The Trustees are the governing body of the Ramblers. They use their individual skills and expertise knowledge to make decisions and grant approval in areas such as the operational plan, strategic direction, financial concerns, policy and potential risks.

The Ramblers hold a General Council meeting once a year, usually in spring and the location varies.

It is the role of General Council to approve the annual report and accounts and to elect the Board of Trustees. Delegates at General Council have the opportunity to present motions for debate.

Motions concern a particular stance that the Ramblers should take in light of current issues related to the organisation. Any proposed change to the governance of the organisation has to be approved by General Council. The Board of Trustees will take proper account of all motions that are passed. In this sense, the membership has a good opportunity in determining the policy and direction of the organisation.

Inner London Area and General Council

Inner London Area of the Ramblers is one of the largest Areas in the association by membership and is well-represented in the Ramblers' national governance.  In 2017, four trustees and the chair of the Agenda Committee of the General Council are Inner London Area members.  Additionally, we send delegates and visitors to Council.

Being a delegate to General Council

Each year the Inner London Area is entitled to send delegates to represent its members at Ramblers General Council, held each March or April and hosted by a different Ramblers Area each year.  We are currently able to send three delegates because our membership is more than 4% of the total Ramblers membership; most Areas send two delegates.

Our delegates must be members of the Inner London Area, and have a good understanding of the Area's members and of the issues facing the Ramblers, both locally and nationally; they should also understand the Ramblers' Area and Group structure and its democracy.

Delegates will need to be comfortable with public speaking, as they will be required to move / second any motions the Area AGM votes to send to General Council, and they will also be expected to contribute to the debates on motions proposed by other Areas and on wider matters discussed at the meeting, especially where these have relevance to Inner London Area. The delegates will vote on behalf of the Area on the motions, guided by discussions at the previous Area meeting, and for members of the Board of Trustees and Agenda Committee.

Potential delegates to General Council are required to notify their intention to stand to the Area Secretary by 31st December for General Council the following year. They will be expected to attend the January Area Council meeting to make their case, the Area AGM for election, the March Area Council meeting to hear and take part in the debate on motions, and the Area Council meeting after General Council to feed back from General Council to the Area Council.

Read reports about General Council from Inner London's representatives, below: