OOASC Full Committee meeting 1st March 2021 – Minutes

Minutes of the Full Committee Meeting held on Monday 1st March 2021 at 8.00pm (online in Microsoft Teams).

1. In attendance:

   I.Breeze(IB), Richard Hattrell(Richard), Rob Hattrell(Rob), A.Hunter(AH), T.Lane(TL), P.Riley(PR), V.Tanner(KR), A.Ward(AWa), Derek Webb (DW), A.Welsford(Anna), John, Lynn & Ed Clark (JLC)

          (TL chaired the meeting with AH taking the minutes).

2. Apologies:

   P.Kennedy, K.Rowswell        

3. Matters arising from previous minutes 14^tr October 2020

• Roof in entrance lobby has been fixed.
• 4 lights now not working in the Car Park
• Bungalow repairs to side room have been completed and look good.
• The Sign at the entrance to the Ground has been put up (Possible contributions to the cost from Heineken & Potters Bar United).
• MHSFA have paid their outstanding pitch hire rental.
• The Woodyard & Chas Storer have paid their outstanding rent for the Car Park
• TL has received his reimbursement for the Keith Freeman Pavilion Clock.   

4. Bar and Catering (John/Ed/Lynn Clark)

• JLC are looking at resuming outdoor services from 29^th March at the Club with sitting on the patio being allowed from 12^th April onwards ( JLC are looking at the possibility of getting heaters for outside either by renting or getting something permanent). From the 17^th May customers will be allowed indoors and from the 21^st June, JLC are looking to restart functions in the Clubhouse.
• JLC are looking at the possibility of doing lunches when the Cricket season commences.
• TL suggested that JLC investigate whether they are entitled to any grants that might be available for restarting the business (TL to send some info to JLC).

5. Finance (Richard Hattrell)

• Richard presented a Treasurer’s report together with a Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet accounts as at 31^st July 2020 and 28th February 2021, a Forecast Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet account for year ending 31^st July 2021 and a Forecast Cash Flow for year ending 31^st July 2021.
• The surplus for the year ending 31^st July 2020 was £18,614 as a result of the Covid-19 grant of £25,000 received.
• The balance at the Bank as at 28^th February 2021 is £60,839.18 and the loss for the year to this date is £4,961.
• Richard pointed out that rent for the year is significantly down due to the Club being closed since November 2020 but highlighted that Club costs are also down on previous years due to pitches being unused.
• Richard advised that his Forecast on figures to the 31^st July 2021 is one of uncertainty and is based on assumptions that sport at the Club will restart on 29^th March, outdoor serving of alcohol and food from 12^th April and full relaxation of lockdown rules from 21^st He has also made the assumption that due to the lack of use of the pitches that the usual cost of works undertaken will be scaled back.
• Richard was hopeful of getting some rent from pitch hire when Football restarts. IB advised that he will pursue payment of rent from Old Owens F.C. and Potters Bar United at 50% and the other Clubs that use the Pitches (i.e. Wingate Finchley, Northaw, Tansley & Elizabeth Allen will be charged at 33.3%.    
• Richard stated that we should start receiving full rental payment from JLC from July 2021 onwards.

On the basis of all the above Richard has estimated a loss for the year of £18,934 and a balance at the bank of £44,908 at the 31st July 2021. The meeting thanked Richard for a comprehensive breakdown of the accounts at such a difficult time.

6. The Ground (Tim Lane)

• TL/IB reported that a lot of work has been done to the Ground during lockdown and is in great shape. Goalposts were taken down and nets were fixed for both Football & Cricket
• AWa and his helpers cleared the ditch on the Woodside yard near pitch 3 and the overgrown areas in the Car park.
• AWa reported that minimal work is presently needed probably only goalmouth & centre spot areas might need some seeding. He was concerned that when football restarts on the 29^th March that pitches could be overused causing possible damage and more work required. Awa stated that the ground would be monitored when football restarts and any problem areas will be addressed and the relevant machinery provided (Any work required should not impact on the Cricket).
• AWa asked if the Committee could budget for up to £8,000 for spring & autumn renovations that might be required.
• TL stated that we received a £3,000 grant last year for renovations to the ground so will check if there is anything for this year.
• Rabbit monitoring is still taking place and IB has suggested keeping an eye on Moles as well.
• IB stated that the thermostat was replaced to rectify the boiling hot water in the changing room but the water was still coming out very hot.
• TL received a quote for Patio works, Picket fence and UPVC facia for the Clubhouse. The quote was around £10,000 but this has been put on hold for the time being due to the situation with Covid.

