West Byfleet Business Association
West Byfleet Business Association
4th December 2014
Attendees
Pauline Hedges, John Ashcroft, Ron Enticott, John & Christine Morrison; Oliver Lodge, Roland Nevett, Stella McMillan, Shani Orchard, Juliette Price
Apologies received from: Noel Richardson, Catherine Richardson, Gary Elson, Mark Fuller, Christine Osborne, Mark Allard.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting
Minutes of the meeting held
6th November 2014
Matters Arising
Book of Vouchers
Deferred -l Agenda item for January.
Pyramid Cascade System.
A ‘grapevine’ phone system has been devised amongst some independents which are working. However, more detail of the Police system will be shared later in the meeting. Pauline will chase Mark Saunders for update.
Treasurers Report
Ron tabled a copy of the current position – attached to the end of the minutes. More money is due from Christmas trees and lights. Ron and Julie have been discussing the year end accounts and handover as Ron retires as Treasurer at the AGM in 2015 after many years of service. They will arrange with HSBC to change the Treasurer’s details from Ron’s to Julie’s. Ron offered to talk to Richard Smith, Eltons about closing the separate Christmas bank account and transferring the balance to the main account.
It was confirmed that the annual subscription for 2015 will remain at £25 rising to £30 in 2016.
A balloon and bottle of champagne were presented to him after the meeting as a small token of appreciation for his many years of support, although he still remains in charge of the monthly WBBA lunch club.
West Byfleet LI: VE 2014
Pauline is due to meet WBC before Christmas to discuss next year’s event.
Christmas Lights
Insufficient money had been donated by traders to carry out all the planned lights but due to the hard work of the Christmas Committee the village is looking wonderful at night. More lights are due to go up in the next few days. The committee will investigate the possibility of external power sources in Spring 2015 to facilitate more lights for December 2015.
Website
No report as Mark was unable to join the meeting having moved offices the previous week.
Planning Issues
Sheer House
Roland informed the meeting that the conversion of Sheer House was being held up due to the condition of the original planning consent – only to be used for offices.
He suggested that the complex needed to be developed in the short term for the long term good of the village and that conversion to residential use would delay any commercial development by 90 years because of the long leases required for home purchase.
One idea was to use the tower building as an Enterprise Hub for start-up businesses and Pauline, Oliver and Roland would approach WBC to discuss this possibility utilising Crowd Funding.
Eltons is up for sale.
Corals development work starts in April and will take 12 months but result in additional commercial and residential spaces.
West Byfleet Neighbourhood Forum AGM was held on November 24th. The Resident’s Questionnaire had been delivered to every home in the village and the Business Questionnaire will be circulated to all businesses in the next few days.
Green belt – there had been a joint meeting with West Byfleet Neighbourhood Forum and Pyrford Forum to discuss the council’s review paper, and a Public Consultation is expected in February.
Membership
No new members this month. A recruitment drive will take place in January.
Woking Chamber
Think we are absolutely wonderful what we are doing is quite stunning.
AOB
West Surrey Lettings had won the Best Letting Agent Award in the 2014 Surrey Property Awards – congratulations to everyone – richly deserved.
Thanks to Stella for her hospitality
Next month – West Byfleet Social Club – 8th January 2015.
NOT January 1st!!!!!!
West Byfleet Business Association
Financial Statement I January 2014 to 31 October 2014
GENERALACCOUNT
Opening balance- 1025
Receipts
Subscriptions- 2014 823
Christmas trees-2014 1085
Christmas trees-20B 1697
Waitrose-green buttons 463
4068
5093
Expenses
Christmas trees-20B 2525
ChriStmas advert-20B 50
Woking Chamber-subscription 138
Website 108
West Byfleet LI:VE 900
less income 404
Net sponsorship 496
3317
Balance at bank 31 October 2014 1776
CHRISTMASLIGHTSACCOUNT
Christmas lightsfund-set up in 2009
Balance at bank-31.12.2013 and 31.10.14 335