Minutes of the Executive Committee held at 7pm on Tuesday 17 June 2008

at Banus, 44 The Esplanade, Weymouth.

Present: George Afedakis in the chair [President,] Michel Hooper-Immins [Secretary,] David Beaman [Treasurer,] Andy Cooke [Past President,] John Brooks, Ray Bulpit, June Chorley, David Johnston, Bill Landucci, Andy Manvell, Trevor Matthews, Graham Whitehouse.

Apologies: Tony Harris [Senior Vice President,] Shaun Hennessy [TCG Chairman.]

260. John Brooks proposed and Andy Manvell seconded that David Johnston be co-opted to the Executive Committee, which was unanimously agreed. Noted that Paul Knight has now missed three meetings [Rule 5.13.] Graham Whitehouse undertook to speak to him.

261. The Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of 29 April 2008 were agreed and signed as a true and accurate record. No matters arising.

262. Graham Whitehouse launched a discussion on proposals to streamline the agenda, to give all Executive Committee members specific areas of interest and to improve contact with members. He offered to produce a new-style full colour Newsletter on a monthly basis and this offer was accepted. It was agreed to post the Executive Committee minutes on the website. Highlights would be included in the Newsletter. It was generally agreed that more contact with members would be beneficial.

263. The President is writing to Councillor Michael Goodman [Chairman of the Borough Council’s Management Committee] to propose a meeting on a number of areas of common interest, including how to finance a Town Centre Manager and winter parking charges [Minute 248.] In view of his interest in town centre management, Nigel Richardson is co-opted to the Executive Committee, proposed by John Brooks and seconded by Andy Cooke. Ray Bulpit wondered if a Shell student might be useful for undertaking research next year.

264. Shaun Hennessy [Blondz] had become Chairman of the Town Centre Group and will be encouraged to join the Chamber, although the Constitution does not require it. The President had met with Bournemouth University, who were interested in regeneration issues. Finally, he noted some members had commented adversely on the mass circulation of remarks on individuals, sent to most members by email. The President said it was vital that members started to work together.

265. The Secretary said there were 11 members who had so far failed to pay their membership subscription, due on 1 January 2008. Under Rule 6.7, they will be considered to have resigned if not paid by 1 July. It was agreed this was too long a period of grace and a constitutional amendment will be promoted at the 2009 Annual General Meeting to reduce the period to six weeks from the date of the membership invoice. Dive Dorset Ltd., Outside Edge and Think Marketing were not renewing. Express Glass [Dorset] Ltd. had begun trading again and restored their membership. More members needed to be convinced to make Standing Orders for annual membership subscriptions. Another invitation will go with the 2009 invoices. Current membership is 115 Full Members, five Honorary Life Members and three Retired Members.

266. It was agreed to pay £60.15 to have post delivered to the Secretary, rather than collecting it from the Sorting Office, which was becoming difficult. Dorset County Council had written to request a donation of up to £500 towards a theatre performance and firework display planned at Bowleaze Cove on 26/27 September. The request was declined. Councillor Geoff Petherick had become Chairman of the Economic theme group of Weymouth & Portland Partnership.

267. Through the Secretary, Anna-Maria Geare reported that the Business Breakfasts were well attended, with a maximum of 57 attending. All speakers for the remainder of the year and 2009 had been fixed. The Rendezvous were increasing prices, so from January 2009 the cost will be £2 for members and £5 for non-members. A request for a volunteer from the Executive Committee to organise and print name badges for Business Breakfasts found no response. Anna-Maria Geare would be thanked for all her work on the Business Breakfasts.

268. The Treasurer reported total assets at the bank of £10,285.54, being £6,346.98 in the current account, £2,959.77 in the 30-day deposit account and £978.79 in the breakfast account. Honorary Life Member Joan Bliss had made a donation of £30, for which she will be thanked.

269. Trevor Matthews said numbers were rising for the Midsummer Barbecue at the Nothe Fort on 26 June. The Carnival Night Supper on 20 August would continue, even if the procession did not reach the Prince Regent Hotel. Jim Knight MP had invited the Chamber to the House of Commons in October. It was intended to hold a function at Southwell Spa.

270. David Beaman reported on the Pavilion peninsula redevelopment postal poll, saying 52 ballot papers had been delivered by hand and the residue sent by post. Three members had not received their ballot in the post. The members’ postal vote resulted in a 29-14 vote in agreement with the Executive Committee’s view that the development should be limited to six floors with a smaller marina [Minutes 236, 247 and 256.] Ray Bulpit thought the Chamber was not qualified to comment. Andy Cooke suggested there was little substance in the Chamber’s objection, but thanked David Beaman for enclosing the Borough Council magazine Insight with ballot papers. David Johnston criticised Andy Cooke for speaking publicly against the Chamber. John Brooks thought the Borough Council and Howard Holdings had communicated poorly with the public. It was agreed that the result of the ballot would be communicated by David Beaman to the following evening’s full Borough Council meeting. The President thanked David Beaman for his hard work in organising the postal vote.

271. As decided earlier, Executive Committee members would take an interest in specific areas of the Chamber’s work and give a report at every meeting of the Executive Committee. The following volunteered: David Beaman- Relief Road & Pavilion Peninsula redevelopment; John Brooks & Nigel Richardson- Town Centre Manager; Ray Bulpit- Tourism; David Johnston- Townscape Heritage & Safer Neighbourhood initiatives; Bill Landucci- Olympics; Andy Manvell- Housing; Graham Whitehouse- Newsletter. Existing appointments continue.

272. Any Other Business, John Brooks suggested Councillor Geoff Petherick be invited to address a future briefing meeting, with a buffet, to outline his vision for the Borough’s future.

The meeting closed at 9.40pm.