Meeting – 8^TH July 2019
5.30pm – St John’s Church, Cleckheaton
 
Present
Ray Norris (RN) – President
James Shingleton (JS) – Secretary
Nichola Garland (NG) – Treasurer/Headlines Hair Studio
Stephanie Norris – Joshua Adams
Fiona Shackleton – Fine and Dandy Marketing
Karen Smithson – Inches
Melanie Smiles – Tesco
Jane Phillips – Box 11
Emma Holmes – Bridge 22
Sharon Colledge – SHU Boutique
Kate Watts – Robert Wattts
Ann Naylor and Jennifer Roome – Three churches
Jenny and Stuart Russell – Clecktibles
 
Apologies
Mary Johnson and Margery Collins – B&M Collins Butchers
Janice & David Minich – Folk Festival
Forever Living Products
Mark Hepworth – Openshaws Fine Jewellery
Lynda Holroyd – Fat Magpie
Hallmark
 
Agenda
 
 

1. Minutes of last meeting

RN asked those present whether there were any matters arising from the minutes circulated from the June meeting.  No further comments were raised and therefore the minutes were passed as a true record. 
 

2. Brainstorming session – Future of Chamber

Stephanie Norris and Fiona Shackleton conducted a brainstorming session, which was the first of three such sessions they were going to hold.  Two further sessions will be held on Thursday 18^th July at Hub 26.  They said that they would contact those members and traders of the town that were not present at this meeting. 
They were hoping to have an agreed strategy to present at the next meeting.  They agreed to submit a report back to the committee prior to the next meeting.
A number of questions were asked by Stephanie and Fiona and each person present in the meeting had to come forward and place their answer to such questions on the board. 

3. Treasurers Report

NG confirmed that four new members had paid into the bank and six members had paid by cash.  The balance on account at the end of June was £9,345.40.  NG confirmed that the purchase of presents for the Christmas Festival were to come off this balance.  A further £546 was to cash from the Tombola/Wine to Water stall from the Cleckheaton Folk Festival.
NG confirmed that 50 - 55% of membership fees had been collected and we were in a very good financial position compared to previous years. 

4. Marketing

Fiona Shackleton confirmed that Social Media had quietened down.  She has been very busy with this present feedback task/strategy. 

5. Membership

Sharon Colledge confirmed that a new member was present in the meeting tonight i.e. Clecktibles.

6. Folk Festival

Although no one from the Folk Festival was present RN asked for feedback from the room as to what people thought about the folk festival.  Sharon Colledge confirmed that not many of the traders in the town wanted to do the market for two days.    It was felt that generally footfall was down for the festival but that was just a general feeling.   Feedback from the meeting suggests that it would be nice to have more market stalls and the general public commented on that as well on our stall. 
It was suggested that we should have a representative on the folk festival committee. 
In addition, it would be handy to have more public information boards dotted around the town during the festival weekend as a number of visitors commented they were not sure where events were taking place

7. Benches

Fiona Shackleton confirmed that the Just Giving page had been set up and JS asked whether she could possibly share this again on the Visit Cleckheaton page.
 
JS confirmed that John Lawson from the Liberal Democrats had been in contact and that he hoped that they could use part of the Ward budget for the repair of the benches and he would discuss with Kath and Andrew Pinnock and come back to JS.
 

8. Dementia café

Ann Naylor of Three Churches confirmed that Kath Pinnock was behind the idea of holding the Dementia Café and things are looking positive. They are yet to visit an existing Dementia Café to see how it all works.
 

9. Kirklees Crowdfunding Event

RN & JS attended the Kirklees Crowdfunding Event at Dewsbury Town Hall on Tuesday 25^th June.  RN’s idea was that we crowdfund to erect four stone “Welcome to Cleckheaton” signs at the various entrance points to Cleckheaton. 
The Crowdfunding via Kirklees is supported by a company called Space Hive, similar to Just Giving.  Space Hive charges 5% fee plus 1% VAT on funds raised if, and only if, you hit your fundraising target.  For example, if we needed to raise £5,000, the fees are automatically added to the campaign target once we enter the costs.  Anyone who agrees to contribute towards the target is not charged until we reach the fundraising target amount. 
Kirklees Council would agree to match 50% of our fundraising target up to a maximum amount of £5,000.  The deadline to express an interest is 16^th September 2019. 
If any other members wish to put forward a crowd funding idea, they are welcome to do so via email to James Shingleton.
 

10. Christmas Festival

Mark Hepworth forwarded the minutes of the Christmas Lights sub-committee meeting, which took place on the 1^st July 2019.  The sub-committee intends to hold meetings once per month on the first Monday of each month until the event at 5pm at the Rose and Crown.    Everyone is welcome to attend.  The bullet points from the first meeting are below:-

• Road Closure application in with Kirklees. No objections to date awaiting formal paperwork.

 

• Stalls – 48 sold & 1 available.

 

• Collection License – Paperwork complete and NG has had a telephone interview. Fee to be advised by KMC on success. This licence will allow us to use the street entertainment to have buckets to collect while performing. Letter to be sent by RN.

