Annual Management Conference for Conservative Clubs in Yorkshire
Saturday, 3rd October 2009 - Gomersal Park Hotel, West Yorkshire
This year's conference took place on a rather blustery day at the Gomersal Park Hotel. Attendance was quite a bit down from last year's event, perhaps because of the weather and the timing of the conference just before the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Still, 38 delegates from 14 clubs came and were informed, entertained, and suitably refreshed (courtesy of Scottish & Newcastle). ACC approved suppliers were represented by Mark Harrop and Terry Jones from Kelly's Eye/Lottery King, Barry Walker from FB Walker & Son, Graham Bennet from Bennett-Kaye, Jack Bethel from the Dransfield Novelty Company, Cathrine Moore and Sheila Bissett from Bissett, Kenning & Newiss, and Mike Scanlon and his team from Scottish & Newcastle.
Mike Scanlon gave a very useful presentation on how clubs can effectively manage their costs by following very sound advice which is not very difficult for all club committees to implement, and which could make the diffrerence between surviving the effects of social change and the economic downturn and going out of business. This was backed up by a short paper which detailed the measures and showed the financial effects of following or ignoring the advice. Mike also advised that S&N customers would also soon be seeing the international brand name Heineken on their invoices and adverts, as Heineken had now become the parent company. This would not alter the special service provided to clubs. Customers would still be able to call on the free support and advice, and asked to make sure they take up the benefit of Technical support or management advice at the earliest opportunity.
Zaid Iqbal the prospective parliamentary candidate for Bradford West gave the main political address. There was now a very clear prospect of a Conservative Government at the next election, now only months away. After several years of Labour mismanagement of the economy and excessive interference and regulation, a new Government would be faced with difficult choices in reducing the enormous debt built up during the financial crisis, but cutting back on government bureacracy, waste and unnecessary regulation would help re-invigorate the economy to the benefit of clubs and small businesses. Fleur Butler, an MEP candidate at the last European elections who was denied a seat due to the vagaries of the current proportional representation system, gave an address on the Conservative approach to policies in Europe. Fleur very kindly replaced Timothy Kirkhope at the last minute, who was unable to attend because of his absence abroad on European Community business.
One of the themes of this year’s conference was the role of the club in the community, and how clubs can give something back to the community. The YRCCC organised an appeal on behalf of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Shelagh Robinson from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity gave a very interesting and informative presentation on the role and activities of the charity illustrated by photographs and slides. We were able to present a cheque to the charity for £2076.10 based on the contributions received from clubs in Yorkshire responding to our appeal, and on the donations and raffle income collected from delegates and representatives of suppliers present at the conference. Contributions are still arriving and we can now add another £50 to the sum above. We are also aware of some clubs in the region who organised their own events during the last year and raised substantial amounts which they forwarded directly to the Yorkshire Air ambulance. Our thanks to everyone who responded to this appeal.
The final item on the agenda was the eagerly awaited address by Philip Smith, Secretary of the ACC. As usual, Philip reported on the effects of the difficulties facing clubs in the current financial climate and the efforts of the Association in supporting clubs with financial and legal advice. Conservative Clubs have fared better than many other groups of social clubs – having relatively few closures compared with others and the licensing trade in general. This was due in no small part to the efforts and expertise of the management committees of the clubs. Close monitoring of income and expenditure, and making their presence felt in the local community were keys to success. Where clubs faced difficulties of any kind, early action and request for support from the ACC or its regional support in the YRCCC would lead to less painful and more successful restorative actions.
Our spirits lifted, and the conference formally closed, the other parts of our bodies were refreshed by the free samples offered at the Scottish & Newcastle bar.