## **CLEVEDON PILOT GIG CLUB MINUTES OF CHARITY TRUSTEES MEETING 12[th] October 2023**
||**CLEVEDON PILOT GIG CLUB**
**MINUTES OF CHARITY TRUSTEES MEETING**
**12th October 2023**||
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|**1.**|**Present:**Gary Jones (GJ); Denise Jones (DJ); Richard James Club
Secretary/Trustee (RJ); Carolyn Watson(CW). Apologiesfrom Kevin Fry.||
|**2.**|The Meeting was called to review and comment upon the Club’s activities in the
year since the last Trustees’ Meeting (25thSeptember 2022), to prepare the
annual report forsubmission tothe Charity Commissionby 30th October 2023.||
|**3.**|**Review of period since October 2022**
Trustee Kevin Fry has stepped down following a job transfer and move to
Devon.
Following the disruption created by the Coronavirus restrictions this last year
has seen a return to more stable and normal period of activity for the Club, with
a resumption of planned visits to other Club Regattas during the rowing season,
although still with some unfortunate disruption and cancellations due to bad
weather.
As a result of the change of the Club’s Membership annual renewal date from 1st
January to 1stSeptember (as detailed in the 2022 Report), the Committee
decided and agreed to also bring forward the date of the annual AGM from
January to October. Member attendance for open meetings in January had
declined, particularly due to bad weather, and it is hoped that by rescheduling
the AGM to the Autumn will encourage more participation plus allowing more
time for forward planning for the 2024 Rowing Season. Interim Club Accounts
have been prepared for the period 1stJanuary to 30thJune and the Accounting
Year will in future run from 1stJuly to 30thJune.
Minimal maintenance was required to the two traditional racing gigs , training
gigs and associated equipment and well within the set annual contingency
budget.
As detailed in the last Report, the major changes implemented by the Cornish
Pilot Gig Association have now had twelve months to bed-in and generally
proved to be satisfactory and non-controversial. These include the introduction
of block Insurance cover for members of all Clubs at minimal annual cost per
head, plus a £25 per head rowing fee for those wishing to take part in the
various nominated Championship events taking place throughout the Season
between Marchand October.||
|**4.**|**Membership**
The Committee agreed to retain the annual Membership Fee unchanged for
2023/24 (Single £150, Dual/Family £225, Student/Junior Free).
Membership numbers have remained stable. Whilst those not renewing were
approximately 19% of the total, new members have more than replaced the
losses over the course of a year. As in previous years there has been a regular
waiting list of trialists, with the greater majority signing up as full members
following experience and induction training. Currently there is an encouraging
increase in interest from individuals in younger age groups. However,
membership generally is across a wide age spectrum and fairly evenly divided
as between male and female.
In common with the majority of Gig Rowing Clubs, there is a shortage of Junior
Rowers aged 13-16. The situation was not helped by the Coronavirus
restrictions and there is a concerted efort generally to work and attract a
generation of younger rowers into the Sport. The Club has worked closely with
Clevedon School over the years to generate interest and currently plans are in
place to introduce Rowing tuition and experience sessions as part of the
School’s Sports curriculum for Y11,12 and 13 students, with guidance and
involvement fromClubvolunteers. Thiswillcommence shortly.||
|**5.**|**Committee/Volunteers**||
||The Committee personnel have remained unchanged although have requested
that the Membership should consider volunteering to become more involved
with the day-to-day running and management of the Club, in particular to help
share the workload on various individuals. This view is fully endorsed by the
Trustees.||
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|**6.**|**Finance**
The audited Accounts for the full year January-December 2022 show a credit
balance of £18,694, and for the period January-June 2023 £15,040. Currently
there is no major expenditure anticipated.
CW commented that it was unfortunate that the Annual Dinner had to be
cancelledwhich resultedinafnancial losstothe Club.||
|**7.**|**Community**
As outlined in the last Report, the Club had received a Grant award of £20,000
in July 2021 towards the construction of a new Gig Storage Shed, subject to
fnding a suitable site within the Town. North Somerset Council were prepared
to assist with this and identifed an area, part of an existing Sports Field and a
Planning application was submitted. However due to technical problems and
issues within the Council itself, the application had to be withdrawn.
Subsequently another site was identifed, a Planning application submitted but,
again, there were conficting issues within the Council which resulted in
application being withdrawn. Currently a third site has been suggested, not
without possible complications, and discussions/negotiations are currently
ongoing. However, the Council agree that they have been responsible for the
delays. Inevitably the development costs for a new building have risen
considerably in the two years since the Grant was originally confrmed and the
Council have therefore agreed to increase the award to £25,000, which is ring-
fenced.||
|**8.**|**Review of 5-Year Plan**
**Permanent Base.**As outlined above**(7)**, the Club has come close to
achieving its target only to be frustrated twice due to Planning difculties.
**Permanent Usable Slipway.**As detailed in the 2022 Report, there was the
possibility of resolving ownership of the Town’s existing slipway with a Group
obtaining funding to pursue the legal issues in order to carry out a full repair.
However the legal difculties could not be resolved, the Action Group disbanded
and the problem remains.
**World Championship Rankings.**The Club slightly improved on its
performance at this year’s World Championships event. With the addition of
members in younger age groups it is hoped to see better results in 2024.
**School Links / Junior Rowers.**See comments in**(4).**Fully supported by the
Cornish Pilot Gig Association, all Clubs are involved in a campaign to promote
and attract young rowers, particularly under-16, into the Sport. It is recognised
that this is all important in securing Gig Rowing for future generations.
**Regular Social Rowing.**The Club is anxious to promote Social rowing to its
Membership purely for ftness and enjoyment in addition to the competitive
element. Despite disruption by bad weather regular weekday events have been
wellsupported,inparticular EarlyBirdrowsin Bristol Harbour.||
|**9.**|**Club Trustees**
Kevin Fry has had to step down both as a Trustee and Mens Rowing Captain,
due to a job transfer to Devon. Richard James must stand down having served
a three-year term. Two new Trustees must be appointed and nominations have
been requestedfor theforthcomingAGM.||
|**10.**|**Trustees’ Comments**
GJ commented that the Club Website was now in need of a major update,
something which was identifed two years ago, particularly presenting its face
tothePublic and prospectivemembership.||
|**11.**|**The Trustees**are in full agreement that Clevedon Pilot Gig Club remains fully
committedtothe aims andrequirements of its Charitable status. Whilst||
Membership numbers have remained stable with annual losses normally more than off-set by new recruits, the Club has to continue to work hard to attract the younger generation, i.e. under-16’s and those in the 20-30 age range. **12. The Trustees** agreed a further meeting in approximately six months.
Richard James Secretary/Trustee **Clevedon Pilot Gig Club** 13 October 2023
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Notes
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repay later in 2023.
8ned Mrs D Gkldens MAAT
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