West Byfleet Business Association
5th March 2015
Attendees
Pauline Hedges, Ron Enticott, Mark Fuller, Stella McMillan, Shani Orchard, John Morrison, Chris
Morrison, Oliver Lodge, Catherine Richardson, Juliette Price, Debbie Margaroni, Shani Orchard,
Christine Osborne, John Ashcroft
Apologies received from: Gary Elson, Roland Nevett, Jerry Kane, Mark Fuller
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting
Minutes of the meeting held 5th February 2015
Pauline welcomed a new member – Debbie who introduced herself.
Matters Arising
Pyramid Cascade System.
Chased Mark Saunders nothing reported. Pauline to chase.
Treasurers Report
Ron circulated the report to the members. This was a draft which will be presented at the AGM.
Slight change in the format. Adopt accruals basis to reflect income for the year against expenditure
so for this year will see money relating to 2013. There is an entry covering subscriptions in 2014.
Odd £2.00 short due to member not paying full amount. Christmas Tree money slight deficiency.
Christmas Lights Account money which offsets the Christmas Tree deficit. Ron confirmed that this
account has now been closed.
West Byfleet LIVE last year agreed sponsorship which is reflected, income was due to monies that
Pauline received back. Expenses exceeded our income, but £706 reserves. General feeling was
pleased with the results.
Juliette will officially take over the running of the accounts. Also in future as Juliette is local please
ensure that she is given any owed monies, or monies that need banking. A new cheque book has
been received. Request to set up Standing Orders for membership fees which will stop the ‘traffic’.
West Byfleet LI: VE 2015
Pauline has met the Fire Officer. Pavilion and field booked. First meeting has taken place.
Another meeting required. Film booked Mamma Mia license to show it £160. Film around £400.00 –
Fancy Dress optional. Looking into entrance fee. Felt that donations will generate more. Name
given of a reliable company who will show it. Will they be approached on behalf of the council? No
but told that Council had mentioned this company. Working on a program of events and getting
advertising idea would be to sell it on a ‘donation’ base of £2.00. Circulate it a good month before.
Might be a small amount from Woking Borough Council for the brochure. Christine said if you go on
the website it is very out of date – Mark needs to update it. Facebook page needed updating.
All going ahead and another meeting due. Ray Morgan at a Chamber meeting – and he said you will
ask me early for the money. This money is not for WBBA as we do not have insurance for this hence
it having to go through Easy England. Enter para. Regarding this. The local businesses are all
interested in sponsoring. It is known that this event is a good show.
Waitrose have already been approached for the green token donation.
Reminder of the dates: Friday 24th July and Saturday 25th July. The porta loos have been ordered and
the cost has not increased.
It is understood by WBBA that Pauline Hedges organises the West Byfleet LI:VE event through
her organisation ‘Easily England’. According to records at Companies House, Easily England
Limited was dissolved on 17th December 2013, our understanding is that Pauline (as a sole
trader trading as ‘Easily England’) organises the event and WBBA would consider making a
contribution to the costs with a donation if they feel it is appropriate. Pauline is therefore
responsible for any losses or profits raised from the event and is responsible for arranging
with Woking Borough Council the use of the playing field and for ensuring that insurance
liability is covered. WBBA assumes no liability (financial or otherwise) for the event.
RIDE LONON
Prudential have sent a letter out regarding 2nd August regarding 25,000 amateur cyclists coming
through West Byfleet. West Byfleet Social Club is being used as base for the Surrey Ambassadors.
Website
Request for Website and Facebook page to be updated.
Planning Issues
Enterprise House
There are 80/90 people moving into this building and are part of animal pet food company. Based in
Leicester. Good news – more footfall! In a couple of weeks time. Serious number of people coming
in. Building opposite Costa are becoming occupied.
Gary rang – been talking to Geoff McManus working our rates for season tickets for Traders’ Staff at
Woodlands Avenue Car Park. Details to be obtained. Parking meters do not seem to work when it
rains.
Sheer House
There is representative gone from the WBBA to the council who are in discussions with potential
purchasers for Sheer House.
Membership
West Byfleet Golf Club/Boots and new occupants on Health Centre. Minutes are circulated to all
people not attending the meeting. Meeting is for those who wish to network and hear earlier than
when the minutes are generated. Ideal forum for those with businesses that work from home.
