WESTGATE AND WESTBROOK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION June 2019 Minutes

MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE BAKE HOUSE ON MONDAY 10^th  JUNE 2019 AT 7.15PM.

PRESENT

Gina May (chair), twenty two members, including WTC Cllrs Joanna Cornford,  Bob Micallef, Matthew Scott, and David Wallin.

APOLOGIES

Apologies had been received from Tim Bentley, Lorraine Hambidge, Bob Loxley,  Pam O'Toole, Laura Shawyer, Sylvia and Tony Sykes, Christina and Ray Taylor and Sheila Williams.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The minutes of the last meeting, (13/05/19), which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record on a prop. by Don Eacott sec. by Christine Smith and adopted, and signed.

MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising.

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: (Gina May):

Election of Committee at the AGM.  On examination of the constitution it appeared that several nominations had been made at the AGM and not fourteen days before this.  In order to regularize this those members were subsequently asked to stand down and offered reinstatement with co-option by the committee so that the end result would be the same.  One member had resigned in writing. The new committee would shortly introduce themselves.

Gina stated she will work to make the W&WRA inclusive and welcoming, and able to address needs,  and be part of the community.  Ways of increasing the membership with all ages will be sought, and the W&WRA needs a unique identity, and to work with WTC.

There is a need to modernise and bring the constitution up to date adding child protection, safeguarding and inclusion etc which will then enable applications for grants to be made.

There is a need for a permanent multifunctional space.

There will be some dramatic changes planned, the magazine as a separate entity will cease and will be incorporated with a local circulation together with joining forms.

Coffee mornings, there is a need to increase attendance at these.

Others possibilities are to run stalls at local fayres and revive the Westgate one, Christmas party, and to take back the pancake races which could be relaunched in 1950s style.  VE Day celebrations with baking and talks for local schools.

Gina herself is keen to promote books, and is fighting for the library, and has been arranging a book festival, with Terry Waite speaking at one of the events, and should being in money and tourism into the  area. 

INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMITTEE

Chairperson, Gina May then introduced the new committee to the meeting.

            Vice-Chairman:                       Robert Micallef

            Treasurer:                                Jacquie Agnew

            Minute Secretary:                    Chris Whittingham

            Social Organiser:                     Linda Kiddell

            Sunshine Friend:                     Joanna Cornford

The  position of membership secretary is vacant and being covered by the treasurer and chairperson at present.

Each member of the committee then briefly introduced themselves to the meeting. (Committee member Laura Shawyer was unable to attend this meeting).

Pat Sawyer-Jones indicated that she would be resigning from the committee, but was willing to co-ordinate the rota for staffing the weekday refreshments. The Vice-Chairman asked her to take time to reconsider resigning, and welcomed her offer concerning the refreshments rota.

Jacquie then told the meeting that she was looking at a “cloud” based system for the membership records.  Jacquie also recommended that an independent auditor check through recent records for transparency.

GDPR Compliance. Members are required to give their permission if they wish to be contacted by the W&WRA, and forms to that effect were distributed, and will  be available in the Bake House.

CIVIC REPORT

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre:

Tuesday 11^th June at 2.00pm in St Mildred's Bay a short event of remembrance of the Royal Naval Air Service Station Westgate  as the bench donated is handed over to the Chairman of WTC Cllr Martyn Pennington, and special guest Jacqueline Ingram.  Then moving on to Sea Road where the second bench is installed in the gardens by 17 and 25 Sea Road, (sites of VAD hospitals).

Next meeting Saturday 6^th July at 10.30am at St Saviour's Church, when there will be an illustrated  talk by Dr Dawn Crouch - “How Westgate celebrated the Peace in 1919”.

Civic Society:  

Evening meetings  resume in October.

Saturday 22^nd June is Civic Day when many places of interest are open, and there is a walk round the  Old Town of Margate led by Robin Colyer starting at Droit House at 2.00pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                        

NEXT MEETING

Monday 8^th July, at the Bowls Club 7.00pm for 7.15pm.  

The meeting concluded at 8.01pm.