David Hall handed around copies of last year’s accounts (to 31.12.06). £500 was carried forward from the Christmas campaign but expenditure of £3,800 on the website plus a further £678 on the launch resulted in an overall deficit for the year of nearly £2,500. ( it was agreed last year that 2006 would be the year that we used our accumulated money to launch an effective website). £1,000 has been allocated for further work on the website, and total funds carried forward to 2007 are £3,632. The accounts are ready for the AGM and DH will e-mail a copy to Brian to put on the website.

Currently £4,031 in the bank but there are standing orders to go through, and also further subscriptions to pay in. A reminder to renew will be included in the next newsletter – non-payers will not be eligible for a personalised website page after this years AGM.

Overall the lights are considered to be nice, but some did not work consistently and the late night shopping was not an overall success for the traders. From 10 traders asked, most reported only 10-14 days of “Christmas rush”. Takings mostly slightly up on last year, but tailed off a couple of days before Christmas. Cheaper parking would help and possibly street/music events. It was agreed that a £50 donation would be given to the Martlets choir as in past years for their participation.

Brian has started work on the members’ section. The Rent Review document from the Business Forum has been loaded on, in addition to planning advice from Humberts. Next will be the information from Fludes regarding leases, basic footfall figures and information from Trading Standards regarding Wastetech. The Bank of Scotland credit card deal is also on the website but there have been problems with terminals and delays with stationery supplies, and so Martin McKenzie of Streamline will meet with PS and Andrew Bird at the end of January to discuss their offering.

Since the website launch there have been 48,000 separate hits, and for the week ending 14 January there was over 3,000 hits, compared to 4/500 per week on the old website.

It is just £75 for NLTA to become a partner of VisitBrighton with a web page, and presence in the Visitor Centre – PS to contact Richard Pearson for updated info. No progress to report regarding the video although City College and Lighthouse will be contacted and PS will ask Brian what a live webcam would entail.

Monday 12 March at the Komedia – in The Foyer Bar in Regent Street. Further details will be in the next newsletter. Guest speaker in IT suggested.

Sharon would like to change the style of the newsletter, initial ideas include A5 size, using the banner from the website and different colours. Colourfast want to act as sponsor for the January issue. Southern Water has offered sponsorship for the March issue.

Copies of the current and new draft version were handed out. One important change regarding eligibility for membership: from any business with premises in the North Laine to a physical presence in the North Laine. A clause for the termination of members has now been written in. A downloadable version is on the website - click here for more information.