Summary of the meeting of The Hawk Board held on Wednesday, 19th October, 2011
at A.H.V.L.A. Temple Quay, Bristol.
As this was the first meeting of the new Hawk Board term and the first agenda item was the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen, the meeting was opened by the Co-ordinator, Mike Clowes. He asked for nominations for the position of Chairman and Jim Chick was proposed by Nick Fox and seconded by Nick Kester. There were no other nominees therefore Jim was duly elected. He then took over the meeting, thanked those present and moved onto the elections for the Vice-Chairmen. Andrew Knowles-Brown and Nick Fox were nominated and elected.
Those present were: Gary Gabriel(GG), Andrew Knowles-Brown(AKB), Jim Chick(JC), Graham Irving(GI), Derek Stotton(DS), Mike Hope(MH), Nick Fox(NF), Nick Kester(NK), Jo Oliver(JO), Angie Chick(AC), Doreen Page(DP), Jim Collins(JCO), Mike Warren(MW), Lisa Jarvis(LJ) and Mike Clowes(MC).
Apologies were received from Terry Burden, Terry Large, Pete Eldrett, Lee Featherstone, Jemima Parry-Jones MBE, Dean White, Gary Bidiss and James Legge.
The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed with no matters arising, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Before the main agenda began NK referred to the Circus Animals (Performing Animals) Act. Jim Paice had referred it to the Human Rights committee about the legal use of legally owned animals so there is no immediate problem. JCO advised that 4-5 years ago a similar argument about primates was successful and Germany have also been successful with reptiles.
A.H.V.L.A. Chris Auger(CA) and Nevin Hunter(NH) joined the meeting with the AHVLA update.
NH began by detailing details of approx 8 on-going cases. NF asked how many on-going cases involved taking birds from the wild? NH replied, 2 out of 20 plus a few DNA. JC asked if Caroline Rigg had mentioned that he had written enquiring how things were going with certain persons being charged? NH replied that the case in S. Wales had not been dropped and the time taken is controlled by the prosecutors arranging the cases. He had no update on sentencing of any cases pending since the last HB meeting.
DS thought that AH are frightening people who are not fully conversant with the rules into making mistakes. NH replied that the process was that for minor paperwork offences people usually received a written warning. It only went to court if they had a history of it.
NK asked how the civil sanctions were progressing? NH replied “fine but it needs a COTES review before they can be used. He gave an example of Fixed Penalty Fine that could vary from £40 to many thousands. Another sanction would be to stop trading.
NK- We need to look into the new Wildlife and Countryside Act review. We need to try to change the law so that our birds are classed as `domestic` and not `captive wild birds`. NF- We also need to liase with Defra to have paperwork offences removed from the wildlife crime list.
NH stated that the DNA swabs training is going ahead and there is a massive increase in the breeding of Barn Owls. He finished by advising the HB to use PAW to challenge the definition of wildlife crime.
CA then took over and began with a fees review. Defra are undertaking a review of CITES and bird registration charges to move closer towards full cost recovery. AHVLA are assisting the review by providing data on the number and type of applications received since the last fees increase (April 2009) and advising on the cost of processing each type of permit/certificate, in terms of time taken at each grade. Proposed costs are still being calculated but the increases may not be as painful as you might fear, as reductions in staff costs and recent increases in the volume of applications will affect unit price.
On bird registration we are proposing to discontinue the discounted fee for recognised clubs, and are also considering charging an additional cost for the registration of disabled wild birds, to reflect the associated extra administration involved. The intention is to go out to consultation Feb-June next year and to introduce the new fees in Oct 2012, but this is a very tight timetable and may slip.
Hybrids:
Nick Fox and Nick Kester have taken up their specific queries with the JNCC. The policy position is still under discussion and a written statement will be provided as soon as it has been agreed with Defra.
Disabled wild birds:
The WCA 1981 only allows the taking of a wild bird into captivity where the intention is to rehabilitate it and release it back to the wild. If the bird subsequently turns out to be permanently disabled it can continue to be kept in captivity without a licence but it must be registered. However, keepers should think carefully about taking a bird into captivity if the injuries are such that it could never be able to fend for itself. Natural England will be able to advise further on the long term possession of disabled wild birds.
Birds listed on Schedule 4 to the WCA 1981 must be registered with AHVLA as soon as they come into a keeper’s possession.
