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Minutes of AGM, 17th May 2010

Committee Present: Stephen Biggs, Jane McCabe, Kevin Fuller, Liz Woods, Kate McCormick, Andrew Mason

Total Attendance: 30 Members. (26 individual businesses/voting memberships).

Apologies: Amanda Gale, Mike Underwood, Sandra Day & Katie Griffin, Andy Poundsbury, Marion Nichols, Claire Elliott-Ogden, Alan Brunton, Gill Gaylor, Glen Ogden, Mrs Sapp, Paul Snell.

1. Meeting opened by Stephen Biggs:- Thanked everyone for their attendance.

2. Michael Moyse - Render-Dry S.W. Ltd - Looking to sell his ½ share of the business to someone able to provide management expertise for a long established successful company. If interested please contact Mike on 01626 853021.

3. Overview 2009-10 & looking forward. Stephen Biggs thanked Richard Keeling for his previous work as Guild Chair.

A) Believed that there should be greater emphasis to work with businesses in Chudleigh rather than just raising monies to provide for the Xmas lights.

B) Main issue for the Guild this year was the cost of the Xmas Lights. To make our customary contribution to the Town lights and to put on an event to the same standard as 2009 would cost between £3,500 and £4,000. As raising this amount of funding in the current economic climate would be exceptionally challenging, Kate McCormick has canvassed local businesses who want an event to go ahead this year but it will be on a smaller scale requiring less expense. Lights turn on will be either 7th or 9th December this year, a road closure application will be going in to Teignbridge Council for this.

The aim for the next year is to raise sufficient funds for a return to a bigger event in 2011, to this end Stephen Biggs outlined requirement for events @ different price point for fundraising:


C) Stephen Biggs outlined the aim for Guild meetings to be informative e.g. Business surgery 20th September, Future of Chudleigh Town Centre 15th November.

D) Richard Keeling commented that meetings need to have a guest speaker to draw people in.

E) Doug Laing suggested a mentoring scheme to help businesses, this was received very favourably , Stephen Biggs, Doug Laing, Michael Trigg, Michael Moyse, Richard & Debbie Keeling all volunteered to undertake this.

4. Amendment to Guild Rules. The following alteration was proposed by Doug Laing, seconded by Mike Moyse & passed unanimously. New clause in bold

The membership of the Guild shall be open to all Professional Persons, Business Persons, Firms & Associations directly involved in the Trade & Commerce of the Town & District.
Membership of the Guild shall also be open to any person who would have been eligible for membership under the previous clause, but has since retired.
Any applicant desiring to become a member shall apply in writing. The Committee shall have the authority to accept or reject any new and/or renewal of any membership application. Any rejections shall be notified to the members and justified at the next Guild meeting.

5. Award of Guild Business of the Year. This year it was awarded to The White Hart. Dan & Lee have transformed the business & have ambitious plans for the future.

6. Reports from Guild Officers:-

Treasurer- Kevin Fuller - Account balance £1421.10, £40 in petty cash & C.£110 in outstanding income.

Membership Secretary- Liz Woods - Current membership stands at 84, aim for the next year is to reach 100members. All members are reminded of the importance of keeping the Guild updated of any changes in contact details. To keep down costs & speed communication all members are asked to provide email addresses. Any member still awaiting a receipt for membership fees please contact Kevin Fuller.

7. Election of Guild Officers.
Both Gill Gaylor & Ron Owen had announced that they would not be standing for re-election as Committee Members.

The following stood unopposed for the listed positions & were duly elected by those attending the meeting.


8. AOB.

I) Lord Clifford (Clifford Estates) gave a presentation on the “Xpressway” light industrial/business units being built by the A38. The 1st 3 units are due for completion July 2010 if interested please contact the Estate Office on 01626 852179.

II) Richard Keeling (Chair Chudleigh Town Council) pointed out that Bovey Tracey Town Council negotiated a £600-£800 reduction in cost of Xmas lights from Torbay Display the lighting contractors that Chudleigh also uses so we maybe in a position to reduce our lighting costs.

III) Richard Keeling suggested that membership fees should be raised to at least £15 (Bovey Tracey Guild fees are £20) . This had been already been raised by the Committee & was due for presentation @ the next meeting.

IV) B.J.Williams queried if a local company/electrician wouldn’t be able to provide Xmas lights at a lower cost. Doug Laing pointed out the Health & Safety & licensing requirements which mean only a specialist company could comply.

V) Kate McCormick had met with John Carlton (Chudleigh Town Clerk) to discuss an approach they had received from an alternative lighting company but had agreed to stay with Torbay Display this year - possibly moving next year.

VI) With the Budget due in mid June it was suggested that our local MP &/or district councillor may be able to give us a view on what they can do for small businesses.
Doug Laing offered to contact Mel Stride, our local MP.

VII) Lilly from “Mei Wah “ offering free A4 adverts for 12 months on her takeaway Menu board - only a £5 fee for advert preparation will apply, with profit going to Xmas lights fund.

VIII) TAX REFUND SCAM Michael Trigg (Bibby’s Chartered Accountants) warned about a current scam. Anyone can access the HMRC website if they have your National Insurance Number & your date of birth, they submit a bogus tax return requesting a tax refund .SO DO NOT give these details out via unsolicited phone calls. This cost the HMRC over £60 million pounds in the last year.

BIBBY’S offer a free monthly tax & business related email newsletter if anyone would like to receive this please contact Michael Trigg or Sally his secretary on 01626 853625.

6. Stephen Biggs thanked everyone for their attendance then formally closed the meeting.

Members were then invited to help themselves to cheese & wine.

The next meeting will be on Monday 19th July 7pm in the Upstairs Hall, Chudleigh Town Hall.

 

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