The practising certificate fee is coming down.

I told the Council last year the the finance committee was hoping to reduce the practising certificate fee for 1995/96.

Successful financial performance means that the Council, in July, will be able to reduce the fee from £495 to £475.

This will be less than it was in the autumn of 1992 when I became treasurer; a reduction of 8% in real terms.

The investment business certificate feel will also be reduced, for 1995/96, to £215 per firm and £70 per principal, an average reduction of nearly 5%.A strong financial performanceThese reductions are the result of hard work: careful planning, including a five-year financial plan; monthly monitoring of performance against budget; and strong financial controls.

There is no spending outside the budget, and no new post is created without the specific approval of the finance committee.The war on costs means that we spent less in 1994 than we did in 1993, despite a range of new measures to fight the 'cost of default'; huge increases in demand (eg telephone enquiries, up from 3500 to 6000 per week this year); and new initiatives, including the personal injury panel, accident line, and the south-west regional office.The relocation of the SCB to Leamington Spa already saves over £350,000 a year, principally in salary savings, after allowing for the cost of the new building and relocation.

The freehold purchase of 114 Chancery Lane, next to the Society's Hall, at an interest cost less than the annual rent we were previously paying, paves the way for disposal of the leased offices at 50/52 Chancery Lane.

We have an enviable record of managing major projects to time and budget.Better serviceReducing fees is only part of the story.

Improving services is a high priority.

The gradual introduction of quality and performance measures to ensure the Society complies with its own 'practice management standards', has been associated, according to the 'high street firms' survey, with a high level of satisfaction on the part of those who use the Society's services.Improvements to the members' dining room, and the transformation of the reading room into a welcoming place where you can buy a cup of coffee and snack at any time of the day, have been welcomed by the record number of members and their guests who enjoy these facilities.Over 13,000 solicitors responded last year to a survey which asked what facilities you want at the Society's Hall, an overwhelming response.

Over 85% of respondents wanted more and better facilities.

Many wanted overnight accommodation.

Whilst there is no space for that, we introduced a discount hotel booking service and corporate membership of the Royal Over-Seas League.

High demand for a business centre, offering small rooms for hire, secretarial services, taxi and hotel bookings, will be satisfied early next year.

These services will be paid for by those who use them.More broadly, a new directorate, 'Law Society Services', which brings together a range of services to the profession, from library and publications to conferences and practice management advice, provides a new opportunity to provide you with what you want from your professional body.My successor inherits a strong and occasionally obstreperous finance committee, whose members have taken on a number of special assignments.

I am particularly grateful to Mike Howells.

He has led the work on improving facilities for members at Ch ancery Lane and developing members' services as a whole.

Mike takes over as treasurer, the first provincial treasurer in the history of the Law Society.