SGM Resolutions
The 2006 Annual General Meeting, held on 2nd December, determined to call a Special General Meeting to consider resolutions relating to any future the Club may have. This was set for 20th January 2007, and duly took place at the premises of the Pinhoe Road Baptist Church. The turnout was extremely high considering the weakened state of the Club. The Resolutions passed are very significant because they indicate the degree to which the views of the Club and the views of this website’s Author correspond. Ten Resolutions were presented to the SGM by the Committee, which agreed the wording at their 12th January meeting. There were amendments made by the SGM, and these, together with the voting on each, are shown in the SGM Minutes posted below.
The Resolutions
LIST OF FINAL RESOLUTIONS AS PASSED BY THE SGM OF EXETER (SUMMERWAY) JUNIOR LAWN TENNIS CLUB HELD ON 20 January 2007.
1. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club deplores the procrastination
exhibited from May 1999 to April 2006 by Local Government in failing to respond to
the Club’s repeated requests over the period for an extension to the 1978-
2. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club deplores the failure of Local Government to respond positively to the widely distributed letter dated 11th May 1999 addressed to the Devon County Sports Development Officer by offering terms for an extended lease conditional upon the Club obtaining the necessary funding and planning permission for the needed development of the premises.
3. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club deplores the effective withdrawal of Local Government from the bilateral partnership that existed between Club and Councils from 1972 to 2006 to the benefit of Children and the Community.
4. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club believes that Local Government is acting contrary to the policy of National Government to the detriment of the health of children by withdrawing its support from a registered Community Amateur Sports Club.
5. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club is firmly of the opinion that where consultations have existed with the Club regarding its future they have been either perfunctory or meaningless as Local Government appears to have its own agenda.
6. By supporting unsupervised public facilities in the place of a structured supervised and proven Community Amateur Sports Club, The Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club believes that Local Government undervalues and undermines the spirit of ‘Community’.
7. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club calls upon Local Government to provide in the Whipton locality those Services previously supplied by the Club to the Community which have been lost by the effective withdrawal of Local Government from its partnership with the Club.
8. That, as a consequence of the totally unacceptable burden which Local Government is trying to impose on the Club in the proposed Draft Heads of Terms for a new lease, the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club vacates the current premises at noon on Monday 26th February 2007 and notifies officers of the Devon County Council and Exeter City Council accordingly.
9. That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club continues in existence
as a registered Community Amateur Sports Club without premises and in partial quiescence
while it seeks re-
The Minutes
EXETER (SUMMERWAY) JUNIOR LAWN TENNIS CLUB
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
Saturday 20th January 2007 2.30pm at Pinhoe Road Baptist Church.
Present: 39 Members representing 19 Families, plus 4 Individuals. Total: 43
Apologies: 7 Members representing 4 Families, plus 4 Individuals. Total: 11
Welcome and apologies
Chris Gardner welcomed all those members attending the meeting, and a particular
welcome was extended to Barbara Marley who is a Vice-
1.
Introduction by Chair
Chris Gardner outlined the format of the meeting. Peter Billington asked whether adults having no children still at the Club would be able to vote. It was agreed that anyone in this position should be able to do so.
Jude Groves advised that she had today received a phone call from John Allen, the Chair of Devon LTA asking that we record his unease at what he feels is the confrontational tone of the proposed resolutions. He feels this tone is unlikely to help resolve our current predicament. Also, Mr Allen wanted on record that Devon LTA is keen to assist where it can to try and influence the Council. He would like to be informed of the outcome of today’s meeting which Jude has agreed to do.
2.
3.
Background to Resolutions
Dave Craven gave some background to the resolutions before the meeting. These arose out of discussions at the AGM and subsequent Committee Meeting. The Club doesn’t feel that it can accept the terms offered by the Council, which are neither financially acceptable nor feasible when seen in relation to our numbers. The proposed terms are unsustainable for us and will result in a continual drain on the financial resources we have remaining. They would also mean a substantial increase in subscriptions to a level where they would become prohibitive for many families. In addition, the decision of the Council to maintain the court surface only to park standards has significant implications for the quality of tennis available to those being coached.
Resolutions 1-
Resolutions 8-
Melanie Canton stated that she feels strongly that the presence of the Club in Whipton means that her children have access to structured and supervised tennis at an affordable price. For many local families any significant financial requirement would preclude them from joining a tennis club. She also raised the question of whether we should be trying to raise the profile of our campaign, with letters to the press etc. It was agreed that this may become desirable depending on the outcome of discussions about the Club’s future.
4.
Resolutions 1–7: Relationships with Local Government
1. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club deplores the procrastination
exhibited from May 1999 to April 2006 by Local Government in failing to respond to
the Club’s repeated requests over the period for an extension to the 1978-
There was some discussion regarding the wording of the resolution. It was then put to a vote without amendment. The vote was as follows:
The resolution was carried without amendment.
For:
37
Abstentions:
2
Against:
1
2. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club deplores the failure of Local Government to respond positively to the widely distributed letter dated 11th May 1999 addressed to the Devon County Sports Development Officer by offering terms for an extended lease conditional upon the Club obtaining the necessary funding and planning permission for the needed development of the premises.
There was some discussion regarding the wording of the resolution. It was then put to a vote without amendment. The vote was as follows:
The resolution was carried without amendment.
For:
35
Abstentions:
4
Against:
1
3. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club deplores the effective withdrawal of Local Government from the bilateral partnership that existed between Club and Councils from 1972 to 2006 to the benefit of Children and the Community.
There was some discussion regarding the wording of the resolution. It was then put to a vote without amendment. The vote was as follows:
The resolution was carried without amendment.
