Alford Chamber of Commerce, Lincolnshire

Alford Chamber of Commerce Committee

Meeting 7pm, Monday 15th September

Present:

• Chairman, Bob Clifford
• Vice Chairman, Alan Whitcombe
• Treasurer, Paul Rice
• Secretary, Tony
• Members Secretary, Rob Ray
• PR, Terry Wilburn

Chairman declared meeting open at 7pm

1. Terry: why meeting had been called in order for objectives to be ironed out where possible before the next open meeting.

2. Rob explained in depth about time he has spent since last meeting talking with relevant people as to our standing and registration
   On Chamber of commerce Business. Rob also informed meeting that there was now a web site in operation www.alfordchamber.co.uk

   A decision is to be made when all facts have been investigated as to whether we remain independent or join under the umbrella of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. Rob to research this further and to set up meeting with Simon Beardsley for a date to be confirmed

   Also Rob advises the Committee about Business Links and possible grants available, again this is to be further looked into via Rob’s contact Simon Wesley.

3. Vice Chairman Alan thanked Rob for all his hard work.

4. The committee discussed the constitution but decided to hold off until registration had been decide on.

5. Terry brought up whether the market traders should be asked to join and it was agreed by all that they should.

6. Terry and Rob have meeting with Helen Bell Skegness Standard on Wed 17th 9.30am

7. It was suggested that Phillip and Sarah Crome be approached to design a logo and everyone agreed.

8. It was decided by all that at this present time we are to be looked upon as the steering committee for the organisation and that as of yet nothing is set out and no membership fee could be asked for until something more concrete can be offered to its members.

9. Nothing to report from the treasurer (Paul) at this stage and it was agreed that no bank account is to be opened yet also that the ATEC money to be transferred to Chamber of Commerce account is to be left in ATEC account as a holding account for the time being.

10. All committee confirmed its aim was to benefit the businesses, the Town in general and all the residents in the LN13 area of all age groups.

11. The next step for the Town council Parish Plan is to send out questionnaires to all businesses. Terry is to make contact with Jenny and let them have the Chamber’s data on businesses in our area thus covering all.

12. It was agreed that a form should be designed by the next open meeting namely a Declaration of interest form for people to register their interest in any way they can. This form will also be available on the web site in order that it may be downloaded.

13. It was noted that all the committee were very enthusiastic and a number of ideas were put forward that will be relevant in the future when the steering committee has finalised all the research needed and the Alford Chamber of Commerce if formally registered.

14. Alan (Vice Chairman) is to ask Sarah at the Manor House if there is any provision for laptops to be made available for the next open meeting for everyone to be able to access the new web site.

Meeting closed at 8.25pm

At Perseus Star 1900hrs, Contemperaneus minuits by Terry Wilburn.
Opened by Chairperson Bob, shortly handing over to Rob who gave a brief synopsis of the various corporate entities a Chamber of Commerce could adopt as its formal standing.
The question of the nature of Alford Chamber is not a simple one. To operate without legal title would hinder the effectivness of the Chamber. It is apparant that the ideal current format would be a Social Enterprise, this can take various formats. A Social Enterprise can be a Charity, Limited Company or a recent inovation by the Government, a Community Interest Company (CIC), which is a Limited Company with special conditions attached. More links regarding CIC’s at the bottom of this text.
If a Chamber of Commerce applies to Companies House to become a CIC, a referece check is made to the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) regarding the standing of the applicant Chamber. It has been established that Alford’s Chamber of Commerce will be too small a Chamber to be directly acredited by the BCC and should probably affiliate or associate with a larger acredited Chamber, Simon Beardsly, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce has kindly agreed to talk with the Committee on this subject.

The meeting moved to the agenda for the next open meeting at the Manor House Monday 22nd Sept 1900hrs.

From http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/

Community Interest Companies (CICS) are limited companies, with special additional features, created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage. This is achieved by a “community interest test” and “asset lock”, which ensure that the CIC is established for community purposes and the assets and profits are dedicated to these purposes. Registration of a company as a CIC has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role

A downloadable guidance is at http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/Leaflets/OverviewLeafletMarch2008.pdf

THE BENEFITS OF A COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY (CIC)
is outlined here http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/Leaflets/CICBenefits.pdf

notes for funders downloadable here
http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/Leaflets/FundersLeafletMarch2008.pdf

FAQ’s on CIC here
http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/faq.shtml#one

What is involved when creating a CIC
http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/CIC%20guidance/Chapter%204%20-%20creating%20a%20CIC/Chapter%204%20-%20August%202008%20(version%203).pdf

Following a meeting on the 8th of September at the Alford Manor House, called by Bob Clifford the landlord of the Windmill Hotel, an initial core committee was elected to found the Alford Chamber of Commerce.

Bob had organised and delivered about one hundred letters of introduction, including the objectives of the Chamber, our apologies to anyone who would have liked to be informed but had not, we will endeavour to include all interested parties in future.

Bob was elected Chairperson and other posts were filled by willing local business people, any person wishing to be co-opted onto the Committee will be most welcome, please contact us or any Committee member.

The Committee has arranged the next open meeting for Monday 22nd September.