Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2023
Stoke Club at 8.00 pm
Friday 23rd June 2023
Roll Call
The meeting was chaired by Barry Cullimore.
Meeting was attended by representatives of 15 teams:-
Hit & Hopes; Lamb Shanks; Seahawks; Lamb & Larks
Nobbys Nuts; Dolphins; Thorns & Roses; Hotspots;
Pornstars Lord Nelson; Mandy’s Bell Boys; Half Moon;
Duke of York; Stoke Buoys;
Apologies for absence were received from 6 teams:-
Bakers Rogues; Split Pins; Mucky Ducks;
Rosies Rebels; S Club 8; VIPs
The following teams were not represented and apologies not received:-
Monkey Spankers Ham Boys Yorkies
Accounts 2022-23
The accounts were presented by Pete Wescott. A copy of the complete figures is appended to these minutes. . The accounts showed that there was a starting balance of £782.06, league fees of £1920 paid and expenditure of £2307.54. The closing balance was £394.52.
The league fees had been increased to £80 per team for last season, however, due to a number of additional trophies and a general increase in their prices, there was an excess expenditure of £387 over income. There is, thus, a need to ensure that the same does not happen next season as there are now insufficient funds to cover.
It was noted that there was, again, no spend this season on stamps. All communication is now done through email and the now well established and used website. The website costs £5 per month and is seen as excellent value for money.
League Fees 2023-24
In order to ensure sufficient funds to cover the foreseen costs and cost increases next season, Pete proposed that the league fee be raised to £100 for 2022-23 season. This was agreed with no one against. There was some discussion about expenditure on and costs of trophies. The following motions were proposed and agreed as cost cutting measures:-
- There will be no individual trophies awarded for the Highest Away Team Score. Only the permanent trophy will, henceforward, be presented;
- Runners-up in all competitions will receive medals only as these are much cheaper than the shields currently awarded;
- Teams which have won league or cup awards will, where possible, be asked if they would prefer a charitable donation to be given instead.
Formation of League
(Note that, at the time of the AGM, it was not clear whether all current teams were intending to play next season. Also the additional team specified – Bakers Big Arms – had not, at that point, supplied specific details. The following is based on agreement on the night that a new team would be accepted and later confirmation of participation by all existing teams and the new team.)
There will be 25 teams in the league for the next season – all teams which played in 2022-23 will be returning and a new team from the Bakers Arms, Martock will be joining.
In order to ensure the two divisions match, fixture-wise, they will be scheduled as two notional 14 team divisions with Division 1 containing 13 teams and Division 2 12 teams.
Promotions and relegations were agreed as:-
Promoted: Lamb & Larks, Lamb Shanks
Relegated: Split Pins
This will give:-
Division 1: Division 2
Duke of York Yorkies
Monkey Spankers Split Pins
Bakers Rogues S Club 8
Seahawks Hotspots
VIPs Porn Stars
Stoke WMC Mucky Ducks
Nobbys Nuts Roses & Thorns
Bakers Buoys Lord Nelson
Dolphins Ham Boys
Nelson Nomads* Rosie’s Rebels
Hit & Hopes Mandy’s Bell Boys
Pornstars Hit & Hopes
Lamb Shanks Bakers Big Arms
Lamb & Larks
*Renamed from Half Moon
A number of changes to team venues were advised. These are:-
- Nelson Nomads moving from Half Moon, Stoke to Lord Nelson, Norton
- Provisional: PornStars moving from Ilton Cricket Club to the Rusty Axe, Stembridge;
- Provisional: Yorkies moving from Duke of York, Shepton to the Rusty Axe, Stembridge;
The season will commence on Friday 8th September.
The Nomination Cup first round will be held on Friday 8th December. There will be no Nomination Shield or Memorial Cup.
Election of Officials for 2022-23
The current paid officials Barry Cullimore, Pete Wescott and Steve Lonton have indicated willingness to continue their roles for next season. Graeme Whittle will continue as Vice-Chairman. There are currently no other committee members. Barry Cullimore made a plea for more people to come forward as the league is highly dependent on Steve Lonton and Pete Wescott and there is no obvious cover if either should need to be replaced for any reason. Three Captains agreed to serve on the Committee for the next season:-
Graham Brimble (Stoke WMC)
Sean Monaghan (Roses & Thorns)
Roger Lee (Duke of York)
Thanks to all these.
New Committee 2022-23
Chairman Barry Cullimore
Vice Chairman Graeme Whittle
Match Secretary Steve Lonton
Treasurer/Secretary Pete Wescott
Committee Member Graham Brimble; Roger Lee; Sean Monaghan
Remuneration
Pete Wescott proposed that, from next season, the Fixtures Secretary role should be increased to £350 (from £260) and the joint Secretary/Treasurer role should be decreased to £350. This is to reflect the relative workloads (largely due to the increasing automation of communications). The Chairman will continue to receive £50.This was agreed by the meeting.
Any Other Business
- It was proposed that the issue of fixture books be the same as last season. There will be 100 books (4 per team). Team captains will be asked, at the pre-season fixture book collection meeting, how many books they want. If more than 100 are needed, a second print run will be requested. The meeting was happy with this arrangement.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8-50 pm.
Pete Wescott
General Secretary