 

• Addictive Audio to remain as main lights contractor and stage provider for the day. MH advised that 3 years ago he obtained 3 quotes from specialist lights companies to erect, maintain and manage the lights. These quotes started from £8000 and went to over £10,000 plus VAT. In addition none of them had a stage and sound/light system This was costed at an additional £2000. MH circulated copies of those quotes to the room. It was agreed that Addictive Audio had been loyal to the chamber, knew the layout of the lights and had undertaken many hours of free work over the years that we should not seek to waste time and obtain new quotes.

 

• MH suggested that we write to EVERY Member & Non-Member for event feedback prior to the event as every year it draws some conflict on the day despite being the same format year in, year out. While it might open a can of worms, it is better to deal with traders gripes in advance of the day rather than on the day. MH to sort.

 

• Security – Pulse Rate Events booked.

 

• Grant – MH has applied for a £2000 grant from Kirklees like last year to in order to renew the festoon on Cheapside & Albion Street. This will be to match the new 2018 festoon on Northgate.

 

• Toilets – Suggestion that we approach new local company GAP Group to see if they would supply toilets FOC or for a nominal amount now that they have a base in town.

 

• The George – They are looking to co-ordinate a ‘Winter Wonderland’ in their grounds and link better to stage area.

 

• 2x Santa’s again so that the Grotto can still see children while the lights are being switched on at the Main Stage.

 

• Stage Sponsorship???? MH suggested that we see either 1 event sponsor at £1200 or NG suggested 2x event sponsors at £600 each. The sponsor would then have their branding to the left/right of the stage and feature logos on all printed matter. For a smaller company suggestion was that they could possibly pay at £100/month by standing order to make more affordable. MH to prep a document to circulate. Stage image attached.

 

• Christmas Tree – Kirklees Forestry has confirmed that the Christmas Tree WILL be sourced again by Kirklees and erected prior, but this is likely to be lost from next year subject to budgets.

 

• Precinct – suggestion is that we undertake crafts and workshops in this area as it is an unused part of town and that we need to get people circulating through it.

 

• Town Hall – the 3 churches are now 2! Due to the kitchens in the town hall being up another floor and the age of those who run the event, a decision has been taken to relocate their event to the Central Methodist Hall due to level access. We have agreed that we will continue to promote and direct visitors. This does leave the Town Hall now open for our potential use either this year or next.

 

• MH said that this year we need better advance signage saying “LIGHTS SWITCH ON SAT 16^TH NOV EXPECT DELAYS” This signage will act as both advertising and traffic control allowing people to plan journeys upto 2 weeks in advance. Signage to be erected Westgate, Spen Lane and Bradford Road both directions. MH to confirm speck with highways.

 

• Agreed that we will host a lights meeting on the 1^st Monday of each month until the event, 5pm at The Rose & Crown.

The minutes of the first sub-committee meeting were available at this chamber meeting for people to takeaway. 
 
Ann Naylor confirmed that the Town Hall was not available this year for the Craft Fair because it has been booked by the Amateur Dramatics group.
 

11. Any other business

• Jane Philips confirmed that work had started on the Central Arcade today.  She confirmed that the former Sands Café unit is going to become a Patisserie that is already trading similarly in Leeds.  Work could be completed within approximately 8 weeks’ time.  Some of the proprietors of the units in the Central Arcade may be moved to the Natwest Building whilst work is undertaken. 
• Ann Naylor confirmed that she was disappointed that no forewarning was given regarding the closure of the Petrol Station at Tesco.  Melanie Smiles confirmed that she would provide feedback about this.
 
Planters
RN confirmed that on Sunday 14^th July, a group of volunteers would go round to replace the dead flowers in some planters and improve their appearance.  His plan is to go about 10.30am. 
Karen Smithson suggested that we approach Sherry at Brooke Dene Court, the new development in Cleckheaton, to see whether the new residents are interested in helping keep ‘Cleckheaton in Bloom’.  Karen confirmed that she would have a word with Sherry to ask if we can get residents to help out. 
 
Cleckheaton Beer and Music Festival – 6^th and 7^th September 2019
Kate Watts confirmed that she was helping organise this event and Barrels are available for sponsorship.  One Barrel sponsorship would be £20 and would include the sponsor name and logo on website and the name of the sponsor would then be on the tasting guide and on the barrel.  Two Barrels would be £30 and would also include two free admission tickets and a glass and first free pint.  Three barrels would cost £50 and would include four admission tickets.  There are also options to sponsor the main bar for £250 to include 10 free admission tickets, the gin bar for £100 to include 6 free admission tickets and the rum bar for £100 to include 6 free admission tickets.  Adverts can also be placed in the tasting guide at £50 for a full page, £25 for half a page and £150 for the back  page.  If anyone is interested in the sponsorship, please contact Kate Watts. 
It was agreed at the meeting that the Chamber would sponsor three barrels at a cost of £50 and we would raffle off the four free admission tickets at the next meeting. 
 

•  

RN has received an email from Skipton Building Society confirming that they are holding an open day on Wednesday 24^th July to celebrate 40 years based in Cleckheaton.  All are welcome to attend and the event starts at 10am. 
 

12. Date of next meeting

Monday 12^th August at 5.30pm at St Johns Church Cleckheaton
 
Meeting closed at 7.20pm.