Minutes of CPA Annual General Meeting Held at Callestick Farm
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Minutes of CPA Annual General Meeting held at Callestick Farm, Truro, 22nd April 2015 Present: Mark Muncey (Proper Cornish), Maurice Matthews (WC Rowe), Jason Jobling (Warrens), Tracey Weeks & Catherine Webster (Crantock), Ross Buist (Prima), Ian & Jillian Noble (Jessie’s Dairy), Frank Bradshaw & Fiona Rick (Cornish Premier), Marion Symonds (Portreath), Gavin Hill & Fraser Glennie (Cornwall Council Trading Standards), Carol Cheetham & Amber Battle (Ginsters), Ruth Huxley (CFD) Note-taker: Dave Huxley (CFD). 1. Welcome and Apologies Ruth Huxley opened the meeting at 15.00. Apologies had been received from Elaine Ead (Chairman) and Jo Hartop (Vice Chairman). It was agreed by members present that Ruth should therefore chair the meeting. Other apologies were received from: Mark Duddridge (Ginsters/Tamar Foods), David Hampson (Hampson of Hayle), Neil Belcher (Crib Box), Paul Pearce (WC Rowe), Mark Norton (Prima). 2. Minutes of last AGM The minutes of the 2014 AGM were distributed to members for reference and were accepted as a true record of the meeting. 3. Matters arising The amendments to the specification were sent to DEFRA. They have been presented in the format of a minor amendment, which means that there is not a period for objections once the EC has approved the application. The amendments are currently with the EC for translation, which is believed to mean that they have been accepted. DEFRA have advised that the next step is to await the publication of the revised specification on the EC’s website. Gavin and Fraser passed around samples of the PGI certificates that Cornwall Council TS are proposing to issue to companies after a successful audit. 4. Chairman’s Report Ruth presented the Chairman’s Report on behalf of Elaine: It had been a frustrating year, due to the time taken to deal with the amendment to the specification, but now that it looks like approval is close, it should be all systems go once we get the green light. It’s good news that the audits are underway. All members, bar one, had been inspected, and the one remaining will be inspected very soon. All inspections had found members to be compliant and the certificates will be sent out by Cornwall Council soon. The administration system is being put into place between the Council and CFD (on behalf of the CPA). We need all members to use the window stickers, and ensure that all their trade customers are using them as well. We need to promote both the PGI and the CPA logo so that consumers start to recognise both of them. Guidance on use of the electronic versions of the logos will be sent to all certified members. The number of enquiries received by the CPA on a regular basis shows how much public love and media interest there is for the pasty. There is plenty of PR potential, but not having a clear specification to market has been a frustration. The World Pasty Championships were a great success and there was a lot of very good national media coverage generated by the success of 89 year old Betty Lethbridge, winner of the amateur category. The Board has agreed that there is scope for greater involvement in the event from the CPA. There is a lot to do, and it’s time to push forward. Elaine will not be standing for re-election as Chairman this year. She would like to remain on the board, and there are two things she’s keen to see:- closer alignment with the Craft Bakers Association, and exploring overseas partnerships with countries where the pasty was taken due to links with Cornish mining. Julie Benson (Cornwall Council TS) was instrumental in getting the PGI audit system in place. She has now moved to a new position within the Council. Elaine requested that the CPA records and passes on their thanks for all her work with them. Fraser Glennie and Gavin Hill are the Trading Standards Officers now responsible for protected food names – they introduced themselves to the members. 5. Financial Report Jason Jobling presented the financial position as at 31/3/15 Appendix A It was agreed that, after many years, the financial position was looking better and reserves were building up. The CPA was finally in a position to start projects that will give more benefits back to members. The membership fees were discussed and it was agreed that they stay at the current bands and fees. There needs to be honesty from members about the number of pasties they produce each year. Cornwall Council TS can gain a rough idea during their auditing processes, but it relies on members to declare the true figure. The CPA subsidises the auditing process to ease the financial burden on smaller producers and encourage more to join. 6. Membership Report RH reported that there are 22 current members. The Board and CFD have made efforts to recruit new members, but it has proved difficult to convert interest into paid up memberships. It was hoped that clarification of the specification and new membership benefits will make it easier to define exactly what the CPA offers to producers. 