The meeting thanked Awa for his work and support on the Ground and thanks to Ed Clark as well.

7. OOASC Membership (Alan Hunter)

• £2,217 has so far been collected for membership subscriptions as at 12th Feb 2021, from 22 Associate & 119 Full members. Nothing has been received as yet from the Football Club (this is an issue due to the season being curtailed by Covid. Last year we received payments from 82 players). There are a total of 18 Honorary & 201 Life members and 14 lapsed members to this period, consisting mainly of retirees.

8. ZOO Club (Alan Hunter)

• Zoo Club balance as at 1^st March 2021 is £552.85.
• The 1^st prize of £75 won at the last draw in October has been donated back to the Zoo Club for later use by Gavin Flook.
• No prize draw was held at the meeting.

9. Old Owens Website (Alan Hunter)

• AH has been updating the website as and when necessary.
• AH provided statistics for the website as at 27/02/2021 as follows:

          Last 7 days there were 430 visitors with 1,745 visits

          Last 30 days there were 2,234 visitors with 13,592 visits

          Last 365 days there were 52,939 visitors with 259,763 visits.

      (AH stated that visitors and visits were lower than previous stats due to the Club not being open).

• The Association paid £400 to an image rights company for two pictures in 2 old editions of the Old Owenians newsletters that appeared on our website. The School agreed to reimburse us for the payment made.

10. OOASC Sports Clubs

    10.1    OOFC Football Section (Ian Breeze)

• IB reported that OOFC are in limbo. Although Football has been given the go ahead by the government from 29^th March there is uncertainty with what the SAL plans to do with regard to the matches to be completed.
• IB to check the situation with regard to players’ payment of Association subs for the season.

    10.2    OOCC Cricket Section (Tim Lane)

• TL reported that we are waiting on guidelines from the ECB for commencing Cricket.
• TL expects full rental from 24^th April to the 5^th September 2021 as both pitches are rented fully on Saturday and Sunday during this period. There are also 5 Herts Over 60’s matches booked and are looking at playing some junior fixtures at home in the league.

    10.3    Affiliated Clubs (Phil Riley)

• PR reported that Potters Bar United will be looking to play matches for a couple of weeks at the Ground.

11. Old Owenians Alumni (Anna Welsford)

• Anna outlined her task of setting up an Old Owenians Alumni website platform that will be run as a separate entity but the School will be the beneficiary. The platform will be able to run events for the Alumni (e.g. fundraising/engagement events, Sporting events, Tournaments, Cricket, Football, Golf etc.) and will have Social Media interaction and Blogs. The website will have a database of members and have the facility for a Shop selling merchandise. Anna is keen to incorporate the needs of the Association by its ‘inclusion on the  new platform. Anna is currently setting up a Board and is recruiting members. She stated that anyone from the Association is welcomed to join. Anna has a deadline for the end of May 2021 to complete the process.
  Anna stated that an ‘Owen’s Alumni Members Club Launch Event’ has been scheduled for 13^th November 2021.
• There were several concerns from Committee members arising from Anna’s presentation, so TL suggested trying to arrange a meeting between relevant members of the school via Hannah Nemko and some Committee members to discuss the issues (Anna & TL to arrange).  

12. AOB

     12.1    Potters Bar United partnership proposal (Phil Riley)

• PR reported that the Potters Bar United chairman Nasco Atanas has submitted a proposal to the Committee of a partnership between Old Owens and Potters Bar United with regard to teams and the Ground. It was suggested a separate meeting on ZOOM be scheduled on the 15^th March at 8 pm for Nasco to put forward his proposal to the Committee.

13. Date of next meeting

• Meeting ended at 22.30 pm.

• Next meeting scheduled (TBC).

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