Defra has a policy that wild birds should not be used commercially, except in exceptional circumstances where there is a positive conservation benefit to the species in the wild. We therefore have a presumption against issuing A10s for wild disabled birds, unless there will be a clear conservation benefit. A10s that have already been issued for disabled wild birds remain valid.
Offspring bred from wild disabled birds, in a way that meets the definition of captive bred in Article 54 of EC Regulation 865/2006, may be issued with an Article 10 certificate.
The Hawk Board decided in the meeting to set up a small working group to consider issues for keepers of disabled wild birds, and was advised to contact Defra policy (Tim Andrews). AHVLA will be involved in the group if there are specific implementation decisions to be made.
WG consists of MH, DS, JPJ and MC. Contact at Defra is Tim Andrews
Future attendance at HB meetings:
Up to now representatives from WLRS have attended all HB meetings and have hosted a large number at their offices. We have used our slot on the agenda to update you on anything we feel appropriate, plus anything you have specifically asked us to cover. Since the 20% staff reductions in August we have been forced to focus resources on our core licensing function, which means cutting back on non-core functions like regular stakeholder meetings. This has been agreed with our Defra colleagues and our Head of Business (Simon Hewitt).
We no longer envisage having a regular blanket AHVLA slot on your agenda and suggest the Hawk Board raises registration and CITES issues with us and/or Defra policy colleagues as they arise. It would be helpful to know if you will be discussing any specific AHVLA-related items at one of your meetings, so that we can either provide a written statement or attend in person. Please note that our intention is to only attend if any issues cannot otherwise be resolved.
The room bookings are in place for 3 more meetings in 2012; after that we cannot guarantee to be able to book a meeting room for you as there is increasing internal pressure on room bookings in TQH. We were recently told that we may be moving to a new building in the centre of Bristol this time next year and have no idea of what conference facilities will be available there.
Despite this decision to reduce our attendance at meetings, AHVLA hope it will continue to enjoy a close and mutually beneficial association with the Hawk Board.
HB Elections:
JC began by reminding the Board that a few years ago the HB Rules were changed from an election involving all 6 specialist members every 3 years to the present system of 3 members every 2 years. This was in an effort to encourage people to stand for election. In effect it has made no difference. MC added that it has increased the election costs as there are now 3 elections every 6 years instead of the original 2. This was discussed and unanimously agreed to return to the original system. MC will prepare the necessary paperwork for the January meeting.
Law Reform:
NK- This involves a review of all wildlife legislation by the Law Society. Primary legislation is the W&CA part 1. Keith Vincent of the Law Commission is happy for the Hawk Board to be a principal point of contact for birds of prey. NK will study all the relevant Acts he will forward to HB members for input then send for a pre-consultation to KV who will check the contents and make recommendations prior to the official consultation. It will take to the end of this parliament. It will cover all the aspects that we have debated over the years and we will not get a chance like this again to favourably affect our sport. (This does not apply to Scotland and N.I.)
JCO will assist via SUN and with any other assistance required. All ideas and opinions should be sent to NK and he will organize having close liaison with JCO. NF- Everyone needs to get involved with this and input should also be supplied by the Club members answering the question, “Where am I impacted by the current law”. NK- We will almost certainly need to involve lawyers, probably the CA lawyers, which will cost money? This was quickly agreed. JCO pointed out that this Government has done nothing in de-regulation up to now so it could work in our favour with our representation.
Northamptonshire Raptor Club:
MC has received an application from the NRC to become affiliated to the HB. They have supplied all the necessary information and MC has verified at least 50% of the membership list. Their Rules & Constitution are very similar to most clubs. It was quickly agreed to accept them as members.
Lantra Update:
LJ was present representing Lantra Awards and began by supplying the following:
Beginning Falconry Award Learner numbers as of October 2011:
Unit 1. Bird of prey management and husbandry (Mandatory) 715
Unit 2. Basic falconry techniques (Mandatory) 752
Unit 3: Conditioning and flying free a bird of prey (Optional).
She then moved to answering questions asked at the July HB meeting.
Would it be possible to explore how a candidate being assessed for Unit 4 could achieve units
1-3?
This will be optional but they will have to meet the criteria in the same way via completion of the workbook - though this could take place during the assessment for the Hawking Award so assessments could be combined (verbal/written and practical).
