What was becoming an increasingly fraught dispute between the British Federation of Brass Bands and staff at the British Brass Band Registry appears to have reached a state of impasse, with the news that Registry staff have suspended any proposed industrial action and have returned to work.

Suspended

In a letter sent by Lynn Johnson, Ann Thorpe and Frank Hodges to bands and seen by 4BR they state:

"Following the announcement by the BFBB of positive talks surrounding the current workplace problems, the British Brass Band Registry staff are pleased to announce that their industrial action has now been suspended, and work has commenced in the normal manner.

We hope that this announcement will be received as a positive step to encourage sensible dialogue and we are sure everyone will join us in the advancement of a long term resolution to the satisfaction of all concerned."

Although there is a backlog of work to catch up on, the staff have indicated to 4BR that they will do everything possible to ensure the running of the Registry is undertaken with it usual level of professionalism.

They added: "It will take a while to clear the backlog, and we appreciate your continued patience. Please email if you have any queries. We offer our sincere gratitude for all of the wonderful messages of solidarity and support."

Positive move

The announcement by the staff at the Registry is seen by many to be a positive move following revelations of the appointment of three new Directors of BFBB Contests Limited, letters to staff informing them of potential disciplinary action, and even reports that the locks at the Registry headquarters had reportedly been changed.

New Directors

4BR understands that a move has been made by a written resolution of the sole member (i.e. The British Federation of Brass Bands) of B.F.B.B. Contests Limited), to appoint additional directors of B.F.B.B. Contests Limited on 30th June.

In addition, letters sent to Registry staff on the 24th July informed them clearly that failure to return to work on Thursday 26th July would lead to disciplinary action being taken against them.

There were also unconfirmed reports that the locks to the Registry had been changed, making a return to work by staff impossible.

letters sent to Registry staff on the 24th July informed them clearly that failure to return to work on Thursday 26th July would lead to disciplinary action being taken against them4BR

Contracts

It is understood by 4BR that staff at the Registry do not currently have employment contracts, and that they concerned that the BFBB has not taken into account issues surrounding lone working practices, health & safety and Data Protection amongst others.

4BR Questions

Before the latest announcement by the staff at the Registry, 4BR contacted Robert Morgan, Chairman of the BFBB, with ten questions that it felt were need to be clarified.

These were as follows:

1. What is the current position in regard to the British Federation of Brass Bands becoming a newly constituted body?

2. What timescale do you envisage for the process to be completed, given that there is currently no announcement of a date of an Annual General Meeting (due in February of 2012) or an Extraordinary General Meeting?

3. With this in mind are you confident the BFBB is working within the current rules and regulations of its funding bodies and the Charity Commission?

4. How will the new body be structured in respect to an executive committee, contest promotion and the British Brass Band Registry?

5. How will this affect the funding of current full time and part time positions within the BFBB?

6. Are you confident that the new organisation will be able to meet both its short term and long term aims and objectives or will these, such as the target of 1,200 member bands by 2015, be revised?

7. Following the news that industrial action is being taken by staff at the British Brass Band Registry, and with no Line Manager and the Registry Manager on long term sick leave, what action is being taken to ensure that registrations issues and enquiries are dealt with for bands?

8. What advice and information would you give to bands in respect to registration issues with the contest season due to become increasingly busy in the next few months?

9. At the recent English National Championship in Preston, you informed 4BR that a decision would be taken over its future following the event. Can you tell us what the current position for 2013 and beyond is?

10. Do you believe the BFBB is the right body to maintain, improve, represent and promote the practice and performance of brass band music in the UK?

BFBB response

The response given to 4BR was as follows:

"The BFBB is currently not in a position to be able to give full and concise answers to questions as many relate to 'work in progress'.

This is not just the BFBB working on their own, but the Arts Council and Charity Commission are all involved. We can confirm that talks are moving forward extremely positively.

It was always planned, as announced at last year’s AGM, that 2011 would be a 15-month accounting period to enable a change of year end to 31st March to meet Arts Council requirements. The BFBB is now awaiting confirmation of the new charity ‘Brass Bands England’ from the Charity Commission and as soon as this is received, the statutory 21 days notice will be given for an AGM/EGM.

Rest assured that as soon as there are answers to your various questions a full comprehensive press release will be issued.

Finally, the BFBB, (the sole owners of BFBB (Contests) Ltd. which includes the British Brass Band Registry), advises bands to send their registry requests to the BFBB office in Barnsley as normal."

BFBB Executive Committee
26th July 2012