Report of Public Hall AGM

At last night's AGM, Public Hall Management Committee Chairman, Geoff Stretch, outlined the improvements made to the Hall during 2006. These included new windows and doors, internal and external decoration and new floors for the bar and stairs. He added that already during 2007 further alterations to both the bar and the kitchen had been made. All of these improvements had been possible because of a £30,000 grant received from Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, supported by grants from Audlem, Buerton and Hankelow Parish Councils and Cheshire Community Council, together with donations from other organisations. Future improvements could include a new entrance from the car park and alterations to both the frontage and the lighting.

So far, the cost of the improvement programme since 2002 for completed and committed projects has totalled £138,220. This has been funded by grants of £93,100 plus £45,120 raised through income from hall users.

Treasurer, John Tilling, presented the accounts for the year, which showed a surplus of £6,149 on the day-to-day running of the Hall. This money would be used to fund further improvements to the Hall. He pointed out that interestingly, although both income and expenditure had remained broadly the same as 2005, the biggest increase in income was from Watch Your Weight and Fitness classes. He also reminded everyone that the surplus was largely due to Geoff and Olive cleaning the Hall at no charge, but obviously this would not continue for ever.

All officers were reappointed. Chairman – Geoff Stretch; Vice Chairman – Janet Simmons; Treasurer – John Tilling; Secretary – Margaret Edwards. In addition the rest of the committee was reappointed en bloc.

A discussion took place about the problems caused by the Licensing Act, 2003 which restricts the Hall to 12 licences a year for functions to sell alcohol on the premises.

A vote of thanks was given at the end of the meeting to Geoff and Olive Stretch for their tireless efforts in transforming the Hall over the last few years.

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