7. Nominations for Board Members There are currently 9 Board members allowed within the CPA constitution. All current members had expressed a wish to remain on the Board. A proposal for a new Board member had been received. A discussion of various options took place, and it was resolved that as the CPA constitution currently only allowed for pasty producers, the Board membership of James Strawbridge (Posh Pasties) would need to lapse, as he is now a retailer and not a producer. Comment was also made by Fraser Glennie that the CPA is officially recognised as a producer organisation and could encounter difficulties in opening membership to retailers without following due process. However, members requested that serious consideration is given to the introduction of a membership scheme or other way of involving retailers in the Association and that it is made clear to James that the decision is not a reflection on him or his business. In light of this, a Board position became available, and Fiona Rick (Cornish Premier) was elected to stand as a Board member for 2015/16. 8. Discussion – making the CPA fit for the future Ruth outlined a draft marketing plan for the CPA, prepared at the request of the Board, which was put forward for discussion by the meeting. - Appendix B Discussion considered how to increase membership and make the PGI and CPA better known and better understood. It was generally agreed that encouraging consumers to look for the PGI symbol will drive producers and retailers to ensure their pasties are certified. It was suggested that CPA membership could be extended with a scheme to cover suppliers as well as retailers, with either a flat or a tiered fee, and that suppliers could be a valuable source of support. It was agreed that priority activity needs to be the creation of a comprehensive and sound industry database in order to identify and make contact with potential members, alongside a consumer and trade orientated PR exercise to present the key messages. Trading Standards will help by looking out for pasty producers who are not currently CPA members, but members need to help promote the brand and the value of the PGI by using the Cornish Pasty name more – many are not doing so at present. By getting the public on its side, the CPA can use consumers as the eyes and ears of the organisation in spotting non- genuine products. CPA members should pass any information on non-genuine pasties or non-member producers to Cornwall Food & Drink, who will investigate as necessary. Part of the process being developed between CFD and Trading Standards is a system for deciding when enforcement action is required. There was a request that Board members should show commitment and do their utmost to attend meetings, or send a deputy. There is the option of creating sub-groups to work on specific projects, under the direction of the Board strategy and, where specific skills are required, these groups could include people who are not necessarily on the Board or the normal CPA representative of the member. The CPA must make the constitution work, and ensure that the Board remains dynamic and doesn’t get stale. Due consideration of the rotation procedure laid down is therefore to be followed. 9. AOB There was a plea from Ruth for members to open their CPA email newsletters. A surprising percentage of messages remain unopened. The date and location of the 2016 was discussed. It could possibly tie in with the World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project on March 5th (St Piran’s Day). Marion Symonds is involved in the Redruth Pasty Festival, and would be interested in more CPA involvement. An item inviting members to participate will appear in the next CPA newsletter. Summary and Close Ruth thanked the members present for attending. The meeting closed at 16.20 Appendix A CPA Annual Financial Report to Members Feb 1st 2014 - March 31st 2015 Bank account as at 01/02/14 £3,469.54 Income 01/02/14 - 31/03/15 £28,364.46 Expenditure 01/02/14 - 31/03/15 £21,525.14 Bank account as at 31/03/15 £10,308.86 Income 01/04/15 - 31/03/16 Projected - Ex VAT Membership fee income Q1 £6,162.50 Membership fee income Q2 £1,987.50 Membership fee income Q3 £1,987.50 Membership fee income Q4 £1,987.50 Total Income £12,125.00 Less: Audit fees due to Cornwall Council £2,850.00 CFD, estimated £6,000.00 Accountant £500.00 Total expenditure £9,350.00 Net £2,775.00 Current balance, plus projected income less projected expenditure £13,083.86 Notes 1 producer pays £0 Under 1,000 units pa 8 producers pay £75pa Below 50k units pa 6 producers pay £250pa 50k – 350k units pa 350k – 1 million units 1 producer pays £375pa pa 3 producers pay £1250pa 1 – 5 million units pa 2 producers pay £1700pa 5 – 20 million units pa Above 20 million units 1 producer pays £2500pa pa Appendix B Cornish Pasty Association Draft Marketing Plan, April 2015 Aims and Objectives: Help the CPA to become more widely recognised as the leading authority on the Cornish pasty.