vctenderness, you wrote:
The only nagging doubt I have about all of this is that BASSA is NOT a union - it is a branch.
Not quite sure what you were doubting, but the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, Chapter III includes this (my italics):
30 Right of access to accounting records.
(1)A member of a trade union has a right to request access to any accounting records of the union which are available for inspection and relate to periods including a time when he was a member of the union.
In the case of records relating to a branch or section of the union, it is immaterial whether he was a member of that branch or section.
BASSA are required, by law, to produce accounts to a legal standard that can be incorporated within Unite's Annual Return. Unite's Annual Return is also subject to the same legal requirements.
BASSA must provide it's certified section accounts within 28 days to any member, or past member, requesting to view them. Simple! BASSA is also supposed to provide access to it's accounts on an annual basis to
all it's members. Simple! Why is it that no BASSA members here can recall ever seeing validated accounts for BASSA? The law requires it!