Congratulations to Gary Richens, the newly elected Parish Councillor for Shotley. Gary and his fellow volunteers at Shotley Open Spaces have helped from the earliest stages of the group’s formation. Gary has contributed ideas and cheerfully helped at every event and meeting we have held, including meeting funders, turning out in all weathers to help us.
Thanks to the very many people who came to our meeting on 3rd November, it was a very good meeting with lots of interest. 75 members signed in and received their voting card. Proxy Votes were given in accordance with the rules: the Chairman received 24 proxy votes, other members received a total of 21 proxy votes. This gave a total of 120 votes which was very pleasing as it showed people care about our democratic control.
The rulebook change was accepted unanimously. We verified to the meeting that the rule change is a minor one, more a matter of wording to put verbs in the “Objects”. It was not done to change our aims, we changed "Preservation, protection, renovation, reconstruction and enhancement of ... " to "Preserve, protect, renovate, reconstruct and enhance".
Our new constitution has been sent to the Financial Conduct Authority for registration, and when it has been processed by the FCA it will be placed on the governance page on our parent website www.shotleyheritage.co.uk.
Neil Turton, Chief Operating Officer of Co-operatives UK came to present the cheque from the Booster Fund; this has been covered by the press locally and nationally. We are delighted to welcome Co-operatives UK as an investor, they have the same status of "one member, one vote", as the rest of our investors.
We have been very fortunate to have the full support of local Councillor Peter Patrick who has attended events and meetings in Shotley. He initially hoped that Babergh District Council would be able to use its own resources to buy and restore the pier, given the considerable expense foreseen. That turned out not to be compatible with Babergh’s development strategy, but as Portfolio Holder (and subsequently Cabinet Member) responsible for Finance he gave his full support for all that has happened since, including expenditure on the survey, the seed-corn funding from Babergh District Council, and the engagement of staff in support. He has often acknowledged the role of Councillor Derek Davis in helping to get the project underway. Councillor Patrick said: "I am delighted that, under the leadership of John Davitt, Sally Chicken and the enthusiastic Board of Directors and volunteers, the Society has raised the funds to purchase the pier." He has assured the Board he will continue to give backing to the restoration, albeit that that will take several years to come to final fruition.
We are very close to exchanging contracts for the purchase of the Pier, so watch this space for more news, and please come along on Saturday 25th November to our fundraiser cake and coffee morning at the Red Lion, Chelmondiston to hear more news and to buy our Pier Christmas Cards. We will also be at the Shotley Christmas Bazaar on Sunday 3rd December from 2pm in Shotley Village Hall.
Thank you for your support and interest, we look forward to telling you our next stage of news very soon