Shareholders » Management Board Report 2008
To the 56th annual meeting of Shareholders held at Wortley Hall 9th March 2008
As you have heard from the accountant the business continues to be financially sound.
We continue to increase our base of Trade Union business. In recent
years USDAW have begun to use the Hall more and more, the FBU and Unite
continue to bring us more business, the Regional TUC are also bringing
more business. We are pleased to announce that The Workers Music
Association are returning to us this year for their Annual Summer
School, we sincerely hope that they continue to bring the Summer School
to Wortley for many years to come.
As normal over the past years, the Management Board have continued
the programme of spending capital on the Hall to improve facilities.
Early in the year new boilers for the central heating were fitted and
whilst in the process we changed from Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), to
Oil, to fire them. This decision was brought about due to legislation
prohibiting us from placing new LP burning boilers in the cellars.
Another large development undertaken during 2007 was the refurbishment
of Garvin and Swift cottages. The cottages have been brought to a high
standard of refurbishment. The main object is to utilise these
cottages as self catering lets but they can also be used as additional
accommodation when the Hall is fully booked. Further projects have
been upgrading some of our older bedrooms, many of which were converted
to en suite on a very low budget due to the lack of funds at the time.
We have come to an agreement with all staff for a two year wage
agreement. The agreement is for 4.5% this year and 4.5% on the 1st January 2009. The 4.5% is of the Annual Fixed wage bill and this year
all grades will be increased by 0.33p per hour. A claim for an
increase in the Westfield Health Scheme to be increased has been
rejected for this year but will be increased from the 1st January 2009. We have also come to an agreement with Managers to amend
their Contract of Employment to increase their hours to 40 per week,
and to ensure that a Manager is on duty until 30minutes after the bar
closes.
Profit Sharing Bonus will be distributed to staff and will be paid later this month.
During 2007 we recruited a new member of staff, Nicholas Harding in
a new post, Accounts Administrator. This post has been made because we
now produce our monthly Management accounts in house and Nicholas is
responsible for this. One member of staff retired after 14 years
service, Mavis Clarke accounts clerk.
The Board approved share applications to the value of £1,827 during the year.
Sheepbridge Engineering closed last year and the Shop Stewards Committee donated their £200 shareholding back to Wortley Hall.
In December the Board took a decision to wind up the Wortley Hall
Tote. This decision was not taken lightly but due to the changes in
the Gambling Act/Small Society Lotteries, which increased paperwork and
red tape it was felt that we should close the Tote down. The money
remaining in the bank account will be used to help with the restoration
of the fountain. The fountain is in the process of being restored and
when completed will be lit in the evening.
Our grounds staff continue to do an excellent job, a walk round the
grounds makes this very clear. Due to some restructuring and changes
to working hours, we now have a team of four people tending the
grounds. Marc Mallender the Grounds Manager has presented a brief
report of their work and can be found on page 9.
The organisation Friends of Wortley Hall Gardens continues to flourish, a report from the group appears on page 10.
Heeley City Farm also continues to operate in the walled garden and again there is a report on page 11.
The South Yorkshire Festival took place on the 1st July and was again another success. The theme for the event this year is the 120th Anniversary of the Matchgirls Strike. Every attempt is being made to
make this event as good if not better than previous years. However
there is concern on the organising committee of falling income from
sponsors. Anyone who has ideas for increasing sponsorship please get
in touch with the organising committee. This year we will be
encouraging local MP's to make a contribution to the costs of the
event. There is another issue concerning the Festival and that is that
on the same day, 5th July there will be a rally in Sheffield celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the NHS. This is unfortunate but it is something people should be aware of.
This year three existing members of the Management Board have
decided not to stand for re election, Ann Munsey, Graham Goddard and
Brian Bailey we thank them for the contribution they have made over the
years. It is unfortunate that although Ann gave us two years notice of
her intention not to stand this year, we have no new woman nomination,
which means that for this year we are one woman short on the Board.
Unfortunately one member, Nick Whitehead has left the Board due to his inability to attend meetings.
On the Members Committee, Anne Greening and Harold Shaw have decided
not stand for re election. Harold has been on committees at Wortley
Hall for 36 years and made a huge impact on the Hall. Special thanks
go to Harold.
Mick Headon has been nominated as President unopposed. We have just
six nominations for the six vacancies on the Management Board. The
Management Board will consist of the following people; M.Headon,
P.Peters, A.Gentles, J.Marshall, S.Parkin, J.Foden, B.Blackburn,
B.Jackson, D.Patterson, P.Matthewman, P.Rowley and B.Clarke.
Nick Whitehead had still one year of his term of office remaining.
This means that delegates will vote for the five male nominees and the
one with the least votes will serve for one year, the four remaining
and Arline Gentles will serve for two years.
On the Members Committee we received only 18 nominations for the 20
places. The Members Committee will consist of the following people;
J.Andrews, R.Barton, B.Bailey, R.Beech, J.Brearley, D.Caborn,
J.Campbell, M.Firth, J.Garrett, S.Howard, J.Pagan, S.Parry, B.Ronksley,
Sterry, B.Switzer, S.White, plus members of the Management Board.
The Management Board wish to thank all members of staff for their work during 2007.
Unite Website: www.unitetheunion.org.uk
Thu 14th Aug 2008