Candidates would need to register for the Beginning Falconry Award as well as the Hawking Award as they are 2 separate due to the latter only being available through clubs.
Cost implications to be confirmed as separate registrations, expect £20-£25 per cert TBC
MC pointed out that at the last HB meeting it was agreed that the Hawking Award would automatically cover modules 1-3. This was agreed but since then one or two members had completed the module 3 and were very definite that it was too complicated to include it in the Hawking Award. After discussion it was decided to leave it as outlined above.
Hawking Award
The award will be available only through the falconry clubs
Achievability Plus will administer the award, supplying assessors with assessment sheets and certificate claim forms that will need to be returned to Achievability Plus to process
Payment will be made to Achievability Plus
Lantra will send all certificates & invoices to Achievability Plus who will forward these to candidates
Potential assessors must be nominated by each club & hold the Beginning Falconry award themselves.
Ideally they will already be assessors for the Beginning Falconry award thus will have attended the assessor training day.
Those that are not already assessors for the Beginning Falconry Award will need to attend an assessor training day
It is expected that assessors then achieve the Hawking Award themselves within 12 months. This was discussed and agreed.
Assessors should hold a current first aid certificate (one day, HSE approved) This was rejected.
A maximum of 4 members can be assessed in a day. Decision for a 1on1 assessment.
There is one EV covering all clubs at present. Critical to getting this award live and onto the system is a minimum of one assessor for the award.
To clarify, the clubs will name one or more of their current assessors to assess the Hawking Award
Within 12 months these assessors must qualify on the Hawking Award themselves.
Quarry Species:
GI has discussed with Dr Matt Heydon of Natural England on behalf of the HB and the BFC about a quarry licence covering all species required with a maximum number allowed to be taken. A person would apply for a licence and would be issued with the above document. He would not have to name the species or numbers that he wished to take but would have to send a return at the end of the season to NE. It was also discussed that this would cover a season from 1st September - 28/29th February. It was agreed that if this was accepted it would greatly simplify the obtaining of a quarry licence.
This brought us on to a non-agenda item. FACE UK had asked for a list of quarry species hunted by the various field sports. On behalf of the HB NK and GI have provided this and sent it to them.
UNESCO:
MC began by informing the meeting that he had contacted UNESCO with a view to obtaining a contact in the UK that we could work with. They had been very helpful and supplied details of a delegate who was based in Paris but used a London phone number. He had passed this information on to JO. JO replied that he has been contacted and was attending the Festival.
NF- JPJ has suggested that we contact all other UK groups who will benefit by being UNESCO related as an I.C.H. Volunteers and suggestions of organizations to contact are needed please.
Festival:
There is to be a UN meeting in Abu Dhabi with HRH Prince Charles in attendance around the time of the festival. JO reported that suddenly it is like a roller coaster ride. Everything has been agreed by the Arabs with just 50 days to go. Hawking houbara and hares from camels has been confirmed and flight are being booked now. There are 425 sponsored tickets and the budget was cleared last week. Dale Johnson and one other are reps for England, Jean & Dave Dimond for Wales.
AC is arranging arena events, Pakistani falconers with Goshawks on rabbit lures, JC flying Merlins
Eagles will be flown but it is not known exactly in what way. Joseph from Austria has backed out.
Dutch & Belgian falconers are providing an event and it it hoped a lot of other countries are preparing something. Roger Upton and Nick & Lyn Havemann-Mart are VIP guests.
CFF Update:
Terry Large had sent apologies. DP has been looking at reprinting the First Aid book.
It was agreed, probably 250 at a cost of around £200.
CA Update: As James Legge had sent apologies MC read his report:
Falconry for Schools: The Alliance’s charitable arm has provided initial funding for pilot Falconry for Schools courses and will assist with the publicity vital to growing Falconry for Schools in the future. Run over four half-day sessions or two full days, Falconry for Schools aims to teach young people some of the skills of falconry. In doing so, they will learn a little about the environment and conservation whilst improving literacy, communication and number skills along the way. The course is carefully mapped to the literacy and numeracy core curriculum and key skills level 1 in application of number and communication. It aims to enhance learning using multi-sensory learning styles and, of course, takes learning outside the classroom, although part of the course uses ICT and classroom based resources.
Next Meeting: 11.00am THURSDAY, 26th January, 2012. Temple Quay, Bristol.
