AGM Minutes – 2009 38th Annual Meeting

The 38th Annual Meeting of the College was held at the BT Convention Centre, Liverpool, from 2 to 5 June 2009.

Business Meeting

The Business Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists was held on Thursday 4 June 2009 and was chaired by the President, Professor Dinesh Bhugra. It was attended by 102 members of the College.

The Minutes of the previous meeting held in London on Wednesday 2 July 2008 and published in the Psychiatric Bulletin, December 2008, were approved and signed. Proposed: Dr Clare Oakley; seconded: Dr Josanne Holloway.

The Registrar read out the obituary list of members who had died since the Winter Business Meeting, and a minute's silence was observed.

The President, Dean, Registrar, Treasurer and Editor presented their annual reports (full text available at www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college.aspx).

General Business

The approval of the Annual Accounts for 2008 was proposed by Professor Hamid Ghodse and seconded by Dr Amit Malik.

The proposed fees and subscription rates with effect from 1 January 2010 were approved. Proposed: Dr Rupendra Brahma; seconded: Dr Amit Malik.

The reappointment of Buzzacott as Auditors of the College to hold office until the next Annual General Meeting was approved. Proposed: Dr Denise Coia; seconded: Professor John Cox.

Changes to the Supplemental Charter and Bye-Laws of the College

The President introduced the proposed changes to the Supplemental Charter and Bye-Laws of the College, as detailed in the agenda circulated to all Members and Associates.

The President took questions and comments from the floor concerning two points, the proposal to revert to the term ‘Council’ and the change from ‘Vice-Presidents’ to ‘College Leads’.

The President thanked all who contributed to the debate. The ancillary points raised would be referred to the Central Executive Committee for further consideration, but there was a clear majority in favour of the proposed changes to the Supplemental Charter and Bye-Laws.

The following resolution, proposed by Professor Sue Bailey and seconded by Professor George Ikkos, was carried.

That the Bye-laws of the College be amended, revoked and added in accordance with the memorandum thereof containing such amendments, revocations and additions sent to the Members with the notice of this Meeting provided that such amendments, revocations or additions shall not take effect until the same shall have been approved by the Privy Council and provided further that the Central Executive Committee of the College shall have authority to approve any further amendments required thereto by the Privy Council.

Presentation Ceremony

Following the conclusion of the business meeting, the new Fellows, the representatives of overseas psychiatric associations, the winners of the Laughlin and Standish-Barry prizes, and the Honorary Fellows for 2009 were presented.

The full text of the citations for Honorary Fellows is available at www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college.aspx.