings, the Trust will carry out its own risk assessment for each venue. For the safety of all those attending the meeting:
Social distancing will be maintained and all present will be asked to wear a face mask (unless exempt).
The number of people able to be present at each venue will be restricted and limited numbers of places will be available for members of the public. Anyone wishing to attend mustapply in writingto cindy@malvernhills.org.ukor write to Mrs L Parish at the Trust’s office giving your name, email address and contact telephone numberfor the purposes of Covid-19 contact tracing. If a place is available you will be sent confirmation.
Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Once the venue is at capacity we will no longer be able to admit people and turning up to meetings without pre-booking means that you risk being excluded.
Members of the public wishing to make a comment at the start of the meeting may either submit a short statement which can be read out (which will take no longer than 3 minutes to read), or may book a place and address the meeting. In either case, this must be received no later than 12 noon, one clear day before the meeting (e.g. for a meeting on a Thursday evening, by 12 noon on Tuesday).
For a committee meeting, the statement must be relevant to a matter on the agenda for the meeting.
Statements submitted before the deadline will be posted on the Trust’s website (where possible), circulated to trustees and read out verbatim at the meeting. The Trust reserves the right not to publish or read out any statements which contain information which may be defamatory or are otherwise in breach the law.
Annual meeting of Levy Payers
There is an Annual Meeting of Levy Payers each year at which our accounts are publicly presented. Following this they are lodged with the Charity Commission and published and also are available to view the meeting from the Trust's Office.
This committee makes recommendations to the Board in relation to:
The budget, precept and Annual Report and Accounts
Reports on financial matters
The effectiveness of financial controls
Contracts
Reserves policy
The Business Plan
Fundraising
Enforcement of byelaws
This committee also has the authority to approve contracts for budgeted expenditure between £10,000 and £20,000 and approve non-budget expenditure limited to a maximum of £20,000 in any financial year.
The Disciplinary Committee will meet only when required to implement the process set out in the Disciplinary Procedure to investigate and adjudicate any complaint about trustee conduct.
Working Groups and Panels
Recreation Advisory Panel - This Panel meets twice a year to discuss work and projects which may affect users and visitors to the Hills. Representatives from different recreation user groups including cyclists, walkers, joggers and hang gliders meet to advise the Trust.
Wildlife Panel - The Panel is made up of wildlife and species experts and is an opportunity for the Trust to review the records of species and habitats which could inform future management of the Hills and Commons.
We actively engage with with other local organisations and groups to find ways in which we can work together to care for the Hills and Commons.
Castlemorton Commons Coordinating Committee (4C's) - The Castlemorton Commons Coordinating Committee or 4Cs was set up to to provide a forum for discussion about the management of Castlemorton, Hollybed and Coombe Green Commons.
Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - The main ridgeline of the Malvern Hills and Commons fall within the Malvern Hills AONB. The AONB designation signifies that the natural beauty of this area is of national importance. As such, a Partnership of local and national interests works together to conserve and enhance the area through the implementation of a five year AONB Management Plan.
Visit the Malverns - Official tourist information website with more information about visiting the Malvern Hills, food, accommodation and other attractions in the area.
Natural England - Are the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide. NE also advise us on the management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Malvern Hills and Commons.
Historic England - Are the public body that looks after England's historic environment. They champion and protect historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them. HE advise us on the management of the Scheduled Monuments on the Malvern Hills and Commons.
