Trade associations should operate a blind trust

I am as uncomfortable today as I have been for the last six years of the privileged position our incumbent landscape trade associations have assumed, unchallenged, in a bid to determine hierarchy and policy for the UK's landscape and horticulture industry.

It is essential to our industry that close scrutiny is kept on all who lay claim to shape our respective futures, if non-members don't stand up and be counted then there's a danger, not too far down the road and whether they like it or not, they will have to comply with legislation that doesn't suit them or their business.

In my view:

It is essential that trade associations who operate a self-regulated vetting scheme should operate a blind trust so its executive officers should not be allowed to trade commercially whilst in office.

No executive should benefit from any business opportunities, however they may arise, whilst they they are elected to represent the interest of their members.

It is a conflict of interest for any executive officer to preside over official business whilst there is the potential that they, or their respective companies or associates, might benefit from opportunities that may arise whilst they are in a position where they may determine policy or be involved in any decision that may determine a potential member's future within the association.

In addition, any elected officer who makes decisions which may affect its membership or organisation directly, must declare any material interest, in public, for the sake of openness and transparency.

Any organisation which campaigns in the name of its members but whose endeavours may have a material affect on industry practitioners, who are not affiliated to its private membership, should publish its manifesto in public.

Any lead that may come through an associations' website, via telephone, direct mail or email, must, in my view, be declared to its entire membership so that a democratic system of allocation may take place.

At no time should an executive, either acting alone or in concert with an executive colleague, be able to make a business decision unless its membership is advised, equally, of the details surrounding any enquiry.