| Chairs | Sheila Sager & Alison Bukhari |
| Secretary | Angela Wainright |
| Treasurer | Moya McLoughlin |
| Membership Secretary | Jan Duck |
| Members | Ruth Anderson - Environment & Events Patrick Anderson – Aged Colin Dowse – Communications Terence Hyde - Tourism Amanda Jones - Big Event Be Whitaker – Planning |
SHREWSBURY TOWN CENTRE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD
WEDNESDAY 21ST NOVEMEBER 2012
AT ST CHAD’S CHURCH HALL, SHREWSBURY
68 members were present
1 Apologies received from: Terence and Pauline Hyde; Beryl Whitaker; Mr &Mrs D. Latto; Mike & Margaret Shaw and Angela & Robert Hughes; Mr & Mrs Dodds; Heidemarie White; Ellen Jones; Mike McCabe; Jane Gillett; Peter Cox and Andrew Boroughs.
2 & 3 Minutes of last AGM, November 2011 & Matters arising
The Minutes of the AGM 2011 were received and duly signed as a true record by Alison Bukhari (CoChair) after the following correction to Section 4 ‘Membership’ had been proposed, accepted and the amendment made to the draft minutes:
Rosemary Thornes moved that, “Tessa Smith” should be corrected to read, ‘Tessa Williams’.
4 Treasurer’s Report
Moya McLoughlin offered the Summary Sheet of Accounts to the meeting. MM drew the Association’s attention to LJC grant section and stated that as unused grant monies have to be returned and that the balance not yet spent was shown as a reserve. The monies held by the Association were shown as a separate figure. Colin Dowse suggested that a balance sheet would be a better representation of the accounts. MM said no as there were only payments and receipts to report.
MM asked for volunteers to take Dick Panton’s place should he not wish to continue to authenticate the accounts. Colin Dowse and Mark Scutt put themselves forward for consideration. David Waterhouse moved that the accounts be adopted. Motion seconded by Lalage Bown
The need for Public Liability Insurance was discussed. Amanda Jones will investigate further and report back to Committee and members.
5
Appointment of the Auditor
See A.O.B.
6 Annual Report of the Committee
Lalage Bown complimented Committee on the decision to distribute to members the ‘Notice of Annual General Meeting’ document prior to the meeting. The member also asked that in future full written recognition be given to all people and officers who have made contributions to the Association’s smooth operation throughout the year. Accepted.
Rev. Richard Hayes offered to the meeting that a statement on page 11 ‘Licensing’ is not entirely correct as it stands. Some of the churchyards in question are not strictly redundant as they are administered by parochial Church Council, therefore are active churchyards. He also wished to make it clear that administrators at St Chad’s and St Alkmunds are broadly supportive of events licensing on the basis that they could assess applications with the Council. Rev. Hayes asked the meeting to appreciate that complex situations could arise and in his experience the license user was sympathetic to town centre residents needs living close by to the said churchyards. Rev. Hayes assured members that great care would be taken with the assessment of applications for St Alkmunds.
SS responded to a question from the floor regarding the ‘stopping-up’ in The Square and the Association’s active involvement in the rejection of the plan. SS/AB explained that the Association had made and would continue to make a collective comment but if individual members wished to make an individual comment to please do so and that a standard letter regarding this matter could be viewed on the website and which members might find useful to use as a template when tendering their protest. CoChairs informed members that most town stakeholders had stated their objection to the proposals.
Ada Fordham advised the Meeting that anyone could attend LJC meetings and called for many more people to do so. LJC meeting dates are posted on the website. SS explained to the members the function of the LJC and the Association’s involvement with Clive Wright. John Simblet informed the meeting that the next LJC meeting was to be held at The Guildhall on November 29th.
It was noted that the Association rued the fact that the local town councillor was not active and therefore the views of the Association are not being adequately voiced.
Attention of the Meeting was requested by John Simblet to be given to matters pertaining to ‘Police and the Community’. He called for members to express their deep concerns regarding the permanent closure of the Town Centre Police station and that there is still a great need for a continuing Police Centre permanent presence in the town. Meeting agreed to support this stance. The following formal resolution was proposed, seconded and passed by the members:
“The Association deplores the intended closure of the Town Centre Police Station and demands a permanent site within ‘The Loop’ to be continued”.
Questions were asked from the floor as regards Rowley’s House as a viable alternative for multiple town authorities’ use. Meeting was informed that continuing studies were being undertaken as regards the future use but costs of modification were at present untenable.
7 Election of Secretary and four ordinary members
Acting Secretary informed the meeting that Nick Simpkin (Family) and Gaynor Gravestock (Business) were standing down and Doug Allan (Traffic) and Margaret Bowman (Police and Community) were not standing for re-election.
Acting Secretary informed the meeting that Patrick Anderson, Colin Dowse and Beryl (Be) Whitaker had been nominated as ordinary members. All nominations had been seconded.
Angela Wainwright (Acting Secretary) had been nominated and seconded for Secretary.
All candidates present were asked to identify themselves.
Members were asked if they were happy with the nominations and seconding. Members agreed and all those nominated duly voted onto Committee.
Alan Shrank has expressed through Co-Chairs that he would appreciate offers by non committee members to help with planning matters.
8 AOB
Treasurer reported to the Meeting that during the course of the evening Mark Scutt had offered to audit the accounts for future time. Proposed, seconded and passed.
It was felt that Mike Maxwell’s long standing commitment to the Association and the community needed to be formally recognised and appreciation publicly made. It was proposed that he, plus partner, be invited to attend the Annual Supper in January as guests of the Association. Jan Duck will extend the invitation on the Association’s behalf.
Sheila Sager thanked all members and reps who delivered the surveys.
Particular thanks were extended to outgoing committee members Doug Allan, Margaret Bowman and Gaynor Gravestock for the generous giving of much time and commitment, over a sustained period, to the Association and their particular areas of responsibility within Committee.
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