CLEVEDON PRIDE
Minutes of Meeting 25th January 2011
PRESENT
Louise Player Chairman
Jo Leigh-Jones Vice Chairman
Jean Johnson Treasurer/Bookkeeper
Julie Bisacre Publicity Officer
Ann Meredith Litter Picking
Sue Dyer
Sherry Wring
Gray Bloxham
Becky Crees
Arnett McCluskey
APOLOGIES
Michael Bisacre Fundraising Chairman
Linda Knott Council
Andrew Withers
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the meeting held on 11th January 2010 were approved by Ann Meredith and seconded by Julie Bisacre.
TREASURER’S / BOOKKEEPER’S REPORT
Jean Johnson presented a current financial report.
Balance due to WRS Alarms £8122.50
Current balance in bank £7644.32
Cheque from Morrisons to go in £ 500.00
New bank balance £8144.32
Credit balance of £ 21.82
£340 loan to be repaid to Ann Meredith.
£170 – money lent from gardening funds.
Will give us a shortfall of £510.00
Ann said that other bills should be paid first, but she would appreciate a letter stating that this amount was due to her. Sherry Wring said she would do letter stating what was owed.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Status as a group
As requested, Louise Player sought advice with regard to the status of Clevedon Pride. She was advised that it would be better to become a Community Interest Company (CIC) which means closer to becoming a charity. This will protect the members and improve our credibility with minimal outlay. Formation of the CIC would cost £163 including VAT, with an annual cost of £30 to make the annual report to Companies House. Audited accounts are not required. It would be expensive to become a charity.
Becky Crees from Lloyds Bank advised that a new bank account would need to be opened for the new company.
All committee members unanimously agreed that a CIC should be created.
Funds would need to be raised to cover the cost.
The aim of the group
The group was originally formed by a group of local people who were concerned that Clevedon was looking very sorry for itself. The main focus over the last three years has been Christmas lights.
Ann Meredith has a group who pick up litter. Their original focus was Queen Square, but now they cover a very large area of Clevedon. We also have a team of gardeners who look after Queen Square and the planters along Old Church Road and The Triangle. Even though we are becoming known in the town, we need to look for new people to help.
Our biggest outgoing is Christmas lights. We had about £500 from the Council, but a total of £8000 is required every year for Christmas lights.
Question from Mike:
What are costs for Christmas lights next year? Louise Player is meeting with electrician this week to give him a plan of the lighting.
WRS ballpark quotation for 2011
Installation £5000
Hire of motifs £5000
Total £10000
What does Clevedon Pride own?
Blue lights 300m
Blue lights 250m
Blue Lights 50m
Pink lights 320m
Total 920m
When does the hire and storage begin and end?
Hire period – week before switch on until 12th day of Christmas.
Storage of lights January to December.
FUNDRAISING EVENTS
Mike via Julie
23rd April St George’s Day – combine with Easter Fair.
Summer Fair – 9th July possibly along the seafront. Mike to see about road closure.
Christmas Fair – Saturday 26th November, 5pm to 8pm – switch on of lights not with funfair.
Christmas Posies – Sale on two Saturdays before Christmas – 10th and 17th December.
Sherry is going to book all dates.
Silent Auction – September
Apartment in Nice not on offer this year. Make it worthwhile with more people. Need better lots. Get auctioneer? Think about format? and start thinking about better lots. Need to call on new people to attend.
Suggestions
Instant Witt
Barn dance – earlier in year? June? Perhaps a family event, but Rob Zikking prefers adult only events.
11th July trip to Paris – half to Twinning and half to Clevedon Pride
Clevedon Open Garden Weekend – Mike Bisacre will approach Martin Hime and ………….. Fyfe. Possibly in May.
FLOWER REPORT
Sherry will tackle wishing well garden.
Plants for gardening – blitz on pond garden and go round tubs.
Plans for more tubs? No money.
Linda and Sue are going to look at creating something for shops to see what they could have outside and do the costings. Present them with a tub for £XX which they will need to water. Metal tubs that don’t get vandalised.
They would like to do whole of Clevedon, not just Queen Square. Becky Crees said she might be able to get interest from businesses as the traders want to be involved. She felt that the move towards CIC would help this to happen. Lloyds Bank will match any money raised by employees.
Louise said that we are hoping to also target bigger businesses for sponsorship as we are trying to spread out of Queen Square. Linda is trying to get the Council to extend the lights along Old Street to the zebra crossing.
Becky also questioned the group’s name. Louise Player pointed out that there was a vote at the AGM when it was decided to keep the name of Clevedon Pride as it has become’ known’.
It was suggested that we have a meeting with traders to get them on board. A party could be one way to bring people in. Gray Bloxham suggested a cheese and wine party for traders. Postal invitations? Invite Councillors and bigger businesses to get message across of our objectives. Possibly at Conservative Club.
Fix at next meeting – to be on Agenda – party
LITTER REPORT
Ann Meredith said there was nothing to report. If we could get bins emptied more often. Sherry to get on to Council re. bin at Bargain Booze and one by electric point and by Morrisons.
COUNCIL REPORT
No report.
PUBLICITY REPORT
Mike did news piece on Becky and Andrew with photo in Mercury.
It was suggested that we email minutes to everyone, not just committee. This was agreed.
Newsletter from Chairman three times a year to go on website and email it to volunteers.
All our events will be posted on Facebook, as well as a request
raffle prizes etc.
We need to have some good links on our website to places like the Curzon. On website, thank people who have donated, etc. Louise Player to have discussion with Andrew Withers.
George produced logos; there was a lot of discussion, but the Logo problem was not solved. Go back to George for some ideas or use current logo or use letterhead logo. We need something that will fit on our badges. Badges are good earner when sold. Jean to get quote from John at That Copy Shop for printing logo onto sheets. Louise Player suggested badges could be updated in new colour.
Louise is going to get a price for window stickers for businesses if they donate raffle prizes or give a donation. Gray suggested stickers for car windows.
Big push on communication.
Julie will now start work on publicizing our event on 23rd April.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Linda is going to ask the Council as to whether they are making progress re. plaque in Queen Square.
Should we be doing anything for the Royal Wedding? Perhaps we could use Spring Fair and St. George’s Day combined or street party?
A letter thanking outgoing officers should be sent out. Louise and Julie to liaise on this.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
22nd February at 7pm.
