Following the Committee Meeting on the 20th August it was decided to hold our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 29th October 2016 at 11.00 a.m. followed by a light lunch and  bridge.
There will be a resolution regarding changes to our Membership charges.

Peter Clough has agreed to join the Committee and, along with all the other Committee members, will be up for re-election at the A.G.M.

The details of next year's holiday are on the Website and a notice for names is on the Club notice board.

The President's Trophy will be held on Tuesday 15th November.  Details on the notice board.

The Committee has agreed to offer the Club Premises to any EBU members to hold their Teams Matches during the forthcoming season.
 There will be a charge of £15 for this.  This charge will not apply to Club Members who may wish to hold a home match at the Club.

If anyone is known to be poorly or in hospital please advise Ann Rees who has kindly taken on the role of sending appropriate cards, etc.

It was decided to have the Club Christmas Party on Sunday afternoon the 18th December.
 It is hoped this will suit more members who do not wish to travel at night in the winter months.
Also it is hoped this will not clash with other events members may wish to attend.

Please let Linda know if you wish to add anything to the agenda of the A.G.M. or the next Committee Meeting.

Items arising from Committee Meeting 4.6.16.

The Friday members of LARKHILL BRIDGE CLUB are to be invited to a Sunday Afternoon Tea on the 17th July.  A notice will be posted in the club and we hope lots of members will sign up to attend.  This is proving to be a welcome event.

We understand all members have received their EBU Membership numbers.  If not, please advise a Committee member.

Mr. Gordon Hadfield has kindly accepted the position of Chairman of the Club Committee.

Irene Cooke has kindly agreed to provide training in the use of the computer for our bridge sessions.  If you would be interested in attending please let her know.

The Committee has looked into carrying out some refurbishment to the Ladies and Gentlemens Cloakrooms and hope to start work soon.

The next Committee meeting will be on Saturday 20th August, 2016.

STRETFORD BRIDGE CLUB

Update:  Current Status  SBC LTD. – SBC Club.

On the 13^th July 2015 4 Directors of SBC  Ltd.  Brian Rigby, Peter Jackson, Fred Ashcroft and Gordon Hadfield had a meeting with Miss Mellor, a partner in Slater Heelis & Co, Solicitors, to discuss the current situation and to go further in order that club members legally own SBC Ltd.  The founder shareholders seem to have been poorly advised in setting up SBC Ltd.

Where we are:

1. The Club have no legal right to ‘own’ the shares recovered from deceased shareholders or repurchased by the club.  The club members therefore currently have no official say into how LTD is managed.  Only legal entities and named persons can own shares.  The club is not a legal entity.
2. LTD has only one shareholder.  Brian Rigby who was awarded 10 shares when he became a director of the company.  The other 4 ‘Directors’, Sylvia Rigby, Peter Jackson, Gordon Hadfield and Fred Ashcroft currently have no shares and, under the Articles of Association of LTD cannot therefore currently act as a Director.
3. LTD has been described as a dormant company with no income or expenses and currently does not have a bank account – a legal requirement.
4. LTD own the building and land.  The cash reserves of the Club are owned by the current club members.
5. Only the shareholders of LTD can change the Articles of Association of LTD with a 75% majority of shareholder votes.

The proposed way forward:

1. 10 shares will be offered to current ‘Directors’ by the shareholder (Brian) as soon as practical to ensure LTD can continue to exist. On taking these up the individuals named above will become official Directors of LTD.
2. A bank account in the name of LTD will be opened
3. With guidance from Slater Heelis a sub-committee of the Club Committee will be set up to form the articles of a new Ltd (newco) company, limited by guarantee.  i.e. There will be no shareholders but membership of the club means that you have part ownership of the club.  This ceases when you are no longer a member. 
4. Once the constitution is approved, by a vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club the newco will be registered and current club assets be transferred into newco.  Newco will then run the club similarly to current club practice but with the legal ownership of the vast majority of shares in LTD.
5. The Directors of LTD will then carry out their duties in line with the members wishes as expressed through the Committee (then Directors of Newco) or its members through resolutions passed at the AGM.
6. The resolution re election of Directors passed at last years AGM will not now be included on the Agenda of the AGM planned for Saturday 24^th Oct 2015  Rather another resolution confirming the establishment of Newco will be put to the meeting and an EGM to consider Newco Constitution arranged as soon as practical.  Election of officials and Committee Members will take place as usual at the AGM and nomination invitation listed on the notice board.
7. Membership subscriptions paid for year 2015/16 in November 2015 will be regarded as subscriptions to Newco should the company be established during that year.
8. Legal costs to establish the Newco are estimated to be about £2000.  Necessary amendments to LTD Articles of Association after Newco is established in the region of £1250.

Should individual club members have any questions about why the above actions are necessary, wish to contribute suggestions to include in the constitution of Newco, or indeed raise other issues then please feel free to speak with either Peter or Brian who will be happy to explain or comment on the proposals.

PJJ 14 July 2015.

CLUB OFFICIALS

PRESIDENT       R. CLARK
CHAIRMAN        B. RIGBY
SECRETARY     P. JACKSON
TREASURER     I. COOKE

COMMITTEE

S. REYMOLDS
F. ASHWORTH
A. REES
G. HADFIELD
B. HADFIELD
V.VEITCH
C.McKINNON