Business Meeting

Monday 19th March 2007

 

Present:

 

Euan Higgins, Ron Williams, Graeme Steel, Paula Moran, Ken Palmer, Paul Glen, Ian Malone, Donna Tait, Alan Dryden, Ray Lynch, John Allan. Stewart Thornton, Helen Fearn, Iain McNeill, Ray Ramsay, Donna Tait, David McKim, Graham Mac, Liz Shaw, Hamish Lambert, John Meikle, William Millar, Murray Forsyth, Tony Helgeren, Les Murray, Louise Brown, Paul Hopwood, Mike O’Neill, Iain Henry, Louise Rawlings, John Docherty, Sally Robinson, Walter Easton, Leeann Bell, Claire Kilpatrick, John MacLellan, Stuart Thornton 

 

Also present, Alastair Thomson, Violet Anne Aitken, Tom Lindsay, Norman Geddes.

 

Apologies:

 

Tom Meechan, Iain Holgan.

 

Ron Williams opened the meeting and welcomed everybody present.

 

Minutes of Previous Meeting:

 

The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and accepted by all present.

 

Matters Arising:

 

First Aid course took place on 6th Feb 2007 at the Alba centre in Bathgate. It seemed to be enjoyed by all.  If there is demand another will be arranged.

 

Euan Higgins mentioned the use of Glenwood Drive in Armadale for a Reverse Left exercise, once again complaints from a local resident.  All are requested to use discretion. Various ways of smoothing the waters were discussed.  This also came up in the discussions with Tom and his guys.

 

 

 

Forthcoming Events

 

Iain Holgan is in the process of arranging a Go-karting league, probably once a month.  This was the final call for names. Those interested contact Iain as soon as possible.

 

A visit to the local fire station to see what equipment they have and how it is used in road accidents will be arranged shortly.  Contact Ray.

 

Sally is in the process of arranging a fun skid session at the Drivewize skid centre for anyone interested, the price is expected to be in the region of £25.  Interested parties to contact Sally.

 

Ten pin bowling still to be arranged in the near future.

 

A Quiz night has been suggested, there seemed to be a general consensus, although when asked if he was interested, Iain Malone said he could not answer that question.  Ray will get something arranged soon, details will follow ASAP.

 

Ray is still looking for names to attend a fire safety course (including practical hands on training in the use of extinguishers), he needs 20 people, currently only about 8 have registered an interest. If no one else comes forward he will contact other associations.

 

 

Points from the DTC examiners 

 

New Test Centre.  No one is DSA has officially confirmed that the new DTC location is as we currently understand.  

 

At the moment there is no plans to introduce the new “in-betweenie” test times to Bathgate DTC.

 

There does not seem to be any increase in waiting times at Bathgate DTC due to the closure of Wishaw.

 

The DSA policy is that in the event of a test being abandoned the examiner is not permitted to drive the vehicle back to the DTC due to insurance issues.

 

Disclosure will be commencing for all instructors as per the agencies previous notifications.  There will be no charge to existing ADIs at this point in time.  Disclosure will be an enhanced disclosure.

 

Candidates MUST bring the photo part of the driving licence or they will not be permitted to take the test, or a VALID passport if the licence is the old paper type.

 

There are still a lot of candidates coming up to test not knowing the safety questions.  Tom pointed out the psychological impact for a candidate not being prepared for these.  All are requested to ensure that the candidates are fully prepared.

 

Similar to the above, some candidates do not know how to operate the minor controls, in particular the wipers and rear demisters.

 

Candidates should also be capable of moving forward into a space in front of the test centre.  Learners should be able to reverse into ANY available space in the test centre.

 

Tom requested that instructors make a reasonable effort to keep their cars reasonably clean and tidy inside.  He pointed out a situation recently where during an emergency stop a can of fizzy drink flew out from under the seat.    

 

Instructors are reminded that they must be invited into the De-Breifing.  Tom and Alastair suggest that the candidates are advised early that they should say “Yes” when, in the event of a fail, the examiner asks if they want their instructors present. 

 

 

 

Date of next meeting: 

The next meeting will take place on Monday 30th April 2007. Location to be at the Arnold Clark Citroen dealership in Armadale.