Okay, so I’ve finally had a chance to have a proper read through of the ‘CACE Interim Direction’ document, and it’s interesting. Using my earlier examples:
It would actually seem that for this, transport costs might be okay, as none of these examples would hit the CACE criteria:
a. All overseas activity.
b. Activities of 3 nights duration or more.
c. 70 cadets or more in attendance.
d. Requiring publicly funded transport that in turn requires a professional driver (including MT).
e. Requiring a total VA to be claimed that exceeds 10 days (not per CFAV attending).
f. Or when directed to do so.
(My italics)
Although the activities may be listed as ‘N’ for transport, CACE only makes mention of transport that in turn requires a professional driver. So would imply to me that normal 1771 is unaffected?
@tmmorris your example of being denied transport costs (I assume personal 1771?) for going to an RAF base now seems even more bizarre.
It’s sadly clear as mud. I’ll carry on claiming 1771 as normal and see what happens, but it appears these changes really should just be for larger events, that meet one of the criteria above.
Let’s face it, ‘or when directed to do so’ is HQ’s get out of jail free. The moment wing or region perm staff decides to request a CACE whether legitimately or through misapplication of the policy, lines will be drawn, trenches dug and rather than accept any challenge they will stonewall behind that criteria.
That’s a good point. It would at least be better if that line at least said Or when directed to do so by X where X is the Region SSO/RC, or similar. It would at least help avoid any silliness at Wing level.
Wouldn’t have been a 1771 job - this was an organised visit for a smallish cadet group (20) with a VI from the ACLO, so 2 minibuses from school claiming on a mileage basis. Not a lot of money. We don’t usually claim for use of school minibuses anyway - not worth the hassle. And the school was providing a packed meal so the only claim would have been for VA for 3 staff. Could even have made it 2 staff if they insisted.
None of that goes into the CACE criteria still. So should still be fine imo? They really need to be a bit more specific on these rules!
All seems pretty reasonable too. 3 staff for 20 cadets. Better than running right at the 1:10 limit in case there’s a problem. Self driving minibuses reduces the cost also as you’re not needing proper MT with a driver.
20 cadets get a day out at an active RAF base for a reasonable cost
I did a little mental adding up this morning whilst walking el doggo.
I’ll be spending well over £1000 in Paddle UK fees this year to develop and maintain providerships which are used exclusively for the benefit of the organisation. This is what VA is used to offset - so anything affecting how much I can claim will almost certainly result in the suggestion I’m bought in as freelance instead.
Performance Coach Registration - £145
Community of Learning Event - £365
Performance Coach Assessment - £350
3 Year Standardisation - £156
Coach Award Tutor Orientation Fee - TBC
For anyone interested, Performance Coach is expected for Coach Award Tutor / Assessor role so we can started delivering Coach Award courses within the organisation.
This doesn’t account for courses mainly for my own entertainment (SUP WW Leader) but which will support tech advice to areas of organisation.
Spot on. We’ve been told that the spreadsheet thing shows what will be funded for all activities, regardless if a CACE is required. Maybe just local (mis)interpretation, who knows, but a clear policy would remove all ambiguity!
If you go by the spreadsheet, we can no longer deliver YFA as its not on the list of activities.
The list would also mean that L144 shooting in Scotland is dead as we have no squadrons that hold rifles and we can no longer claim transport for moving the weapons nor claim VA for the day.
Why does it matter what activities we can claim VA for. Surely the fact that we have a allocation of x days it should then be managed at a local level on how best they are used. Does it really matter if one person wants to do 28 days to support local and wing shootimg vs someone that wants to use thier 28 days to support sector level blue and bronze level training along with some trips.
It does say that the assumption is that L144 will be delivered at unit level hence no VA/Travel etc however it also says that if doing it outside of Unit level then a CACE needs to be submitted so there is obviously scope to claim VA etc if your CACE gets approved, which I dont see any reason it wouldnt given the centrally held weapons in SNI
Presumably the ATC has the same problem the CCF face, that only service vehicles can be used to transport weapons & ammunition? (We used to be able to get the headteacher to authorise it for specific named vehicles so we updated that list annually.)
If so, then if transport isn’t authorised for shooting, meaning no service vehicles are available, weapons & ammo can’t be moved.