For:
37
Abstentions:
3
Against:
0
4. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club believes that Local Government is subverting the policy of National Government to the detriment of the health of children by withdrawing its support from a registered Community Amateur Sports Club.
Again there was discussion regarding the wording of this resolution, and a majority vote (with 1 abstention and 1 vote against) agreed to amend the wording.
Accordingly a revised resolution was put to the meeting as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club believes that Local Government is acting contrary to the policy of National Government to the detriment of the health of children by withdrawing its support from a registered Community Amateur Sports Club.
The resolution was carried as amended.
For:
39
Abstentions:
1
Against:
0
5. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club is firmly of the opinion that where consultations have existed with the Club regarding its future they have been either perfunctory or meaningless as Local Government appears to have its own hidden agenda.
Discussion ensued, again about the tone of the wording used. As a result a number of options were proposed to the meeting:
By Lizzie Barnett: to remove the word ‘hidden’
By Alison Will: to change the word ‘hidden’ to ‘undisclosed’
By Grant Boorer: to change the word ‘hidden’ to ‘financial’
A vote was taken on whether to amend the resolution:
Further votes were then taken on each of the options proposed:
To remove the word ‘hidden’
For: 13
To change the word ‘hidden’ to ‘undisclosed’
For: 7
To change the word ‘hidden’ to ‘financial’
For: 3
Accordingly an amended resolution was passed as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club is firmly of the opinion that where consultations have existed with the Club regarding its future they have been either perfunctory or meaningless as Local Government appears to have its own agenda.
6. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club believes that Local Government no longer understands the meaning of ‘Community’ as is evidenced by its support for unsupervised public facilities in the place of a structured supervised and proven Community Amateur Sports Club.
Here discussion centered on the relevance of the resolution itself, and a vote was taken on whether the resolution should stand as drafted:
Further votes were then taken as follows:
Proposal to drop the resolution altogether
For: 10
Proposal to revise the wording
For: 18
Accordingly an amended resolution was passed as follows:
By supporting unsupervised public facilities in the place of a structured supervised and proven Community Amateur Sports Club, The Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club believes that Local Government undervalues and undermines the spirit of ‘Community’.
For:
1
Abstentions:
7
Against:
32
7. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club calls upon Local Government to provide forthwith in the Whipton locality those Services previously supplied by the Club to the Community which have been lost by the effective withdrawal of Local Government from its partnership with the Club.
Following some discussion the resolution was put to the meeting without amendment:
The resolution was carried without amendment.
For:
36
Abstentions:
4
Against:
0
Discussion: the future of the Club
Chris Gardner then gave some background to resolutions 8 -
There was general discussion concerning the implications of giving up the pavilion, and whether the Council needs to give us any notice as the lease expired over 6 months ago. Dave Craven explained to the meeting that it will still be possible for the Club to organise events of various sorts without having premises, as and when the courts become public (at present, once we have vacated and returned secured property/courts to the Council we will have no access until such time as they open them to the public). There is also the possibility of hiring alternative venues such as Exeter School (where there is a pavilion we might use) and these options will all have to be considered according to the outcome of the remaining resolutions. It is also possible that the council may yet reconsider the terms they are offering to the Club.
Jim Harle asked that it be recorded that Sue Wolstenholme has contacted him and expressed her wish that the Club survive as a CASC, and hopes we find permanent premises accordingly.
The question was raised as to whether we have enlisted the support of our MP and other high profile individuals. There has been previous correspondence, and there will be more in due course, especially as Jim Harle is considering about whether to mount a personal campaign on the issue of how the Club has been treated. When we are a bit clearer as to the way forward for the Club (if any), it will be helpful for other Club members and supporters to become involved in this.
5.
New Resolutions required.
No other resolutions were proposed.
6.
Resolutions 8–10: Action(s) to be taken by the Club
8. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That, as a consequence of the totally unacceptable burden which Local Government is trying to impose on the Club in the proposed Draft Heads of Terms for a new lease, the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club vacates the current premises at noon on Wednesday 14th February 2007 and notifies officers of the Devon County Council and Exeter City Council accordingly.
There was some discussion regarding the date for vacation of the premises. Lizzie Barnett proposed that the date be changed to sometime over half term so that an event, possibly with some publicity, be organized over that week. Accordingly a proposal was put to the meeting that the date be changed to noon on Monday February 26th 2007
Accordingly an amended resolution was passed as follows:
That, as a consequence of the totally unacceptable burden which Local Government is trying to impose on the Club in the proposed Draft Heads of Terms for a new lease, the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club vacates the current premises at noon on Monday 26th February 2007 and notifies officers of the Devon County Council and Exeter City Council accordingly.
7.
For:
33
Abstentions:
4
Against:
1
9. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club continues in existence as a registered
Community Amateur Sports Club without premises and in partial quiescence while it
seeks re-
This was agreed without amendment by the following vote:
For:
36
Abstentions:
1
Against:
1
10. The proposed resolution is as follows:
That the Exeter (Summerway) Junior Lawn Tennis Club be dissolved forthwith and in accordance with the provisions of the Club Constitution.
This was defeated by the following vote:
For:
0
Abstentions:
1
Against:
37
Any Other Business
Judith Sturman asked the meeting to record a vote of thanks to Jim Harle for all the hard work he continues to do for the Club.
The Committee also proposed a vote of thanks to John and Linda Harley for their considerable input to the Club.
Jude Groves referred to the omission at the AGM to consider honoraria for John and Linda Harley. John advised that both he and his sister do not wish to receive any financial payment for the work done in the past year.
The meeting was then closed.
8.
For:
17
Abstentions:
8
Against:
5