WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 18 June 2010. Held at 12.15 pm, Dunton room, Lea Marston Hotel, Sutton Coldfield
Martin Reeves, Chairman, welcomed members to the meeting.
Present:
Martin Reeves, Chairman / Coventry CCPaul Lankester, Hon Secretary / Stratford on AvonDC
Steve Brown / Cannock Chase DC
Mark Barrow / Newcastle under LymeDC
Helen Riley / Staffordshire CC
Nick Bell / Staffordshire CC
Duncan Sharkey / Worcester CC
Richard King / LichfieldDC
Bev Messenger / Coventry CC
Nina Dawes / LichfieldDC
Melanie Dudley / Sandwell MBC
Chris Bocock / Malvern Hills DC
Christine Kerr / Nuneaton & Bedworth BC
Jerry Hutchinson / North Warwickshire BC
Andy Burns / Staffordshire CC
Steve Winterford / South Staffs Council
10.01Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from the following:
Jamie Morris / Walsall MBCChris Elliott / WarwickDC
Trevor Askew / StratfordDC
Ian Miller / Wyre ForestDC
Simon Baker / Staffordshire Moorlands DC
Dave Nash / Stratford on AvonDC
10.02Minutes of the meeting dated 22 May 2009
These were agreed as a correct record. There were no matters arising.
10.03Chairman’s report
The Chairman outlined that he had taken over during the course of the year from Richard Carr, following Richard’s appointment as Chief Executive of Central Bedfordshire Council. There were questions over whether the event was going to take place and he expressed a disappointment about the lack of support from colleagues in attending these meetings. Martin indicated that there may need to be a change in the structure of the event and there had to be a fundamental question that SOLACE members in the West Midlands had to answer about whether:
(a)they would support the SOLACE branch;
(b)that the branch was at a crossroads as to whether it could continue without support.
In response to this Jerry Hutchinson commented that it does seem that Branch meetings are not wanted but on the other hand, given the number of people who were attending the annual event, it was wanted by a lot of members and therefore it was essential not to kill it.
Chris Bocock suggested that it was getting harder to have time out for some of these events but could there be an approach to the South-West Branch of SOLACE to join up with their event which seems to have some degree of support. There was a need to ensure we were able to mix as professional officers and discuss issues of importance.
Consequently the meeting agreed that the event should continue.
Paul as Honorary Secretary had nothing to add to the report of the Chairman apart from commenting that the previous year’s event had made a small surplus and the current year’s was on target to do the same.
10.04Final Accounts for 2009-2010 – report of the Honorary Treasurer
The draft accounts which had been circulated highlighted that little activity had taken place during the year. Financial activity during 2009/10 had been restricted to the Annual Conference/Seminar. As reported earlier this had resulted in a small surplus of just over £3,500.
A change in venue for this year’s event would make it easier to break even and it seemed that a small surplus would be the result of this year’s event.
There were no questions raised on the Treasurer’s report and the accounts were approved.
10.05Appointment of Branch Officers for 2010/2011
The following posts were elected at the time of the meeting:-
(a)Branch Chairman: Steve Brown (Cannock Chase DC)
(b)Vice Chairman: Helen Riley (Staffordshire CC)
(c)Junior Vice-Chairman: Melanie Dudley (Sandwell MBC)
(d)Honorary Secretary/Treasurer: Ian Miller (Wyre ForestDC)
(e)Senior Manager Representatives: Jamie Morris (Walsall MBC) and Richard King (LichfieldDC)
10.06Honoraria
It was agreed that an honoraria of £500 be given towards the operation of the conference and it would be decided by Martin Reeve how this would be allocated. Martin indicated that he would give an honoraria to relevant people and that he would donate £250 of the sum to the Air Ambulance, his designated charity.
Paul Lankester
Honorary Secretary
SOLACE West Midlands Branch
25 June 2010
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