CAMPAIGN FOR REGION www.camra.org.uk

CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

GREATER MANCHESTER REGION MINUTES OF AGM MEETING Held at Town Hall Tavern, Manchester on Saturday 22nd April 2017

ATTENDANCE: Angela Aspin (West Pennines Regional Director representing Branches committee) Bolton branch: Don Chattwood, Bert Kerks, Graham Walsh, Aidan Corcoran, Keith Sowerby Central Manchester branch: Heather Airlie, Graham Donning, Steve Davis, Joyce Davis, Martin Ward, Ann Ward High Peak branch: Phil Moss, Ralph Warrington Rochdale, Oldham and Bury branch: Peter Alexander, Graham Chinn. Pete Maguire Salford branch: Ian Massey, Joanne Massey, Tony Evans, Stewart Revell South East Lancashire branch: No attendees Stockport & South Manchester branch: John Clarke, Mike Gilroy Trafford & Hulme branch: Caroline O’Donnell, John O’Donnell, Ali Warrington, Mark Reeves Wigan branch: Sandy Motteram

Attendees in bold were branch delegates.

The meeting started at 13:05

APOLOGIES: Jon & Beverley Gobbett, Ken and Carol Worthington, Gordon Allen, Neil Worthington, Pete Marsh, Steve Prescott, Mike Robinson, Martin Parkinson. Tim Page had been asked if he could attend but was unavailable as at another CAMRA meeting.

MINUTES OF THE 2016 AGM: The minutes were accepted as accurate and approved.

ACTION POINTS AND MATTERS ARISING: None raised.

RD’s ANNUAL REPORT: It has been a busy year. Graham outlined a few highlights. He still believed communications is an issue and it is very difficult to set up a new branch.

Graham gave clarification on Festival incentives, new members signed up can get free entry and 2 free pints as long as this cost is included in the budget. This is an optional incentive.

Graham had also recently complained about a award that had been held in when there were other with awards in the north, he had asked why these events were always happening in London. Angela Aspin thanked him for his raising of this as the pubs in the north was in her region.

REGIONAL FINANCE OFFICER’S REPORT: The treasurer, Don Chattwood, presented the regional accounts for 2016 and the accounts for the 2016 MBCF festival. Don Chattwood was asked about the share dividends we were receiving. He stated that the region had held shares in many old regional breweries, some of which are now long gone, Caroline O’Donnell had asked if we should sell them but Don stated it was difficult to track down what had happened to many of these shares. Also some of the CAMRA names against the shares were volunteers who had since passed away or whose whereabouts were no longer known.

As for the MBCF accounts, Don said that not all the paperwork needed for VAT had been made available to the auditors which might present an issue if not available if the accounts were investigated by VAT authorities. There was also no receipt received for the charity collection banked and passed to the charity. Alan Gent was also looking for missing accommodation receipts. The VAT due had been paid.

CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE GREATER MANCHESTER REGION

ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTS: The accounts were adopted with no votes against.

APPOINTMENT OF ASSESSORS FOR FOLLOWING YEAR: Only Bert Kerks of the current assessors was present and he was happy to continue. As Neil Worthington had not expressed a desire to stand down they were both reappointed by the attendees.

REGIONAL OFFICERS REPORTS EQUIPMENT: Graham said more racking is now available as some had been donated by Tony Evan’s employer. GBG: Steve Davis said this year’s process had largely gone well though and the regional proofs had been passed to the editorial team 2 days ahead of the deadline. These had just been received back and had been passed to the branch coordinators for checking. PRESS AND PUBLICITY: John Clarke said that he hadn’t done anything this year and would be standing down.

Graham Chinn read a report on the Tasting panel. An electronic copy will be distributed with the minutes. Graham said he would be standing down as Chair of the Tasting panel and he was thanked for his efforts.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND OTHER BRANCH POSTS: There were no contested elections.

Regional Director: Graham Donning Re-elected. Deputy Regional Director: Ralph Warrington re-elected. Assistant Deputy Regional Director: john O’Donnell re-elected. Regional Secretary: Steve Davis re-elected. Regional Treasure: Don Chattwood re-elected. Regional Press and Publicity Officer: David Rigby was nominated by Graham Donning, seconded by Graham Chinn and elected. Regional Young Members Co-ordinator: Nobody offered to stand and position remains open. Regional Account Signatories: Don Chattwood, Graham Donning, Graham Walsh and Ralph Warrington re-elected. Regional Equipment officers; Graham Donning and Martin Ward re-elected. Regional Pub Database Officer: As Whatpub was now set up and fully populated the position was discontinued. Regional GBG Co-ordinator: Steve Davis re-elected. Regional Clubs Officer: Nobody offered to stand and position remains open. Regional Public Transport Co-ordinator(s): Steve Smith and Pete Kobryn re-elected. Regional Pubs Preservation Officer and Regional Pub Officer were agreed to be combined into one role – Regional Pub Campaigning Officer: Nobody offered to stand and position remains open. Regional Planning Officer: Tim Field was re-elected. Regional Officer: Mike Gilroy was proposed by Pete Maguire, seconded by John O’Donnell and elected. Regional Webmaster: Tony Evans was proposed by Steve Davis, seconded by Ian Massey and elected.

Caroline O’Donnell asked if the vacancies can be advertised in Opening Times. Action: Steve Davis to arrange for vacant roles to be advertised in What’s .

AOB: It was proposed by Ralph Warrington that the Regional Director is free to co-opt a volunteer to fill any empty regional roles or any regional roles that may become empty. This was agreed by the meeting.

The next AGM will be held on 7th April 2018 to be hosted by Stockport and South Manchester branch.

Meeting Closed at 14:05.