Meeting documents

19 EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair(person) drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the Agenda.

20 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

There were no declarations of interest made.

21 TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR(PERSON)

There were no items of urgent business.

22 QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

Statements were made by the following people and, where provided, are available on the Minute book;

o Worthy Gilson

o Keith McGarrigle

o Tony Hooper

o Pat Ferol

Various queries were raised in the statements which were picked up under the later items on the agenda.

Keith Davis raised an ad-hoc question regarding the `Bath Rugby on the Rec' finger post signs which had appeared around the city and wondered if the Trustees were aware of these signs, what had been the justification for them and how had they been funded.

Councillor Watt responded that, as they were not on Trust property, they were nothing to do with the Trust but suggested that Mr Davis might wish for his query to be forwarded to Councillor Gerrish for consideration. [At the request of Mr Davis, the clerk to the meeting undertook to pass this on.]

23 MINUTES: WEDNESDAY 20TH JANUARY 2010

On a motion from Councillor Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Watt, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20th January 2010, including the exempt minutes of the same meeting, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person).

24 UPDATE ON GENERAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES (Report 7).

In response to a question raised earlier regarding parking income, the Chair explained the two conditions under which parking at the Rec ground was legitimate. He acknowledged there had been a delay with enforcement regarding the croquet club which was being worked through.

In response to a question raised regarding the cricket pitch and the condition of the ground, Councillor Watt explained that additional steps being taken this year regarding treatment of the pitch had already resulted in less standing water under the East Stand and promised to ensure the pitch would be suitable for cricket and other activities later in the year.

Mr McGarrigle had raised a question regarding the liability for business rates and to which areas of the Ground they applied. Councillor Watt explained that Trustees had recently been considering this same issue. The 1995 lease which had been entered into by Bath City Council required that the Trust should pay a third of the rates, presumably based on parts of the Ground being returned to the Trust for one third of the year. As that period of time was now shorter, there was a rationale for exploring any options to vary this and the Trust's financial officers had been asked to do so.

On a motion from Councillor Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Watt, it was

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.

25 PROVISIONAL OUTTURN REPORT FOR 2009/10 (Report 8).

Mr McGarrigle commented that the parking income from the Rugby club did not seem to match the 200 car parking spaces on match day and asked for further information. The Chair responded that the new arrangements with the Rugby club dated from 1^st September 2009 and, although the figure had not been included here, it should show an increase in income for the period September 2009 to March 2010.

The Chair further explained that he had requested future financial reporting to contain a balance sheet.

On a motion from Councillor Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Watt, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To the note the provisional outturn for 2009/10; and

(2) To note the latest spend position on the strategic review.

26 LETTINGS UPDATE (Report 9).

Mr Davis queried whether, in the light of the Council withdrawing funding from the Bath Fringe, the booking for the Bath Fringe Spiegeltent in June would go ahead. The report author explained that the booking still stood and they were currently working with Bath Fringe to clarify the category of charge that would be applicable.

Mr Downey welcomed the cricket tournament taking place in June and explained that, if it went well, further such bookings would follow.

Councillor Watt welcomed the increase in lettings and the range of activities offered. He noted a comment from Mr Gilson that the emphasis should not be on professional sport but explained that part of the rationale for moving the cricket pitch was to concentrate the professional sport into one area, freeing up the rest of the area for other activities.

On a motion from Councillor Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Watt, it was

RESOLVED to note the lettings position.

27 UPDATE ON PROGRESS WITH CHARITY COMMISSION (Report 10).

The Chair explained that there was little progress to report. The Charity Commission were still waiting for the Trust to re-submit proposals and the Trust anticipated making a submission within the next fortnight. The Trust's position remained the same in seeking to regularise the position with the Rugby Club and they would continue to pursue this until such time as the Rugby Club, as tenant, informed the Trust of any different plans.