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Critics Of Administration Branded 'Trouble Makers'
In the 1999 Annual Report FSB National Chairman Ian Handford proudly boasts the existence of a globe-trotting
"FSB International Ambassador", and the establishment of links with other organisations ... could this be a job for 'FSB old boys' which
serves no useful purpose for FSB members?!
It is reported that in the UK FSB members struggle to have as say in FSB affairs; even at their own AGM.
Furthermore FSB members who dare to criticise the administration of the FSB risk ridicule, humiliation and expulsion.
Members appear to feel so little confidence in the integrity and sense of fair play of the current FSB administration, that they felt it necessary
to resort to 'force majeure' motions to get an opportunity to address serious concerns at their own AGM.
Prevention And Detection Of Fraud And Other Irregularities
The FSB Annual Report states one responsibility of the directors of
the company as being 'the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities'.
Yet how can that responsibility be fulfilled:
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when there is NO INDEPENDENT AUDIT of the spending of the two hundred FSB branches and thirty FSB regions;
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when it is reported by a former FSB director and National Chairman that legal advice
about the proper appointment of legitimate directors has been kept
from the directors of the FSB National Council by their very own Company Secretary
The question is thus not who are guarding the guards, but, WHO ARE THE
GUARDIANS of the FSB institution and the interests of its members;
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when it is not clear that the FSB has properly appointed directors;
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when the FSB paid rent and rates to a landlord who was also an FSB officer when
the premises concerned was not valued for rates with the Inland Revenue nor
listed in the Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council rates list;
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when expenses paid for officers and other committee members to attend
annual conference when only one person should be reimbursed.
Over £100,000 Of Members Funds To Write-Off Possible Loss By NFSE Sales Ltd!
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Ian Handford
pas FSB Director and Chairman'
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Gordon Catto
FSB 'Finance Director'
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David Dexter
FSB Company Secretary,
Director NFSE Sales
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Bernard Juby
Director and Chairman NFSE Sales Ltd
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The FSB 1999 Annual Report indicates at page 12 (paragraph 1.1) that the one of its subsidiary companies,
NFSE Sales Ltd has incurred potential liabilities of £113,424.
The report then casually states that the
'... National Council has ... agreed to underwrite the potential liabilities of its subsidiary if necessary.'
The FSB owns 98% of NFSE Sales Ltd so some pertinent questions should now be asked.
However, the aloof manner of FSB administrators under the present chairman and other national officers, means that
determined effort will be needed prise answers to those questions out of the FSB 'Finance Director', Gordon Catto
(pictured), FSB Company Secretary, David Dexter
(pictured), and the chairman of the NFSE Sales board, Bernard Juby
(pictured).
Please consider the following questions.
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Who owns the other 2% of NFSE Ltd shares?
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Is the 2% of shares owned by a current FSB officer, official or FSB member?
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Who is responsible for managing NFSE Sales Ltd?
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What other experience does Bernard Juby have of running a business?
In 1999 NFSE Sales Ltd had a spending budget of nearly £0.75 million!
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Which FSB officer is responsible for monitoring the performance of NFSE Sales Ltd?
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Is it not cavalier use of FSB members funds, for FSB officers and the directors/shodow directors of the National Council, to agree to write-off more that 98% of any loss?
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Is the 'potential loss of £113,424' included as an expense in the FSB accounts for the year to 30 September 1999 and so where is it submerged'?
Surely respect for the members of the FSB should warrant a full written report of the 'potential loss of £113,424' of members funds.
Perhaps the scant revelation in the FSB 1999 Annual Report which had been kept from members up until then, is further
grounds for members to demand an INDEPENDENT INQUIRY into the conduct of FSB affairs by the present,
apparent FSB oligarchy.
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An an independent inquiry is needed, independent of the present FSB directors and staff hierarchy.
What Could An Independent Inquiry Do For FSB Members?
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Stimulate member-confidence and trust in the leadership of the FSB?
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Engender a healthy respect for the FSB constitution rather than treat it as mere
guidelines as the current FSB Company Secretary insists?
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Lead to the FSB employing professional staff to administer its affairs,
rather than, as over recent years, spend £millions, 'paying' elected members
to do jobs for which they may be, neither qualified nor competent?
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Exorcise any suspicion of any corruption which may be bred by the cronyism
which could exist if a small rump of people were allowed to continue to 'rule'
the FSB indefinitely, in a dictatorial and oligarchic manner?
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Prevent the tail from wagging the dog?
(to quote a comment by a West Midlands FSB member)
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A keener involvement in the affairs of the FSB by its many rank-and-file members?
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Lead to more truly credible advice to Her Majesty's Government on the
needs and opinions of the small business community?
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A free and fair internal disputes and disciplinary process could be established, AND linked to a facility for independent
external arbitration for differences which cannot be resolved internally.
The Future For Our Children Starts Now ...
Perhaps the time is NOW, for those who handover hard earned money to the
FSB to take an interest and support a campaign to derail any suspicion
of a 'gravy train' and put the FSB on track.
If 90% of UK businesses are small, small business people play a key role
in the UK economy, and thus in the future standard of living for their
children.
Unreasonable Practice (11 April 2000)
The present FSB dispute and disciplinary (D&D) process is shown to be unsafe by strong visual and oral evidence,
that the current Secretary of the FSB D&D Committee, is known in certain situations, to act to give 'moral support' to the
present FSB Company Secretary.
( see FSB member's letter accessed from the FSB Scandal Contents page on this web site )
For the FSB D&D process to be considered to be beyond reproach then, surely, any manifestation of partiality in its D&D
system should be thoroughly and impartially investigated.
How can the actions of the present occupant of the office of the FSB Company Secretary ever be fairly questioned when the appeal of every FSB D&D complaint has to be made to HIS office.
The situation appears to be potentially corruptive and thus a source for possible distrust of the FSB 'justice system'.
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