24 November 2021
Held at Urmston Men’s Club
Metros and Partington absent.
Chairman opened meeting and minutes silence for past members.
Minutes read from last A.G.M. (2019)
Secretaries report: Mike thanked committee and asked delegates to check their Safeguarding Officers details were up to date. Told delegates of some decisions made at County A.G.M. including Secretary and Treasurer positions.
Fixture secretary's report:
Playing twice
With the temporary rule this year, there were a total of 84 players playing twice, out of 222 matches, so just over a third. Four clubs accounted for over half the occasions. There were also 14 matches where one or both teams couldn’t get to ten players even with playing twice.
Competitions
This was the first year of the experiment of not charging for individual entries. As we hoped, the entries were up - Merit up from 21 to 45 and Joe Rigby up from 10 to 26. There were quite a few no-shows on the qualifying days however. We intend to continue the experiment for next year, which we hope will be more typical.
No team knockouts this year - they should be back next year.
BCGBA
It’s expected that the charge per player won’t be proposed this year, but there will be a proposed fee of £10 per league per year. If this is passed, the Greater Manchester county intend to pay it on leagues’ behalf.
There are already 27 proposals to amend the rules of the game, and seven proposals to change admin rules.
The BCGBA recorded a surplus of £10,000 last year, and has £159,000 in the trustee fund.
Greater Manchester
There will be no further county handbooks. Everything to be on the internet.
The county has £18,000 in the bank. It is willing to provide financial support to clubs running open days or similar promotions.
Safeguarding officers: DBS checks done three years ago have expired and must be renewed.
Referees: the county has few of them compared to other counties, and there’s little interest from league or clubs to use referees at their competitions.
The development and coaching officers resigned, complaining of poor support from BCGBA.
The secretary and treasurer also resigned - no reason given. No replacements elected. It seems the current team will soldier on till end-February. If no-one found by then the county will have to disband.
Financial report: Ross went through finances for last 2 years.
Notices of Motion.
To amend bye-law 23 to read “Any monetary awards not collected at presentation day to be forfeited to league funds”.
Proposed by Management Committee
Passed unanimously
To amend bye-law 10 to read: “Notices of withdrawal from the League of any club or team shall be in writing to the League Secretary, before the mid-January failing which, they will be liable for subscriptions for the coming season.”
Proposed by Management Committee
Passed unanimously
To amend Merit and Pairs competitions rule 1 to read “Open to players who have played in at least 3 matches before closing date of entries” (note a remains unchanged).
Proposed by Management Committee
Passed 14 for 2 against
To amend bye law 1: replace “TEN” with “EIGHT”.
Proposed by Chandos
Defeated 5 for 8 against
To amend bye law 1 second sentence to read “If a team is short of players then up to 2 players will be allowed to play twice, providing that the shortage is declared before the draw is made and the all the players cards will be placed face down and the opposing captain to select 1 or 2. Those players will be offered the chance to play twice, if he/she accepts then they should play 1st and 2nd and then 9th and 10th.
Their 2nd score will not count towards their average but will count towards the teams total score. Their 2nd opponents will be allowed 6 end roll up. If they decline to play twice then 21 chalks will be awarded to the opponents.
A team may use this rule a maximum of 3 times in a season.”
Delete notes i to vi.
Proposed by Urmston Men's
Deafeated 5 for 8 against
Officers and honorariums to stay the same.