Woking Chamber
AGM will be on 26th March. They are implementing a system to pay membership by monthly direct
debit. Rules will need to be changed before this. Independent Retailers Forum is free to join. Need
to be a Chamber member to get access. Renalto from McDonalds (franchise) is running this. Go on
their website. John attended a meeting last night and it was interesting Ray Morgan attended, Nolan
Heather attended from the Police and the subject matter was about Chertsey Road. It is an
organisation that has been reborn. Three main subjects – Parking/pigeons/gas works. Five years
ago same subjects were covered!!! Great enthusiasm from the Chairperson. No-one from West
Byfleet was represented.
A reminder that Woking Chamber membership fees are based on the number of employees in the
company which is approximately £140 part of which you receive your own personal Woking Chamber
Directory entry in the Woking Chamber book. The emailed Offers page is really useful and circulation
is very high, which is generated every week. 300 plus membership but mostly small businesses.
WBBA is a separate item on the Woking Chamber’s agenda for feedback from these meetings. A
photo of the meeting was circulated.
AOB
Digital High Street Skills – off town centre managers in every borough 3 free half day workshops. MIT
Skills Unit 8 Camphill Road. You can attend all, or choose what is relevant to you. However, if you
don’t attend all you don’t receive a certificate for completion. MIT have three entire units one is where
they mend cars/canteen facility/training rooms Unit 8 is just training rooms IT suite for 12 computers
will not charge if the association wants to use it which means that we have an alternative place to
meet if required. Parking is free!! If you require dialysis it is the place to go! Manufacturing Industrial
Training. Receive Government Funding to do this training.
Neighbourhood Forum
The Questionnaire was circulated to 2,800 homes in the village and received back just under 400
replies. Putting together neighborhood plan – parking (having to go back to establish the problem)
traffic (needing to ask again what the problem is) vast majority of complaints was the ugly monstrosity
– Sheer House. Many want a pub – can’t have it Need someone to edit the five different groups and
someone to write the plan £6000 it can be done by a group of people and monies from the
government can be obtained to fund this. Therefore, a sum of £7,000 has been applied for. One of
the groups is the business group who have been approached. A simple questionnaire. Pauline ran
through some of the questions that are posed.
Obviously there are quite a few people who wish the village to be a purely residential area. The
questionnaire is not designed to go via email as complimentary questions need to be asked at the
time of distribution. The development plan is designed for the residents, but it gives the businesses
an opportunity to ask what is going on. The community area are looking at whether we have enough
schools, places to go to in the evening etc. There is a joint chair – Penny Hoskins and Pauline
Hedges which reflects representation from both residents and business.
AOB
Noel Richardson has been transferred to Frimley and, therefore, will be unable to continue to attend
these meetings.
John Ashcroft has gone through the South West Trains Survey very carefully and summarised for the
group and it looks like West Byfleet comes out of it quite well. Pauline will circulate this to the
members.
Ron Enticott has brought his train spotting books for those interested!!!!! (this is as a result of the
previous meeting when the Railway was discussed)
West Byfleet Social Club has taken up the gauntlet with the local school to fund raise for a little boy,
Christian Rogers with cerebal palsy – £50,000 is required to be raised. Stella will give details when
requested.
Advertising for West Byfleet LI:VE has been booked to place the banner in the high street.
Christine Morrison suggested that a Loyalty jute bag with Shop Local – could be supported by WBBA
to encourage and advertise the village. Woking News and Mail have printers that can print on
canvas. Suggestion that there is a West Byfleet stall at West Byfleet LI:VE to sell them? Sell at cost.
Details to be obtained.
Footfall in West Byfleet is down.
AGM – to be held on Tuesday, 31st March, 6.00 pm, in the Committee Room at the Social Club. Light
refreshments will be provided. Heathrow has the rail ready for it, but not happening.
21 days’ notice needs to be given setting out the resolutions to be proposed which are:
Appointment of officers/adoption of accounts. An examiner will also need to be appointed.
Thanks again to Stella for her hospitality
Next month’s meeting – West Byfleet Social Club – 2nd April 2015.