Latest update from Regional Review Team "Progress has started on getting the new team up to speed. The members of the Team are; Nick Bosley (Chair), Kevin Keaveny, Ian Packham, Ruth Sloan and Gary Timmins (NE Representative).

At Penrith, in September, the NE decided to progress but with the removal of the term ‘no exceptions’. They also decided not to reverse changes that had already taken place.

As a start we are reviewing changes that were ready to go such as the Yorkshire part of Lunesdale transferring to Keighley and Craven and the Cheshire part of High Peak transferring to Macclesfield and East Cheshire.

We had identified an exception in South Gloucestershire which will be reviewed also following an objection from a Regional Director.

However, the number one priority is to find a home (be it a new branch , a sub branch or a merger) for the London based members of the former South West Essex branch. That is now with the RD for Greater London with oversight from Kevin Keaveny (as RRIT member but also Chair of Regions and Branches Committee).

Two more complex areas are also to be discussed

Herts Essex borders. Following a paper submitted from the branch the RD for East Anglia is travelling to them to discuss the various options and how each option is working towards the aim of the review. Nick Bosley will be the member of the RRIT working with the RD. North Derbyshire – this involves three regions so there will be an initial meeting of the RDs for East Midlands, North West and Yorkshire looking at the plan submitted by the RD for East Midlands. Following that meeting the branches will be involved (Chesterfield, High Peak and Sheffield). Gary Timmins will be the RRIT member responsible. We are also aware of RD elections being run (Merseyside and Cheshire plus South Central have been given the go ahead by the NE). Others will be following shortly. The timings of these will form our decision making as to the order we work through."