North Laine Traders Association MInutes AGM 24th March 2009

Homepage

Latest News

About North Laine

Download Map

NEW North Laine Map!

NLTA Archive | Minutes of AGM 24th March 2009

North Laine Traders Association
Minutes of 2009 AGM
24th March at the Lord Nelson Inn, Trafalgar Street.
The meeting started at 6.15 with a welcome from Sharon Thomas to those present.
Apologies: Peter and Sandy Crowhurst (NLCA), Pat and Tony Mernagh, David Lepper M.P.

Peter read out and congratulatory message from David re our achievements over the last twenty years.

Relevant Business

Chamber of Commerce/ B & H council - a series of “Business Lifebelt” free events for retailers at the Jubilee library. Next events- 6pm 25th March and 1st April.
City College - Charles Blunt updated us on the now approved development scheme and told us of delays due to the LSC “prioritising grants to colleges. Charles took questions and told us the build would take about two years when it started.
B & H Council Achievement Awards - PJ Aldred was organising this event and NLTA have donated bags for the winners. Steve Pybus has sponsored printing the bags with the event logo. PJ is asking for donations of prizes to the winners.
B & H council - Donna had been to meet the new hanging basket suppliers for city in bloom.

20th Anniversary

Geoff Ellis, the first chair of the association told us how and why the NLTA for formed and about the encouragement and support from the community association. At the end of his talk he presented a framed caricature to Peter Stocker for his work keeping the association running.

Treasurers and Annual Report

David Hall presented the accounts which had been distributed to all present. He discussed the balance sheet and reported that we currently had 79 paid up members this year and approximately £6,000 in the bank.

Police Update

PCSO John Sharman gave a report to the meeting and then answered questions from those present. Questions included – fake DVD sellers and what to do about noisy buskers. Laurent Robert asked why more resources could not be put into closing down shops repeatedly caught selling stolen goods. The non emergency number for reporting incidents is 0845 60 70 999 or you can e-mail the Sussex police site (for atten North Laine team).

Election of Officers

Chair - Sharon Thomas
Proposed by Peter Stocker, seconded by Laurent Robert. Voted in.
Coordinator - Peter Stocker
Proposed by Kevin Daly, seconded by Geoff Ellis. Voted in.
Treasurer - David Hall
Proposed by Steve Pybus, seconded by David Sewell. Voted in.
Street Reps - As advertised on the newsletter
Proposed by Roz Start, seconded by Laurent Robert. Voted in.

Sharon thanked her fellow officers and street reps for all their hard work.

NL Website

Brian Pedley produced a report which Peter read out. The street reps had agreed to ask Brian to update our popular site and make it easier to navigate. He is beginning to do this and Peter had recently spent time with Brian going over the suggestions. Brian wanted to remind members to use their extra page and provided the following stats;

Quarter 4 of 2008 - 80,329 (unique hits).
January 2009 - 27,950
February 2009 - 28,431
Week of March 8th 2009 - 7,229

Peter had been in touch with VisitBrighton to ask why our links had been taken away. Richard Pearson (B & H council) has assured us that it was an error and they would be reinstated. Steve Pybus and Laurent Robert also both suggested a Facebook page detailing North Laine members and events.

Southern Water

The work in Bond Street is progressing well and Pat M commented how good they had been. North Road is due to start 2nd February at the Queens Road end and could take up to nine months to complete. Peter will continue to attend liaison meetings.

A.O.B.

Sharon Thomas talked about this years project to produce a map of North Laine with details of members shops on the reverse side. It would be produced professionally and we would have it distributed. The map would also be available to download from the website.
At the recent street reps meeting on 10.3.09 those present agreed to fix next years membership fee at a standard £30 for all North Laine premises. Those present voted to do so.
Cllr Ian Davy asked how the present economic climate was affecting North Laine. Peter Stocker reported that some traders had closed but there were still very few empty shops in the North/South streets. We do have empty shops (7) in Trafalgar Street. Peter is still receiving enquiries through the website for premises but not as many as last year.
Laurent invited traders present to attend a “tea party” on the 25th March at his premises in Gloucester Street. He thought it a good idea to do more trader to trader promotions.
David Sewell wanted us to talk to NCP and Brighton council and contest the price rises in parking around the city centre. We had agreed this at the street reps meeting and are already talking to them.

The business section of the AGM was now finished and Sharon invited everyone to get more refreshments before tonights speaker.

Guest Speaker

Our first AGM guest speaker was Geoff Mead and we invited him to join us for our 20 year celebrations. Geoff gave an entertaining talk about the changing face of North Laine and showed some excellent slides of the area. Many present had seen Geoff before but he never fails to tell you something you just didn’t know or realise about North Laine.

The AGM finished at 8.30 when Sharon thanked Geoff for his talk and thanked those present for attending.

North Laine Bags

100% North Laine Bags
Find out more about our sustainable bags

This website is funded by the independent traders of North Laine and maintained by the North Laine Traders Association.

site design : pedleyonline