Motions

Members' Weekend 2011 - Motion Results

Special Resolution - Defeated

This Annual General Meeting resolves that the Articles of Association of the company be amended as follows:-

In Article 4 the words "SUCH persons as the National Executive shall admit to membership shall be members of CAMRA on payment of a subscription of such sum as the members in General Meeting may from time to time decide. The members in General Meeting may stipulate types of membership and the payment appropriate to each type." shall be deleted and the following words shall be inserted in their place: "SUCH persons as the National Executive shall admit to membership shall be members of CAMRA on payment of a subscription of such sum as the National Executive may from time to time decide. The National Executive may stipulate types of membership and the payment appropriate to each type."

Proposed by the National Executive

Ordinary Motions

MOTION 1 - Passed
This Conference agrees to adopt the Internal Policy Document produced after the 2010 Conference and Annual General Meeting subject to any amendments to policy decided at this Conference.

Proposed by the National Executive

MOTION 2 - Passed
This Conference agrees to adopt the External Policy Document produced after the 2010 Conference and Annual General Meeting subject to any amendments to policy decided at this Conference.

Proposed by the National Executive

MOTION 3 - Defeated
This Conference supports the recent growth of real cider and perry flavoured with added fruit, spices and herbs, providing that the cider or perry maintains at least 90% apple or pear juice and the fruit, spices or herbs are real (i.e. eschewing concentrates of, or pasteurised, fruits and synthetic flavourings). Conference therefore instructs that the definition of real cider and perry be amended accordingly.

Proposed by the Kent Region

MOTION 4 - Passed
This Conference condemns the growing practice of breweries selling beers under a different brewery name, giving the impression that the beers are from a separate independent brewery. Conference instructs the National Executive to campaign against this misleading practice. CAMRA beer festivals should be encouraged not to sell such beers.

Proposed by Nottingham Branch

MOTION 5 - Passed
This Conference supports the Government's plans to place a moratorium on sales of valued pubs to developers to allow the community time to raise funds to buy the pub. Conference instructs the National Executive to lobby the Government to extend these plans to prevent owners unreasonably rejecting community bids and to work to enhance the legal, business and financial support available for community pub ownership.

Proposed by Pubs Campaigns Committee

MOTION 6 - Passed
This Conference commends the UK Government's decision to appoint a Community Pubs Minister and calls upon it and future UK Governments to make this a permanent position and further calls on the Welsh Assembly Government and Scottish Government to appoint Community Pubs Ministers.

Proposed by Pubs Campaigns Committee

MOTION 7 - Passed
Amended - This Conference believes that the power of the Planning Inspectorate to overturn local planning decisions should be limited to instances where the local planning decision was unreasonable or procedurally unfair and in the first instance instructs Planning Advisory Group to identify instances where the Inspectorate has overturned reasonable and procedurally fair local decisions so that appropriate action can be taken in the light of the evidence found.

Proposed by Pubs Campaigns Committee

MOTION 8 - Passed
This Conference welcomes the reintroduction of guest beer rights by Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns for some of their tied lessees but believes further change is necessary. Conference calls on Government to pursue its clear commitment to introduce a statutory code of practice requiring pub companies with more than 500 tied pubs to provide every tied lessee with a guest beer right and a free of tie option.

Proposed by the National Executive

MOTION 9 - Passed
This Conference regrets the failure of the UK Government to introduce a genuine ban on the sale of alcohol at below cost in the off-trade, which, combined with the recent increase in VAT, will result in beer sold in pubs being about six times the price of beer sold in the off-trade. Conference therefore calls on all sections of the Campaign to highlight the fact that the VAT increase, and the failure to ban the sale of alcohol at below cost, will further undermine pubs.

Proposed by the National Executive

MOTION 10 - Passed
This Conference welcomes the UK Government's decision to reduce excise duty for low strength beers, but believes the 2.8% ABV cut-off point, as mandated by European Union rules, is too low. Conference therefore instructs the National Executive to lobby the European Union and the UK Government to increase the current 2.8% ABV cut off point to 3.5% ABV.

Proposed by Brewing Industry Campaigns Committee

MOTION 11 - Passed
This Conference believes that higher strength drinks (spirits) should be taxed at a higher rate per alcohol unit than lower strength products (beer) and deplores the alcohol tax policy of the last UK Government which increased beer duty by 60% but only increased spirits duty by 25%. Conference instructs the National Executive to oppose calls from Diageo plc and others to equalise duty rates on beer and spirits and calls upon the National Executive to campaign for an alcohol tax system that encourages the responsible and sociable consumption of beer in pubs.

Proposed by Campaign Strategy Committee

MOTION 12 - Defeated
Amended - This Conference recognises the importance of beer festivals to CAMRA in promoting real ale, real cider and real perry. As such, it encourages the Organisers of CAMRA beer festivals not to offer to the public, either directly or indirectly, alcoholic drinks other than real ale, real cider and real perry. Quality bottled beers from overseas countries that do not have a "Real Ale in a Bottle" tradition may be allowed at the Festival Organisers' discretion.

Proposed by Ron Elder
Seconded by Roger Preece

MOTION 12a - Defeated
Amended - This Conference reaffirms that CAMRA is an independent consumer organisation accountable only to its members and which should always be independent of any outside commercial influence. Accordingly, this conference instructs the National Executive that CAMRA, acting as a national campaigning organisation, must not enter into any further commercial, promotional or recruitment arrangements (other than paid for advertising at normal commercial rates) with any organisation which is involved in the production, wholesaling or retailing of beer or cider. For clarification, this prohibition would not prevent CAMRA festivals, branch or regionally organised events or publications from entering into such arrangement

Proposed by Ian Fozard
Seconded by Chris Holmes

MOTION 13 - Defeated
This Conference believes in the beneficial health effects of real ale and believes that other ale products with chemical and gas additives can have a detrimental effect on public health. Conference believes that the differences between the two are significant and measurable, but acknowledges that research on this area has so far been minimal. Conference therefore resolves that CAMRA shall work with other interested parties to quantify the differences in health terms between real ale and other ale products.

Proposed by West Lancashire Branch

MOTION 14 - Passed
This Conference notes the demise of CAMRA's Public Transport Advisory Group in early 2010, and agrees there is a need for such a group to advise branches on issues related to the use of public transport in support of pubs and pub-going, alongside liaison with relevant transport contacts, and instructs the National Executive to reinstate the Group with immediate effect.

Proposed by Steve Bury
Seconded by Phil Defriez