IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE ALL UNDER ONE BANNER GLASGOW TEAM We have almost completed Glasgow City Council’s paperwork for our proposed ‘Public Procession’ and should be in a position to hand this in by the middle of next week. Here are some things that we found we had to consider when filling out the Paper-work: 1: On the form we were asked to state the number of ‘Participants’ who will be officially involved. Now it must be stated that there is a key difference between a ‘Participant’ and a ‘follower’. A ‘Participant’, as already stated, is someone who is officially part of the march, whereas a ‘follower’ is someone who (as the name suggests) simply follows the march. This is an important distinction because each local authority has their unique ratio of the required Steward to Participant number: so for example Glasgow City council got back to us and stated that their ratio is 1 steward to every 10 participant’s, whilst Edinburgh Council’s ratio (according to the last update that was received from the Edinburgh Team) is 1 steward for every 50 Participants. Therefore depending on the ratio each team will have to decide the correct number of participant’s to submit on the form. So in terms of Glasgow we put 1000 participants down, which means we need 100 stewards accordingly. Therefore the higher the steward to participant ratio (as in the more stewards required per participant number) means that the formally submitted figure must realistically reflect this. HOWEVER……..this does not mean that the number of actual marchers on the Glasgow march will only be 1100; as like I said there are those who are followers of the march, which would comprise everyone else from the general public who decide to follow the procession (as they can do in great numbers freely and without hindrance). This is clearly evident in Orange Order Marches where there is a smaller formal contingent at the front which comprises of a band etc and is surrounded by Stewards according to the rules being followed by a usually larger ‘follower’ public procession. Everyone knows anyone can follow these marches and as such they only submit on the form a practically small number of official participants, but they do this knowing that many will also follow the procession and beef it up accordingly. THEREFORE PLEASE NOTE THIS POINT AS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, FOR WE WILL USE THIS IDEA (where necessary) FOR OUR OWN EVENTS, AS IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL AND FOLLOWS COUNCIL PROCEDURE. 2: On the form we were asked to supply the details of the Chief Steward who will be in charge of the Stewards on the day. Therefore as this information is being asked in advance I suggest that each team puts their heads together to find someone who is a qualified steward for their event location who is more than happy to fulfill this role (and who has unspent criminal convictions etc), so as to have their details submitted on the Local Authorities form. The Chief Steward will not have to do any real organizing until much closer to the event, say around April time next year, but must be easily contactable by the respective council just in case they telephone him/her or ask for a brief meeting in due course. 3: The form we are submitting also asked for a route of the march to be decided and submitted. THEREFORE WE HAVE CHOSEN A PROCESSION ROUTE THAT ANOTHER RECENT GLASGOW MARCH USED, AND AS THIS ROUTE WAS APPROVED BY GLASGOW COUNCIL WE ARE CERTAIN THAT THIS MAKES OUR PROPOSAL MUCH MORE AMENABLE AND ACCEPTABLE, AND AS SUCH MEANS THAT IT STANDS A FAR GREATER CHANCE OF BEING SIMILARLY APPROVED. So please take this into consideration when planning your route, as there are some fantastic routes through our cities & towns, but by choosing one that has already been approved this should demonstrate our willingness to cause the least amount of disruption to shopping, trade and businesses etc, and as such will keep things simple and hopefully ensure a speedy reply of approval, rather than intense and pro-longed negotiations if a new and unfamiliar route is submitted to the authorities. 4: Also on the form they have asked us to submit the details of the organizer in our area and I put my name and address down. So for each respective area there must be someone who fulfills this role and submits their details for this formality, and this can be decided upon at your team-meetings over the coming days. 5: The form asked that the names of the bands that will be playing in the event/march be submitted in advance as well. Now one way around this, if you do not know of the names of the Pipe/Drum band that will be participating in the march, is to put a generic name like ‘All Under One Banner Band’ or ‘March Band’ or ‘Event band’ etc; as this will encompass all that play on the day. However if you have people/bands in mind with their own names this would be best, and with regards to all respective Admin-Team there are several emails in the page inbox from contacts who have volunteered themselves from around the Country for various locations, and we will continue to gather in passionate volunteers in respect of this requirement. It must also be stated that Glasgow City Council’s form requested that the name and details of the Band Organizer also be put down which we have done so from one of the Glasgow team who is happy to take on this remit. So this is a role to be delegated to someone who is willing to do so at your forthcoming team-meetings. 6: And Finally…………We are planning a Fantastic march followed by a successful and vibrant rally in George (Freedom) Square which will have several bands playing on a sizable stage with decent PA systems etc. We are hoping to have traders-licences to sell food and themed-goods to those there, and we will be having to provide toilet-cubicles, barriers and many other requirements and services accordingly; which will obviously require the raising of funds and donations. HOWEVER DO NOT CONCERN YOURSELVES WITH HOW WE WILL RAISE THE MONEY FOR THIS EVENT AND ALL OTHER SUCH EVENTS AROUND SCOTLAND FOR THE NOW. THE FORMS DO NOT ASK FOR SUCH DETAILS NOR DO THEY STATE THAT WE MUST SUBMIT ANY DEPOSIT OR PART-PAYMENT IN ADVANCE. WE WILL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT. NOT A PROBLEM. So these are the things that we have had to consider, the roles that have had to be met by the Glasgow Team, and the procedural technicalities that must be legally qualified and fulfilled. So that is all for now from us in Glasgow, and we excitingly await the Team-Posts from Edinburgh, Dumfries, Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen in the coming days and weeks as to the progress of each March/Event; as once we all get the forms submitted to hold all the Marches/Events for the same day, which is Saturday the 2ncd of May 2015, and subsequently receive the formal approval for each location, then the most important part of concept of All Under One Banner will be set in stone. Thanks for reading this post and we hope it helps towards your meetings over the coming days.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:21:50 +0000
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