News

At our Installation Court meeting we were pleased to welcome our new Master Carolyn Roberts, Thames Warden Tom Flood, Fleet Warden Alex Money and Walbrook Warden Allan Barton in the impressive surroundings of the Bakers’ Hall.  At the Court meeting and afterwards at the Installation Court lunch Carolyn reiterated the Company’s focus on a ‘diverse and sustainable’ environment’.  She noted that as a result of the efforts of members, applications and registrations are rising, and the increased level of public and Company facing activity.  We continue our contributions to consultations, producing more news items and are recognised for punching above our weight as a Livery Company.

Carolyn acknowledged the excellent work of the Trust and thanked all of those members of the Company who have contributed positively to its growth and effectiveness.

Carolyn has identified ten major themes for her year:

• Continuing to increase our membership numbers, with a target of some 200 Liverymen and Freemen by the end of the year, and drawing particularly from those who meet our criteria but are as yet less well represented in the Company in terms of specialisms
• Increasing further the proportion of women members, better to reflect the background constituency of those with professional interests in our sector of water and environmental management
• Increasing further the awareness of our Company and its activity both in London, and across the country
• Improving the website further, with frequent news items and better illustrations that capture the wonder of the natural environment, the challenges and opportunities for its effective management, and the benefits that our charitable work affords. Also improving the online information for members of the Company
• Maintaining the current high level of professionally-related webinars, Debates and Discussion Dinners, with sponsorship wherever possible, and drawing on the expertise of all members of the Company, including new members
• Continuing the responses to Government consultations, ensuring that they are timely, accurate, fully representative of our views, and well-worded
• Establishing a Social Committee to manage the wide range of social events that we now run, in part to lighten the burden on the Clerk. This would include opportunity for wider use of the refurbished cutter by Company members
• Updating the Company’s administrative systems, including a full operation of the website using the automatic booking and payment systems for events
• Ensuring that all of our decisions are made in the light of timely and accurate information, for instance on membership numbers, and in papers for Company meetings
• Maintaining our good record on sustainable practice, in accord with our Sustainability Policy, whilst increasing our activity level further.